First Sentence: The sod had grown over the graves, turning the torn earth a soft green, and the rows of white crosses gleamed brightly in the morning sun.

Veterans of The War survived the horrors of fighting only to now be murdered in this Sussex village of Eastfield. Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is sent to find a killer whose mark is killing with a garrote and leaving identity disks, but not their own, in the mouths of the victims. How many more will die and might one of them be Rutledge?

The mother and son team that comprise Charles Todd write books that are intriguing police procedurals and fairly effective anti-war stories laced with fascinating history and one of the most compelling protagonists.

We learn more, in this book, about Rutledge, his war experiences and the reason for his mentally “hearing” the persistent voice of Hamish, a soldier whose execution Rutledge ordered. We also feel his frustration at the machinations of his superior, Boyles, the pain of his relationship with Meredith and his questioning the value of his life. Rutledge is the driving force in the story with just enough back story on the secondary characters for the reader to understand their relationship to the story and each other. I particularly appreciated the rector’s comment of “I don’t hold with judging my flock. I see no reason to usurp God’s right.” That, alone, says a lot about the man.

The impact of war, in this case WWI, is effectively brought to bear. Todd writes a painful and effective description of the impact war has on those who fight and, by extension, their loved ones. At the same time, they comment on the naivety and ignorance of those at home regarding the conditions and experience of those who fight. Hamish makes the comment, “What we did was to die. For naught.”

Todd takes us into the period showing, on one hand, the conveniences automobiles and telephones have brought, but still the lack of comforts we take for granted and how the accomplishments of women were dismissed, such as Sister Kerry in Australia and her advances in treating polio victims. Their descriptions make real the time and places. Their research of the period is apparent and conveyed in the syntax of speech and historical details such as children’s clothing and toys, and the history of identity tags, the precursor of “dog tags.”

At the end, however, it’s the story that keeps one reading. Todd writes an excellent mystery which deals with both the brutality of murder. It is not a perfect plot--there is a thread which relied on coincidence which could have been left out, and a completely unnecessary portent—but does contain a powerful and emotional twist adding even greater depth to the character of Rutledge. Even so, there is a quality to the writing that draws me back and leaves me anxious for the next book.

A LONELY DEATH (Hist Pol Proc-Ins. Ian Rutledge-England-1920) – VG+
Todd, Charles – 13th in series
Wm Morrow, ©2010, ARC – US Hardcover ISBN: 9780061726194