Hunting Shadows

Inspector Ian Rutledge #16

by Charles Todd

A dangerous case with ties leading back to the battlefields of World War I dredges up dark memories for Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge in Hunting Shadows, a gripping and atmospheric historical mystery set in 1920s England, from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd.

A society wedding at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire becomes a crime scene when a man is murdered. After another body is found, the baffled local constabulary turns to Scotland Yard. Though the second crime had a witness, her description of the killer is so strange its unbelievable.

Despite his experience, Inspector Ian Rutledge has few answers of his own. The victims are so different that there is no rhyme or reason to their deaths. Nothing logically seems to connect them—except the killer. As the investigation widens, a clear suspect emerges. But for Rutledge, the facts still don’t add up, leaving him to question his own judgment.

In going over the details of the case, Rutledge is reminded of a dark episode he witnessed in the war. While the memory could lead him to the truth, it also raises a prickly dilemma. To stop a murderer, will the ethical detective choose to follow the letter—or the spirit—of the law?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Audiobook, British Literature

330 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2014

About the author

Charles Todd was the pen name used by the mother-and-son writing team, Caroline Todd and Charles Todd. Now, Charles writes the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford Series. Charles Todd ha spublished three standalone mystery novels and many short stories.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a little biased, but I just gotta tell you, Detective Ian Rutledge is THE BEST DETECTIVE OF ALL TIME. In my heart, that is.

There aren't enough words for how much I love this (literally and figuratively) haunted, emotionally scarred war veteran. He's got class. He's got common sense. He's got a tremendous amount of empathy as well as the ability to take a step back and observe the situation.

I could go on, write a subjective review, but there's really no point. I simply have no complaints. Every single book has been a dream. I love the mystery and how it unfolds. I love the realism and the twists, and I love how every book feel so accurate to the post-WWI era in Great Britain.

The characterization is the most brilliant thing about this series. Charles Todd, the duo mother-and-son author of this series, are absolutely tremendous at making each character feel real, from a random stranger in the street, to the twisted mind of a suspect, there is no shortage of skill when it comes to making each character feel like someone we know, someone we could recognize in the streets.

Love them or hate them, every single character is intensely well-portrayed.

I need the next book. Now.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this mystery well constructed and pleasantly tricky, and the setting, reminiscent of Dorothy Sellers' Nine Taylors, well done. However, the cover, though getting the suggestion of fog right, suggests a "pea-souper" in London, rather than the actual rural and small-town setting that makes up the majority of the book. (Not that the author has any control over covers, 99 times out of a hundred!)

[Larraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest in the Ian Rutledge series doesn't disappoint. It's 1920 and there's a funeral for a soldier who has spent the last two years in the hospital dying from gangrene. One of the people there stands in the shadows and is angry when he sees an army captain among the mourners. He's angry because he doesn't see any reason for him to be there other than to further his own ambitions. Shortly thereafter, the same captain, Hutchinson, is a guest at a society wedding. Everyone is shocked when he is killed by a single bullet to his heart. Shortly thereafter, an aspiring politician, Swift, is also shot. There doesn't seem to be any connection between the two. When the local constabulary can't solve the case, they call in Scotland Yard. Rutledge is sent and instructed to wrap things up quickly. Of course, the case turns out to be more complicated than anyone can imagine. As always, there are so many fascinating twists and turns to the story although there IS a generous hint woven within. Rutledge is such a fascinating character. He wrestles with his own demons from WWI, is haunted by his Sgt who he was forced to condemn to death because he disobeyed orders. He also keeps a gun at his home for the time when he can no longer bear the nightmares and guilt. Every time I read one of these, I marvel at how an American writing team - in this case a mother/son - can capture this period so well. They write like British authors which, for me anyway, is high praise.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely well drawn mystery with an exceptional main protagonist Inspector Ian Rutledge.

Rutledge is commanding. Dealing with issues stemming from war, he carries himself with poise. A professional with intelligence, methodical and pragmatic. His human side isn’t ignored in the line of duty as he exercises compassion along with never failing to lose sight of his observations, his keen eye engaged.

The mystery factor is full of clever twists and turns, unfolding slowly in a rather smart manner adding to the reading adventure. Rich in atmospheric details, you sense the aftermath and ruin of WWI in Great Britain.

Characterization is exceptional, three-dimensional, a motley crew adding plausibility and texture to a stellar narrative. Todd excels in rendering all the characters with uninhibited depth.

A mystery any reader will find engaging as well as astute with an outstanding protagonist Inspector Ian Rutledge claiming his leading role with flying colors.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.
This is an intelligently and sensitively written mystery, which is strongly character driven. While the book is set in 1920, the writing is modern and engrossing. Todd cleverly uses misdirection as he leads us to the surprising solution. Highly enjoyable.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Ian Rutledge mystery that I have read but it certainly won't be the last. It is hard to write an authentic historical book but Todd has accomplished it. It has the feel for the times right after WWI. He captures the incredible loss of the population in a very concise, moving manner. First there are the men who come back, changed with horrific memories. He paints the stories of women who will never marry or have families because so many of the male population had been killed. It is a time of people trying to put their lives back together after a horrific war.

Rutledge is a survivor of the War and works for Scotland Yard. He is assigned a case of two murdered men in an area called the Fens in England. I have never heard of this area but it is dominated by horizons that go on forever and water everywhere you look. In previous times, men had used to use stilts to get around. I found this fascinating and Todd has created a place that really comes alive for the reader.

The story moves slowly but accurately shows just how painstaking police work really is. There are no clues that fall in Rutledge's lap and he works methodically to solve the crime. As he goes he finds layer after layer of the stories of the two men and how they are connected. The supporting cast are vibrant characters who are interesting unto themselves.

The time is beautifully portrayed. There is talk of the ironmonger, the hurdle maker, the cooper and the scissor grinder. There are few cars on the road and Rutledge must crank his. It's hard to get to a phone. Sometimes it's in several towns away. I have not seen this conveyed as well except in the Maisie Dobbs series. The solution is wonderful and it's impossible to see it coming. If you like historical mysteries, you can't do better than this.

[judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contrary to many reviewers here, the more I read of this book, the more stars I took away. It had a terrific start but it didn't take long for the cast of characters to keep growing and growing. I found keeping the names and towns straight annoying since only the prime suspect was developed enough for me to be interested in him. I finished the book because, nearing the end, there were switchbacks on almost every other page. I was determined to carry on even though my own version of Hamish kept whispering "tedious" in my ear. In fairness to the many devoted fans of this series, I promise I will not read anything by Charles Todd again.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Hunting Shadows, Ian Rutledge is tasked with solving two murders which occur in the Fens district, in and near Ely. He is both literally and figuratively beset by blinding fogs which endanger his investigation and possibly his life. He also continues beset by the terrors that have plagued him since the war. He can hold these at bay most of the time but occasionally they are too strong. As always, Hamish, the presence which/who has been with him since the war, continues to speak to him, offering opinions on the case as it progresses.

Here there are two murders, one which demonstrated excellent marksmanship. But how are these two victims connected? After the second killing, Scotland Yard is called in and Rutledge is sent to Ely with the charge to wrap the case up expeditiously. The case is much too complex for that and makes for interesting reading as we follow the twisting trail of evidence and clues.

Another recommended book in the series. I do suggest that those new to this series read at least one or two of the early books to learn more of Rutledge’s back story, his experience in the war, the story of Hamish, etc.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a murder mystery that just goes on and on. Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard is called in to help the locals solve two murders. We are painstakingly taken through interview after interview as he seeks to put the puzzle pieces together. Men who have returned from war are still haunted by their experiences and Inspector Rutledge is no exception. Helping him in his endeavor to solve the crime, he carries the voice of a fallen comrade. The ghost of Hamish puts in his two cents now and then. However it is not enough to give the story the added umph that it needs. In the end the secrets of the past carefully hidden away come to light.

I can't say I didn't like this book. It was interesting enough to keep me going but not a page turner to be sure. It felt like an episode on one of those
English TV shows. Foyles War comes to mind. Also an inspector solving crimes in a wartime backdrop setting.

[Anne Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last Charles Todd book I reviewed I gave short shrift to-- because it is impossible to treat a Todd novel without going into excruciating detail.

This one-- the same, but I've got to say, this one grabbed me by the gut and swung me around. I HAD to stay up.

Yesterday I got a Valentine from The Rare Book School (for real-- a degree-granting graduate program) the text was "A book that doesn't keep you up at night is not worth going to bed with.

I stayed up until 1:15 am when I decided I had to do justice to the end of the book. Inspector Rutledge listens, watches, pursues, sometimes plodding, sometimes driven to the point of going off the road.

This is a Who killed those people and why? novel, and you will NOT figure it out until very very close to the end. And it's set in fen country which will intrigue you by the time you have finished reading, if it doesn't now. (Corollary: Dorothy Sayers' masterpiece Nine Tailors is also set in fen country. It's the book I re-read immediately before Hunting Shadows. I recommend it as well.)

So, five stars where I promised my self no more than 3 unless the book is really special. This one is.

[Maygirl7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good historical mystery. Rutledge has discovered ways to deal with the trauma experienced during the war that help his detecting abilities but also guarantee that he will be lonely. Hamish is both helpful and sinister. Staring this far into series I was in the dark about Hamish and Rutledge’s secrets but that didn’t interfere with the story.

The narrator is excellent.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian heads off into the Fens after an officer is shot dead at Ely Cathedral. Shades of snipers and the stuff of myths and legends. Mr Belford makes another short appearance. Ah the secrets the Fens hide!

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteenth in the Inspector Ian Rutledge historical mystery series and revolving around a WWI veteran suffering from PTSD as he solves crimes for Scotland Yard. The date is August 1920.

My Take
I find I much prefer the contemporary method of choosing a husband, and not worrying too much about what people think. Oh, we do still worry about that, but not as obsessively as the people of the 1920s and earlier did. When you look at how much went wrong. The loves lost, the lives lost. I cried.

So much that went wrong due to greed and that previously mentioned fear of what people think. It's such a fascinating look at the time period. The expectations, the mores, the worries and concerns. Some aspects I could wish we still paid heed to: the courtesy, the knowing of the people around you. Then there's the worries about keeping up with the Joneses, so to speak. The concerns about appearances and what is considered acceptable. I know we still try to "keep up with the Joneses", but it's not as important, as life-defining as it was here. When you realize how important appearances were in this, you'll be so grateful that society has lightened up. It's just sad to realize how terribly it affected people in the past. The waste of it.

As the series revolves around a traumatized soldier, there is always a background theme of war and its effects on men, on society. It's particularly absorbing as this was the first war that so violently changed society, and Todd gives us an inside view on how it affects individuals. In particular, an officer with intelligence and a conscience. And how terrifying that Ian's heroism in battle was a plea for death.

Interesting that it's mostly the women who see what Hutchinson was really like. It's also interesting to read about people gathering to watch people coming for an event. It didn't matter that it was a wedding for someone no one knew. It was something happening in their daily lives. Something different. When you think about it, these people didn't have television, the Internet, radios, or CDs. Nothing to entertain them at home. So it made sense that they'd gather for events that were out of the ordinary. A funeral. A wedding. Politicians speaking. It's made me think about our own lives now and how insulated we are from physical contact with others. News comes over the Internet, on television, or in newspapers so there isn't the need to gather in public. Entertainment is easy to find for a single individual, so there isn't the need to gather in the pub, on the village green, or cluster together on the neighbors' porches. No Twitter or Facebook. Not even a telephone to casually contact others.

I do enjoy the historical perspective that Todd includes on the foreign influences on the Fens and how it changed local architecture. The need for land that impels the scientific experiments to improve the fields for farming. The politics that are involved. The various professions the characters have that are no longer regular jobs in our time tickle my imagination: washerwoman, scissors grinder, hurdle maker, maids, ironmongers, ratcatchers, and more.

Todd has included layers of conflict as well. The background conflict is the insecure Markham, the new broom come to sweep the department clean, which has its own tension. Appearances are also a conflict with witnesses reluctant to denigrate the public reputation of the dead with some refusing to aid the police and others believing that the dead would want them to help find their killer(s). It does show how important even the least bit of gossip can be in ferreting out reasons and whys.

Todd keeps going back and forth, trying to find a connection between the dead men. Why does he never raise the question of there being a connection within the military?

I never knew this. That sharpshooters in World War I were shunned. It makes a kind of sense, as World War I was that bridge between the more "gentlemanly" war of individual swords, lances, pikes, and guns and a more brutal one of trench warfare and mustard gas. We don't see snipers today as men who have gone beyond the pale, and it's a cultural change that makes me curious. What sea change occurred that we no longer see a sharpshooter as someone to avoid?

In other ways, we're better off today, at least with the level of medical care. Sure, it's expensive today, but it does exist. When you read of what's available back then. Hoo, boy. Makes ya grateful.

I can't blame Alice Worth for not wanting to help Scotland Yard find Hutchinson's killer. I'd say she's gotten the justice she wanted. I think it's too bad that the justice was so swift.

The damage that war does to men, those unlucky enough to come back from it, who have to deal with the traumas of what they had to do, the memories they cannot avoid. It's not an experience that anyone who has not gone to war can understand, and this shows so well in Hunting Shadows. Governments expect soldiers to do as they're told, to endure what they must to achieve a government's ambition. When they're done, when the war is finished (or paused), those same soldiers who struggled through so much for another's aims are abandoned. It's so much easier to read an historical novel that deals with men missing limbs who are left to beg on the street, who struggle to deal with their memories and the injuries inflicted by battle, who battle at home for a job, to regain the lives they had to abandon, and we vent against a government who no longer cares about them. To think it's so much better in our day. And it's not. Today's soldiers have the same problems of an uncaring government, of having to pick up the threads of their lives such as they are, of struggling with medical issues caused by war. At least, thank god, today's soldiers don't have to deal with the invective that those returning from Vietnam had to deal with.

That letter from Meredith. How can she not know if the man is her missing husband? I don't get that.

That box from Africa…insisting on being buried in Bury…it's too sad, and I can't help crying for how stupid it all was.

Damn, the red herrings in this! It's gossip that truly solves this case, providing the leads that drill down to the truth. The horrifying, awful truth of a psychopathic personality.

What's amazing is how Todd ties it all together at the end. The if onlys it raises will make you weep.

The Story
Major Clayton had saved his life. Now, the least he could do was pay his respects. Respects that became an impossibility when he saw the one man who had blighted so many lives.

It's anger that causes a society wedding at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire to become a crime scene when a man is murdered. After another body is found, the baffled local constabulary turns to Scotland Yard. Though the second crime had a witness, her description of the killer is so strange it's unbelievable.

Despite his experience, Inspector Ian Rutledge has few answers of his own. The victims are so different that there is no rhyme or reason to their deaths. Nothing logically seems to connect them — except the killer. As the investigation widens, a clear suspect emerges. But for Rutledge, the facts still don’t add up, leaving him to question his own judgment.

The Characters
Inspector Ian Rutledge dives into work, into investigating to quiet his own ghosts. Corporal Hamish MacLeod is the most prevalent ghost. One who has followed Ian from the battlefield where Ian shot him as an example. Jean is the fiancée who wouldn't cope. Meredith Channing is another who left Ian. The newly engaged Frances is Ian's worried sister. Molly is her maid. Melinda Crawford is an old friend of the family.

Mr. Belford is likely to be with Military Intelligence and not a man to whom Ian wishes to be beholden.

Scotland Yard
Acting Chief Superintendent Markham (he's replaced Chief Superintendent Bowles after his heart attack) hates Rutledge. Sergeant Gibson is Rutledge's contact and will suss out more information for him.

Constable Lark is based in Wicken.

Wriston, in the Fens
Marcella Trowbridge lives in the cottage out by the windmill, the Bower House. Clarissa is her wayward cat. The lonely Miss Priscilla Bartram runs The Dutchman Inn which has its own colorful history. Mr. Banner is the butcher. Mrs. Percy, an elderly seamstress, is being ridiculed for telling the truth. I'd like to smack that constable and the inspector around! Martin Ross is the ironmonger whose dormer window was used.

Herbert Swift, a solicitor, is a popular Tory candidate who is seeking escape from the loss in his life. Eileen was his wife; Susan Tompkins had been her maid before she went to work for the insightful and compassionate rector, Andrew March. The other legitimate brother kept the farm. Anson Swift was the angry bastard son who left. His rival is the Liberal candidate who is more interested in the free beer. Constable McBride is based here. Burrows is a farmer who has a close call; his daughter, Meg, is worried. Bill Waters has a dog they'll borrow, Hector. Sam Turner has a ghastly encounter. Mrs. Prescott had her own selfish reasons to question Herbert Swift. Ben Montgomery had been a rival with Swift over the same girl, Helena. She became engaged to Dr. James Trowbridge. Randolph Abbot is the husband of one of the Montgomery daughters who now runs the farm. Mrs. Abbot's older sister married a horse trainer, Ted. Angus is the man who took care of the windmill after he took it over from Mr. Sherborne. Dr. Harris treats Burrows' infection. Seems Mrs. Harris has some useful gossip for Ian from her cousin, Alice Worth, who was Mary Hutchinson's friend.

Corporal Peter Jenkins, a cobbler before the war, drifted through some weeks ago. Jeremiah Brenner is the ratcatcher.

The wedding at Ely
Captain Gordon Hutchinson is an opportunistic butt-kisser, quick to seize the advantage. Mary is the wife he drove to suicide. The Honorable Reginald Sedley and his wife, Eugenia, were Hutchinson's hosts. Major Alexander Lowell, a close friend to the bride's father, was an artillery man who took charge; Colonel Rollins left him to it. Dr. Bradley holds by his statement. Jason Fallowfield was the bridegroom and Hutchinson's cousin. Barbara was the bride. Mr. Hurley is the rector at St. Mary's. Mr. Harvey loves windmills. Mrs. Boggs is a washerwoman and a good witness as is the deaf Teddy Mathews who came to see what the fuss was about. Sadie is the sister who cares for him.

Inspector Warren is based in Ely.

Isleham
Lieutenant Kimber Thornton is sick of war, of society. Tom Hendricks has a little dog.

Soham
The hurdle maker, whom Ruskin went after with an ax, is a Lovat. Paul Ruskin is a cooper.

The funeral at Burwell
Majror Clayton had died and it's most likely a blessing. His sister, Vera, will inherit everything. Mrs. FitzPatrick is the woman with whom Miss Clayton stayed while in Burwell. Colonel Nelson came up from London for the funeral.

London
Miss Hutchinson is a cold woman who doesn't seem too interested in finding her brother's killer. Of course, she's not interested in anyone but herself anyway. Miss Newland was Mrs. Mary Hutchinson's maid who got pensioned off. Mrs. Cookson is the careful housekeeper. Thaddeus Whiting was Mary's uncle and guardian. Catriona Beaton was the young Scots maid taken on. MacLaren at Trahir House was Catriona's grandfather and was with the Lovat Scouts in the war.

Newmarket was for…
…the races that military men and Whiting came for. Constable Henry is based here. Michael Flannery is one of the trainers. Baron is a barrister. Others in the story visited Newmarket.

Mary Whiting is the woman he loved.

Black Shuck is a harbinger in the Fens.

The Cover and Title
The cover carries a feel of smoggy London with its hazy mustard yellow background. The perspective is from the ground up, looking up at a solid black iron street lamp with its gassy bright yellow glow and the fuzzy buildings lurking in the background.

The title is almost a giving-up, Inspector Warren's frustration at Hunting Shadows.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been working my way through this historical mystery series for a few years now and the trip has mostly been enjoyable. But the previous book, Proof of Guilt, which I read last summer, was a big disappointment to me and nearly put me off. I haven't felt the desire to get back to the series since until a few days ago. Looking for my next book to read I came across Charles Todd's name and decided, why not?

I'm glad I decided to give him another chance because this one was a winner.

It is 1920 and memories of the First World War are still fresh. Many of the veterans of that war bear wounds, both physical and mental, that are yet to heal. Among the sufferers of psychological wounds is Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard. He does his best to keep his PTSD, or shell shock as it was then called, hidden.

Rutledge is sent to Cambridgeshire, the Fen Country, to investigate two murders. The first was a former soldier who was shot while attending a society wedding at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire. He was shot with a rifle by someone who was well concealed. The shooter was never seen by the wedding guests.

Then another man, a country lawyer, is murdered in the same fashion. This time though the apparent shooter was seen by an elderly woman, but her description of what she saw does not seem credible.

There does not appear to be any connection between the two men and the local police constables are stumped. Rutledge arrives on the scene to help and methodically goes through all the information that the constables have gathered. He re-interviews many of the witnesses and begins to form a theory of the crimes. It seems apparent to him that the shooter must have been a sniper in the recent Great War.

In the midst of his investigation, another man, a local farmer, is shot, but this man suffers only a flesh wound to his cheek and he lives. This confuses the investigation further. What possible connection could there be to tie the three men together? Is it possible that the latest shooting was only meant as a misdirection to put Rutledge off the scent?

This plot was very well-drawn and crisp. Although there were clues along the way that might have pointed to the reasons for the killings, I was confused right along with Inspector Rutledge and did not guess the real source of the evil until the clever inspector figured it out with his methodical and pragmatic police work and reasoning.

The story was rich in atmospheric details. The reader could feel herself enveloped in the claustrophobic pea soup of a fog that covered the Fens on occasion. The secondary characters were fleshed out and seemed integral to the story.

At the center of it all was Rutledge, a commanding and empathetic figure, whose vulnerable humanity is perhaps his greatest appeal, as he must constantly struggle against the darkness that threatens to overwhelm him in order to do his job. He is full of compassion even for the guilty, but he never loses sight of his duty, and he is always able to make clear-eyed observations and to see people as they really are.

Yes, I'm glad I decided to give the series another chance.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Sentence: He’d tried to put the war behind him.

A sniper killer at Ely Cathedral takes Inspector Ian Rutledge to Cambridgeshire. A separate shooting in a different village does have a witness, but her testimony makes no real sense. The biggest barrier to Rutledge’s investigation is the apparent lack of motive in either case and lack of connection between the two victims. With the third shooting, and a target who survives, Rutledge starts looking to the past for both the motive, and for the killer.

The opening chapter is rather different and unusual, but completely engrossing. Todd’s descriptions are wonderfully atmospheric.

It’s very nice that an accounting of Hamish is offered that both explains him to new readers yet doesn’t interrupt the flow for recurring readers. Much focus is given to Rutledge, yet it’s not boring or repetitive. He is a fascinating character about whom we want to know more. His relapse into a flashback of the war is very effective and painful without being overly description. The understanding of the rector made the scene all that more powerful for its subtly. His dealing with his shell shock/PTSD is a tragic thread which connects the series and other characters of whom there are many who’ve suffered the effects of war.

Sometimes, it is the little things that matter. It’s nice that, with all the driving to-and-fro Rutledge does, we finally having him stopping for petrol occasionally.

“Hunting Shadows” is a good read. While one appreciates the doggedness of Rutledge’s investigation and the way he puts the information together in order to identify the killer, I didn’t feel a particularly strong connection to any character other than Rutledge, and wishing I had.

HUNTING SHADOWS (Hist Mys-Insp. Ian Rutledge-England-1920) – Good
Todd, Charles – 16th in series
William Morrow, 2014

[Andree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up rather liking this one. The case is fairly well done, and the remote(ish) setting is interesting, rather than annoying. Liked the details of the crazy fogs, and the windmill for drainage. There's also a fairly well done red herring. Also, I quite enjoy how it features characters who Rutledge gets to interact with, and who aren't all immediately hostile on sight. It's a nice change. Not loving the new boss, but he continues to not be as actively hateful as Bowles, so I'm counting it as a win.

[Bonnie]

The setting is Fen Country, Cambridgeshire, 1920. The fens were dangerous for the unwary as narrow flat field stretched for miles covered with irrigation ditches and a false step could mean falling in and drowning. The speaker is waiting for a man named Hutchinson in order to kill him. Hutchinson was getting married in Ely at the cathedral. Villagers lined the road waiting for the wedding. An old man slipped inside the tower door and waited. When the wedding party arrived, he took out the German scope and attached it to the rifle. He took aim and slowly squeezed the trigger. Thus, begins a compelling story of old animosities and revenge. The following week Herbert Swift, a popular Tory candidate, was giving a speech below the High Street Medieval cross . In the midst of his speech, a shot rang out and blood covered his shirt.
Rutledge from Scotland Yard is put in charge of solving the murders. He drives to the Fens in his motorcar and finds and runs into a fog so thick he can no longer see to drive. He parks his car and wanders helplessly until He meets a stranger who tell him he is at Wriston. He follows the man to a bed and breakfast and stays there while he hunts the killer. Rutledge can find no connection between the two deaths. Then the case reminds him of a legendary assassin during the war. His own dark memories come back to haunt him and he goes to the church seek forgiveness for the atrocities he saw and took part in. He searches diligently for the connection between the murders and talks to every one in the area. When he finally finds it it isn't as simple as he'd expected.
The duo of mother and son have proven that they are the best at writing mystery fiction. A solid five stars.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamish and Rutledge are back again solving two seemingly unrelated murders in two different small towns.

Ian Rutledge is working on finding a "shadowy" figure who shoots to kill and then disappears without a trace. Rutledge has a difficult time finding clues and connections that would lead to the murderer's identification.

The first shooting was at a wedding and the second at a political rally. No one seems to be able to understand how the two are related nor the reason for the murders.

HUNTING SHADOWS is another great read by Charles Todd; in fact, HUNTING SHADOWS is my favorite of his mysteries, and I have read a number of his books.

Sometimes his murders get too tied up with the war, but HUNTING SHADOWS seems more geared to the people in the story and the plot. So if you didn't like some of his other books, this one is different, so give it a try.

I always enjoy Mr. Todd's mysteries mostly because of the time period and the twists and turns that ultimately occur.

Rutledge and Hamish are always characters that keep you on your toes. The other characters in HUNTING SHADOWS who perfectly portray the way of life at that time in history will keep your interest.

If you enjoy a murder mystery at its best along with wonderful description and imagery, don't miss Todd's newest Ian Rutledge mystery. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Luanne Ollivier · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 I absolutely love Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series, but funnily enough I've only read one or two of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries. And I'm not sure why, as I really enjoyed Hunting Shadows, the 16th entry in this series.

Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is called in by the local constabulary when they are stymied by not one, but two murders - both perpetrated by a sniper. The two victims are completely disparate and it's up to Rutledge to find the common denominator - and the killer.

Todd writes wonderful historical mysteries - the times, the social customs and mores, the language and more are just lovely to immerse yourself in. It's a gentler time, but it's also coloured by the aftermath of World War 1. (Hunting Shadows is set in 1920) Shell shock (what we now call PTSD) plays a part in both the plot and with our main character. Rutledge often converses with Hamish, a dead soldier from Rutledge's past.

I enjoyed and savoured the slow building of the case. Finding clues, conducting interviews, visiting scenes - it's all done in a measured manner that is just a treat to read. Yes, it's a murder mystery, but it's such a rich, atmospheric read on top of that. There's so much detail in Todd's prose, bringing the time period, the settings and the supporting cast to life.

The final whodunit is a satisfying end to some excellent plotting - one a reader will not guess beforehand. Definitely recommended.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Ian Rutledge hunts a double murderer in the fen country south of Ely. The two murders seem to have nothing in common beyond having been the work of a sniper, so Rutledge is forced to cross and recross the paths of almost everyone in Ely and the several villagers and small towns that ring the second murder site. Hamish (the voice of his guilt over having executed a good but worn-out soldier) is with him, but not so much as in the past. Maybe Rutledge is healing from his war duty, but the book makes clear the awful impact of the First World War on a generation of English men and their loved ones, both by their absence and by the damage done to most survivors. This whole series is often as much about that impact as about a particular murder.

Rutledge remains a very sympathetic character. Todd (a mother and son writing team) are exceptionall good at describing the England, mostly rural England, of the postwar period. All in all, the series (16 books and growing) is very impressive. Maybe someday the people Rutledge works for will recognize his worth

[Zade · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm not sure what possessed me to get a copy of this novel, I'm certainly glad I did so. I'm more of a thriller reader than a traditional mystery reader, but I'm quite sure I'll be reading the entire Inspector Rutledge series in short order. The plot was quite interesting and the authors have a knack for bringing to life both the people in the story and the landscapes they inhabit. I could not tell at all that the book was written by a duo as the authorial voice was entirely consistent throughout. Also, for American authors, they have a good sense of British language and mores in the era they depict. Their research must be prodigious. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys a good British mystery and for other readers looking for a well drawn, complex protagonist.

[Koeeoaddi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

I love the Rutledge character and his ghost advisor and tormentor, Hamish, but despite all the positive reviews, I had to force myself to finish this. Too much procedure, too many dull characters, too much plodding interrogatory and too much bumbling in and out of 'motor cars'. Besides that, there was almost no tension and the resolution was satisfying only because it meant the book was over.

I'd love to read a great book featuring Rutledge and Hamish, but this wasn't it.

[Marilou Rickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complicated and disturbing, as books in this series usually are. It took me awhile, but I'm beginning to notice how much women, especially women servants, know and how little they are willing to tell in Rutledge's world. Rutledge pays attention, takes what they have to say very seriously, has the patience to go back and question them again and again as he finds new pieces of the puzzle, and solves all the mysteries.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian is back and in fen country. This is absolutely up to par, more than equal to most Rutledge series fare. This time a goodly portion of the principle male characters all have their own "Hamish" from the Great War. And someone is filled with both revenge and skills to fulfill it for what happened to loved ones in the English countryside while he was "Over There".

[Marie Fouhey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting mystery but the book really stands out for its descriptions of the fen country and what the inhabitants experience while living there.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

August 1920 — A Major Clayton has died and one of the servicemen who knew him planned to go the funeral - only he finds himself unable to do so when he sees another attendee, Capt. Hutchinson, on the scene.

Three weeks later, Hutchinson is attending a society wedding when he is shot. Two weeks later, Scotland Yard is called in, but there's already a second victim: Tory candidate Herbert Swift is shot as he begins a speech before the community at Cambridgeshire.

Are the two murders related? What could be the connection between Hutchinson, an Army officer, and Swift, a solicitor standing for Parliament? That is what Insp. Ian Rutledge must find out as he begins an investigation of both incidents. As the investigation progresses, Rutledge finds memories of the war beginning to surface, causing the inspector to struggle with his demons as well as others. One thing is certain, Rutledge must tread lightly in his search for the culprit in a race before there is another victim.

As with all the books in this series, I found the characters, the setting and the mystery compelling and the writing flawless in the telling of how people respond to death be it in war or in a village, a stranger, a neighbor or a loved one. I have loved the chance to read the writing of an author who creates a world and a story that is believable, situations and reactions that carry a quiet grace, and a solution that is hard to forget. The stories would be as wonderful a slice of this era and this community, with or without the crime mystery. Ian Rutledge is an unforgettable character for his flaws, his struggles and his empathy for others who carry the shadow of war into their future.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the hot mess that was Proof of Guilt (Rutledge #15), I was quite apprehensive about starting this book. Thank goodness I wasn't disappointed. Charles Todd and Ian Rutledge was back in rare form.
Hunting Shadows dealt with a sharpshooter who targeted two people who, on the surface, were not connected in any way. But Rutledge being Rutledge always finds a way to make those connections, The great thing about the mystery of Hunting Shadows, like most of Rutledge cases, is that an old crime is what instigates the new one and accompanying Rutledge as he digs through and discovers layers of old historical hatred makes for an exciting read.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series began in 1919. Among the things that date it:
oil lamps still major source of lighting
cars are still started with a crank
Britain still engaged in capital punishment, it was outlawed for another 50 years.

A vet surreptitiously retains his Lee Enfield Rifle and ammo and goes on a shooting spree. His sniper skills are not in doubt and he leaves no evidence behind. Ian is dispatched and as usuaual his superior expects instant results. No pressure?

What comes through most vividly is that the answers you get depends on who asks the questions, what questions they ask, and how they ask them.

I’d be interested to know if the British actually swill tea the way these authors suggest they do and where they go to discretely spend a penny when the need arises.

This book supplies the most thorough going resolution of any of the books in this series.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting murder mystery set in 1920 in villages around Ely and the Cathedral of Ely, in Cambridgeshire. This one’s ending was not so abrupt — I wasn’t left feeling annoyed. I did guess who the killer was, but not until later in the book. A sympathetic murderer. The other killing was not deserved, in my opinion. Hamish was not so annoying, either. That man in intelligence from the Foot Police showed up again- Mr. Belford or Bradford.

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was happy to see that Hamish (Rutledge’s sidekick so to speak, who lives in his head) is back and making his presence felt.
A satisfyingly complex plot with lots of red herrings, this is a great escapist read.