A Lonely Death

A Lonely Death (2011) by Charles Todd. Set in 1920, this is as much historical novel as mystery. Its protagonist is Todd's Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge, himself a casualty of World War I. The aftermath of the Great War permeates the book, with all men suffering some sort of ill effects from the fighting, either physical wounds or psychological wounds. Rutledge himself suffers from "shell shock," and his constant companion is the voice of Hamish, a man he fought with in the War and who died under his command. Hamish is a unique and effective literary device, often saying things Rutledge himself can't give voice to, often seeing things Rutledge doesn't see. "A Lonely Death" is a masterful mystery, shot through with human elements that keep you reading, all the while moving forward with the solving of the mystery. I'd be happy to read another of Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries. Grade: A-