Book Review: A Long Shadow

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

A Long Shadow     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Charles Todd
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical   Police Procedural
Series: Ian Rutledge # 8
Harper-Collins, 2006, 341 pps.

It is New Year’s Eve in London and Inspector Rutledge agrees to attend a party with his sister. One of the guests Meredith Channing has been invited to put on a séance to bring in the New Year. She is reputed to be able to raise spirits. Since Rutledge’s own personal ghost Hamish has accompanied him to the party as he accompanies him every place the idea of a séance makes Inspector Rutledge very nervous. Luckily he is called away by his work but on leaving the residence of his friends he finds a brass cartridge casing that is identical to ones he has seen in the war but this one is engraved. Hamish whispers “It’s no here by chance”.

Several days later he is shot at on the road and when he investigates he finds three more shell casings. Obviously someone is stalking him.

Constable Hensley who is stationed in Duddington has a mystery of his own going on. He has been sent to this small village and away from the city because of a scandal concerning a fire. He spends time walking in Frith’s Wood, an area that the local people will not approach. Someone shoots Constable Hensley with a bow and arrow and Rutledge is sent to head the investigation.

He feels that somehow the disappearance of a young girl from the village has something to do with Hensley searching through Frith’s Wood. Rutledge stays at Hensley’s cottage and his stalker even leaves a bullet there.

Suddenly Meredith Channing shows up in the village because she has sensed that Rutledge is running into trouble.

This is a complicated story involving several mysteries that may or may not be tied together. I enjoyed the book very much. The village of Duddington offers a variety of interesting characters and the truth finally finds its way into the open.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM