No Shred of Evidence

How can you solve an apparent murder without a shred of evidence and the only person who can say for sure what really happens remains in a coma? That is just the case that Inspector Ian Rutledge is called upon to attempt to solve when the original investigator on the case dies of a heart attack and taking all the notes on the case with him. He simply failed to transcribe them before his untimely death and now Rutledge needs to begin piecing the clues of what happened as if he was starting over again. But now time has elapsed and it will simply make the case load that much harder to solve. When four young women come to the aid of a man they know late at night who was going to drown when his boat began to sink, the women realize that he simply weighs too much in the water for them to bring onboard without compromising their own safety of tipping over into the cold dark waters.

A man dives in and swims to help but when he is able to pull the man into the boat, he believes the women were attempting to kill him and not save him as they claim. The fact that there is blood on the oar of their boat and no sign on his doesn't look good for the women when they are immediately taken into custody when they are able to get the boat back to shore. Things get more complicated when Rutledge interviews one of the woman and realizes that she is the cousin of the woman he was going to marry. Conflict on interest or something simply to make the mystery all that more intriguing?

The one thing I have come to appreciate about Charles Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge series, is that if you are a fan of murder mysteries or a good Sherlock Holmes mystery, you will definitely want to pick this one up and begin the journey. Ian Rutledge is a marked man having survived the Great War and now works at Scotland Yard but not without his flaws. He suffers from PTSD and talks to a former soldier known as Hamish in his thoughts. It keeps the story line moving and as always carries the reader through to the end trying to solve the case before Rutledge does. Just because you have the premise of the story laid out before you, like any good mystery, not everything is as it appears and an investigation must take place to figure out just what is really going on and why.

I received No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest review of this novel. This is the 18th book in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series and have enjoyed every single one I have read. They remain a favorite because they are set historically in London's past and provide the reader a glimpse of not only a great mystery to solve but also some history along the way. For me, this one rates a 4 out of 5 in my opinion and look forward to many many more in the future.

For more information about No Shred of Evidence, Charles Todd or where you can preorder a copy of this novel that is due in February of 2016, please click on the links below:

No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd

You can find Charles Todd on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on No Shred of Evidence, please visit William Morrow's website. 

A Fine Summer's Day

For fans of novels like Sherlock Holmes, you might want to pick up Charles Todd's latest novel A Fine Summer's Day. It is part of the Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery Series in which Ian Rutledge is part of Scotland Yards finest detectives. He has been assigned a complicated murder case in which a man has been found hanged with no apparent motive or suspect. In addition to that, a vandal has been marring the tombstones of nearby churches with a tar like substance. Is it possible that the two may be related?

As Inspector Rutledge interviews countless witnesses and possible suspects he is no closer to solving either crime. In addition, he has proposed to a woman Jean Gordon who no one is his immediate family cares for. They believe that Ian might be blind to the woman's spoiled tendency's that may not exactly fit into the lifestyle of a Scotland Yard detective. As he continues to investigate further, he learns that the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria has been assassinated along with his pregnant wife. It could quite possibly launch the country in the beginnings of war depending on how Austria choose to react. If that is the case will Inspector Rutledge be called up to serve for his country if they do decide on war? He can only hope calmer heads will prevail.

As the entire country waits to see what the outcome will be regarding the assassination of the Archduke, Inspector Rutledge finds himself facing more dead ends than he can count. Not only that but his boss is none too happy with the amount of time Ian is spending attending to dinners and engagement parties when he should be working to find the killer or killers that are slowly adding more bodies to the count with a variety of methods to their demise. Time is running out for everything to be answered.

I received A Fine Summer's Day by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I have absolutely love Charles Todd's series with Inspector Rutledge and to see a variety of things all culminating all at once. War is on the near horizon and knowing history, you know it will soon turn into World War 1. It's truly a race against time to see how it all turns out and I love the rich attention to detail Charles Todd pours into his novels. He painstakingly takes his time weaving the story so that you don't feel rushed to figure it all out at once. That is why I love this entire murder mystery series! For that reason I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about A Fine Summer's Day, Charles Todd or where you can get a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Fine Summer's Day by Charles Todd

You can find Charles Todd on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

For more reviews on A Fine Summer's Day, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Hunting Shadows

He wasn't supposed to have brought either the weapon or the ammunition back. But he had, because the rifle has become a part of him. And no one searched his kit. Thank God he had.

The man deserved to die. But not this way. Not sacrificing himself. There had to be a better way. Look at it from a different perspective. God had brought this man to him once. He would do it again. All he had to do was wait. However long it took. His patience would pay off. He was ready. And Hutchinson would come to him for the killing.

Once again Scotland Yard has been asked to follow up on not only one murder case but two. When all leads come to a dead end, Inspector Ian Rutledge is called to find answers where there appear to be none. Both victims have strong social connections and both have been shot. The mystery is how they are linked and who has a rifle since all of them were supposed to have been turned in at the close of World War I. But apparently someone didn't and now is taking the time and diligence necessary to make sure that they are not caught and no clues are left behind. Is it possible that killer was a soldier or is it simply being made to look as if it is?

The other victim, Mr. Herbert Swift, a popular Tory candidate was also killed by a single shot while commencing with a public speech down the High Street, ending at the market cross. The only witness can only claim that she saw a monster in ironmonger's dormer window. What's more, the constable and afterward that Inspector Warren from Ely tried but they couldn't shake her account. Is it possible that hobgoblins are present in Fen country? Will Inspector Rutledge be able to find answers before the killer strikes again? Seems like Scotland Yard is Hunting Shadows!

I received Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. Once again Charles Todd takes readers back to London to 1920, where Ian Rutledge is called upon to solve a case with very little to go on. I've been a huge fan of his Ian Rutledge Series and this one did not disappoint. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and the attention to detail that Charles Todd utilizes in his series makes the reader truly feel like they are part of the action. It is always fun to see if I can solve the crimes before Inspector Rutledge does and I love the historical setting he places his mysteries in. This novel is due for release in January 2014. For more information about Hunting Shadows, Charles Todd or where you can preorder a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd

You can find Charles Todd on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Hunting Shadows, visit William Morrow's website.