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

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

No Mark Upon Her

Looking for a great Scotland Yard mystery that will keep you guessing just who did it til the very end and keep you turning pages faster and faster until you finally know who did it? Then look no further. In her latest book, No Mark Upon Her, Deborah Crombie takes her readers in depth into a rowing missing persons crime initially which will later prove that a murder has taken place. One by one the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit seamlessly together until you realize that not all pieces that fit together form the perfect picture and you have it all wrong.

I thought I had this one down pat until about 7/8ths of the way through the book and realized that I had been going on a wild goose chase and not everything was adding up the way it should have been. I guess in my opinion that's what makes for an excellent murder mystery is if the author can keep the identity hidden til the very end. Masterfully done and this is my first book review for Deborah Crombie but definitely will not be my last. Love her characters, dialogue and her writing style. A perfect blend in my opinion and well rated at 5 out of 5 stars. I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie

Book Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Deborah Crombie makes her mark with this absorbing, finely hued tale of suspense—a deeply atmospheric and twisting mystery full of deadly secrets, salacious lies, and unexpected betrayals involving the mysterious drowning of a Met detective—an accomplished rower—on the Thames.

When a K9 search-and-rescue team discovers a woman's body tangled up with debris in the river, Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid finds himself heading an investigation fraught with complications. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, was a talented but difficult woman with many admirers—and just as many enemies. An Olympic contender on the verge of a controversial comeback, she was also a high-ranking detective with the Met—a fact that raises a host of political and ethical issues in an already sensitive case.

To further complicate the situation, a separate investigation, led by Detective Inspector Gemma James, Kincaid's wife, soon reveals a disturbing—and possibly related—series of crimes, widening the field of suspects. But when someone tries to kill the search-and-rescue team member who found Rebecca's body, the case becomes even more complex and dangerous, involving powerful interests with tentacles that reach deep into the heart of the Met itself.

Surrounded by enemies with friendly faces, pressured to find answers quickly while protecting the Yard at all costs, his career and reputation on the line, Kincaid must race to catch the killer before more innocent lives are lost—including his own.