One week shy of returning from medical leave, Inspector Rutledge is sent to the east coast of England on a supposedly easy task. Looking at his gaunt, pale face, many people assume the gunshot injury he suffers from is a war wound. Rutledge appreciates the irony of the truth, that he received it upon his return to civilian work after apparently making it through the war unscathed.

However, there is an invisible war wound he carries with him, the voice of a dead soldier whose body sheltered Rutledge from a barrage of bullets that killed everyone else. Rutledge feels doomed to carry Hamish’s voice forever, since Rutledge ordered Hamish shot to death for failing to follow orders. Indeed, Hamish takes part in the book’s dialogue seamlessly. If you didn’t pay attention at the beginning you could well assume that he is a detective along with his superior investigating the case.

The case itself is unique in my reading. A priest is murdered in his study. The study is a mess and a small amount of money has been stolen. Rutledge, given the simple task of assuring the Catholic Church’s representative that the investigation is underway, finds himself with questions about the local policeman’s theory. The simple task turns into a lengthy stay while Rutledge finds out why a man everyone loved and esteemed was killed. If it wasn’t for the money, then what was it?

I thought the investigation itself was beautifully told. Rutledge and Hamish trod through the routine chaff and the unexpected wheat, and pages and pages of English scenery go by before we get to the crux of the matter. It is a wonderful way to spend some time. The plot is better than you realize. I was relaxed, thinking I had solved it, only to find myself completely wrong. Given the time period and the crime itself, the denouement is reasonable and satisfying. Ian Rutledge is an intelligent, sensitive man, much like the more famous Adam Dalgliesh of P.D. James’books.

--Diane Gotfryd