A Fine Summer's Day - (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) by Charles Todd (Paperback)

About the Book

New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd takes readers into Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge s past to his perplexing final case before the outbreak of World War I.

On a fine summer s day in June, 1914, Ian Rutledge pays little notice to the assassination of an archduke in Sarajevo. An Inspector at Scotland Yard, he is planning to propose to the woman whom he deeply loves, despite intimations from friends and family that she may not be the wisest choice.

To the north on this warm and gentle day, another man in love a Scottish Highlander shows his own dear girl the house he will build for her in September. While back in England, a son awaits the undertaker in the wake of his widowed mother s death. This death will set off a series of murders across England, seemingly unconnected, that Rutledge will race to solve in the weeks before the fateful declaration in August that will forever transform his world.

As the clouds of war gather on the horizon, all of Britain wonders and waits. With every moment at stake, Rutledge sets out to right a wrong an odyssey that will eventually force him to choose between the Yard and his country, between love and duty, and between honor and truth."

Book Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd takes readers into Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge's past--to his perplexing final case before the outbreak of World War I.

On a fine summer's day in June, 1914, Ian Rutledge pays little notice to the assassination of an archduke in Sarajevo. An Inspector at Scotland Yard, he is planning to propose to the woman whom he deeply loves, despite intimations from friends and family that she may not be the wisest choice.

To the north on this warm and gentle day, another man in love--a Scottish Highlander--shows his own dear girl the house he will build for her in September. While back in England, a son awaits the undertaker in the wake of his widowed mother's death. This death will set off a series of murders across England, seemingly unconnected, that Rutledge will race to solve in the weeks before the fateful declaration in August that will forever transform his world.

As the clouds of war gather on the horizon, all of Britain wonders and waits. With every moment at stake, Rutledge sets out to right a wrong--an odyssey that will eventually force him to choose between the Yard and his country, between love and duty, and between honor and truth.

From the Back Cover

On a fine summer's day in June 1914, Ian Rutledge is planning to propose to a woman he deeply loves, despite hints from his family and friends that she may not be the most suitable choice for a policeman's wife. To the north, another man in love--a Scottish Highlander named Hamish MacLeod--asks his own sweetheart to marry him.

Back in England, a son grieves for his mother, dredging up a dark injustice that will trigger a series of murders that Rutledge must solve. The victims are all upstanding and well-liked. The local police have their suspicions about the culprits and are less than cooperative with the London detective.

As clouds of war gather on the horizon, Rutledge digs deeper, finding similarities and patterns between the murders. With every moment at stake, he sets out to right a terrible wrong--an odyssey that will eventually force him to choose between the Yard and his country, between love and duty, and between honor and truth.

Review Quotes

"An excellent tale. As always when it comes to Charles Todd, this mother/son team of authors are in-depth, refined, and offer up a true thriller of a story." -- Suspense Magazine on A Fine Summer's Day

"A very welcome addition to, and expansion of, a much-loved series." -- Booklist

"The books are Charles Todd recounting the cases of Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge in the days following WWI are as quintessentially English as anything by Ruth Rendell, PD James or John Harvey....These are some of the finest historical mystery novels in print....Todd [is] in top form again." -- BookPage on A FINE SUMMER'S DAY

"Readers familiar with the series can't imagine a Rutledge who doesn't hear the voice of MacLeod in his head, and this novel adds poignancy to the Rutledge we avidly follow. Grade: A" -- Cleveland Plain Dealer

"A tight plot keeps readers on the edge until the stunning final pages." -- Library Journal

"A Fine Summer's Day" is a high point in this evocative series that has never disappointed." -- South Florida Sun Sentinel

"Pure fun for fans. " -- Charlotte Observer

"A bittersweet gift to longtime readers of this wonderful series." -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

"A FINE SUMMER'S DAY is an absolute pleasure to read and a true treat for faithful readers of this series." -- Bookreporter.com