by Charles Todd
Part of Inspector Ian Rutledge, book 22
First published 2020
Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge receives an unusual assignment. Chief Inspector Brian Leslie has failed to solve a perplexing murder in Avebury, a village surrounded by ancient standing stones near Stonehenge. A young woman was found dead beside one of the mysterious hooded stones, but nobody can identify her. Leslie conducted a thorough investigation yet the killer disappeared without a trace. Chief Superintendent Jameson asks Rutledge to review the case, though Rutledge suspects his superior wants him to fail and tarnish his recent success. Rutledge finds little evidence in Avebury and expands his search beyond the village boundaries. The few clues he uncovers seem unreliable and point toward a solution that appears impossible. Pursuing this line of inquiry will anger Scotland Yard and likely cost him his career. Rutledge faces a painful choice between protecting his position and seeking justice for the murdered woman. His loyalty will be tested as he decides how far he will go to solve her case.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-detective, loyalty-tested, unsolved-mystery
Setting: Avebury, Scotland Yard, Stonehenge
Period: 20th-century
328 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow / HarperCollins Publishers