A Fine Summer's Day: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

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.

my thoughts:

A Fine Summer's Day is book 17 in the Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery series by famed mother and son writing duo Charles Todd.  It is my first foray into Todd's works and let me just say I'm so happy it is.  Apparently with this story, the authors wanted to provide a look into Ian's past and share with the readers how he came to be the haunted man they have come to love in this popular mystery series.  Plus, if I'm honest, I absolutely LOVE the Maisie Dobbs series and sort of thought that the Rutledge series would be similar - and I was right!  It is similar in the sense that the writing is spot on (meaning it really does bring back to life London in the early 1900s) and the characters are unforgettable.  The story itself is engaging and utterly unputdownable!  I fell in love with Todd's prequel to the series and am eager to start reading from the beginning - A Test of Wills. 

I would most definitely recommend A Fine Summer's Day to fans of Charles Todd's works, specifically the Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery series - you will LOVE this book!  And for readers wanting to dive into something new, this is the perfect book if you are a fan of mystery and history.  Seriously, this novel has it all - drama, murder, mystery, intrigue, and a little bit of romance.  Oh and did I mention that WWI is nigh and adds an element of terror to the story - after all, what could be more scary than one's own country at war? 

To find out more, check out the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: A Fine Summer's Day

All in all, a jolly good read that I won't soon forget.  I can't wait to meet up again with Ian Rutledge and his life with the Yard.  And now, I'm off to read my copy of The New Yorker.  Happy reading!!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!