A Fine Summer’s Day by Charles Todd

If you are familiar with the Ian Rutledge mysteries, A Fine Summer’s day is the long wished for prequel that provides the background of his life before the Great War.  If you are new to the series, it will provide a nice foundation for the subsequent dozen novels available in the series.

The book opens on a beautiful June English day where Ian Rutledge is enjoying the company of his lady friend at a garden party.  The news arrives of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo. While disturbing, no one can envision that this action will mark the beginning of the Great War.  Ian is most concerned with finding the right time to propose to the young and bubbly Jean Gordon.  It’s a suitable match, she is from a military family and Ian is young detective at Scotland Yard. But the storm clouds are gathering.

Shortly after Jean accepts Ian’s proposal, Ian begins an investigation that will lead him all over the English countryside in his shiny new Rolls Royce. There has been a suspicious death of a well-liked businessman with no enemies.  The death looks much like a suicide, but there is no motive for this man to take his own life. Murders begin to pop up in various regions. Ian must find the common link between these victims before the killer strikes again.

It’s hard to fathom that a mere hundred years ago the automobile and telephone were novelties. Ian must rely not on forensic science but the power of his interrogation of various witnesses and suspects. Along the way we meet many colorful characters and take a trip back in time.

This is a delightful read that introduces the reader to the well beloved characters in the series including the first meeting between Ian Rutledge and Hamish MacLeod.  Ian’s great aunt, Melinda Crawford provides Ian with much needed wisdom on his quest to find the killer. (She is related to war nurse Betsy Crawford the protagonist in her own series by the same author.) The conflict between Chief Constable Bowles and Ian is explained.  The mad rush into the Great War provides a tense background to the increasingly dangerous and complicated investigation. The mood of the novel changes from carefree summer of bold jingoism to the disappointment of death and war.

I hope that the duo’s next novel may explore more of Ian’s experience as a Lieutenant in France in command of a Highlander regiment. Often referred to as the “Forgotten War”, I appreciate the authors attempt to explore the history and the aftermath of this horrible chapter in British and world history.