So, books like A Pale Horse is when I wished GR had ratings in half measurements. I stumbled across this book at my moms and decided to take it for a read when I wasn't sure what to pick up next. I knew nothing about the book, much less about the author, which turns out to be a writing team (mother and son). The book itself is a great story, with period details which I think any history/historical fiction reader would enjoy. I sure did. The 'who dunnit' aspect was intriguing as well. However, I was waiting for a Wow! surprise at the end, something along the lines of the movie "The Usual Suspects", but it didn't come. Interesting as it was, it left me wanting more. I won't go into "character growth" or other strategies in book writing, because quite frankly, I suck at that type of critiquing. What I will say is the book was #14 in the Inspector Rutledge series, and it has piqued my interest enough to want to read more of the series. Overall, I think it was a pretty good read. ( )

a scientist watched by war office disappears, hated by daughters, is his body one found in Yorkshire abbey, how did he die

Great story. Loved it. ( )

Fascinating to me that this book has received such varied reviews, but the ratings are fairly consistent. The tenth outing in Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge Scotland Yard series. A mysterious body lies in the ruins of Yorkshire’s Fountains Abbey wrapped in a theatrical cape, the face covered by a gas mask. A book on alchemy, which belongs to the schoolmaster, a conscientious objector in the Great War, lies nearby. The British War Office is searching for a missing man. Layers of lies and deception, clues galore. Every man (or woman) for themselves except for the Inspector who stands for the dead. I've read a number of books in this series, in some ways this is the best, although some of the dialogue is tedious. ( )

Ian Rutledge is a detective with Scotland Yard, following his service as an officer in the British Army during WWI. He is troubled by the voice of his Sergeant Hamish, who it seems, he had to assassinate for refusing an order.
A body is discovered in the ruins of an old abbey near Berkshire where a medieval sculpture of a horse attracted tourists. The body is clothed in a theatre cape and has a gas mask covering its face. Rutledge is sent from London to investigate the crime. Many characters are involved, especially those who inhabit the nine houses in Lepers row. It seems to be a locale that attracts loners and misfits, including the murder victim. Rutledge has to identify the body and look for motive and suspects.
This is the first Ian Rutledge murder mystery I have read so there seems to be some characters from past stories who appear such as his sister Frances.
Good story but did not find the ending particularly satisfying. ( )