I've been reading the Ian Rutledge series for years, but this one is very different because this one functions as a prequel. A Fine Summer's Day takes place before WWI.
On a lovely summer's day, Ian Rutledge is attending a house party at the home of Melissa Crawford (Bess Crawford's aunt) with plans to ask the young woman he loves to marry him. Elsewhere on the same day a man is preparing to bury his mother, a young man in Scotland is proposing to his sweetheart, and in Sarajevo, an anarchist murders the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife.
The seeds of WWI are sown.
On that summer day in June, no one suspected that their lives were about to change. Certainly not Ian Rutledge, engaged and looking forward to marriage. Divided between his social obligations to his fiancee and his job at Scotland Yard, Rutledge spends the summer working on a series of murders that initially appear unrelated.
On the continent, one declaration of war after another increases the fear and suspense, and by August 4, 1914, England had joined the fray. Even after England declares war on Germany, and scores of young men rush to enlist, most feel that all will be settled by Christmas.
Throughout the summer, Rutledge travels from one village to another trying to find a connection between the murdered men, and even after he discovers the connection, he must find evidence to convince his superior.
It is strange to read an Ian Rutledge novel that takes place before the war and before he meets Hamish, but the Todd's have given us an interesting glimpse an England before the upheaval of war, before the loss of a generation of young men.
Library copy.
Historic Mystery. Jan. 2015. 371 pages.
I've only read the first book in this series and really liked it but I just haven't followed up with it. Seems a bit odd though to write a prequel while the series is still going on though. Or at least I feel like most prequels happen after a series is over. Anyway, it does sound like a good book!
ReplyDeleteThere are 19 books in the Ian Rutledge series, according to Orderofbooks.com!! I read the first one years ago and have read quite a few since, but not all of them. I have found them a little uneven, but have enjoyed all of them. They all do a great job of revealing the problems that veterans of the first WW faced on returning home. A Fine Summer's Day isn't one of my favorites, but I enjoyed getting some of the background of Rutledge's life before the war.
DeleteI have wanted to read this series because I have read their other one, but just haven't got around to it... And, I am behind in their other one now anyway... One day I will get to it!
ReplyDeleteI recommend starting with the first one, A Test of Wills. I should really re-read that one; it was published in 1996. Whew!
DeleteI'm with Iliana. I also thought a prequel is always written after a series is over and that it's popular among the readers to demand a prequel. Anyway, this sounds interesting, for I don't think I've read a book that is set before WWI. Will have to check out this series.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot of prequels that are written before the series concludes, but this series is so long. Until I looked at Orderofbooks.com, I had no idea there were 19 books in the series so far!
DeleteI love this series. I might have to read this one before I finish all the others. It will be interesting to get some insight into his past...
ReplyDelete:) It is a good series, isn't it? I don't think I'll ever read all of the books, but I've enjoyed the ones I've read. It is interesting to get a look at Jean (although I'm disappointed in Rutledge for not being able to see what a zero she was) and his sister Frances.
DeleteI've heard Ian Rutledge is the better series, but I have not tried it yet.
ReplyDeleteI think the Todd's are finding their feet on the Bess Crawford series, but the first books in the Ian Rutledge series are my favorites so far. I continue to like some better than others, but my goodness--there are so darn many in the series!
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