Inspector Rutledge is tidying up after a friend's wedding when he’s ordered to nearby Cambury to aid an investigation. Rutledge ends up working with Inspector Padgett, a man lax on his job. When Rutledge arrives, he finds a body in a tithing barn strapped into an angel contraption—wings and all—created for a Christmas play. This is ironic because the victim is considered more of a devil by those who know him. Harold Quarles is a man with no past and a present full of money, possessions and enemies. Rutledge is overwhelmed with suspects.

The ghostly Hamish follows along as always, haunting Rutledge with mostly one-liners of observation.  Rutledge deals with bitter relatives, angry villagers, lazy local police and a political-minded Chief Constable. Poor Rutledge never has it easy when working a case, but again does his best to sort through lies and cover-ups to find a killer.

A Matter of Justice is the eleventh in this historical mystery series. There are some minor spoilers if you've not yet read the rest of the series, but they're not enough to ruin starting with this title. The authors have thrown so many red herrings into the storyline, they have Rutledge traveling to and fro around England hunting clues, examining and re-examining suspects. It’s just the kind of mystery to keep a reader immersed.

A Matter of Justice is a smooth, effortless read. It’s well written with just as much emotional content as false leads. Rutledge suffers the occasional heartrending flashback of war, which keeps his character humble compared to others. The series is unforgettable in itself, but the characters in A Matter of Justice will haunt you well after the last page... The Inspector Rutledge series is one you need to experience.