First
Sentence: He’d tried to put the war behind him.
A sniper killer at Ely Cathedral takes Inspector Ian Rutledge
to Cambridgeshire. A separate shooting in a different village
does have a witness, but her testimony makes no real sense.
The biggest barrier to Rutledge’s investigation is the
apparent lack of motive in either case and lack of connection
between the two victims. With the third shooting, and a target
who survives, Rutledge starts looking to the past for both
the motive, and for the killer.
The opening chapter is rather different and unusual, but completely
engrossing. Todd’s descriptions are wonderfully atmospheric.
It’s very nice that an accounting of Hamish is offered
that both explains him to new readers yet doesn’t interrupt
the flow for recurring readers. Much focus is given to Rutledge,
yet it’s not boring or repetitive. He is a fascinating
character about whom we want to know more. His relapse into
a flashback of the war is very effective and painful without
being overly description. The understanding of the rector
made the scene all that more powerful for its subtly. His
dealing with his shell shock/PTSD is a tragic thread which
connects the series and other characters of whom there are
many who’ve suffered the effects of war.
Sometimes, it is the little things that matter. It’s
nice that, with all the driving to-and-fro Rutledge does,
we finally having him stopping for petrol occasionally.
Hunting Shadows is a good read. While one appreciates
the doggedness of Rutledge’s investigation and the way
he puts the information together in order to identify the
killer, it was difficult to feel particularly strong connection
to any character other than Rutledge.
Reviews of other titles in this series
A Test of Wills, 1 [reviews]
A False Mirror, No 7 [review]
A Long Shadow, 8 [review]
A Pale Horse, 10 [review]
A Matter of Justice, 11 [review
1] [review
2]
The Confession, 14 [review
1] [review
2]
Hunting Shadows, 16 [review
1 ] [review
2]
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