Search the Dark by Charles Todd

I just finished Search the Dark by Charles Todd. It is the third in a series of mysteries featuring Inspector Ian Rutledge. I read the first two mysteries in this series several months ago after reading a positive review of the latest in the Raleigh News & Observer. I like finding a series that draws me in, as I can look forward to enjoying more than just the book I am reading. I found much to like in the first two books. I approached the third with both hope and worry. Sometimes a series run out of steam.

Fortunately that was not the case here and I liked Search the Dark even better than the first two books. These books are set in Post World War I England. The protagonist is a man whose life has been wrenched around by his experiences in that war. The war over, he has returned to his previous work at Scotland Yard. As he tries to move forward he realizes that, for him, the war is not really over. A fascinating (at least in terms of plot) remnant of the war is the voice in his head of a man, Hamish, whose death weighs on him. My hope is that over time Hamish will develop as much as the Inspector himself does as a character. The war and its effect on both the Inspector and others in the stories are major parts of the stories. The plot and its mystery are complex enough without being so intricate I get lost. I think what I love best is the fascinating characters whose motives I am constantly second-guessing as the story plays out.

I have read that the author is really a mother and son team. They certainly have developed a successful collaboration.