Inspector Rutledge, shell shocked WWI veteran turned Scotland Yard detective, happens upon a killing while on a late night drive. He arrives within minutes of a young man, fatally killed by an unknown gunman. Because he was off duty, having just attended his sister's wedding, and not carrying his credentials the local constabulary view him as a suspect at first. Once that is straightened out there is a contentious turf battle between Rutledge and the police. The victim is a well known and generally liked individual who had been raised by a mother who believes him to be evil. Even so, the killing appears to be random until there is a second victim, a gentleman farmer. Rutledge searches for a connection between the deaths while dealing with his PTSD in the form of a voice in his head of the soldier he had to put to death for endangering their unit during the war. The voice of "Hamish" frequently aids Rutledge in thinking through details of the crime and, while unwanted, is not particularly a bad symptom. I've only read a few of these mysteries and find them interesting and well crafted.
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