Hunting Shadows

Two murders in the Cambridgeshire fens share only one visible characteristic: the killer vanishes without leaving traces conventional investigation can follow. When the only witness to the second killing describes something that sounds impossible, Inspector Ian Rutledge finds himself working a case that reaches back into the trenches of the First World War — as all his cases eventually must. Charles Todd's Agatha Award-winning novel is careful, atmospheric, and character-driven in the tradition of the best British procedurals.

Simon Prebble has narrated the Rutledge series consistently, and his handling of the novel's layered time — the 1920s present and the war's shadow — is precise. His Rutledge carries the shell shock of Hamish, the voice in his head, with a restraint that makes the psychological burden feel real rather than melodramatic. At just over 10 hours, Hunting Shadows is a methodical and rewarding listen for fans of historical crime fiction.