A Test of Wills
- Authors: Charles Todd
- Series: Book 1 in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series
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- Release Date: August 1, 1996
- Print length: 282 pages (Hardcover)
About the book
In 1914, Ian Rutledge decided to leave his brilliant career at Scotland Yard to fight in the Great War. However, upon his return in 1919, he carries a heavy burden - he is still struggling with shell shock. Haunted by the voice of a young Scots soldier he was forced to execute on the battlefield, Rutledge is desperate to salvage his sanity.
Back at Scotland Yard, Rutledge faces jealousy from a colleague who is aware of his secret. This colleague manipulates the situation to assign Rutledge to a case that is doomed for disaster. In a Warwickshire village, a retired military officer has been murdered, with the prime suspect being a decorated war hero and a friend of the Prince of Wales.
Rutledge, battling his inner tormentor and his illness, delves into the investigation. He explores the lives of the villagers, including the victim's ward engaged to the suspect, a shunned artist in love with a German prisoner, and reclusive cousins near the crime scene. The key witness, a war-damaged ex-soldier, serves as a chilling reminder to Rutledge of his own potential downfall.
A TEST OF WILLS marks the start of a series that blends psychological suspense with rich atmosphere and an intriguing mystery.
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