About the book
The New York Times Book Review named Charles Todd's spectacular debut, A Test of Wills, one of its Notable Books of the Year for 1996, and it received an Edgar nomination for Best First Mystery. Now Inspector Rutledge makes his greatly anticipated second appearance, in a book with the kind of richly developed characters, layered plot, and luminous British village scenes that distinguished its predecessor.
In Cornwall, England, a tragic event has occurred involving three members of the same family. One of the deceased is Olivia, a writer whose war poetry provided solace to Ian Rutledge during his time in the trenches of France. While there is no concrete evidence of foul play, a concerned relative believes that the deaths may be murders and urges Scotland Yard to conduct a thorough investigation.
Rutledge's colleague, Bowles, views the situation in Cornwall as an opportunity to remove the shell-shocked World War I veteran from London, where a recent series of murders reminiscent of the Ripper case has captured public attention.
Accompanying Rutledge on the investigation is Hamish, a constant presence in his mind who represents the guilt and trauma of wartime decisions. Through the exploration of British family dynamics and the remarkable poetry of Olivia, Charles Todd's Wings of Fire delivers a captivating story filled with intricate characters and authentic historical detail.
