Tuesday, December 29, 2020

A Cold Treachery

A Cold Treachery is the 7th book in Charles Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge detective series. The series takes place in the immediate post-WWI period. This particular book takes place in the winter, with snow on the ground. I continue to enjoy this series. The main character is engaging, the other characters have depth, the plots are intriguing, and the books are real page-turners. I'd recommend beginning with the first in the series, as his war experience and resultant shell shock are key to understanding the character and are more fully explored in that book.

from the back of the book:
Called out into the teeth of a violent blizzard, Inspector Ian Rutledge faces one of the most savage murders he's ever encountered. He might have expected such unspeakable carnage on the World War I battlefields where he'd lost much of his soul -and his sanity- but not in an otherwise peaceful farm kitchen in remote Urskdale. Someone has murdered the Elcott family without the least sign of struggle. But when the victims are tallied, the local police are in for another shock: One child is missing. Now the Inspector must race to save a young boy before he's silenced by the murderous elements -or the even colder hands of the killer who hides in the blinding snow.
As you might think, much tea is offered and accepted in this book. Here's an early example:
"Would you care for a cup of tea?" She gestured to the kettle on the stove.

"Yes, please," he answered, already awash with it but suddenly unwilling to be alone. The kitchen was ordinary, quiet, cozy -it had nothing to do with a murdered family or the faces of a jury or the voice of Hamish MacLeod in the rear seat. Nothing to do with the overwhelming mountains outside or the duty he had come to carry out. He wanted only to sit down in one of the chairs nd think about the crackle of the fire and the warmth that was spreading through him and the drowsiness that would follow. Without dreams, because the light kept them at bay and the woman in the chair somehow reminded him of Olivia Marlowe.... But Olivia Marlowe -the war poet O.A. Manning- was dead, buried in Cornwall. Beyond his reach. Shaking himself awake, he began to take off his gloves, scarf, and coat, setting them with his hat on one of the chairs. Miss Fraser was busy with the tea, and without getting in her way he stood to one side of the great iron stove, absorbing the heat.
I have also read the following from this series:
#1 A Test of Wills
#2 Wings of Fire
#3 Search the Dark
#4 Legacy of the Dead
#5 Watchers of Time
#6 A Fearsome Doubt
Won't you join me in a cozy cuppa and visit with the T Stands for Tuesday bloggers linked at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog?

13 comments:

  1. ...we have the cold this morning, but hopefully not the treachery.

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  2. Nothing quite like a cuppa especially like the daydream of MacLeod. The only thing to make it perfect would be to have a scone. Happy T Day

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  3. So pleased that you have another book in this series to share with us and the excerpt is perfect for T Day 😀. I hope you had a lovely Christmas. Happy T Tuesday and all the best for 2021! Hugs, Jo x

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  4. Sounds like a good read Happy T and Happy New Year 2021

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  5. This reminds me of "In Cold Blood," the story of the Clutter family in western Kansas who were killed with very little signs of a struggle. To my knowledge, there were NO tea references in Truman Capote's classic, though. Thanks for piquing my interest in this book and sharing it with us for T this Tuesday, dear.

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  6. This book sounds like a perfect read with a cuppa of something warm. Here, I might need to start the woodstove too. The arctic wind is a whipping. I am adding this to my wish list of books that I might someday read. Boy that list gets sooooooooo long. That's why I chose the word might. Happy T day. Hugs-Erika

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  7. I am enjoying a cuppa right now. It is flippen 30°F this Am. Enjoy your reading.

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  8. It sounds like a series I would like. Do you read online somehow or do you buy Kindle books? You read so much, that it would be quite expensive.

    Happy T-day and a Happy Improved) New Year! Hugs, Eileen

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    1. I read online when I can find them, but I prefer a physical copy. I used to get lots of books for quite inexpensive prices by going to used book stores, and I always ask for the books from series I already know I like for presents. I got 4 books for Christmas, for example. New books, even in paperback, are expensive!

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  9. Independently I had the same thought as Elizabeth -- it reminds me of the murders in Capote's "In Cold Blood." Our next door neighbor when I was growing up knew the Clutter family, and he was really shocked by that book, which still shocks, so I guess your fiction book does too.

    be safe and enjoy the holidays... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  10. Someone else I hadn't heard of but will investigate! I don't think I have ever read so much in a year. wish I had written them all down before sending them to the charity shop! Happy T Day and Happy New Year, Chrisx

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  11. Have you read "No Shred of Evidence" (also a Todd/Rutledge mystery. I read that this summer and it's very good but don't see it on your list unless it has a double title. I really like this series.

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    1. I'm reading them in publication order and haven't gotten to that one yet. I do like the series so will get to it eventually :)

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