Books Read in February 2018

This might be what you would call an Inspector Rutledge marathon month. All told, I read two nonfiction and five fiction books, of which four were the Rutledge series mysteries. These are the books in order of completion this month.

“The Last Enchantments”, by Charles Finch. Written by the same author of the Charles Lennox Victorian mystery series, this takes place in almost present day Oxford University about a young American studying for a year in England. While much of it is about the young man and his friends, I got a distinct impression that much, if not almost all, was biographical. Finch went to Yale and then Oxford just like the main character of this story.

“The Gatekeeper”, by Charles Todd. This is the 20^th in the series and is every bit as good as the others. This takes place in June 1920, in mostly Suffolk, England. Once again, Rutledge solves a difficult case that seems hopelessly unsolvable. It starts with him driving out of London after his sister’s wedding and he stumbles upon a women standing in the middle of the road over a dead man. It’s a good one.

“A Fine Summer’s Day”, by Charles Todd. This is 17^th in the series but is a prequel so I read it again in preparation for reading the entire series once more. The last time I reread the series, this one wasn’t out so I didn’t have the pleasure. I recommend to anyone reading the series the first time to start with this one. I wanted to see if I was right. I was. It takes place in Bristol and other parts of England from June through December 1914. And it sets the stage for everything to come.

“A Test of Wills”, by Charles Todd. The 1^st book. Taking place in June 1919, in Warwickshire, this is the first major case after Rutledge returns from the war, having suffered shell-shock. It involves war hero thought to be a murderer.

“The Annotated Flatland”, by Ian Stewart. This is our book group selection in March and I am the leader this month. I chose this book because of its mathematical/geometrical topics as well as being a critical essay on Victorian social mores of the day – it was written in England in 1884 – as well as the treatment of women at that time. I had read it before.

“Rules of Civility”, by George Washington and edited by Richard Brookhiser. A Small book of 110 rules a Jesuit text that Washington copied into a notebook when he was a boy and tried to follow throughout his life. Most still apply today. This was also a reread.

“Wings of Fire”, by Charles Todd. The 2^nd in the series, this took place in July 1919, in Cornwall and involves the suicide of a poet who Rutledge read during the war. One of the best of the series.

(Cambria 12)