Customer Reviews

LEGACY OF THE DEAD.

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I recently learned in one of the trade magazines that Charles Todd is actually a mother-son writing team. No problem. From the outset, I've found this to be one of the most well-conceived, historically accurate series ever. The idea of a WW1 veteran tormented by the Scottish burring of comments and observations (inside his own head) of a solider he admired and respected, yet had to condemn to death on the battlefield shouldn't work. But it does. It's no small accomplishment; neither is the circuitous plotting and stunning characterizations-of even the most minor characters. Each book deals less with who-did-it and far more with why-did-s/he-do it; and the convoluted rationales of the central characters are never short of fascinating.

What I found particularly enjoyable about Legacy Of The Dead was the meticulous detailing of the search for Eleanor Gray, missing for three years; as well as the identity of the child in possession of the heroine, Fiona MacDonald, who is imprisoned on a charge of murdering the nameless skeletal remains of a woman (who might or might not be Eleanor Gray). This is sleuthing at its best. I've loved each book in this series, and this latest met my every expectation. I recommend the series wholeheartedly.

Fiona MacDonald came to live with her aunt in Duncarrick as a young war widow with a baby. At first, she is accepted by the villagers. But after her aunt's death, Fiona becomes the victim of a vicious smear campaign. Someone has been circulating annonymous letters, accusing her of wantoness. And soon, she is effectively shunned by nearly everyone in the community . Not content with the misery he or she has caused Fiona, her unseen enemy soon ups the stakes and accuses her of having committed murder in order to steal the baby for herself. Fiona is unable to refute the charges or to prove that the child living with her is her's. And when a few months later the police uncover the remains of a young woman, Fiona is arrested and charged with murder based on the circumstancial evidence.

Ian Rutledge is sent north to placate Lady Maude Gray. The police believe that the remains they found may be those of her missing daughter's, Eleanor, and that the child Fiona had been rearing could be Eleanor's baby. However Lady Maude is outraged at such a notion and refuses to help in the investigation. She is unwilling to believe that Eleanor is dead or that she could have borne a child out of wedlock. Rutledge has been sent in to soft soap her, and to see if he can gain her trust and cooperation. He has very little success with the harsh and proud lady.

And when Rutledge goes to Duncarrick to meet the woman who is at the center of all this mystery, he is stunned to find that he recognises Fiona as Hamish MacLeod's fiance. MacLeod is the young man he executed for refusing to fight, and whose ghost is currently haunting him. Rutledge feels that he must help Fiona, but he faces the distrust and anger of a community bent on punishing her for imagined misdeeds. He tries to get her to confide in him, but she refuses. Fiona is full of secrets that are not her's to divulge, and she seems to have chosen death over breaking faith with whomever she made the promises to. Rutledge realises that he must discover what happened to Eleanor Grey in order to save Fiona from the hangman's noose. But the harder he digs, the more evidence he seems to find that points to Fiona's guilt.

This seemingly simple plot posseses many intriguingly complex subplots -- whose child is Fiona raising? Whatever did become of Eleanor Grey? Why was no one interested or curious about what had become of her since 1916? And who is Fiona's deadly enemy and what is the cause of all this fury he or she feels towards her? Charles Todd spins quite an intricate web, that draws you in and keeps you guessing. And he paints a wonderfully vivid picture of a small Scottish community just after WW1: cold and narrow, dour and humourless, grounded in a Knox-like righteouness that has very little room for compassion and understanding. Todd also paints a vivid portrait of two brave and courageous women: Fiona and Eleanor. Fiona who puts her loyalty and frienship for another above her own well-being; and Eleanor who had the courage to leave her previleged life behind in order to do something worthwhile with her life.

A very intricate and interesting novel that is also rich in atmosphere. A wonderful read.

I really thoroughly enjoyed the entire story, the characters, the progression. And then the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. Like the author ran out of paper at the end and didn't feel like going to the store to get more. Epilogue. I need an epilogue. I want to know how Lady Maude dealt with the truth. I want to know how Rutledge's uncle deals with it all. I want to know what happens to the kid. I want to know if Rutledge's boss took advantage of how it played out to torment Rutledge more. I really resent it when authors get hours of commitment from me (I listened to the audio version so I couldn't even peek ahead to see the ending) and then dump me.

It feels disrespectful of the characters, of the plot, of the story, of the reader - the author(s) leaves too many loose ends. Yeah, we know the key stuff like who killed whom and from where the boy came, and the bad guys are dealt with ok. But this book was rich with characters and story lines which engaged the reader, and to give no info on how those areas came together is beyond disappointing.

So I'd give the story 5 stars, and the ending minus 1 star.

In 1919 Scotland, World War I veteran, Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge investigates the death of Eleanor Gray, last seen three years ago. Apparently, the remains of a person, probably Eleanor, have been found on a mountainside near Duncarrick. The local police arrest Fiona MacDonald for murdering Eleanor.

Ian knows he must carefully conduct his investigation so as not to affront the victim's mother Lady Maude Gray. At the same time, Ian feels stifled because the accused declines any defense even if it means her execution. With the ghost of Hamish MacLeod haunting his every step, Ian asks questions of anyone associated with the two women especially during the year of Eleanor's disappearance. Each step forward seems to lead to detours from the truth as an unknown puppet master manipulates behind the scenes.

In his fourth appearance, Rutledge has become a complete character so that readers can fully understand him and through his mind MacLeod. In turn, the audience also obtains a feel for the impact of World War I especially on the immediate decade that followed. LEGACY OF DEAD is a powerful entry in a strong series as Charles Todd continues his intelligent writing that assumes his followers are shrewd and perceptive individuals. This novel is a dazzling historical police procedural that will send new fans searching for the three antecedent books.

Harriet Klausner

I read Legacy of the Dead not realizing that it was the fourth in a series, but luckily it worked extremely well as a stand alone novel. I enjoyed it from start to finish, even if there were one too many coincidental plot twists. Very few authors can pull off a meticulous police procedural with so much heartfelt emotion. The protagonist is one of the walking wounded of WWI, haunted by his past and the ever present memory of a fallen comrade in arms Hamish. The harshly beautiful Scottish highlands are a perfect backdrop for this complex tale, and Ian Rutledge is a character with his own psychological mysteries to solve. I disagree with the blurb from Publishers Weekly; there is indeed suspense in this story but don't expect the breakneck action of a thriller. Legacy of the Dead takes its time revealing both the clues and the broken psyches of its characters. A moving and excellent read. I will definitely read the others in the series.

This story was interestingly presented and did not follow a forumulatic plot, which was a relief. This is my first experience with the Rutledge mysteries and I enjoyed Todd's writing style. This is a great weekend or beach read.

While it is readable for those unfamiliar with Inspector Rutledge and Hamish, I recommend reading the earlier ones first so that you know a little about Fiona MacDonald. Most certainly, she is at the center of the story although Rutledge's investigation has to do with the missing Eleanor Gray.This case is more emotional and also places Rutledge in more personal danger than usual. As for me, I would have liked more of a wrap-up at the end although Todd obviously had his reasons for the more abrupt and edgy ending.

Slowly, slowly, slowly Charles Todd's story in "Legacy of the Dead" stretches to its conclusion. The extended suspense is almost intolerable. One is forced to keep reading. You may, however, find the ending a bit abrupt, but you'll understand it.

If you're like me, you'll have to turn back to the very first chapter, which has stuck in your mind. By carefully rereading those few beginning pages, you'll also understand what you likely couldn't have understood before finishing the book.

Meanwhile, a young woman hated and shunned by the prim inhabitants of a small English town near the Scottish border, finds herself accused of stealing a baby boy at birth and murdering the mother. Vicious rumors and letters have turned the town against her. Her refusal to defend herself makes a finding of guilt in the impending trial by town jury, a veritable certainty. The case seems hopeless; she will hang.

A woman's bones have been found in the Scottish mountains. Are they of the murdered mother? English police have approached and angered a Lady Maude Gray about whether the bones might belong to her missing daughter, Eleanor.

Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent by Scotland Yard to investigate and "smooth troubled waters" with Lady Maude and between the English and Scottish jurisdictions. He becomes deeply involved with all the characters, including the accused.

Rutledge's mental companion, Hamish, is more strongly present than in the earlier novels. We find out much more about the Scotland area Hamish came from and about the woman he left behind.

We also learn more of Rutledge's background and his Scottish godfather, David Trevor, whose house Rutledge had frequently visited while growing up. The household is grieving the loss of David's son in the war.

The characters are well drawn. Their conflicts are intriguing. The writing is superb.

Charles Todd has sent his war ravaged Inspector Ian Rutledge to Scotland to find out what happened to Eleanor Gray, the daughter of one of England's richest woman. While he looks for Eleanor he comes upon Fiona MacDonald, the fiance of the man (Hamish MacLeod) who is his internal demon. Fiona has been accused of killing a woman and stealing her child. The bones that are found are thought to be those of Eleanor Gray. Can Rutledge find the real killer and save Fiona? To do so, he must find out who the child's real parents are, but Fiona would rather hang than give up the secret.

With an amazingly deft touch, and an eye for the details of the times (and morals), Inspector Rutledge is the proverbial dog with a bone, and he won't let it loose. Little by little he is able to piece the story of Eleanor Gray, the little boy (Ian Hamish MacDonald), and Fiona MacDonald, and make the real killer show his/her hand. But will Rutledge survive long enough to bring the killer to light. Read on....

This is a thoroughly satisfying mystery. We, who have come to think of Inspector Ian Rutledge as our friend and his shadow-companion Hamish as a benign but ubiquitous presence in Charles Todd's mysteries, are glad for this book.

Herein, the author takes us North, first to meet a grande dame, Lady Maude, and then on to investigate a mystery that may or may not involve her missing daughter, Eleanor Gray. One gets a sense of the societal changes of the post W W I era, as one follows the investigation. Miss Gray lived a life that took full advantage of the strides that women were making as the 1920s began, and this was both a cause of concern for her incredibly wealthy, titled family, but also part of the reason why she went so long unsought.

While in the North, Rutledge ventures into the borders of Scotland as he visits the father of his best friend - who died in the War - and this leads to complications that cause him to cross into the Highlands and Hamish's old stomping grounds.

Whether he is ready or not to face those ghosts becomes part of the tale.

Then, too, as the plot thickens, living reminders of Hamish become entwined in the mystery. Chief among them, Hamish's beloved and betrothed, Fiona MacDonald. Did Fiona have anything to do with Eleanor's disappearance? Even - perish the thought - Eleanor's murder?

And if so, where pray tell is the body?

As in the other Rutledge mysteries, the recent memory of W W I is like a mist that creeps into the investigation from time to time. There are some harrowing scenes out in nature that remind Rutledge that peacetime is as dangerous as wartime.

All the while, the powers that be at Scotland Yard have thrown him into a nearly impossible case, where to succeed might spell his own disaster, if Lady Maude is not pleased with the outcome.

Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge is bound to become one of the dozen or so classic mystery detectives. May Todd's faithful readership grow--and may many more books featuring Ian and Hamish come into being!

One further thought. For those readers who are eager to find fault with the occasional non-British turn of phrase in these novels, perhaps you might choose, instead, to think if them as little "Ninas" inserted in the text as hidden clues to the authors' American background. After all, Nancy Astor and Jennie Jerome made their way in the UK. Why can't Todd!

If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction