No Shred of Evidence - Charles Todd

My week away got off to a rocky start when my flight out was delayed. Initially for an hour, then another hour, then three more, then three more, then five more. The airport had a small bookshelf there, this seemed the best option somewhere around the last delay, and when I hadn't finished it I borrowed it for the flight. Figured they owed me the loan of a book, and I dropped it off on my return flight.

Anyway, it's set in England, post-World War I, and a young man is gravely injured and ultimately dies. Four ladies in a rowboat tried to rescue him from drowning, but were in dire straits until a nearby farmer saw what was going on and dove in to help. Except the farmer says the girls were trying to drown the man. There's a gash on the victim's head from an oar falling across it during the rescue, or perhaps they struck him with it to try and finish him off. There were no other witnesses, and the victim never wakens to tell their side. The girls' fathers have enough influence to get a detective from Scotland Yard dragged in to handle the investigation, and that's where Ian Rutledge comes in.

Todd takes the approach that there's little to no definitive evidence. Almost all the evidence could be interpreted in multiple ways, and with characters' motives in question, their stories are as well. Even at the end, when someone who certainly committed some murders is dealt with, there's still no guarantee the ones left are innocent. While the political influence of the families certainly factors in - or else Rutledge wouldn't be there - it's played more that there isn't anything conclusive. Nothing you could hang a conviction on. Which is a recurring thing, Todd trying to go the unexpected route with things. At least, I didn't see the plot thread with the mysterious lady everyone is reluctant to talk about going the direction it did. Although the way it played out felt a little convenient, removed a lot of the internal struggle Rutledge was having, that difficulty in pulling things apart. So it's a mixed bag.

This is roughly the 12th book about Rutledge Todd's written, so a few developments here I'm sure are meant to pay off in future books. Rutledge is also haunted by the memory of one of the soldiers he commanded in the War, who died under circumstances Rutledge is directly responsible for. That felt a little cheesy as a way to show the lingering impact of his war experiences. The times where Rutledge reflects on why he avoids alcohol, or how glad he was his parents never saw him during his time post-breakdown, were more effective at conveying the last effects, and the strain he's gone through.

'He woke with a start, staring blindly at the man from London, not seeing him as he said clearly, "Coward, That's what you are. If you have something to say to me, say it now and be done with it. Or I'll walk on. . ." And then he shouted a name, breaking off as the first blow must have struck, "St. Ives -"'