This is the first book of Todd’s that I have read involving his main character Inspector Ian Rutledge and is admitedly one of his more recent releases. While this may be I still was able to fall right into line with the character’s backstory and behaviours quite easily. This story revolves around the town of Urksdale and the murders of a local family, the Elcott’s. While the search for the killer would seem like the most important task the search for the eldest son ten year old, Josh Robinson (who along with his sister kept his father’s name after his mother remarried) who was the only one missing from the home. Rutledge is summoned to Urksdale from another case in the countryside and even before reaching the town he saves a young woman who”s carriage has gone off the road in a treacherous winter storm.

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