No Shred of Evidence

      Although, this is Charles Todd's 18th book in the Scotland Yard's Inspector Ian Rutledge series, it's the first one I've read. It is a true mystery.

     Inspector Rutledge is called to Padstow after four young women are accused of trying to murder a local banker's son, who remains in a coma.  Rutledge is not the first one to be called to Padstow. Corporal Hamish MacLeod was in Padstow less than 24 hours when he was found dead in his room. There were no notes to be found, so Rutledge had to start the investigation from the beginning.

     When the banker's son, Harry Saunders, dies, the charges are changed to murder. The four young women are from very well-to-do families and they are none too happy to repeat the incident and be accused of murder over and over. Which they all claim they "did not do." Rutledge comes up with many endless clues and several more dead bodies. At the very end, Rutledge comes up with the clues and the murderer.

     I love a great mystery when you can't figure out the "who did it" till you are close to the end of the book. I will be reading more of Charles Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge series.