About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Monday, August 10, 2020

A False Mirror by Charles Todd

Reading is going slowly right now so I am reaching back to 2008 for a short review I had not published. It has been years since I read Charles Todd. I am thinking it is time I read another.
****
17. - 427.) A False Mirror by Charles Todd - Superintendent Bowles would like to be rid of Ian Rutledge but Rutledge continues to be a good police officer. Stephen Mallory was a young officer under Rutledge who cracked and was sent home. When Corporal Hamish McLeod cracked he was executed. Mallory is suspected of attacking Matthew Hamilton, the husband of the woman he left behind. When confronted Mallory panics and seeks sanctuary with Felicity Hamilton. It becomes a form of hostage situation at her suggestion. Mallory convinces local inspector, Bennett, that he will not surrender Mrs. Hamilton and her maid unless Rutledge comes and finds the evidence to demonstrate his innocence. Rutledge comes and investigates. Unlike current hostage situations essentially one officer guards the house. There is no tactical team planning an assault. People come and go from the house based on their promises. It is a disjointed story with less convincing actions by the characters. It is not credible that Mallory would not have been the leading suspect and arrested when one of the hostages dies in the house. It did not flow as well as the earlier mysteries. Hamish remains an intriguing spirit commenting on events. There are more murders and a murky investigation. For the first time I sensed the two authors were not fully connected. (Apr. 19/08)
****
Todd, Charles – (2000) - Legacy of the Dead; (2002) - Watchers of Time and Fearsome Doubt; (2005) - A Cold Treachery; (2006) - A Long Shadow; (2008) - A False Mirror; (2010) - A Duty to the Dead

4 comments:

  1. The Charles Todd series are, in general, very good ones, Bill, in my opinion. It sounds as though this might not have been their best, though (This is one I admit I haven't read). Still, I do really the sense of time and place in these novels. I haven't read a Todd in a bit, myself; I probably ought to rectify that.

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    1. Margot: Thanks for the comment. I really enjoyed the early books. I hope to read more in the next year.

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  2. I read a few Charles Todd books, but not, I think, this one - and maybe I should look for another if I am going to revisit this series.

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    1. Moira: Thanks for the comment. I would recommend another.

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