A Pale Horse (Inspector Ian Rutledge Series #10) Book

4.5* Another solid instalment in this great series by the mother-and-son duo who write as Charles Todd.
It is April 1920 and Detective Inspector Ian Rutledge continues to suffer the vestiges of "shell-shock" (now known as PTSD) from his time on the front line in Northern France during the Great War (WW1). He ostensibly has two cases to solve - one at either end of the country. First, his assistance is requested by a shadowy figure in the Defence Ministry, to track down a person of interest who's disappeared from his cottage in Berkshire. He's hardly scratched the surface before he's sent as a favour called in by a higher-up to Yorkshire, to investigate the discovery of a body, wearing an army-issue gas mask, found in the cloisters of the ruined Fountains Abbey.
The intelligent and intuitive Rutledge quickly reaches the conclusion that the two cases are linked - the difficulty is in proving it, with obfuscating witnesses, unhelpful police colleagues and government secrecy in abundance.
The narrative takes us to two mysterious and picturesque sites in England - the stunning prehistoric chalk horse near Uffington, Berkshire

and the hauntingly beautiful remnants of the former Cistercian monastery near Ripon, Yorkshire.

With the constant presence of the ghostly Hamish MacLeod in his ear, Rutledge motors around the countryside in pursuit of the truth.
Consistent with the rest of the Ian Rutledge Series, A Pale Horse is a slowly unfolding character-driven mystery, with a complex plot but a satisfying conclusion. The reader must be willing to commit to the slow-burn nature of the plotting, rich with detail and personal introspection on the part of the central character. The presence/character of Hamish provides a useful foil, challenging Rutledge's perceptions and conclusions, whilst also acting as an occasional guardian angel as trouble approaches.
Highly recommended to both existing enthusiasts of the series and newcomers.