4

Inspector Ian Rutledge, recovering from a serious injury, is assigned a "light duty" post in the small village of Osterley, where a brutal murder of a priest has taken place. At first glance, the case seems straightforward, but the local inspector, Blevins—unwilling to suspect anyone from the close-knit community—limits the scope of the investigation himself. Rutledge, however, with a fresh perspective and keen insight, begins to notice much more.

It turns out that shortly before his death, Reverend James had been summoned for a strange confession by Herbert Baker, who appeared to be just an ordinary farmer. But could evil really have been hiding in this quiet village for so many years? Who might be using a past tragedy as a cover for their crime?

At the heart of the story are two women with mysterious pasts and sorrowful eyes, along with an enigmatic photograph of a third. The narrative also touches on a familiar and evocative theme—shipwreck. The innocent victims of this case evoke deep sympathy. I kept wondering: could they have somehow escaped their fate, or was it sealed from the start, their tragedy simply swept away in the turbulent flow of life?

The author chose a fascinating time period for the story—1919. The war is over, the soldiers have returned home, but their minds are still entrenched in the trenches. This is reflected in the protagonist's unique "quirk"—the presence of Hamish, a persistent voice in his head who helps analyze every move and always offers his opinion. Hamish is both a companion and a tormentor.

I really appreciated how the author played with the title—it fits the story perfectly, which is truly poetic and meticulously edited. The descriptions, flashbacks, and references are always well-placed and measured. It's a remarkable novel, artfully crafted in the tradition of the classic detective story, yet with elements characteristic of more fast-paced fiction, such as the pursuit of a criminal and the appearance of a femme fatale.