Rating: 
Summary: Surpasses Anything Else Published in 1999
Review: This Debut is set in 1921 Surrey. When a family and their servants are killed in their home in the Surrey countryside, Detective Inspector John Madden of Scotland Yard is assigned the task of finding the killer(s). The entire country is shocked at the multiple murders, a virtually unknown event at the time. Madden is baffled because he can't find a motive, the murderer left no clues at the scene and the press and his superiors are pressing for a quick arrest. With painstaking attention to every detail, Madden, slowly, but surely, begins to unravel the mystery of who killed the family. As the investigation proceeds, Madden has a sense of urgency because he becomes convinced that the killer(s) will kill again and soon.This is an excellent read, even for those who don't care for procedurals as being too slow moving, because you'll find yourself staying up late to finish just one more chapter. Madden is a very interesting character - flawed because of his experiences during the Great War - but not so flawed as to be insensitive in either his investigation or his relationship with the other characters in the book. The plot is ever changing with several interesting twists and turns. While the history is present, it is not the main thrust of the story - the solving of the multiple murders before the killer(s) kill again is the story here. There are two engaging minor characters - Constable Billy Styles, assigned to his first murder investigation, and Helen Blackwell, the local doctor who is called in to verify that the family is dead. There is some talk that this is the first in a trilogy featuring these characters. One can only hope this is true.
Rating: 
Summary: Spooky!
Review: This is a great historical/mystery read. As a fan of Caleb Carr's mysteries, I have searched similar reads & happened upon this book in browsing the bookstore. I was pleasantly surprised. The author sticks to the plot without getting bogged down with useless details. The country-side villages come to life & provide a great background for the unsuspecting townfolk who have a serial killer in their midst. I really liked the fact that Airth tells the story from several points of view, specifically, the killer's! I finished this book at 1am and had nightmares!! Spooky!! A great read in a world of half-witted books.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written page-turner
Review: This is a wonderful book, well-worth anyone's time and money. My only regret is that the author's other books do not seem to be available. I found the hero both appealing and fascinating, and the personal life theme very rewarding. I would love to read another novel about this inspector.....
Rating:
Summary: Exciting, suspenseful, quite a page turner
Review: This is one exciting novel. I had never read anything by 'Rennie Airth'..so i wasn't quite sure what to expect. It was more then worth my time. The Author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing, he makes you care about the main character's, and draw's a compelling picture of the times as well as the people. He takes a different approach then most mysteries i've read ( mostly American) by writing about the 'events' and then explaining after what 'caused them' His main 'Copper' John Madden is nicely drawn, a wounded haunted man, driven to detachment by pain and memories. I liked him right away, and was curious to see what had caused his pain. The author parallel's the pain of Madden and the main suspect, a man accused of a atrocious murder, a secretive man, a nobody, a vicious serial killer. The romantic angle is nicely covered, and feels right, contrasting with the uglyness that occurs. I read somewhere that Mr. Airth is writing a NEW 'Madden' book, i can't wait to read it..
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: This is so fine I don't know where to start. Superior to my other faviorite mystery writers: Thomas Harris, Colin Dexter, P.D. James, LeCarre. Wonderful, complex characters, intelligent, well written. Where has this author been all my life? JC
Rating:
Summary: Exciting and best novels
Review: This is the best novel I have ever read. It is very different from other authors. His story is so interesting that you cannot bear to stop at a particular chapter. You would like to go on and on to find out what has happened. I even shiver when I read the way the killer does his killings. It would make an excellent movie. This is strongly recommended and if you are not daring enough, try to avoid reading at night alone.
Rating:
Summary: Wow! A new, intelligent mystery.
Review: This was one of those accidental finds. Rennie Airth better be working on his next mystery with Madden as the protagonist, or I will be extremely disappointed. This book was definitely a work of art and of love. I am very curious to know about the member of Airth's family that he modeled Madden after. As always the British and now the South Africans write with class and intelligence, and it is nice to see a new detective in the manner of P. D. James' Adam Dagliesh. Like other readers I can easily see this being made into a movie or one of the Mystery series on PBS. The plot of this book is plausible, the characters are very well-drawn out, the involvement of World War I in shaping the minds and lives of those who live in England after the war understandable and obviously well-researched. This is probably the best new mystery and author I have read for at least two years. I hope to see more of him in the future. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh
Rating:
Summary: Fine English Crime Novel
Review: Well-plotted with romantic characters. Set after the First World War in rural England without being stodgy. Would make a great A&E Mystery mini-series.
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