The Rutland Identity

The Rutland Identity

Author: Michael Dane

Genre: Crime Thriller

Series: Frank McBride series

Publisher:  The Bookguild Ltd

Date Published: 2024

Book Length: 277

Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review

Star Rating: 5***** I loved it a lot and highly recommend

About Book: Rutland 1998. When George Bowman, the publican of Leighton Parva’s Old Volunteer Inn is found dead at the bottom of his cellar steps the police dismiss it as a tragic accident. But Frank McBride and Bernard Taylor aren’t so sure.

Teaming up with their neighbour, Ron Godsmark, their suspicions centre on Joachim and Hannah Keller, the Swiss couple who manage Leighton Hall, the wedding venue just outside the village.

Bernard sends his granddaughter, Emma, on an undercover mission, working at the hall as a waitress. Together they stumble upon a web of intrigue involving fraud, smuggling and murder.

Frank believes that he can persuade his old colleagues in Customs and Excise to investigate, but Bernard has something else entirely in mind.

Crime deserves justice. Murder requires revenge.

My Thoughts: The Rutland Identity by Michael Dane is book 2 in the Frank McBride series but can be read as a stand-alone. It is a crime thriller and as soon as I read the blurb I knew I had to read it. Set in a quaint village, with a mysterious death and the locals suspecting foul play. From the very beginning I warmed to the three main characters they are witty and beguiling, and their quirks and background history made them, for me, a great team, each of them bringing a different skill to the table and Dane’s writing made them all the more relatable. I also loved Oliver his lack of confidence and uncertainty was refreshing.

The plot unfolded with plenty of suspense that made the book a page turner with added touches of wit, humour and even a little romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this book it was different to my usual hard hitting crime thriller and there was an unexpected twist at the end.

In conclusion, this book was a really interesting premise, with suspense in abundance and great characters a must read for those of you who love a good mystery, crime thriller.