Set in the early twentieth century, these lawmen do not enjoy the refinements of current forensic science, yet Madden uses his battle-tempered wits to confound a predator as dangerous as any in the field. Even as Madden focuses on the suspect, the murderer is planning another slaying, the innocents gathered unsuspecting in the family home. Into this nightmare the ritualistic killer is born, a man whose soul was lost long ago, brutal fantasies his only preoccupation, as he plans the demise of his next victims. The murders are a grim reminder of the nature of violence, the quiet country villages decimated by the loss of soldiers. The country is still reeling from economic deprivation and tragic personal losses. Blackwell, who has lost a husband and two brothers, and all the men returned from the service, changed by their experiences. The aftermath of war lies heavy on all the characters, especially Madden, scarred by physical and psychological injuries, and Dr. The inquiry reaches a critical impasse, where CID is divided between standard procedures and Madden's belief that this unique killer is driven by a ritualistic compulsion, reenacting the crime over and over, embellishing the scene as he progresses. Blackwell's, a Freudian who suggests a different protocol, working towards the killer's identity through his actions: 'The soul of man is a far country, impossible to explore.' Psychiatry is in its infancy, but Inspector Madden is inspired by a friend of Dr. It is Doctor Blackwell who introduces a different approach to the case, psychology used as a tool for solving criminal cases of this nature.

Inspector Madden quietly speaks with the child she is comforted by his calm mien and gentle manner. The village physician, Helen Blackwell, discovers the girl and takes her to recuperate in her home. There is one person the killer fails to notice - little Sophy Fletcher, who was hiding under her bed, wedged against the wall with her eyes shut tight. The weapon is a cause for concern: all the victims were precisely stabbed with a bayonet. Madden has lost his wife and child, hoping for some peace now that the war has ended, but he is soon caught up in the senseless scene, the slaughter of a family, their maid and nanny. Inspector John Madden is sent from CID in Scotland Yard to oversee the investigation. The First World War has just ended, and in 1921 the country is recovering from the terrible loss of lives in that endeavor. This novel is particularly attractive for its unrelenting strength in the face of adversity, the police determined to find the culprit when five people are murdered in the rural village of Highfield, England.

River of darkness by rennie airth