Love Lost

One of the major themes that runs through the story in A Test of Wills is the idea of love lost. This is a traditional theme, though it doesn't regularly show up in murder mysteries, but the character of Ian Rutledge and the delicate balance of his psyche invites the reader to probe deeper into the motives of the characters. What drives these characters? Why do they keep secrets in the face of a murder investigation concerning a man they all seemed to care for? What quality connects them all? One answer is that they are all grieving for lost loves.

Ian Rutledge, newly returned from four years of devastating conflict, offers to let his fiancée, Jean, out of her commitment to marry him. She accepts willingly, and he must face the fact that it is not only relief he sees in her eyes, it is...