Resumo de Shoulder The Sky

Shoulder the Sky is the second book in Anne Perry?s series of murder mysteries set during World War I. Although a part of a series, each book can be enjoyed separately, as the murder in question is always resolved.

In this case, the murder victim is a young newspaper reporter named Eldon Prentice. Prentice is not well liked by the men fighting near the German trenches. When a soldier, Edwin Corliss, stationed in the trenches has his hand nearly blown off by a sniper?s bullet, Prentice begins sniffing around to uncover whether the incident was truly from enemy fire, or if it was self-inflicted in an attempt to get sent home. At the direction of Major Sam Wetherall, Joseph Reavley accompanies Corliss to the field hospital. Prentice, who has stationed himself in the treatment center looking for a story, insults Corliss, as well as other men receiving medical care. Joseph tells Prentice that he has no business being there, as he is a reporter and not a serviceman.

Eventually, Prentice makes such a case out of the question of whether Corliss injured himself on purpose, that the military is forced to convene a hearing. The doctor treating Corliss is pressured into stating that it appeared to be not an accidental, but a self-inflected wound. Major Swaby heads the court-martial panel, and reluctantly finds Corliss guilty of an act of cowardice and sentences him to death. When Prentice returns to the medical unit, all the men know that he forced the court-marshal. They deride him for not knowing what it is like in the trenches during a war, so Prentice goes to his uncle, General Owen Cullingford, to obtain a pass that will allow him to go anywhere he wants in the field of battle.

Joseph?s youngest sister has joined the VAD, Voluntary Aid Dispenser, using her one real talent, driving. She is known for driving fast and well, and can take care of both herself and an automobile. A flat tire never stops Judith. She is eventually assigned to be the driver for General Cullingford. Over time, Cullingford develops feelings for Judith, but as he a married officer, he feels he cannot act on his feelings. Judith, also, has begun to care for Cullingford, but also feels she should not allow anything to happen between them. One kiss is the only thing they share.

While involved in a fierce battle, Joseph, Wetherall and their unit is attacked by German forces using posionous gas. Once the gas begins to dissipate, Joseph walks through the battlefield looking for injured soldiers and stumbles over Prentice?s copse. Joseph learns that Prentice was not shot or overcome by gas, but was murdered. Feeling it is his duty, Joseph begins to investigate. As he gets close to the solution, Wetherall begs him to let the whole situation alone and stop upsetting his men on the battlefield.

When Cullingford is murdered, Joseph and Judith end up having to confront losses they never expected in the war. The ending has a twist to let the reader know that everything is not always as it seems. Read and enjoy.

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