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Inspector Ian Rutledge #23
A Fatal Lie
In one of his most puzzling cases, Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge must delve deep into a dead man’s life and his past to find a killer determined to keep dark secrets buried.
A peaceful Welsh village is thrown into turmoil when a terrified boy stumbles on a body in a nearby river. The man appears to have fallen from the canal aqueduct spanning the valley. But there is no identification on the body, he isn’t a local, and no one will admit to having seen him before. With little to go on, the village police turn to Scotland Yard for help.
When Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent from London to find answers, he is given few clues—a faded military tattoo on the victim’s arm and an unusual label in the collar of his shirt. They eventually lead him to the victim’s identity: Sam Milford. By all accounts, he was a good man and well-respected. Then, why is his death so mysterious? Looking for the truth, Rutledge uncovers a web of lies swirling around a suicidal woman, a child’s tragic fate, another woman bent on protecting her past. But where among all the lies is the motive for murder?
To track a killer, Rutledge must retrace Milford’s last journey. Yet death seems to stalk his every move, and the truth seems to shift at every turn. Man or woman, this murderer stays in the shadows, and it will take desperate measures to lure him—or her—into the light.
A peaceful Welsh village is thrown into turmoil when a terrified boy stumbles on a body in a nearby river. The man appears to have fallen from the canal aqueduct spanning the valley. But there is no identification on the body, he isn’t a local, and no one will admit to having seen him before. With little to go on, the village police turn to Scotland Yard for help.
When Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent from London to find answers, he is given few clues—a faded military tattoo on the victim’s arm and an unusual label in the collar of his shirt. They eventually lead him to the victim’s identity: Sam Milford. By all accounts, he was a good man and well-respected. Then, why is his death so mysterious? Looking for the truth, Rutledge uncovers a web of lies swirling around a suicidal woman, a child’s tragic fate, another woman bent on protecting her past. But where among all the lies is the motive for murder?
To track a killer, Rutledge must retrace Milford’s last journey. Yet death seems to stalk his every move, and the truth seems to shift at every turn. Man or woman, this murderer stays in the shadows, and it will take desperate measures to lure him—or her—into the light.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2021
1,308 people are currently reading
7,580 people want to read
About the author
Charles Todd
102books3,430followersCharles Todd is the pen name used by the mother-and-son writing team, Caroline Todd and Charles Todd. Together they write the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford Series. They have published two standalone mystery novels and many short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 627 reviews
May 8, 2021
It is rather rare that 23 books in a series bring a reader the same amount of thrill and satisfaction. The Rutledge series has not disappointed me so far and is unlikely to do so in future.
This time the Inspector receives a task that takes him to Wales. This offering is not as dark as the previous ones, in my opinion, and although Hamish is still with Ian, it seems their rapport has changed. There are murders and there is a missing girl, and Inspector Rutledge is surprised when he eventually solves the cases.
This time the Inspector receives a task that takes him to Wales. This offering is not as dark as the previous ones, in my opinion, and although Hamish is still with Ian, it seems their rapport has changed. There are murders and there is a missing girl, and Inspector Rutledge is surprised when he eventually solves the cases.
March 10, 2022
Rating: 4 stars
Recommendation: Absolutely!
A FATAL LIE is the latest offering in the Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery series by the writing team of Charles Todd.
This may be one of Rutledge’s most challenging and time-consuming cases to date. Scotland Yard is called upon when a man’s body is discovered and the identity is unknown. Rutledge is tapped to go to the location and make quick resolution of the task. Unfortunately, it looks like the man’s identity will never be discovered because there is not sufficient evidence to work with.
Rutledge has his suspicions that foul play may be the reason for the man’s death. In order to rule out his supposition, Rutledge must try to find people who have seen the victim and trace the man’s final sojourn. Why would he deserve to die and who would want to kill him?
The final path of the victim turns out to be an intricate labyrinth of deceit. Each path taken through the maze is strewn with lies and time after time lead to a dead end from which Rutledge must start again. The question is: does Rutledge have the stamina and will he prevail and discover the truth in time?
This story was enjoyable, but for me I was a bit worn out by the end.
I still LOVE this series! 😁
Recommendation: Absolutely!
A FATAL LIE is the latest offering in the Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery series by the writing team of Charles Todd.
This may be one of Rutledge’s most challenging and time-consuming cases to date. Scotland Yard is called upon when a man’s body is discovered and the identity is unknown. Rutledge is tapped to go to the location and make quick resolution of the task. Unfortunately, it looks like the man’s identity will never be discovered because there is not sufficient evidence to work with.
Rutledge has his suspicions that foul play may be the reason for the man’s death. In order to rule out his supposition, Rutledge must try to find people who have seen the victim and trace the man’s final sojourn. Why would he deserve to die and who would want to kill him?
The final path of the victim turns out to be an intricate labyrinth of deceit. Each path taken through the maze is strewn with lies and time after time lead to a dead end from which Rutledge must start again. The question is: does Rutledge have the stamina and will he prevail and discover the truth in time?
This story was enjoyable, but for me I was a bit worn out by the end.
I still LOVE this series! 😁
April 6, 2025
3.5 stars
This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews.
In this 23rd book in the Inspector Rutledge series, the detective investigates the death of a man who fought in World War I. The book can be read as a standalone.
Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard returned from World War I suffering from shell shock (PTSD) exacerbated by guilt.
In addition to being traumatized by the horrors of war, Rutledge killed an insubordinate soldier in his own company. The dead man, named Hamish MacLeod, now haunts Rutledge, constantly whispering in his head - usually about criminal cases.
The story opens in 1921, when Inspector Rutledge has recovered somewhat from his war experiences. Rutledge is on desk duty when a body is pulled from the River Dee near Llangollen, in northern Wales. The dead man apparently fell from a narrowboat aqueduct high above the river.
The corpse has no ID and the police can't tell if the incident was an accident, suicide, or homicide. So the Welsh authorities call Scotland Yard, and Rutledge is sent to investigate.
No man is missing from Llangollen, and the body is too decomposed for easy recognition. However, the dead man's short stature, military tattoo, and custom-made shirt lead Rutledge to identify the deceased as an Englishman named Sam Mitford, who served in a UK Bantam Battalion during the war.
Rutledge drives to Mitford's home town of Crowley, far from Llangollen, to inform Ruth Mitford about her husband's death.
Rutledge learns that the Mitfords and their relatives own a failing pub, and Sam left for Shrewsbury about a week ago, to negotiate with the pub's liquor suppliers. Sam said nothing about going to Wales.
With ghostly Hamish providing helpful tips, Rutledge determines that Sam was pushed off the Llangollen aqueduct. However, local residents and boat owners who use the aqueduct say they never saw Sam and know nothing about his death. Determined to find out what happened, Rutledge drives back and forth between England and Wales multiple times, interviewing people and gathering evidence.
Rutledge eventually learns that Sam went from town to town looking for someone, and contacted people for assistance along the way.
The case gets complicated, and comes to involve Sam's disturbed half-sister; a devious solicitor; abandoned lead mines; murderous squatters; marital infidelity; a no snitching culture; and more. Additional murders occur, and it's clear someone is threatened by Rutledge's investigation. In fact Rutledge himself is imperiled when he heedlessly walks into dangerous situations.
As Rutledge travels around, we get evocative descriptions of post-WWI British towns, still reeling from the effects of war.
We also learn about the Bantam Battalions. When World War I started, the height requirement for recruits to the British Army was 5' 3". This excluded many small men who were anxious to do their bit. So Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, permitted the formation of fighting units composed of men between 4' 10" and 5' 3". These units were named Bantams after the small roosters that became their battalion emblem. The victim Sam Mitford was one of these men - brave, fearless, and determined.
This clever mystery has plot twists that will surprise even the most ardent mystery fans.
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February 16, 2021
Thoughtful, slippery, convoluted—and yet so simple.
The finding of a body is thought to be an accidental death until Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is sent to Northern Wales to investigate. His superior is rather annoyed with him (cut the air with a knife cross) or as Rutledge put it to a colleague he was being sent far, far away. “Northern Wales is rather like being sent to Coventry—out of sight and out of mind.�
Fortunately Rutledge was keen to escape the boring task of reviewing papers he’d been hither too stuck with, being decidedly out of favour.
Little did he realize just how complex his seemingly innocent investigation would become. As one murder slips into another, as the ground is muddied by the innocent and the abetters, Rutledge and the voice of his dead companion Corporal Hamish MacLeod, have much to ponder.
Danger lurks and the way becomes blinded by clues slipping down rabbit holes and morphing into something else, much like Alice’s crazy journey.
What stands out for me is the marvellous character that Rutledge is. I do so admire him.
Once more an intelligent addition to the Rutledge ‘who dunnit� compendium.
A William Morrow and Custom House ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
The finding of a body is thought to be an accidental death until Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is sent to Northern Wales to investigate. His superior is rather annoyed with him (cut the air with a knife cross) or as Rutledge put it to a colleague he was being sent far, far away. “Northern Wales is rather like being sent to Coventry—out of sight and out of mind.�
Fortunately Rutledge was keen to escape the boring task of reviewing papers he’d been hither too stuck with, being decidedly out of favour.
Little did he realize just how complex his seemingly innocent investigation would become. As one murder slips into another, as the ground is muddied by the innocent and the abetters, Rutledge and the voice of his dead companion Corporal Hamish MacLeod, have much to ponder.
Danger lurks and the way becomes blinded by clues slipping down rabbit holes and morphing into something else, much like Alice’s crazy journey.
What stands out for me is the marvellous character that Rutledge is. I do so admire him.
Once more an intelligent addition to the Rutledge ‘who dunnit� compendium.
A William Morrow and Custom House ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
April 2, 2021
This is my second Inspector Ian Rutledge novel. I remember liking it and thought I should try another one.
A Fatal Lie follows Inspector Rutledge dispatched from Scotland Yard to look into a death of a unidentified man, discovered by a boy while fishing. This death leads to series of mysteries. There's a lot of traveling and characters to question.
A Fatal Lie follows Inspector Rutledge dispatched from Scotland Yard to look into a death of a unidentified man, discovered by a boy while fishing. This death leads to series of mysteries. There's a lot of traveling and characters to question.
February 20, 2021
The most recent installment of this long running series finds Inspector Rutledge investigating a death in Wales. The victim is initially unrecognizable and only Rutledge’s dogged persistence leads to identifying the deceased man, Samuel Mitford. He was a World War 1 veteran and a member of the Bantam Brigade, a unit of soldiers under five foot three who were initially disqualified from military service because of a height requirement. Piecing together Mitford’s history leads Rutledge through Wales and the bordering English towns. As the facts emerge, there is also a missing young girl involved in the case and two other murders occur. This involved, complex case highlights Rutledge’s humanity, focus and resourcefulness as he pursues the culprit.
The familiar touchstones of this series are present in the plot.The authors( a mother and son writing team) depict the aftermath of the Great War and its accompanying trauma.Rutledge himself suffers from PTSD which is personified by the voice of Hamish, a dead corporal under Rutledge’s command during the war. Although London based, Rutledge’s investigations take him to small and remote country villages, allowing the authors to provide a loving and elegiac portrayal of a rapidly fading way of life. There are always fascinating tidbits of British history, adding depth to the novel. The characterization of Inspector Rutledge is well drawn and presents a positive view of an upper class Englishman who comports himself with compassion and sensitivity.
I have been a fan of this series from its inception twenty three books ago. It is always a pleasure to revisit Rutledge, who feels like an old friend.However, the plotting of this book was a bit convoluted and at brief moments required a slight suspension of belief. I did not rate this one among the best of the series but was still glad to spend time in Rutledge’s world.3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
The familiar touchstones of this series are present in the plot.The authors( a mother and son writing team) depict the aftermath of the Great War and its accompanying trauma.Rutledge himself suffers from PTSD which is personified by the voice of Hamish, a dead corporal under Rutledge’s command during the war. Although London based, Rutledge’s investigations take him to small and remote country villages, allowing the authors to provide a loving and elegiac portrayal of a rapidly fading way of life. There are always fascinating tidbits of British history, adding depth to the novel. The characterization of Inspector Rutledge is well drawn and presents a positive view of an upper class Englishman who comports himself with compassion and sensitivity.
I have been a fan of this series from its inception twenty three books ago. It is always a pleasure to revisit Rutledge, who feels like an old friend.However, the plotting of this book was a bit convoluted and at brief moments required a slight suspension of belief. I did not rate this one among the best of the series but was still glad to spend time in Rutledge’s world.3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
June 25, 2024
I have read all of the previous Inspector Rutledge with declining enjoyment. A Fatal Lie may be the end for me. Sadly the mystery has become perfunctory, the clues either obvious or foolish , and the internal cohesion all but ignored. I found the elaborate explanation of the Aqueduct at the beginning of novel to be more travelogue than mystery novel and the "special clue" that lead to the identity of the victim was laughable. Yet I slogged along hoping to hear the author's voice that I have enjoyed from the earlier books; I was disappointed.
An interesting aspect of Ian Rutledge has always been his demons from the war-his inability to enter into a meaningful relationship due to those demons and his angst over the execution of Hamish. Those storylines are fading without adequate explanation as are the stories of family connections, It seemed a throwaway to cram a quick phone call to his sister and then another to Miranda near the end of the novel. The authors added a quick question about Ian's godfather to the call to cover that personal relation. Not very satisfying to a long time reader who wants to understand the workings of Ian's mind several years after his return from the war.
An interesting aspect of Ian Rutledge has always been his demons from the war-his inability to enter into a meaningful relationship due to those demons and his angst over the execution of Hamish. Those storylines are fading without adequate explanation as are the stories of family connections, It seemed a throwaway to cram a quick phone call to his sister and then another to Miranda near the end of the novel. The authors added a quick question about Ian's godfather to the call to cover that personal relation. Not very satisfying to a long time reader who wants to understand the workings of Ian's mind several years after his return from the war.
August 12, 2020
I am a huge fan of Ian Rutledge and this story is one of the best in the series. Rutledge's humanity and fragility contrast with his investigative strengths in a way that brings you totally on his side. The story is full of people, choices and consequences. Twists, turns and unexpected connections keep you waiting for the next step in the trail to the truth. Definitely recommend this to fans of Charles Todd and mystery stories in general.
February 26, 2021
Impressively convoluted
February 28, 2021
One of my favorite author teams takes their police detective all the way to Wales for this 23rd story in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series. I was so pleased to find myself in Wales because Charles Todd has the gift of making me feel completely comfortable with any settings for their stories which I'm not personally familiar with. I found myself able to visualize the surroundings quite vividly which adding dimension to the stories. I was also unfamiliar with the Bantam Division of soldiers from World War I and a lot of information was given without any feeling that it was only an information dump.
This story takes place in 1921 with Rutledge practically chained to his desk at Scotland Yard doing paperwork because Chief Superintendent Markham doesn't want to be reminded of how much his own reputation is enhanced by Rutledge solving the previous case. When a Chief Constable in a northern Welsh county asks for help from Scotland Yard Markham is delighted to send Rutledge about as far away as possible. A body has been found in the River Dee under the Aqueduct and there is a question of whether it was an accident or suicide. So Inspector Rutledge drives from London to Wales to begin picking up the smallest of clues to help him solve this riddle. Accident, suicide or murder, it takes patience for Rutledge to add up all the tiny clues to solve the death. Investigating among the men who served in the Bantam Division takes Rutledge back into the memories he has tried so hard to suppress of his own actions. The PTSD Rutledge suffers from makes a vivid return especially with Corporal Hamish MacLeod so aggressively triggering those memories from the safety of Rutledge's mind.
It's all here, in this story, the ingredients put together to make a reading experience that I enjoyed from beginning to end. A great addition to the series.
This story takes place in 1921 with Rutledge practically chained to his desk at Scotland Yard doing paperwork because Chief Superintendent Markham doesn't want to be reminded of how much his own reputation is enhanced by Rutledge solving the previous case. When a Chief Constable in a northern Welsh county asks for help from Scotland Yard Markham is delighted to send Rutledge about as far away as possible. A body has been found in the River Dee under the Aqueduct and there is a question of whether it was an accident or suicide. So Inspector Rutledge drives from London to Wales to begin picking up the smallest of clues to help him solve this riddle. Accident, suicide or murder, it takes patience for Rutledge to add up all the tiny clues to solve the death. Investigating among the men who served in the Bantam Division takes Rutledge back into the memories he has tried so hard to suppress of his own actions. The PTSD Rutledge suffers from makes a vivid return especially with Corporal Hamish MacLeod so aggressively triggering those memories from the safety of Rutledge's mind.
It's all here, in this story, the ingredients put together to make a reading experience that I enjoyed from beginning to end. A great addition to the series.
September 13, 2021
I struggled with this latest volume in an otherwise great series. The cast of characters was long and it was challenging to keep them all straight, especially as few of them were interesting, or even likable. Also, the length of time it took to resolve the case of the missing child seemed to be overly long and drawn out. I couldn't believe that the Inspector wouldn't have had a lot more police personnel to assist him in searching for the child and more cooperation from the villagers.
Indeed, the hostility that Inspector Rutledge met at every doorstep grew quickly tiresome and was less than believable. Additionally, the Inspector himself seemed out of sorts and more surly than usual. His conversations with Hamish had a different quality also. They seemed to me to be more aligned with his own internal dialogue. Overall, this was a less than enjoyable reading experience and I was glad to reach the conclusion.
Indeed, the hostility that Inspector Rutledge met at every doorstep grew quickly tiresome and was less than believable. Additionally, the Inspector himself seemed out of sorts and more surly than usual. His conversations with Hamish had a different quality also. They seemed to me to be more aligned with his own internal dialogue. Overall, this was a less than enjoyable reading experience and I was glad to reach the conclusion.
March 9, 2021
Terrible. Ian has deteriorated to a joyless traveling inquiring robotic. And Hamish has become no more than a repetitive "ware" gimmick. Like a page taker trickery. 2 stars at best. The worst of the series I have read, which is nearly all of them. This duo should absolutely go on to something else. Or new.
The plot and body count seems bordering on both preposterous and with double digit numbers of extraneous characters.
This will be the last of this series I read. No humor. No normalcy or cutting wit. Just massive overlook wording.
The plot and body count seems bordering on both preposterous and with double digit numbers of extraneous characters.
This will be the last of this series I read. No humor. No normalcy or cutting wit. Just massive overlook wording.
March 1, 2021
This latest Rutledge investigation is truly a demanding job for one man that calls on all his determination, intelligence and skills to bring to a successful close.
I wouldn't dream of spoiling it for other Ian Rutledge fans. I have read them all and will hope to continue to do so.
Library Loan
I wouldn't dream of spoiling it for other Ian Rutledge fans. I have read them all and will hope to continue to do so.
Library Loan
September 3, 2020
Humorless and less than believable. And the use of Hamish has become little more than a gimmick.
February 16, 2021
"A Fatal Lie" is the latest Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery by the mother and son writing team, Charles Todd. The story takes place in 1921, and opens with the death of a man whose body is found in the River Dee in Wales. Rutledge's boss dispatches him to investigate. It is fortunate that Ian drives a high-quality car, since he will travel many miles, often in foul weather, in an effort to locate the witnesses and evidence he seeks. Ian's fans know that he suffers from PTSD—what used to be called shell shock. He frequently hears the voice of a deceased corporal, Hamish MacLeod, who had fought under his command in World War I. The ghost of Hamish speaks to Ian regularly, advising, chiding, and warning his former superior officer about impending danger.
Ian's first task is to identify the victim, whose face is unrecognizable. Subsequently, he tries to extract the truth from a grieving widow and an unscrupulous solicitor who may be lying and/or withholding vital information. Moreover, there are numerous secondary characters, some of whom play key roles in this drama. As the tale progresses, Rutledge becomes increasingly frustrated with his lack of results. However, he soldiers on and eventually ends up in the crosshairs of a ruthless villain.
Todd's atmospheric setting is appropriate for this gloomy tale of duplicity and desperation. Alas, the plot is messy, contrived, and tedious. Coincidences and red herrings abound, and additional killings and attempted murders add to the confusion and mayhem. No sensible sleuth would attempt to handle such a complex inquiry by himself, but Ian persists, with occasional help from members of the local police. When the authors finally spell out the reasons and motives for the crimes, the explanation does not ring true. Having been a fan of Inspector Rutledge for years, it pains me to say that "A Fatal Lie" lacks the coherence, humor, and heart of the best novels in this series.
Ian's first task is to identify the victim, whose face is unrecognizable. Subsequently, he tries to extract the truth from a grieving widow and an unscrupulous solicitor who may be lying and/or withholding vital information. Moreover, there are numerous secondary characters, some of whom play key roles in this drama. As the tale progresses, Rutledge becomes increasingly frustrated with his lack of results. However, he soldiers on and eventually ends up in the crosshairs of a ruthless villain.
Todd's atmospheric setting is appropriate for this gloomy tale of duplicity and desperation. Alas, the plot is messy, contrived, and tedious. Coincidences and red herrings abound, and additional killings and attempted murders add to the confusion and mayhem. No sensible sleuth would attempt to handle such a complex inquiry by himself, but Ian persists, with occasional help from members of the local police. When the authors finally spell out the reasons and motives for the crimes, the explanation does not ring true. Having been a fan of Inspector Rutledge for years, it pains me to say that "A Fatal Lie" lacks the coherence, humor, and heart of the best novels in this series.
March 6, 2021
While I always look forward to a new Inspector Rutledge book and loved the last one in the series ("A Divided Loyalty"), this one was a disappointment for me. The story was very convoluted with way too many characters. I really like the character of Rutledge but he just seemed to be chasing his tail in this book, back and forth and back and forth. You really needed a map to follow this story line. It wasn't an engaging read at all, and I was happy when it came to an end.
March 11, 2021
First Sentence: On his sixth birthday, Roddy MacNabb was given a fishing pole by his pa, with promises to teach him how to use it.
Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent to Northern Wales where a man's body was pulled from the River Dee by a young boy. It's first thought the man had fallen from the viaduct that spans high above the river, put there are no signs of a fall, no identification on the body, and no one claims to know him. Only a few clues lead Rutledge on a trail to identify the victim, recreate the man's recent travels, and uncover both the motive and the person responsible for the man's death, and those that follow.
Authors strive to create a good "hook," the opening which will compel the reader to keep turning the pages. Todd's opening does that very effectively.
Ian is a unique character. Shell shock; i.e., PTSD, from WWI has left him with the voice of Hamish, a soldier executed for desertion, in his head. We are reminded of the cost of war, not only in the number of the dead, but the lasting impact on the veterans and their families�"A fine soldier, liked by his men, he didn't suffer, and we must be proud of him, for he gave his life for his King and Country. That isn't terribly reassuring, is it?"
It is always fascinating to read about the forensics of the time. Todd weaves details of places, such as the operations of the aqueduct, and history, the Bantam Battalions, smoothly into the story. These create strong visual images and play into the fact that in the days before technology, police work was done by pulling the thread of clues, a lot of travel, and intuition.
One does need to keep track of who is where. Between the character names and Ian traveling from place to place, and back again, it can become confusing. Pulling up a map proves helpful. It is also a challenge to follow the timeline. There is a lack of clarity as to when things happened as there can be the impression of something happening in the past only to realize it is in the recent past. Follow the trail of bodies which are always one step in front of Ian. Yet it seems to take a while before any real progress is made and then, after all the to-ing and fro-ing, there is the great and complete confession. Good grief.
"A Fatal Lie" is a good book, but not as good as usual. The dialogue was weak, the usual wry humor was completely lacking, and the book could have used some serious editing and simplifying. One wonders whether because of COVID, the authors had little to do but write, so they just kept putting things in. Here's hoping for a crisper, more involving book #24.
A FATAL LIE (HistMys-Ian Rutledge-England-1921) - Okay
Todd, Charles � 23rd in series
William Morrow, 349 pp � Feb 2021
Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent to Northern Wales where a man's body was pulled from the River Dee by a young boy. It's first thought the man had fallen from the viaduct that spans high above the river, put there are no signs of a fall, no identification on the body, and no one claims to know him. Only a few clues lead Rutledge on a trail to identify the victim, recreate the man's recent travels, and uncover both the motive and the person responsible for the man's death, and those that follow.
Authors strive to create a good "hook," the opening which will compel the reader to keep turning the pages. Todd's opening does that very effectively.
Ian is a unique character. Shell shock; i.e., PTSD, from WWI has left him with the voice of Hamish, a soldier executed for desertion, in his head. We are reminded of the cost of war, not only in the number of the dead, but the lasting impact on the veterans and their families�"A fine soldier, liked by his men, he didn't suffer, and we must be proud of him, for he gave his life for his King and Country. That isn't terribly reassuring, is it?"
It is always fascinating to read about the forensics of the time. Todd weaves details of places, such as the operations of the aqueduct, and history, the Bantam Battalions, smoothly into the story. These create strong visual images and play into the fact that in the days before technology, police work was done by pulling the thread of clues, a lot of travel, and intuition.
One does need to keep track of who is where. Between the character names and Ian traveling from place to place, and back again, it can become confusing. Pulling up a map proves helpful. It is also a challenge to follow the timeline. There is a lack of clarity as to when things happened as there can be the impression of something happening in the past only to realize it is in the recent past. Follow the trail of bodies which are always one step in front of Ian. Yet it seems to take a while before any real progress is made and then, after all the to-ing and fro-ing, there is the great and complete confession. Good grief.
"A Fatal Lie" is a good book, but not as good as usual. The dialogue was weak, the usual wry humor was completely lacking, and the book could have used some serious editing and simplifying. One wonders whether because of COVID, the authors had little to do but write, so they just kept putting things in. Here's hoping for a crisper, more involving book #24.
A FATAL LIE (HistMys-Ian Rutledge-England-1921) - Okay
Todd, Charles � 23rd in series
William Morrow, 349 pp � Feb 2021
April 21, 2021
A Fatal Lie is the last book in this series I will be reading. After 23 titles, Charles Todd is just beating a dead horse; there is no character development at this point. Rutledge is his usual miserable self, Hamish saying the same old things in his head. Let the man have a bit of happiness, for goodness sakes! I certainly don't want to underestimate the effects PTSD has on soldiers but surely they must start to get better at some point, even just a bit. The reader doesn't even get a glimpse of Melinda Crawford, sister Frances, the the uncle in Scotland. It's just Rutledge, racing around from village to town to hamlet, yelling at people.
The plots of these books are often so convoluted and irrational that it's hard to follow. Who did what to whom? I find myself flipping back trying to figure it out. When the resolution finally comes, I'm figuratively scratching my head. Where in the world did that come from? The only redeeming aspect of this one was the setting in Wales, I don't think Rutledge has worked on a case there yet. The aqueduct feature was interesting. But it's the same old story, Rutledge's superior is mad at him about something although the reason is never spelled out.
Fare ye well, Ian. I'm done.
The plots of these books are often so convoluted and irrational that it's hard to follow. Who did what to whom? I find myself flipping back trying to figure it out. When the resolution finally comes, I'm figuratively scratching my head. Where in the world did that come from? The only redeeming aspect of this one was the setting in Wales, I don't think Rutledge has worked on a case there yet. The aqueduct feature was interesting. But it's the same old story, Rutledge's superior is mad at him about something although the reason is never spelled out.
Fare ye well, Ian. I'm done.
February 20, 2021
One of those "I couldn't stop reading" books. The plot is very complex and I lost track of who a character was a couple of times. It was a very satisfying read, although it did bother me that the fate of one character was left up in the air at the end. An Epilogue to clarify would have been welcome. I can only hope the authors will make some mention of her fate in the next entry in the series.
February 27, 2021
You might be taken aback when the lead investigator in the novel you are reading begins speaking to someone who is not there. Not just talking to themselves but having a complete conversation with a non-existent person. If you are a reader of Charles Todd’s Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery series these actions will not surprise you in the least. Rutledge is a complicated and somewhat broken person who still suffers from what we would now label as serious PTSD from his time spent in WWI. The person he speaks with is Hamish, someone who was in the trenches with Rutledge and perished at his hand. Hamish, with full Scottish accent, is both a sounding board and conscience for Rutledge and he has a lot to say about each investigation.
A FATAL LIE is the latest novel in the series and is so full of secrets, lies, and plot twists that Hamish is far more active than usual as a colleague for Rutledge. In a small Welsh village in the Llangollen Valley, a young boy is fishing along the River Dee. When he finally gets a big bite, he tugs on his line and pulls up something he has never seen before. I big, bloated white thing that when it rolls over has the appearance of once being a person. He reports this and Scotland Yard in the presence of Inspector Ian Rutledge is called in.
The year is 1921 and forensics are nowhere near what they are today. Thanks to his experience in the Royal Army, Rutledge notices what looks like a tattoo on the left arm of the corpse. From what they could gather the deceased was a man on the diminutive side, a bit above five feet tall. Both the pattern of the tattoo and the size would make the victim a member of the Bantam Battalions, a troop of smaller sized soldiers who fought during the great war. The question was, how did he die? There were no discerning marks on the body. Could he have fallen or jumped from the nearby aqueduct at a great height? Was he a drowning victim and, if so, why would he have been in this waterway? Or was he the victim of some foul play? Rutledge brings up many questions, but no answers and the man is a stranger to the area with no one claiming to have remembered a former Bantam soldier visiting the town.
Due to his expert investigating, Rutledge makes note that the corpse was wearing a shirt that was made personally for him and bore the name of the tailor --- Banner. Once he locates the tailor and asks if he ever made a shirt for a Bantam soldier, he is provided with the name of Sam Milford. It turns out that Sam’s wife, Ruth, had come in to order and pick up that shirt. Banner also remembers that waiting outside the shop for Ruth Milford was another man, a soldier considerably taller than Sam who was obviously not her husband.
Rutledge, with Hamish in full presence, makes his way to the home of the Milford family on the outskirts of a town known as Crowley, far from where the body was found. When Rutledge finds Mrs. Ruth Milford she is between her home and the bar that the family owns. He gives her the bad news and she is in complete shock, claiming to not know why Sam was in that small town. When Rutledge questions the other owners of the bar he learns that Sam’s destination had been Shrewsbury where he was seeking out some of their creditors to work out deals with as the bar was having financial difficulties. With Ruth Milford becoming quite distraught, he must rely on the information that others gave him about Sam. One thing of importance is when Rutledge learns that they had lost their daughter Tildy not a year before, something that set Ruth Milford on a serious downward spiral.
As Rutledge continues to speak with more people and following up on every clue, he continues to get more pieces of a puzzle that do not fit. When he chats with the Milford’s barrister, he clarifies that their daughter Tildy was literally ‘lost�, not deceased. Ruth lost her in a crowd and their countless searches for her were unproductive. It also turns out that Sam had been visiting with an Orphanage in discussions to potentially adopt another child. Rutledge does not get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the woman handling the adoptions, but she did produce one bit of interesting information. It turns out that Sam was not the birth father of Tildy as he was still with the Bantams when she was conceived.
Now, all the lies and stories begin to narrow for Rutledge, and he gets some focus on what needs to be uncovered. If Sam was not the father of Tildy, did the birth father have something to do with the abduction? Could that have been the person Sam went to see when he was killed? Was this the same soldier that the tailor saw Ruth Milford with? As more murders occur, what secret is so vital that it takes several lives to be permanently silenced over it? Also, what about Sam Milford’s crazy sister who claims that she had lost a young girl of her own, yet no one in her town ever saw this girl. A FATAL LIE is by far the most confounding case of Rutledge’s career and readers will be just as frustrated as he is with each successive twist and turn. This is the type of classic-style mystery that we have grown to love from the team of Charles Todd and it never fails to deliver.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
A FATAL LIE is the latest novel in the series and is so full of secrets, lies, and plot twists that Hamish is far more active than usual as a colleague for Rutledge. In a small Welsh village in the Llangollen Valley, a young boy is fishing along the River Dee. When he finally gets a big bite, he tugs on his line and pulls up something he has never seen before. I big, bloated white thing that when it rolls over has the appearance of once being a person. He reports this and Scotland Yard in the presence of Inspector Ian Rutledge is called in.
The year is 1921 and forensics are nowhere near what they are today. Thanks to his experience in the Royal Army, Rutledge notices what looks like a tattoo on the left arm of the corpse. From what they could gather the deceased was a man on the diminutive side, a bit above five feet tall. Both the pattern of the tattoo and the size would make the victim a member of the Bantam Battalions, a troop of smaller sized soldiers who fought during the great war. The question was, how did he die? There were no discerning marks on the body. Could he have fallen or jumped from the nearby aqueduct at a great height? Was he a drowning victim and, if so, why would he have been in this waterway? Or was he the victim of some foul play? Rutledge brings up many questions, but no answers and the man is a stranger to the area with no one claiming to have remembered a former Bantam soldier visiting the town.
Due to his expert investigating, Rutledge makes note that the corpse was wearing a shirt that was made personally for him and bore the name of the tailor --- Banner. Once he locates the tailor and asks if he ever made a shirt for a Bantam soldier, he is provided with the name of Sam Milford. It turns out that Sam’s wife, Ruth, had come in to order and pick up that shirt. Banner also remembers that waiting outside the shop for Ruth Milford was another man, a soldier considerably taller than Sam who was obviously not her husband.
Rutledge, with Hamish in full presence, makes his way to the home of the Milford family on the outskirts of a town known as Crowley, far from where the body was found. When Rutledge finds Mrs. Ruth Milford she is between her home and the bar that the family owns. He gives her the bad news and she is in complete shock, claiming to not know why Sam was in that small town. When Rutledge questions the other owners of the bar he learns that Sam’s destination had been Shrewsbury where he was seeking out some of their creditors to work out deals with as the bar was having financial difficulties. With Ruth Milford becoming quite distraught, he must rely on the information that others gave him about Sam. One thing of importance is when Rutledge learns that they had lost their daughter Tildy not a year before, something that set Ruth Milford on a serious downward spiral.
As Rutledge continues to speak with more people and following up on every clue, he continues to get more pieces of a puzzle that do not fit. When he chats with the Milford’s barrister, he clarifies that their daughter Tildy was literally ‘lost�, not deceased. Ruth lost her in a crowd and their countless searches for her were unproductive. It also turns out that Sam had been visiting with an Orphanage in discussions to potentially adopt another child. Rutledge does not get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the woman handling the adoptions, but she did produce one bit of interesting information. It turns out that Sam was not the birth father of Tildy as he was still with the Bantams when she was conceived.
Now, all the lies and stories begin to narrow for Rutledge, and he gets some focus on what needs to be uncovered. If Sam was not the father of Tildy, did the birth father have something to do with the abduction? Could that have been the person Sam went to see when he was killed? Was this the same soldier that the tailor saw Ruth Milford with? As more murders occur, what secret is so vital that it takes several lives to be permanently silenced over it? Also, what about Sam Milford’s crazy sister who claims that she had lost a young girl of her own, yet no one in her town ever saw this girl. A FATAL LIE is by far the most confounding case of Rutledge’s career and readers will be just as frustrated as he is with each successive twist and turn. This is the type of classic-style mystery that we have grown to love from the team of Charles Todd and it never fails to deliver.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
February 3, 2021
Series: Inspector Ian Rutledge #23
Publication Date: 2/16/21
Number of Pages: 352
Mother and son writing team, Charles Todd, beautifully portrays the damage � seen and unseen � suffered by those in WWI. Ian Rutledge’s damage is the unseen kind and he suffers from and deals with the aftermath hour-by-hour. His construct for dealing with the horror is named Hamish and he resides in Rutledge’s head. No, Rutledge doesn’t belong in an asylum, but he definitely suffers from what we would call PTSD in today’s world � and he has a severe case of it. I admire the way the authors show the vulnerable side of Rutledge as well as the skilled investigator side. I’d really like to think Rutledge is getting better and relying on Hamish less and less.
Rutledge’s boss at Scotland Yard doesn’t like him, so, once again he is being punished. He’s been working behind a desk for what seems like forever when his boss sends him off on a case in the Llangollen Valley in northern Wales. The body of a man has been found in the River Dee � no identification and a badly damaged face. Was the man pushed from the aqueduct or did he fall? If he fell, why wouldn’t he have some identification on him?
Nobody in the small village admits to having seen a stranger and they are sure the victim isn’t a local. Who is he? How did he come to be in the small village of Cwmafon? The only clue to the man’s identity is the tailor’s label in his shirt. If Rutledge can just trace that, maybe he’ll be able to find the victim’s name � and talk to his family.
Rutledge is one of the most tenacious, dedicated investigators you’ll ever meet. He never stops until all of the threads are pulled and the total mystery is solved, and this one is definitely convoluted. Before we are done, we’re looking for a missing toddler and we have multiple bodies on our hands. Everyone seems to have secrets and they only tell half-truths or totally mislead. As Rutledge learns more and more, he has to backtrack and go back to the beginning more than once. Time is of the essence for finding the toddler and for discovering the murderer before there are more bodies.
The more Rutledge learns the more he comes to like the victim and the more concerned he becomes for the missing toddler. He speeds over the narrow, curvy, mountainous roads of Wales and England looking for clues. He’s had little sleep and no rest. He’s been attacked, mislead, lied to, and mistrusted. Yet, he is determined to find what has happened to all of the victims.
You should know that it is neither light nor humorous � but it is an excellent read. I love Rutledge and how human he is. I would love to see a bit more light come into his life. Maybe we’ll see that in some of the future books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 2/16/21
Number of Pages: 352
Mother and son writing team, Charles Todd, beautifully portrays the damage � seen and unseen � suffered by those in WWI. Ian Rutledge’s damage is the unseen kind and he suffers from and deals with the aftermath hour-by-hour. His construct for dealing with the horror is named Hamish and he resides in Rutledge’s head. No, Rutledge doesn’t belong in an asylum, but he definitely suffers from what we would call PTSD in today’s world � and he has a severe case of it. I admire the way the authors show the vulnerable side of Rutledge as well as the skilled investigator side. I’d really like to think Rutledge is getting better and relying on Hamish less and less.
Rutledge’s boss at Scotland Yard doesn’t like him, so, once again he is being punished. He’s been working behind a desk for what seems like forever when his boss sends him off on a case in the Llangollen Valley in northern Wales. The body of a man has been found in the River Dee � no identification and a badly damaged face. Was the man pushed from the aqueduct or did he fall? If he fell, why wouldn’t he have some identification on him?
Nobody in the small village admits to having seen a stranger and they are sure the victim isn’t a local. Who is he? How did he come to be in the small village of Cwmafon? The only clue to the man’s identity is the tailor’s label in his shirt. If Rutledge can just trace that, maybe he’ll be able to find the victim’s name � and talk to his family.
Rutledge is one of the most tenacious, dedicated investigators you’ll ever meet. He never stops until all of the threads are pulled and the total mystery is solved, and this one is definitely convoluted. Before we are done, we’re looking for a missing toddler and we have multiple bodies on our hands. Everyone seems to have secrets and they only tell half-truths or totally mislead. As Rutledge learns more and more, he has to backtrack and go back to the beginning more than once. Time is of the essence for finding the toddler and for discovering the murderer before there are more bodies.
The more Rutledge learns the more he comes to like the victim and the more concerned he becomes for the missing toddler. He speeds over the narrow, curvy, mountainous roads of Wales and England looking for clues. He’s had little sleep and no rest. He’s been attacked, mislead, lied to, and mistrusted. Yet, he is determined to find what has happened to all of the victims.
You should know that it is neither light nor humorous � but it is an excellent read. I love Rutledge and how human he is. I would love to see a bit more light come into his life. Maybe we’ll see that in some of the future books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 22, 2021
Rounded up from 3.5. I love the Ian Rutledge books although this is not one of my favorites in the series. Many 'broken' people tortured by lies and mistakes from their past seem to be at the center of this book as Rutledge searches for a murderer and a lost child. The man is relentless, bu then, perhaps he needs to be in order to justify his own existence. Hopefully, one day he will find his own peace.
February 25, 2021
I love this series , but the last couple of books have not been as enjoyable. The plots have been more convoluted and meandering. And I feel that the authors need to let Ian heal and move forward. As to Hamish, he’s become a somewhat worn device to remind us of the horrors of war that so damaged Ian. The series needs more growth and character development. As always though, the history and atmosphere are good and well researched, hence three stars.
March 17, 2021
In one of the more complicated plots in this long series of books featuring Inspector Ian Rutledge, he is sent to a Welsh village to investigate a death that, at first, looks like an accident. The body of a man is found in a river and he appears to have fallen from a great height. There is a nearby canal aqueduct spanning the valley, and the assumption is that he fell from the top of the structure. He is unknown to the local residents and has no identification on him. Rutledge suspects this is no accident.
The time is 1921, some three years after Rutledge had returned from the trenches of France suffering from shell shock, haunted by actions he had taken in the war, and barely able to function. It has been a struggle to get back to an appearance of normal and he is still haunted by the voice of Hamish MacLeod, the Scottish corporal whom he executed on the battlefield for failing to follow a command, but he has a talent for investigation and is a successful Scotland Yard inspector, although not a favorite of his superintendent. The superintendent generally likes to send him to remote villages to handle the cases there. Thus, he finds himself in Wales.
His first order of business is to try to identify the victim and find out what he was doing in a place where no one owns up to knowing him. His only clues are a faded military tattoo on the victim's arm and an unusual label in the man's shirt. Also, the man was quite short. Rutledge suspects that he may have been a member of the Bantam Brigade, a unit of soldiers who were under five feet and three inches tall and thus disqualified from military service because of the height requirement. His suspicions soon bear fruit as he learns that the man was Samuel Mitford, a World War I veteran who was indeed a member of the Bantam Brigade. Tracing his background, Rutledge learns that he had a baby daughter who had gone missing a year earlier, apparently having been abducted. Rutledge begins to suspect that Mitford may have been looking for the child and that is what brought him to the area where he died. He is now certain that the man was murdered and when two more people who were connected to Mitford are also murdered, he is more sure than ever.
As Rutledge goes about the countryside attempting to tie all the loose ends of his case together, we get the authors' (the mother and son team who are Charles Todd) wonderful descriptions of the little country villages and of a way of life that is beginning to fade even in 1921. There are also the tidbits of English history that are sprinkled amid the descriptions and all of this comprises one of the chief pleasures in reading this historical fiction series. (Who knew, for example, that there was a Bantam Brigade in World War I?)
The other great pleasure is the character of Rutledge, a uniquely humane and compassionate policeman who has overcome great difficulties and sorrows to achieve what he has. The authors' ability to deal knowledgeably and sympathetically with the issue of the PTSD suffered by many soldiers is one of the strengths of the series.
Todd's plots are always strong and that is the case here, too, although this one is so complicated and convoluted that one sometimes risks getting lost in the weeds. But readers who persevere will be rewarded. This may, in fact, be one of my favorite reads in all of this long series. My only caveat for others is that if you want to read the series, by all means, start at the beginning because each entry does build on past events.
The time is 1921, some three years after Rutledge had returned from the trenches of France suffering from shell shock, haunted by actions he had taken in the war, and barely able to function. It has been a struggle to get back to an appearance of normal and he is still haunted by the voice of Hamish MacLeod, the Scottish corporal whom he executed on the battlefield for failing to follow a command, but he has a talent for investigation and is a successful Scotland Yard inspector, although not a favorite of his superintendent. The superintendent generally likes to send him to remote villages to handle the cases there. Thus, he finds himself in Wales.
His first order of business is to try to identify the victim and find out what he was doing in a place where no one owns up to knowing him. His only clues are a faded military tattoo on the victim's arm and an unusual label in the man's shirt. Also, the man was quite short. Rutledge suspects that he may have been a member of the Bantam Brigade, a unit of soldiers who were under five feet and three inches tall and thus disqualified from military service because of the height requirement. His suspicions soon bear fruit as he learns that the man was Samuel Mitford, a World War I veteran who was indeed a member of the Bantam Brigade. Tracing his background, Rutledge learns that he had a baby daughter who had gone missing a year earlier, apparently having been abducted. Rutledge begins to suspect that Mitford may have been looking for the child and that is what brought him to the area where he died. He is now certain that the man was murdered and when two more people who were connected to Mitford are also murdered, he is more sure than ever.
As Rutledge goes about the countryside attempting to tie all the loose ends of his case together, we get the authors' (the mother and son team who are Charles Todd) wonderful descriptions of the little country villages and of a way of life that is beginning to fade even in 1921. There are also the tidbits of English history that are sprinkled amid the descriptions and all of this comprises one of the chief pleasures in reading this historical fiction series. (Who knew, for example, that there was a Bantam Brigade in World War I?)
The other great pleasure is the character of Rutledge, a uniquely humane and compassionate policeman who has overcome great difficulties and sorrows to achieve what he has. The authors' ability to deal knowledgeably and sympathetically with the issue of the PTSD suffered by many soldiers is one of the strengths of the series.
Todd's plots are always strong and that is the case here, too, although this one is so complicated and convoluted that one sometimes risks getting lost in the weeds. But readers who persevere will be rewarded. This may, in fact, be one of my favorite reads in all of this long series. My only caveat for others is that if you want to read the series, by all means, start at the beginning because each entry does build on past events.
August 20, 2020
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on February 16th, 2021.
Another episode in the long running Inspector Rutledge or Scotland Yard series written by mother and son team “Charles Todd.� In this episode, Rutledge tackles a series of murders and a missing child in the Llangollen Valley accompanied by Hamish � the ever-present ghost of the man he’d had shot for desertion during WWI.
Pretty convoluted plot � I managed to get lost a bit and didn’t quite find it all believable � but it was certainly readable and I did enjoy learning about the Bantam Battalions and the towpaths. The Bantams were soldiers in WWI who were under the minimum regulation height of 5�3� � at first not allowed to join up but signed up in droves once allowed. I had read the phrase towpaths often and hadn’t realized that these were the paths where people (or mules or whatever) pulled the boats down the canal.
Another episode in the long running Inspector Rutledge or Scotland Yard series written by mother and son team “Charles Todd.� In this episode, Rutledge tackles a series of murders and a missing child in the Llangollen Valley accompanied by Hamish � the ever-present ghost of the man he’d had shot for desertion during WWI.
Pretty convoluted plot � I managed to get lost a bit and didn’t quite find it all believable � but it was certainly readable and I did enjoy learning about the Bantam Battalions and the towpaths. The Bantams were soldiers in WWI who were under the minimum regulation height of 5�3� � at first not allowed to join up but signed up in droves once allowed. I had read the phrase towpaths often and hadn’t realized that these were the paths where people (or mules or whatever) pulled the boats down the canal.
November 13, 2021
4-*
Unlike others, I didn’t mind the shift to Simon Vance as the voice for Rutledge: if we can’t have Simon Prebble, Simon Vance is good too.
As per usual, the mystery took us with Inspector Rutledge all over the U.K. The topic for Rutledge’s latest case was a little odd � I can’t give too much background without creating spoilers: some people just do not deserve to have the privilege of a child to care for.
Sadly, the authors, still, did not gift Ian any breaks in his personal life. I was really hoping they would in this latest book. Guess there’s still hope that he and Bess Crawford (/book/show/6...) will meet up, get married, and solve cases together 😉
Brit trip locations: Wales; England: Shropshire, West Sussex.
Unlike others, I didn’t mind the shift to Simon Vance as the voice for Rutledge: if we can’t have Simon Prebble, Simon Vance is good too.
As per usual, the mystery took us with Inspector Rutledge all over the U.K. The topic for Rutledge’s latest case was a little odd � I can’t give too much background without creating spoilers: some people just do not deserve to have the privilege of a child to care for.
Sadly, the authors, still, did not gift Ian any breaks in his personal life. I was really hoping they would in this latest book. Guess there’s still hope that he and Bess Crawford (/book/show/6...) will meet up, get married, and solve cases together 😉
Brit trip locations: Wales; England: Shropshire, West Sussex.
Read
June 22, 2021I'm putting this in the DNF pile. It's very slow and the mystery surrounding the dead body is really not one I'm invested in finding out the identity of. I'm finding there isn't much movement or change in the characters here and much is repeated from the other Rutledge's I've read. So, it is too slow, way too dry for me to continue on with. * shrug *
Also noted for the audio it wasn't Simon Prebble narrating, and I noticed. Simon Vance isn't someone to scoff at however, it is Simon Prebble's voice that I have come to associate with Rutledge and it was noticeable he was not the narrator here. :-(
Also noted for the audio it wasn't Simon Prebble narrating, and I noticed. Simon Vance isn't someone to scoff at however, it is Simon Prebble's voice that I have come to associate with Rutledge and it was noticeable he was not the narrator here. :-(
May 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this novel
February 25, 2021
I have not encountered Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge before--odd, considering this is the 23rd installment in a mystery series featuring him as the lead character. Rutledge is a WWI survivor who is accompanied on all of his journeys by the specter of his late friend Hamish, who did NOT return home from WWI. Hamish serves as something of a Jiminy Cricket: Asking questions, shouting to call Rutledge's attention to something, offering advice, even serving as gadfly.
And Rutledge has been handed a whopper. In Wales, a decomposing corpse has been discovered in a river that cuts through a vast gorge. The corpse has obviously plummeted from the lofty aqueduct that spans the river and serves as an alternate route for longboats wishing to cross the gorge. The corpse bears no identification, and none of the locals recognize him...although the locals get noticeably skittish at the approach of Rutledge. Rutledge must traverse many tiny Welsh villages that have been left in dire economic straits in search of answers. He is able to identify the dead man through a tailor's label sewn into the his shirt--and by a faded, distorted tattoo on his arm. The man's name is Sam Milford, and his presence in Wales is an mystery equal to his death. No one who knew him was aware that Milford has planned to travel to Wales. His family is baffled--and is equally as skittish as the Welsh folk when Rutledge appears. Everyone knows something that Rutledge does not, and he must travel many miles--and backtrack almost the same amount of miles--to find answers to his growing list of puzzles.
Reading this book reintroduced me to the perils of picking up a series so late in its development. Little is done to establish Rutledge as a character. I presume that a reader must go back 22 books to find out who Rutledge really is. He proves to be a competent inspector, one of the more dogged characters I've ever seen. In a way that is reminiscent of Paretsky's VI Warshowski, Rutledge seems able to get by on minimal rest, so long as the faithful Hamish is along for the ride, raising the alarm when he is drifting off. I can barely get through half of a day without nodding off, so good on him. I am a big fan of mysteries in series, and I have already procured book #1, so as to investigate the Inspector's background. So there may be Rutledge reviews in my future.
And Rutledge has been handed a whopper. In Wales, a decomposing corpse has been discovered in a river that cuts through a vast gorge. The corpse has obviously plummeted from the lofty aqueduct that spans the river and serves as an alternate route for longboats wishing to cross the gorge. The corpse bears no identification, and none of the locals recognize him...although the locals get noticeably skittish at the approach of Rutledge. Rutledge must traverse many tiny Welsh villages that have been left in dire economic straits in search of answers. He is able to identify the dead man through a tailor's label sewn into the his shirt--and by a faded, distorted tattoo on his arm. The man's name is Sam Milford, and his presence in Wales is an mystery equal to his death. No one who knew him was aware that Milford has planned to travel to Wales. His family is baffled--and is equally as skittish as the Welsh folk when Rutledge appears. Everyone knows something that Rutledge does not, and he must travel many miles--and backtrack almost the same amount of miles--to find answers to his growing list of puzzles.
Reading this book reintroduced me to the perils of picking up a series so late in its development. Little is done to establish Rutledge as a character. I presume that a reader must go back 22 books to find out who Rutledge really is. He proves to be a competent inspector, one of the more dogged characters I've ever seen. In a way that is reminiscent of Paretsky's VI Warshowski, Rutledge seems able to get by on minimal rest, so long as the faithful Hamish is along for the ride, raising the alarm when he is drifting off. I can barely get through half of a day without nodding off, so good on him. I am a big fan of mysteries in series, and I have already procured book #1, so as to investigate the Inspector's background. So there may be Rutledge reviews in my future.
August 9, 2021
This one has an overage of unpleasant characters. Ian Rutledge is the Rodney Dangerfield of sleuths: no respect from the public nor from his higher-ups at Scotland Yard. Early 1920s, Wales and Shropshire.
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