A Fine Summer's Day

An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

New York Times best-selling author Charles Todd takes readers into Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge's past - to his perplexing final case before the outbreak of World War I.

On a fine summer's day in June, 1914, Ian Rutledge pays little notice to the assassination of an archduke in Sarajevo. An Inspector at Scotland Yard, he is planning to propose to the woman whom he deeply loves, despite intimations from friends and family that she may not be the wisest choice.

To the north on this warm and gentle day, another man in love - a Scottish Highlander - shows his own dear girl the house he will build for her in September. While back in England, a son awaits the undertaker in the wake of his widowed mother's death. This death will set off a series of murders across England, seemingly unconnected, that Rutledge will race to solve in the weeks before the fateful declaration in August that will forever transform his world.

As the clouds of war gather on the horizon, all of Britain wonders and waits. With every moment at stake, Rutledge sets out to right a wrong - an odyssey that will eventually force him to choose between the Yard and his country, between love and duty, and between honor and truth.

©2015 Charles Todd (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

More Than A Fine Read

This book exceeded my expectations. I was hoping to find something to listen to for my long road trip. A few moments before I left, I did a cursory search and made my selection. I didn't realize this was the final book of a series, but I only found out eight hours into my drive. I decided to finish it, and was buoyed by the fact that it is a prequel. Now I will begin book one.

If you are disappointed, that's because this is not your genre.

Rewarding Reading

Was so glad for new book in a great series

So sad it is over. This one picks up just the summer before WWI. It was surprising timing as I have been reading a number of history non fiction of the the year leading up to the Great War. The stupidity of the leaders of the main European States involved, inane bravado of the monarchs of Austria-Hungarian empire, Russia and Germany cost the world dearly to this very day by acting without wisdom or forethought is a surprisingly inane story...of course other factors came to play, but one must wonder how things might be different if cool heads had prevailed over egos in reaction to the terrible murders of Prince Ferdinand and his wife one day in Bosnia. Ironically, study of the would be King of AH reveals that behind the scenes he was a most progressive thinker then and would even be seen as such or so it seems to me in today's political environs. There are many nutty parts to the story. Ferdinand would have been a supporter of Bosnian independence had he lived

We must all now get serious about learning our world history to better understand our world today. Most importantly, we need to elect a support intelligent, wise and progressive thinkers who truly have learned the history and live accordingly to lessons that were or should have come from the past. I don't wonder if Todd didn't have a mind of this message that I fear far too few are heeding although many great leaders of our past and deepest political thinkers of today are surfacing with all about one. But only noticed by those paying attention.

loved it

Another great novel, by Charles Todd.
I highly recommend this book, I enjoyed it very much.

Gives the back story

What did you love best about A Fine Summer's Day?

Gives you the background you need to fully understand Inspector Routledge and Jean and Pre-War Britain

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Fine Summer's Day?

When Routlege is chasing the suspect through the villages and he misses him

Have you listened to any of Steven Crossley’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

All good and believable and unobtrusive.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction

Any additional comments?

I have learned how pacifists were treated during and before WW I and have been scandalized by that treatment. This fits well with Downton Abbey.

Must read this for series

We loved it great on our trip.
Good voices from narrator. The storyline was pretty good didn’t guess everything before it happened. Looking forward to next book.

Excellent prequel to the series

The story was good and the character setup is excellent. I hope there are more books for the war years.

I hate prequels

Well thank goodness he dodged Jean - what a shallow woman. I prefer the previous reader - at times I cannot tell difference between characters. Still worth the listen - I enjoyed it.

Bravo! Prequel Success!

As I began to listen, I had forgotten that this is a "prequel" and takes place in 1914, beginning on the day that the assassination in the Balkans takes place, "a fine summer's day" in England.

My first thought was "All those readers who keep saying they want to see the last of Hamish will get their wish, at least temporarily," while also thinking - will I like Ian Rutledge from before the war?

I have to admit that for the first couple of hours I was puzzled and confused because Rutledge has to go from case to case to case (Old Bowles on the rampage), and the cases are all over the country as well as involving different characters and local policemen. Consequently, the setup for this one is, like some of the recent books in the series, quite complex and may try your patience. But hang in there. There is a method to the madness, and once this first bit is out of the way, I thought this entry was superb. I had trouble stopping once it got going and will say no more about the mystery.

It is fun to meet some of the characters that you have previously been introduced to only as a look at the past, and I think it helped flesh out Ian Rutledge as a real person. We meet his Jean and her family and see much more of his relationship with sister Frances and family friend Melinda Crawford.

The narrator, Steven Crossley, is one of my favorites (he reads the Shardlake series), and does a creditable job of distinguishing most of the myriad of characters.

Kept me thoroughly engaged and I loved it!

BOTH NOVEL AND NARRATOR ARE EXCELLENT.

I really enjoyed A Fine Summers Day. It held me until the end. I rather enjoyed not having 'Hamish' around. Really enjoyed the narration. Excellent. It's a pity that all the other books Steven narrates aren't my cup of tea. Very smooth to listen to. I highly recommend.

Great Prequel

I have enjoyed almost all of the Inspector Rutledge series. This prequel gave a good understanding of how quickly Europe descended in to madness in the summer of 1914. He also did a fair job of bringing fiancé Jean and her cousin, Kate, into greater dimension. The killer and how he stalked his quarry so relentlessly was intense. Without spoiling the finale, it was equally satisfying. Great job!