The Black Ascot

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Scotland Yard’s Ian Rutledge seeks a killer who has eluded Scotland Yard for years in this next installment of the acclaimed New York Times best-selling series.

An astonishing tip from a grateful ex-convict seems implausible - but Inspector Ian Rutledge is intrigued and brings it to his superior at Scotland Yard. Alan Barrington, who has evaded capture for 10 years, is the suspect in an appalling murder during Black Ascot, the famous 1910 royal horse race honoring the late King Edward VII. His disappearance began a manhunt that consumed Britain for a decade. Now, it appears that Barrington has returned to England, giving the Yard a last chance to retrieve its reputation and see justice done. Rutledge is put in charge of a quiet search under cover of a routine review of a cold case.

Meticulously retracing the original inquiry, Rutledge begins to know Alan Barrington well, delving into relationships and secrets that hadn’t surfaced in 1910. But is he too close to finding his man?

His sanity is suddenly brought into question by a shocking turn of events. His sister, Frances, Melinda Crawford, and Dr. Fleming stand by him, but there is no greater shame than shell shock. Questioning himself, he realizes he cannot look back. The only way to save his career - much less his sanity - is to find Alan Barrington and bring him to justice. But is this elusive murderer still in England?

©2019 Charles Todd (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

the best of the inspector Rutledge series!

I have really enjoyed all the Inspector Rutledge books, but this one tops them all! Charles Todd has kept honing his craft, getting better with each new Rutledge book. it's great to watch the characters mature and grow and the stories get stronger and better with each new novel!

Rutledge is a great character

Good story And excellent performance. Charles Todd is an excellent author. I love this series.

Story of detail complexity

Story of multiple levels of long twisting thread full of Hero’s and villains. One of the best presentations of Ian’s personality,

Rutledge and the plot

Another winner from the Charles Todd’s. Best characterization of Rutledge yet along with the intricate plot and stellar reading performance make this novel perfect.

One of the finest Detective series I’ve ever read

Simon Prebble is also an outstanding voice for this book series. The fact this series is written by an American mother and son is also astonishing. The series feels so grounded in early 20th century London.

Absolutely wonderful!

I have listened to almost all of the Ian Rutledge books and this has to be the best. I do hope this series continues and the next book is released soon.

Twisty and wonderful

One of Todd’s best yarns, and I’d listen to Simon Prebbles read a phone book!

Book 21 and Still Going Strong

I keep thinking that I will tire of this series, but they keep getting better. This one finds Rutledge again questioning his own sanity, and Corporal Hamish Macleod, ever present in his mind makes matters worse. Scotland Yard, who reluctantly gave him his job back after returning from the Great War, has it in for him, yet Rutledge continues to solve cases, shell shock or not. The mysteries surrounding this case seem unsurmountable and are tied to a disappearance going back ten years. When Dr. Fleming meets with Ian to discuss his wounds and what could have happened to him, it was a turning point. Don't miss this one! One of the absolute best in the series!

Excellent addition to the series

As usual, Simon Prebble’s narration is stellar. The storyline is one of the best in the series and has a very strong ending. I listened way into the night and only stopped because I was nodding off and missing passages. I will listen to The Black Ascot again and highly recommend it to all fans of the Inspector Rutledge series.

a great story in the series

the authors once again, we've a complex plot together with the background of World war I, it's aftermath and complex jealousies. There are several characters who we've seen before which are great characters and several that were new but maybe are foreshadowing of things to come. The performance was good and the differentiation of the voices of all the characters was well done