The Confession: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Scotland Yard’s best detective, Inspector Ian Rutledge, must solve a dangerous case that reaches far into the past in this superb mystery in the acclaimed series.

Declaring he needs to clear his conscience, a dying man walks into Scotland Yard and confesses that he killed his cousin five years earlier during the Great War. When Inspector Ian Rutledge presses for details, the man evades his questions, revealing only that he hails from a village east of London. With little information and no body to open an official inquiry, Rutledge begins to look into the case on his own.

Less than two weeks later, the alleged killer’s body is found floating in the Thames, a bullet in the back of his head. Searching for answers, Rutledge discovers that the dead man was not who he claimed to be. What was his real name - and who put a bullet in his head? Were the “confession” and his own death related? Or was there something else in the victim’s past that led to his murder?

The inspector’s only clue is a gold locket, found around the dead man’s neck, that leads back to Essex and an insular village whose occupants will do anything to protect themselves from notoriety. For notoriety brings the curious, and with the curious come change and an unwelcome spotlight on a centuries-old act of evil that even now can damn them all.

©2012 Charles Todd (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

AN ADDICTIVE SERIES!

Somehow I started with just one of the books in the series but soon bought all of them back to back. FYI: This is the 14th in the series. Simon Prebble, as always, is a superb narrator - much better than Samuel Gillies, who narrates like he's performing "Hansel and Gretel" to 6 year olds!

No matter how hard you try, you will never guess who will be murdered and by whom. There are so many twists and turns and red herrings that the reader is always kept guessing. The Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge is a tortured soul but a great detective. He suffers from World War I "shell shock" which is what we now recognize as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that is manifested by a dead "imaginary friend" named Hamish McCloud. This adds an interesting component into how this detective acts and reacts. Hamish is to Rutledge what cocaine is to Sherlock Holmes - a dangerous nemesis that both helps and hampers. All of the books are pretty much the same plot but just different enough in locations, people, class distinctions, and twists to make each worth reading. My suggestion is to go on Google or Wikipedia to learn the order of the series and start with the first one. Each book fills in the gaps if you start somewhere in the middle but the continuity really helps. It would be nice if Audible.com would assign chronological order to books which contain a series or prequels and sequels. )I will post this same comment on all of the Ian Rutledge books that I've read.)

Great story!

Here is Ian Rutledge trying to decide if he has 2 cases or 1 very nasty case. As one of his counterparts would say, "He is using his little grey cells." This is a good, complex mystery-don't miss it!

Well worth a credit.

What did you love best about The Confession?

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I have listened to over 100 books over the years and this book takes place after WW1 which is was something new for me and the story moved right along. Is it the best book I have listened to no, but was it worth one of my credits absolutely.

Great!

I Very much enjoyed this mystery and the reader is a favorite. Worth the read!

A very complex mystery, true to form

This novel has a lot of characters both past and present - at times I found the book confusing, probably because I listened to it in small segments during my short commute to work and this did not do it justice. I have found the Ian Rutledge novels are best listened to for longer stretches and they are engrossing enough to be enjoyed that way.

I have listened to this series in order, which is great, but I think any of the books could stand alone. I highly recommend the series and the books and both the narrators who read them. I haven't read any of these in print so I can't compare.

The best of the best, the ultimate Ian Rutledge

Charles Todd just gets better with age - like a fine wine he is. Begin in Audible with the first of the series (confession: I've only listed to the those narrated by Simon Prebble - he is "The Man" as far as I am concerned) and work your way through to the end; they only get better and better.

Hamish MacLeod was quiet in this novel and I admire Todd for that. The best hope in life is that, no matter what the ailment, a person gets better, survives, and that is where I felt Todd was taking Rutledge in this one. It made me want to read the next one, a new facet to Todd, a hope for his character.

To sum this up, the best Ian Rutledge story yet. I loved every page of it. Now, saying that - this was the first novel I figured out "who-done-it" (about 2/3 in) but it did not ruin the novel because I was never 100% sure I was right, Todd kept me guessing and ultimately that is what I want in every mystery.

I cannot wait for the next one.

Tantalizing mystery where the war actually is a character

The aftermath ofWorld War I plays an enormous role in this period Mystery.The narration of Simon Prebble made it come alive.I am continually fascinated by the post traumatic stress/Shell shock narrative and its personification in Hamish. This novel would make a great film.

I like these stories but...

What made the experience of listening to The Confession: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery the most enjoyable?

I really can't stand Simon Prebble's Scottish accent - it's awful.

What three words best describe Simon Prebble’s performance?

Generally good, just can't do a Scottish accent at all (I know, more than 3 words!!)

Most exciting by Todd Yet

This is was one of the most exciting books I have ever listened to. Simon Prebble does a perfect job of the voices and brings the whole story alive.

In many ways this is almost a gothic novel - the air of brooding and unknown evil hanging over the Essex marshes and the little village of Furnham and the house River's Edge makes the book electric with suspense. I couldn't stop listening to it. Rutledge has to trace the murders back to their beginning over 20 years before the start of the murder which attracts Rutledge's attention. From a man coming to Scotland Yard to confess to a muder he didn't commit, Rutledge must finally go back over 20 years to find the first murder committed by this serial killer. Is is amazing to watch him untangle it all.

The solution to the murders will come as a big surprise and you will have a hard time figuring out. It is amazing the way Inspector Rutledge puts his case together and all the strange twists and turns it takes. With all the driving back and forth he does, I wonder the man gets any sleep at all.

The plotting is excellent and bit by bit we uncover the history of this reclusive town on the River Hawking. Each character is well fleshed out and we can picture them in their cottages so vivid is the characterization of each villagel Inspector Rutledge meets.

I wish Audible would publish all his books in audio but I am going back and reread all the books in the series from the start.

Charles Todd At His Very Best

Would you consider the audio edition of The Confession to be better than the print version?

Haven't read, only listened. But, the reader is superb, so I lean toward the audio version.

What did you like best about this story?

The continuation of a most intriguing character, Ian Rutledge. The author has refined and expanded him with each new book.

Which scene was your favorite?

His conversations with the rector.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It was "moving" throughout the entire book.

Any additional comments?

The main character, Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge, has grown and expanded as a character in each book of the series. Todd tells wonderful stories, with excellent character development - and the tricks and turns of the mystery are always fascinating.