The Gate Keeper

An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

On a deserted road, late at night, Scotland Yard's Ian Rutledge encounters a frightened woman standing over a body, launching an inquiry that leads him into the lair of a stealthy killer and the dangerous recesses of his own memories in this 20th installment of the acclaimed New York Times best-selling series.

Hours after his sister's wedding, a restless Ian Rutledge drives aimlessly, haunted by the past, and narrowly misses a motorcar stopped in the middle of a desolate road. Standing beside the vehicle is a woman with blood on her hands and a dead man at her feet.

She swears she didn't kill Stephen Wentworth. A stranger stepped out in front of their motorcar, and without warning, fired a single shot before vanishing into the night. But there is no trace of him. And the shaken woman insists it all happened so quickly, she never saw the man's face.

Although he is a witness after the fact, Rutledge persuades the Yard to give him the inquiry, since he's on the scene. But is he seeking justice - or fleeing painful memories in London?

Wentworth was well-liked, yet his bitter family paint a malevolent portrait, calling him a murderer. But who did Wentworth kill? Is his death retribution? Or has his companion lied? Wolf Pit, his village, has a notorious history: in medieval times, the last wolf in England was killed there. When a second suspicious death occurs, the evidence suggests that a dangerous predator is on the loose and that death is closer than Rutledge knows.

©2018 Charles Todd (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Narrator Simon Prebble has the perfect voice for this atmospheric mystery.... Prebble's accessible British accent and changes in pacing quickly pull listeners into this cleverly plotted mystery. Rutledge's well-crafted fictional world, as always, is rich in sensory stimulation and interesting characters." (AudioFile)

New Favorite Series

I have read 4 in the series so far and not in order. it didn't really matter. loved every one so far.

Theis Series only gets better with age

Thoughtfully intriguing, historically cogent, and psychologically engaging this Rutledge novel embraces the reader from beginning to end. The narrator is one of the best That I have encountered on Audible

brilliant

kept you on the edge of your seat almost till the end a real mystery.

an interesting story and good performance

Another well-written stories in the series, the performance was good. Lots of twists and turns with some unlikely villains in the end. Shows the sheer viciousness of some people. Has the return of several interesting characters, and maybe the foreshadowing of something else.

Great

This is a new author for me. Story was good and will look for more titles from this author

Good detective novel but upsetting

This was a really good book with good development of each character. However, spoiler alert, there is great backstory and development of one character which is even the reason the book is named gatekeeper, and yet that person receives no real resolution to people in that person’s life who made it horrible never come to account. there’s no reason we learn So much about this one person in particular or that the book is name for them when the people who get resolution who get a positive outcome and who get their names cleared are neither involved in the title Norcum into the story until literally the last 3 to 4 chapters. Good ending and plot wise but very very disappointed about the first death inquiry and all the time there, awful upbringing of the man and not only is he never vindicated but an additional support and loyalty discussed for his life long abuser. Why spend so much time there for nothing? I cared much less for the woman who came out on top as her story was barely developed and we do not cone to know much about her. Pity as the story line and writing plus narrator are excellent in other ways.

Never disappointed

Always love Rutledge!!! and Hamish. Always waiting for the Todd's next book in their series.

Always Keeps You Guessing

Who the killer is is almost incidental to the great narration and rich stories of Ian Rutledge. Still, the killer's identity is nearly always a surprise.

The best yet!

All of the Inspector Rutledge books are good and this one is, too. Good pacing on the plot and interesting characters. Now we just need the next one.

Excellent entry for this series

I’ve been thinking and writing about long term series, and that several of my favorite writers seemed to have faltered with their most recent releases. This novel shows me otherwise. I would comment that a new reader should start with one of the earlier novels to understand the growth of the main character.