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hudsone45's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciate that it felt like Hammish was around less than usual.
lgiegerich's review against another edition
3.0
i love the Rutledge mysteries, but this wasn't quite up to par. still better than most series, but not as good as its own best.
zogg's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
astrangerhere's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5. This was a bit of a let down in the Rutledge series.
nonna7's review against another edition
5.0
I was telling a friend today that I had become even more discerning about the books I read. In the past few months, I have returned a fair amount of books to the library after reading only a few pages. Either I care about the characters or not - that's what drives my reading. In this most recent addition to the Inspector Ian Rutledge series authored by the mother/son writing team under the name of Charles Todd, I was not at all disappointed. In fact, I think this may be the best one yet. (Of course I said that about the last one too!)
The story opens with two fishermen finding a dead body in the marshy areas of the river. They figure him for a dead German spy, steal the money in his wallet and get rid of the body in the river.
A man walks into Rutledge's office and confesses to a murder. He is dying of cancer, and says that the cancer will claim him long before the hangman. Rutledge investigates and soon finds out that he is not the man he said he was at all.
This book had so many twists and turns. An old murder, an older murder and a host of even older murders are all uncovered in this incredibly well-written novel.
It's such a pleasure to pick up a book that really keeps my interest. I love the driven character of Ian Rutledge, suffering from shell shock, but keeping it to himself because at the time being a shell shock victim was considered cowardice. It would have been the end of his career. He is obviously driven to find justice after his horrific experiences during WWI.
This is a rewarding and complex book. While it helps to have read the previous books, it isn't necessary. This is a series you can dip into at any point and always enjoy.
The story opens with two fishermen finding a dead body in the marshy areas of the river. They figure him for a dead German spy, steal the money in his wallet and get rid of the body in the river.
A man walks into Rutledge's office and confesses to a murder. He is dying of cancer, and says that the cancer will claim him long before the hangman. Rutledge investigates and soon finds out that he is not the man he said he was at all.
This book had so many twists and turns. An old murder, an older murder and a host of even older murders are all uncovered in this incredibly well-written novel.
It's such a pleasure to pick up a book that really keeps my interest. I love the driven character of Ian Rutledge, suffering from shell shock, but keeping it to himself because at the time being a shell shock victim was considered cowardice. It would have been the end of his career. He is obviously driven to find justice after his horrific experiences during WWI.
This is a rewarding and complex book. While it helps to have read the previous books, it isn't necessary. This is a series you can dip into at any point and always enjoy.
gawronma's review against another edition
4.0
Despite a slow start the book ended strongly. I always look forward to Todd ' s books.
katenetz's review against another edition
4.0
As usual, a haunting, fascinating mystery. Also as usual, I had no idea what was going on until the end (but that's a good thing.)
plantbirdwoman's review against another edition
4.0
It's 1920 and World War I is now well in the rear-view mirror, but Inspector Ian Rutledge is still suffering some of the effects of shell-shock (as PTSD was called in those days). He's getting stronger though, and it was refreshing in this 14th entry in Charles Todd's series to find him much closer to normal and able to function at a higher level than he has previously.
He is still haunted by the voice of Hamish, the young Scots soldier under his command that he had had to execute for failure to obey orders on the battlefield. But Hamish seems a somewhat more benevolent spirit at this point. Perhaps he is beginning to meld into Rutledge's own personality and become simply the voice of his conscience.
This story begins with a man walking into Scotland Yard and confessing to the murder of his cousin five years earlier, but it is a murder that has never been reported and there is reason to suspect that it may not really have happened. The man who makes the confession is dying of cancer and is taking morphine as a pain killer. Rutledge suspects that his mind may be affected by his medication, but he insists that he wants to clear his conscience before dying.
Although Rutledge can find no record of a murder or an unclaimed body that could be the victim of the crime the man has confessed to, he is intrigued by the story and decides to take a road trip with his sister to the village in Essex where the confessed murderer grew up and where the "murder" may have occurred. There, he finds a very insular, unfriendly village that seems intent on discouraging visitors or newcomers. It seems apparent that the people there are desperately trying to hide some secret. But what? And does it have anything to do with the so-called murder? Rutledge can find no evidence and no reason to actually believe the confession he has been given.
Then, less than two weeks later, the alleged killer's body is found floating in the Thames, a bullet wound to the back of his head, a woman's locket around his neck. Rutledge learns to his dismay that the man had given him a false name. He is really someone else entirely, but he does have connections to the man whose name he had used.
Rutledge's investigation takes him back to that unwelcoming village and he begins uncovering some of the shameful secrets which the villagers have tried to keep. In doing so he discovers a long pattern of violence and multiple murders which may have some connection to the latest killing.
We walk with the good inspector as he follows the evidence which often seems to twist and turn back upon itself. It's a complicated plot, and at some point in reading it, I put all of the characters in a line-up in my mind and said who is the most unlikely to be the culprit? And sure enough, it turned out to be him! Maybe I'm catching on to Charles Todd's tricks.
Inspector Rutledge still moons a bit over his lost love and the reader wonders whether Todd will ever actually give him a significant love interest. Moreover, back at the office, Rutledge's nemesis Superintendent Bowles ("Old Bowels" to his subordinates) has suffered a heart attack and is in hospital and things are much calmer and running smoothly in his absence. It appears that we may get a new superintendent. Perhaps one who is not prejudiced against our troubled inspector and who will finally give him the credit that he deserves..
He is still haunted by the voice of Hamish, the young Scots soldier under his command that he had had to execute for failure to obey orders on the battlefield. But Hamish seems a somewhat more benevolent spirit at this point. Perhaps he is beginning to meld into Rutledge's own personality and become simply the voice of his conscience.
This story begins with a man walking into Scotland Yard and confessing to the murder of his cousin five years earlier, but it is a murder that has never been reported and there is reason to suspect that it may not really have happened. The man who makes the confession is dying of cancer and is taking morphine as a pain killer. Rutledge suspects that his mind may be affected by his medication, but he insists that he wants to clear his conscience before dying.
Although Rutledge can find no record of a murder or an unclaimed body that could be the victim of the crime the man has confessed to, he is intrigued by the story and decides to take a road trip with his sister to the village in Essex where the confessed murderer grew up and where the "murder" may have occurred. There, he finds a very insular, unfriendly village that seems intent on discouraging visitors or newcomers. It seems apparent that the people there are desperately trying to hide some secret. But what? And does it have anything to do with the so-called murder? Rutledge can find no evidence and no reason to actually believe the confession he has been given.
Then, less than two weeks later, the alleged killer's body is found floating in the Thames, a bullet wound to the back of his head, a woman's locket around his neck. Rutledge learns to his dismay that the man had given him a false name. He is really someone else entirely, but he does have connections to the man whose name he had used.
Rutledge's investigation takes him back to that unwelcoming village and he begins uncovering some of the shameful secrets which the villagers have tried to keep. In doing so he discovers a long pattern of violence and multiple murders which may have some connection to the latest killing.
We walk with the good inspector as he follows the evidence which often seems to twist and turn back upon itself. It's a complicated plot, and at some point in reading it, I put all of the characters in a line-up in my mind and said who is the most unlikely to be the culprit? And sure enough, it turned out to be him! Maybe I'm catching on to Charles Todd's tricks.
Inspector Rutledge still moons a bit over his lost love and the reader wonders whether Todd will ever actually give him a significant love interest. Moreover, back at the office, Rutledge's nemesis Superintendent Bowles ("Old Bowels" to his subordinates) has suffered a heart attack and is in hospital and things are much calmer and running smoothly in his absence. It appears that we may get a new superintendent. Perhaps one who is not prejudiced against our troubled inspector and who will finally give him the credit that he deserves..
serenaac's review against another edition
4.0
The Confession by Charles Todd is the 14th book in the Ian Rutledge mystery series, which usually pertain to The Great War or WWI. In this book, Rutledge hears the confession of an aging and dying man in 1920 about a murder he committed during the war. When the body of the man who confesses to murder is found in the Thames, Rutledge’s informal inquiry into the alleged murder is kicked up a notch and has him traveling between London and Essex. The man had given him a name, which turns out to be false, and the mystery of how this man knows whom he’s accused becomes a mystery in itself.
While set after the war, it is clear that the battles have impacted Rutledge, and many of the men and families he encounters in the book as he unravels the murder mystery. Todd’s mystery resembles that of Sherlock Holmes, though Rutledge’s Watson is Hamish who died in the war. Deductions are made carefully from a series of innocuous events and statements from witness, neighbors, and others as Rutledge attempts to trace the heritage of the Russell family in Furnham. And of course, there are some red herrings.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2012/01/the-confession-by-charles-todd.html
While set after the war, it is clear that the battles have impacted Rutledge, and many of the men and families he encounters in the book as he unravels the murder mystery. Todd’s mystery resembles that of Sherlock Holmes, though Rutledge’s Watson is Hamish who died in the war. Deductions are made carefully from a series of innocuous events and statements from witness, neighbors, and others as Rutledge attempts to trace the heritage of the Russell family in Furnham. And of course, there are some red herrings.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2012/01/the-confession-by-charles-todd.html