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The Confession: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery Audiobook
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(3.02) - 951 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
“One of the best historical series being written today.”
—Washington Post
“Todd once and for all establishes the shell-shocked Rutledge as the genre’s most complex and fascinating detective.”
—Entertainment Weekly
The Confession is historical crime fiction at its finest, continuing Charles Todd’s New York Times bestselling mystery series featuring severely damaged British World War I veteran, and yet still astonishingly efficient Scotland Yard inspector, Ian Rutledge. Todd’s troubled investigator wrestles with a startling and dangerous case that reaches far into the past when a false confession from a man who is not who he claims to be leads to a brutal murder. The Confession is a must-read for every fan of Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes, P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, and Jacqueline Winspear, as post-war London’s best detective finds himself ensnared in a dark and deadly investigation that unearths shocking small town secrets dating back more than a century.
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"It was fun spending time with Rutledge and Hamish again and this was a well-crafted mystery plot. When the Todds first started, they had difficulty coming up with endings that I found believable and satisfactory. A few books ago they got that figured out and this conclusion to Rutledge's detection works--enough of a twist so that I wasn't expecting the specific murderer, but with a sufficient planting of clues so that I could ferret out the main reasons behind the crime and the revelation didn't appear to come out of thin air. The principal setting is the marshes of Essex along a river leading to the North Sea--what sounds like a rather forbidding, if starkly beautiful, part of England--at least in 1920. We see Rutledge moving some beyond the evil of his war--though Hamish will never let him get too far afield from the horrors and guilt of the Somme--to contend with a mystery arising out of historical and familial evil. An engaging read!"
— Cathy (4 out of 5 stars)
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“There’s both a pattern and a purpose to the superb historical mysteries produced by mother-and-son writing partners known as Charles Todd.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Consistently ingenious and atmospheric…The Confession carries forward some of the best elements of the British Golden Age mysteries and proves there’s life in the old formula yet.”
— Washington Post -
“As with any good mystery, the tension ramps up as the story progresses, pulling more and more characters into the fray, weaving three murders flawlessly into a tight tale. Mr. Todd’s characterization is his strength.”
— New York Journal of Books -
“Set in 1920, Todd’s excellent fourteenth mystery featuring Inspector Ian Rutledge offers an intriguing setup…The plot convolutions compel, but the book’s main strength is its remarkable lead, who has survived the trench warfare of WWI and remains haunted by what the exigencies of the battlefield forced him to do.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Todd serves up plenty of period detail and plot twists, but the real attraction here is Rutledge, a shrewd, dedicated detective grappling with the demons of his past.”
— Booklist -
“A stunner worthy of Agatha Christie’s best...Todd invests this absorbing fiction with creative storytelling (including intriguing subplots), memorable characters and graceful, seemingly effortless prose….This is fiction that moves, entertains, and as always, underscores life’s victories over death.”
— Richmond Times-Dispatch -
“Todd’s masterful storytelling skills shine.”
— RT Book Reviews -
“Another excellent Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery…You follow a twisting road when you read this book. You won’t soon forget your trip to Furnham and the people who may not be who they seem to be.”
— Suspense Magazine -
“A deliciously intricate plot…will keep you enthralled and entranced to the end.”
— Providence Journal -
“The Confession is in the historical mystery genre, but there is nothing musty about the Todds’ approach to the past—it’s another superb entry in one of the best continuing series in crime fiction.”
— Connecticut Post -
“While Rutledge shines as the stalwart detective wrestling with his personal demons, the compelling mystery of shameful secrets and revenge are what keep these pages turning. Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal -
“An intriguing mystery, the book finds its strength in the atmosphere, historic detail, and excellent characterization of Rutledge. Verdict: Simon Prebble’s reading makes the characters believable, especially the tough guys.”
— Library Journal (audio review) -
“The latest entry in the well-established Inspector Ian Rutledge series is read by Prebble, whose slightly aristocratic tones and distinctly British accent are perfect for this atmospheric historical mystery...Prebble uses slight but effective vocal variations for the male characters, making it easy for listeners to distinguish among them, and he lightens his tones to express distinctly feminine voices. His calm reading is the perfect foil for an increasingly suspenseful mystery, making this an aurally pleasing experience that transcends the written word.”
— Booklist (audio review) -
“The thrill of the chase and unraveling disparate evidence shines in this most convoluted Todd mystery. And, as always, Simon Prebble perfectly delivers Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge’s thoughtful commentary and firm commands. Prebble meticulously portrays the twisty story’s many varied characters, including women, the elderly, and those of multiple stations with many forms of British accents.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
The Confession Listener Reviews
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" Like most Todd books, pretty well written with satisfying twists and turns. The big disappointment is always the ending with the culprit being snatched from nowhere with no particular reason for Rutledge to have known him/her. At least as far as the reader can see. May try another one or two anyway. "
— Jerry, 1/31/2014 -
" Another fascinating case with repercussions from WWI for Inspector Ian Rutledge. This has become a favorite series of mine. In this one the descriptions of the remote mansion and the insular nature of the villagers is beautifully limned and even though I guessed the identity of the perpetrator before Rutledge seemed to cotton onto it, it was expertly plotted. "
— Patricia, 1/20/2014 -
" A dying man clears his conscience by telling Inspector Rutledge about a murder committed many years ago. By the time we find out whodunit, there are multiple murders, borrowed identities and a murderer able to wait for years to claim vengence. It was read beautifully. "
— Jaci, 1/11/2014 -
" Another great one. Inspector Ian Rutledge is at work in Scotland Yard when a man arrives, introduces himself as Wyatt Russell and confesses to killing his cousin years before. Russell says he's dying of cancer and wants to clear his conscience. When he finds out its not that easy, the police will investigate the truth of his statement, he retracts. A few days later his body is found floating in the Thames but the his name is not Wyatt Russell. To add to that he's wearing a locket around his neck that went missing with the disappearance of the woman about 10 years ago. A lot to figure out for Ian. "
— Tracy, 1/11/2014 -
" One of the strengths of this series is the historical detail and the interesting microculture in each small village where Rutledge investigates a murder. The Confession, although it begins in London, is firmly rooted in the marshes of Essex and the village of Furnham with its troubling past. Although it's set in summer, this book was a great, atmospheric, mid-winter read. And because Inspector Rutledge is haunted by the ghost of his former corporal, Hamish MacLeod, you could call these books "gothic mysteries" and not be far from the truth. "
— Maria, 1/11/2014 -
" Another great mystery in the Inspector Rutledge series. This one takes place in an isolated village in the marshlands of Essex. The villagers are a threatening and unfriendly group who don't welcome strangers amongst their midst. "
— Gina, 1/10/2014 -
" Never dissapointed with Charles Todd. "
— Mary, 1/7/2014 -
" Dark and complex, but ultimately satisfying. The past will always come back to haunt us... "
— Elaine, 1/6/2014 -
" Complex storyline. Read as a stand-alone and not according to the series number. Fully developed characters. "
— Lesia, 12/26/2013 -
" This was a great read. It's a great series "
— Phyllis, 12/18/2013 -
" The only thing interesting about these is Ian Rutledge, and he is hardly a character anymore, just a plot-mover. The mysteries are long and slow and not fresh or classic. "
— Rachel, 12/16/2013 -
" Well written and historically interesting. "
— Gloria, 12/6/2013 -
" 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.) "
— Kate, 12/5/2013 -
" I stopped reading Charles Todd and his mom awhile ago. Books were beginning to feel repetitive. This one has an intricate, interesting plot and characters. The main character has grown and changed. Lots of small village intrigue and atmosphere. And the writing flows to a fast-paced conclusion. "
— Alice, 5/26/2013 -
" Another excellent addition to the Ian Rutledge series. A perfect read when one is also following Downton Abbey on Masterpiece . "
— Kathy, 3/24/2013 -
" Ian Rutledge is an intriguing, complex character. "
— Karen, 1/5/2013 -
" I am growing increasingly fond of the Rutledge series. They are consistently good and this one held up very well. "
— Amy, 6/3/2012 -
" Another Ian Rutledge mystery, pretty good one. "
— Kat, 4/18/2012 -
" Excellent read - this mother/son team do a great job with their historical research. "
— Meg, 3/23/2012 -
" Excellent mystery series with an enigmatic main character and a lot of WWI and post WWI history make the book even richer. "
— Mikkee, 1/25/2012
About Charles Todd
Charles Todd is a pen name used by the American authors Caroline (1934-2021) and Charles Todd, a mother-and-son writing team who write the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries and the Bess Crawford mysteries, as well as stand-alone novels. Their novel Proof of Guilt was a New York Times bestseller, and A Test of Wills was named one of the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association’s 100 favorite mysteries of the 20th Century and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year selection. Their novels have won the Agatha Award, the Barry Award, and the Anthony Award, as well as being finalists for several other awards. Charles is continuing the series.
About Simon Prebble
N. T. Wright, former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England, now serves as chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews. He has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air. He is the award-winning author of such books as Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, After You Believe, Simply Jesus, How God Became King, and the series Christian Origins and the Question of God, and he is the translator of The Kingdom New Testament.