The Confession (Inspector Ian Rutledge Series #14)

The Confession (Inspector Ian Rutledge Series #14)

by Charles Todd

Narrated by Simon Prebble

Unabridged — 10 hours, 35 minutes

The Confession (Inspector Ian Rutledge Series #14)

The Confession (Inspector Ian Rutledge Series #14)

by Charles Todd

Narrated by Simon Prebble

Unabridged — 10 hours, 35 minutes

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Overview

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.


Editorial Reviews

APRIL 2012 - AudioFile

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. (Thankfully, Hamish MacLeod, Rutledge's late WWI comrade, who often muses internally in Rutledge’s mind, is mostly mute this time.) The post-WWI plot begins simply enough—with a dying man's confession to a murder during the Great War. However, as Rutledge delves deeper, following clues through London and beyond, more murders and related crimes pile up, until he discovers the ancient evil root that imperiled so many. A.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

Maureen Corrigan

Even given Todd's superlative track record, The Confession is a standout…[it] carries forward some of the best elements of the British Golden Age mysteries and proves that there's life in the old formula yet.
—The Washington Post

Publishers Weekly

Set in 1920, Todd’s excellent 14th mystery featuring Insp. Ian Rutledge (after 2011’s A Lonely Death) offers an intriguing setup. When Wyatt Russell shows up at Scotland Yard and confesses to murdering a cousin, Justin Fowler, five year earlier, Rutledge is unwilling to accept the story at face value, especially since Russell refuses to explain why he killed Fowler. Russell, who’s dying of cancer, agrees to lunch with the inspector in London, but divulges little more. Rutledge travels to a remote corner of Essex to pursue the few leads Russell provides, but receives an extremely hostile reception from the locals. The cold case takes an even stranger turn after Russell suffers a fatal gunshot wound to the back of his head. 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. Agent: Jane Chelius. (Jan.)

From the Publisher

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 on The Confession

“Todd’s excellent 14th mystery featuring Insp. Ian Rutledge offers an intriguing setup.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Confession

“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 on The Confession

“Todd’s masterful storytelling skills shine.” — Romantic Times on The Confession

“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 on The Confession

“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 on The Confession

“Todd once and for all establishes the shell-shocked Rutledge as the genre’s most complex and fascinating detective.” — Entertainment Weekly, on A LONELY DEATH (Grade: A-)

“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 on A Lonely Death

“Another engaging entry in a fine series.” — Booklist on A Lonely Death

“A strong entry in a strong series.” — Charlotte Observer on A Lonely Death

“[The authors’] subtle prose and profound empathy for all their characters enhance a suspenseful and twisty plot.” — Publishers Weekly on A Lonely Death

“Todd’s intriguing revenge tale will keep the reader turning the pages, but the main draw remains Rutledge, the relentless inspector haunted by the voice of a Scotsman he executed on the battlefield for disobeying an order. Highly recommended for all aficionados of British postwar historical mysteries.” — Library Journal on A Lonely Death

Entertainment Weekly

Todd once and for all establishes the shell-shocked Rutledge as the genre’s most complex and fascinating detective.

Booklist on A Lonely Death

Another engaging entry in a fine series.

New York Journal of Books on The Confession

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.

Booklist on The Confession

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.

New York Times Book Review on The Confession

There’s both a pattern and a purpose to the superb historical mysteries produced by mother-and-son writing partners known as Charles Todd.

Charlotte Observer on A Lonely Death

A strong entry in a strong series.

Romantic Times on The Confession

Todd’s masterful storytelling skills shine.

Richmond Times-Dispatch on A Lonely Death

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.

Suspense Magazine on The Confession

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.

Romantic Times on The Confession

Todd’s masterful storytelling skills shine.

Booklist on The Confession

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.

Suspense Magazine on The Confession

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.

New York Journal of Books on The Confession

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 Times Book Review on The Confession

There’s both a pattern and a purpose to the superb historical mysteries produced by mother-and-son writing partners known as Charles Todd.

Richmond Times-Dispatch

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.

Charlotte Observer

A strong entry in a strong series.

Booklist

Another engaging entry in a fine series.

APRIL 2012 - AudioFile

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. (Thankfully, Hamish MacLeod, Rutledge's late WWI comrade, who often muses internally in Rutledge’s mind, is mostly mute this time.) The post-WWI plot begins simply enough—with a dying man's confession to a murder during the Great War. However, as Rutledge delves deeper, following clues through London and beyond, more murders and related crimes pile up, until he discovers the ancient evil root that imperiled so many. A.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

A confession presents more questions than it answers. Inspector Ian Rutledge (A Lonely Death, 2011, etc.) listens attentively to the Scotland Yard walk-in who says that his name is Wyatt Russell, that he's dying of cancer and that he murdered his cousin Justin Fowler in 1915 and is admitting it now, five years later, so that he can rest in peace. Wondering if his tale is true, Rutledge heads for the man's home at River's Edge, near Furnham in the Essex marshes, and encounters extremely unfriendly villagers anxious to send him on his way. Two weeks later, when the man's body washes up in the Thames with a bullet in the back of the head, Rutledge's queries become more serious. He discovers that the victim was not who he claimed to be, though a clue to his real identity may lie in the picture in the locket around his neck. Questions about that picture lead to birth and death notices at Somerset House and the disturbing knowledge that Mrs. Russell, once the matriarch of the deserted River's Edge house, upped and disappeared one day. Suicide? Or something more sinister? Cynthia Farraday, who seems to have attracted all the males on the estate, appears. So does the real Wyatt Russell, just in time to be assailed. Who then was the confessor? Rutledge won't settle matters until he unravels a long-ago double homicide and delves into the mysterious enmity of the River's Edge residents. Rutledge, still consumed with his own war memories, seems headed for a fierce emotional collapse this time out. One fervently hopes the Todd writing partnership can offer him solace in the next go-round.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940173600172
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: 01/03/2012
Series: Inspector Ian Rutledge Series , #14
Edition description: Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

The Confession


By Charles Todd

HarperCollins Publishers

Copyright © 2012 Charles Todd
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-06-201567-9


Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

The Essex Marshes, Summer 1915


The body rolled in the current gently, as if still alive. It was face down, only the back and hips visible. It had been floating that way for some time. The men in the ancient skiff had watched it for a quarter of an hour, as if half expecting it to rise up and walk away before their eyes.

"He's dead, right enough," one said. "One of ours, do you think?" "This far up the Hawking? It's a German spy," the second man said, nodding, as if that explained everything. "Bound to be. I say, leave him to the fish."

"We won't know who he is until we pull him out, will we?" the third said and leaned out to touch the corpse with the boat hook.

"Here!" the first man cried out, as if this were sacrilege.

The body bobbed a little under the weight of the hook.

"He doesn't care," the third man said. "Why should you?"

"Still and all -"

Turning the hook a little, he put the end under the dead man's collar and pulled. Under the impetus of the hook, the corpse came out of the reeds obediently, as if called, and floated toward the skiff until the shoulder of his dark, water sodden uniform bumped lightly into the hull.

"A bloody officer."

"He's been shot," the third man said as the body shifted. "Look at that."

"Turn him over," the second man ordered, after peering at the back of the man's head.

With some difficulty, that was done, and all three stared into the dead face, flaccid from hours in the water.

"None of our fishermen," the second man went on. "Don't know him at all. You?"

The first man shook his head. "I dunno. There's something familiar about him. I just can't put a name to him."

"Let's have a look," the third man said, and reached out to clutch the front of the sodden uniform, pulling him close enough to thrust his fingers into the man's breast pocket. He came away with a wallet stuffed with pound notes. He whistled in surprise.

The second man was already stretching out a hand for the trouser pocket nearest him, swearing as the skiff dipped alarmingly, and he had to kneel in the bottom of the boat. As the skiff steadied, he managed to dig into the wet cloth and extract more pound notes.

"I'll be damned!"

Opening the wallet, the third man searched for identification. "Ah." He pulled out a card from behind the wet notes. Squinting a little, he read, " 'Justin Fowler. London.' What's he doing here, dead, then?"

"I told you. A German spy."

"You've got spies on the brain," the third man snapped. "Get over it."

There had been a spy scare not long before. Several waiters in London restaurants bore German names, and it was reported to the authorities that these men had been listening to private conversations while guests dined, looking for information to be sent back to Berlin. Nothing had come of it, as far as anyone in this part of Essex could discover. Mr. Newly had not been back to the city to visit his daughter, and thus the source of this bit of news had dried up before the spies had been arrested, shot, or deported, allowing for considerable speculation in The Rowing Boat at night. Much had been said about what should be done with such men if they were caught out here, far from London. "Who do you suppose killed him?" the first man ventured. "Someone who followed him from London? It's not likely to have been anyone from the airfield. I've never seen them this far upriver."

"Most likely whoever shot him shoved him into the water. Out of sight, out of mind." The third man counted the wet notes a second time. "There's almost a hundred pounds here!"

"Flotsam and jetsam," the second man said. "We found it, we keep it. Like a shipwreck." He gazed round at the desolate sweep of water and marsh and gray sky as if half expecting to see a ship's hull half sunk in the deeper reaches beyond.

It was an unfortunate reference. They knew, all of them, what a shipwreck could lead to.

"What do we do with Mr. Fowler?" the first man asked dubiously. "If we bring him in, we'll have to summon the police. Someone is bound to want to know what's become of his money."

"Tow him out to sea. Let him wash ashore somewhere else," the third man said, scrabbling in the bottom of the skiff for a length of rope. This he proceeded to loop around the dead man's neck and then he ordered, "Pick up yon oars. I can't row and pull at the same time, now can I?"

The first man sat where he was. "We're towing him nowhere until there's some understanding here. The money is evenly divided."

"I saw him first," the second man ventured. "Finder's fee."

"The hell with that," the third man retorted. "Share and share alike, I say. And then there's no room for one of us to feel denied and start trouble. We're all in this together. If one must hang, we'll all hang." "If I walk home today with this much money in my pocket, my wife will ask questions. What do I say, then?" the first man demanded.

"She'll start the trouble, mark my words."

"Then don't march home with the money stuffed in your pocket, you fool. Put it by and use it a little at a time. You don't go waving it about first thing. Think of your old age, or your daughter's wedding, when a bit of the ready will come in handy. This poor devil doesn't need pounds wherever he's gone to, and it's a sheer waste to let the sea have it. We've done nothing wrong, have we? We didn't kill him, we didn't leave him here to be found by a schoolboy looking to fish for his dinner, we just took what he'd got no use for. Simple as that."

Half persuaded, the first man said, "Still, I've never kept a secret from my wife. That'll take some doing." He picked up his oar from the bottom of the skiff and put it in the water.

The third man laughed. "You've never needed to lie before. Now there's a reason."

They began to pull against the incoming tide, heading for the mouth of the inlet, towing the body behind them. The first man scanned the shoreline as they passed.

"I don't see anyone about, looking this way. Do you think they can see what's at the end of the rope?"

"It just appears that we've forgot to bring the rope inboard."

"What if he comes back again?" the first man asked, glancing over his shoulder. He was finding it a struggle to row against the current with that sluggish weight pulling at the rope attached to it.

"He won't," the third man promised. "He hasn't been in the water all that long. You can tell, the fishes haven't truly got at him yet. But they will. And no one will be the wiser."

But there he was wrong.
(Continues...)


Excerpted from The Confession by Charles Todd. Copyright © 2012 by Charles Todd. Excerpted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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