The Confession

Starred review from November 14, 2011
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.

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. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

March 15, 2012
Set in 1920, this 14th novel in the best-selling Inspector Rutledge series begins with a dying man who walks into Scotland Yard and confesses to murdering his cousin. When the relative turns up dead in the Thames with a bullet in his head, Rutledge, a veteran of the World War I trenches and still haunted by his war experiences, pursues an investigation that leads to Essex and an isolated town with a secret. 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. Recommended for fans of British historical mysteries, especially those of the Charles Todd mother-and-son team. ["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," read the review of the "New York Times" best-selling Morrow hc, "LJ" Xpress Reviews, 12/1/11.--Ed.]--Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo

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