Questions About A Long Shadow (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #8)

by Charles Todd (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (2)

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Diane Cadei

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Who are all of the characters and what are their roles? I am listening to the audiobook and am having a hard time keeping all of the characters straight. The advantage of a paper book or ebook is that I could go back and check who's who.

Kathleen Characters:
Spelling is a guess. I listened to this book.

Ian meets Meridith Channing at the New Year party. He’s attracted to the young war widow, b…more Characters:
Spelling is a guess. I listened to this book.

Ian meets Meridith Channing at the New Year party. He’s attracted to the young war widow, but also discomfited by her perception, and still half in love with Elizabeth Fraser, from book 7 A Cold Treachery. Meredith (Mrs Channing) is attracted to Ian, finds him “tall and handsome” but she senses his ghosts.

Ian’s lovable sister Frances and his capable and well-connected family friend, Melinda Crawford in Kent.

Chief Superintendent Bowles — aptly derided as “Old Bowels” — he needs to retire, or better yet, Home Office should fire the man.

Sergeant Gibson at Scotland Yard. He gets info for Rutledge and will do anything - within reason and secretly - to spike Bowles’s guns.

Harkness family owns Frith Wood land near Dudlington. Mrs. Mary Ellison, née Harkness, is old and cold, a snobby crone. A widow, the last Harkness. She is Emma Mason’s grandmother. She raised Emma until she disappeared at age 16. Emma’s mother Beatrice was an artist who apparently left her child (Emma) in her mother’s care in Dudlington. Mrs Mary Ellison says her daughter Beatrice has never come back to Dudlington, and died in France or Belgium.

Constable Hensley — local policeman in Dudlington area. He lives in Dudlington. He walked in Frith Wood, secretly. Hensley was a policeman in London previously. He was Bowles’ creature before Bowles became boss at Scotland Yard.

Baylor brothers. Only Ted is left — he keeps cows. Robbie died at war. Joel is dying from wrecked lungs, poison gas attacks in WWI. Ted loves Barbara Melford but feels duty-bound to take care of Joel.

other cops— Inspector Cain oversees the villages of Fairfield, Dudlington, and Letherington. Other policemen in the region : Chief Insp Kelmore, an older married man. Inspector Abbot, previous, retired. Sergeant Thompson. Inspector Smith in Hertford, where Ian dined at White Feathers Inn (why curse your inn with such a shameful name?)

Mr. Towson - the white-haired kindly old rector in Didlington.

Dudlington postmistress - Mrs. Arondahl (sp?)

Dr Eustace in Hertford — minor role. He treats Ian when he gets slight cuts on his face

The Massingham’s estate is briefly mentioned

Emma Mason (Ellison’s granddaughter) - the vanished girl. She disappeared three years ago.

Tommy Crowell — older boy, villager, a little “simple” in the verbiage of the day. He is accused of shooting a car windshield.

Dr Middleton - local doc in Dudlington.

Grace Letteredge — in Dudlington. She was friends with Beatrice Ellison and befriended her daughter, Emma. She thinks constable Henley knows the secret of Emma’s disappearance.

Hilary Timmons - house cleaner for various people, including the old rector. She works in The Oaks kitchen, too

Mr. Keating, balding man of about 45 years, runs The Oaks, an inn and restaurant in Dudlington. He won’t serve police, so Rutledge can’t get a room there, so he has to stay at Constable Hensley’s house . Hensley is in hospital in Hertford anyway.

Mrs. Barbara Melford, a young widow, Constable Hensley’s neighbor. She is paid to feed Hensley, and so she also feeds Rutledge. She is in love with Ted Baylor but he has to take care of Joel Baylor.

Mr Mannering is an expert in identifying old bones, from Scotland Yard.

A mystery man, Mr Sandridge or Sandringham. We find out who he is at the end.

unknown - A mystery soldier from Great War who threatens ”Lieutenant Rutledge” numerous times, leaving empty machine gun shells at the scene of his various encounters. He shoots at Ian’s car, drives a lorry truck at him, etc…We find out why at the end.(less)

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