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Inspector Ian Rutledge #19
Racing the Devil
On the eve of the bloody Battle of the Somme, a group of English officers having a last drink before returning to the Front make a promise to each other: if they survive the battle ahead—and make it through the war—they will meet in Paris a year after the fighting ends. They will celebrate their good fortune by racing motorcars they beg, borrow, or own from Paris to Nice.
In November 1919, the officers all meet as planned, and though their motorcars are not designed for racing, they set out for Nice. But a serious mishap mars the reunion. In the mountains just north of their destination, two vehicles are nearly run off the road, and one man is badly injured. No one knows—or will admit to knowing—which driver was at the wheel of the rogue motorcar.
Back in England one year later, during a heavy rainstorm, a driver loses control on a twisting road and is killed in the crash. Was it an accident due to the hazardous conditions? Or premeditated murder? Is the crash connected in some way to the unfortunate events in the mountains above Nice the year before? If it was foul play, was it a case of mistaken identity? Or was the dead man the intended victim after all?
Investigating this perplexing case, Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge discovers that the truth is elusive—and that the villages on the South Downs, where the accident happened, are adept at keeping secrets, frustrating his search. Determined to remain in the shadows, this faceless killer is willing to strike again to stop Rutledge from finding him. This time, the victim he chooses is a child, and it will take all of Rutledge’s skill to stop him before an innocent young life is sacrificed.
In November 1919, the officers all meet as planned, and though their motorcars are not designed for racing, they set out for Nice. But a serious mishap mars the reunion. In the mountains just north of their destination, two vehicles are nearly run off the road, and one man is badly injured. No one knows—or will admit to knowing—which driver was at the wheel of the rogue motorcar.
Back in England one year later, during a heavy rainstorm, a driver loses control on a twisting road and is killed in the crash. Was it an accident due to the hazardous conditions? Or premeditated murder? Is the crash connected in some way to the unfortunate events in the mountains above Nice the year before? If it was foul play, was it a case of mistaken identity? Or was the dead man the intended victim after all?
Investigating this perplexing case, Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge discovers that the truth is elusive—and that the villages on the South Downs, where the accident happened, are adept at keeping secrets, frustrating his search. Determined to remain in the shadows, this faceless killer is willing to strike again to stop Rutledge from finding him. This time, the victim he chooses is a child, and it will take all of Rutledge’s skill to stop him before an innocent young life is sacrificed.
368 pages, ebook
First published February 14, 2017
999 people are currently reading
2947 people want to read
About the author
Charles Todd
109 books3,466 followersCharles Todd was the pen name used by the mother-and-son writing team, Caroline Todd and Charles Todd. Now, Charles writes the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford Series. Charles Todd ha spublished three standalone mystery novels and many short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 566 reviews
June 15, 2019
This is, unfortunately, by far the weakest book in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series. I started off listening to the audiobook, but I was so bored by the start that I decided to pick something else to listen to after a couple of chapters. A couple of weeks later did I try it again and it felt like I managed to get through this by my love for Charles Todd's books and willpower.
I will keep this review short since I hardly can come up with anything good to write. I mean, it's always nice to once again read about Inspector Ian Rutledge and Hamish (his ghostly companion), but the story is pretty weak. I was not impressed with the start in France with the soldier's that promise each other that if they survive will they meet each other one year later and race motorcars from Paris to Nice. And, the almost crash that occurs didn't make my pulse race. Neither did the change of scenery when the story moved one year ahead with the death of a man in an accident that could be linked to the near death in France.
The whole investigation, with Rutledge chasing clues, is a bit dreary. The only bright spot is when Rutledge contacts Melinda Crawford to help him with the investigation. And she, in turn, contacts Bess Crawford (from Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series) to help out. If Bess has made a cameo in this book would I perhaps have liked the book better. The ending is not that surprising either. It truly felt like the most likely suspect did it all.
I hope the next book is better!
I will keep this review short since I hardly can come up with anything good to write. I mean, it's always nice to once again read about Inspector Ian Rutledge and Hamish (his ghostly companion), but the story is pretty weak. I was not impressed with the start in France with the soldier's that promise each other that if they survive will they meet each other one year later and race motorcars from Paris to Nice. And, the almost crash that occurs didn't make my pulse race. Neither did the change of scenery when the story moved one year ahead with the death of a man in an accident that could be linked to the near death in France.
The whole investigation, with Rutledge chasing clues, is a bit dreary. The only bright spot is when Rutledge contacts Melinda Crawford to help him with the investigation. And she, in turn, contacts Bess Crawford (from Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series) to help out. If Bess has made a cameo in this book would I perhaps have liked the book better. The ending is not that surprising either. It truly felt like the most likely suspect did it all.
I hope the next book is better!
July 14, 2019
Another great novel by Charles Todd featuring Inspector Ian Rutledge! This series is superb.
March 28, 2017
A good solid installment in the series.
December 12, 2018
This one is Ian, mainly all on his own with Hamish in the back seat, seeking answers to 2 murders (originally just 2) plus an assault within a small Southeast U.K. village location. He's there in residence with his motor car throughout so we get tons of early autos and their druthers in this one.You might like that aspect for the early crank start cars.
Some of the characters are excellent. 4 stars at least. As is the premise of the 5 returning to Paris/ Nice for a motor car race on a date a year after the end of the terrible war. A date made in a barn on the eve of the Somme. So I thought that set up was a "band of brothers" type of unique and psychologically spot on understanding. And yet that's where all the 4 star qualities stopped for my read.
Within all those village details of coming and going (200 pages of who works, eats, and gossips everywhere and how Ian noses in on their habits constantly asking questions)- and also particularly for the entire onus of the perpetrator's motive and operational crime spree- it was so outlier and complicated (most crimes of such natures are not)? Way too complicated for this perp to have any inkling at any portion of his "reasoning" to believe or conceive it would/ might work. Not the way he displayed within the town. No spoilers. But that was disappointing. It just didn't make sense that it would ever "work" for the complexity of the actual numbers for the process. Too many victims, too much visible exposure, too many characters going to the same places (even in France) and seeing the same people within their social crowds. At least half of them would be pea brains if they didn't put 2 and 2 together to make 4. Even in 1919, and especially within the death stats of that period- people were not blind sheep. And I'm sure they evaluated by actions, even more than by words in that period. Look where the words had gotten them!
Regardless, I was super disappointed at the reveal and the wide spread tentacles reaching to all the various crimes and disappearances "connections" as it played out. It was way too obtuse to be possible. And for the survivor relative to have all those photographs?? With negatives she would give away in that early period? That's a lot to swallow, even for this genre of fiction.
Also Ian was gone from his station in London SO LONG. Weeks. He seems set into a free wheeling type of connection to the "bosses" at this point in his constabulary. Very strange too with no telephones or telegraphs in this town. Especially since it was only declared POSSIBLE murder by the authority medicals in those "accidents".
Well, you get a lot of Hamish and tons of his compassion and understanding for the survivor mindset and anguish conditions. Even more than in the earlier Rutledge. But still this is rather flashback because his sister Francis is just setting up her wedding. It seems Charles Todd is doing much backward / intermittent cases now and that they (writing team)don't want to get Ian far into those rocking and jazzy 1920's. You know, he actually doesn't fit them well either. He's too joyless in nature, quite beyond the life experience.
Those who like the effusive far flung and evil monster with dozens of victims type of baddie will like this one more than I did. I did enjoy Melinda and the "connections" network she has to get the dirt on everyone, as needed and as can be then meanly applied. That sure is real and is in fine form today. Special people have "special" privileges and access. Eternally.
The town is on the chalk cliffs that are falling away. They should have done more about that and the people "leaving" because of losing their homes for those conditions (it was interesting their mindsets about it- as little as it was indulged)- rather than all those meal and driving details that had little to nothing to do with anything other than be page fillers and red herrings.
I think I'm just about done with Rutledge. He's going backwards. They had the trailer and first chapters to read for the next one on my Kindle edition of this. Black Ascot is the title.
Some of the characters are excellent. 4 stars at least. As is the premise of the 5 returning to Paris/ Nice for a motor car race on a date a year after the end of the terrible war. A date made in a barn on the eve of the Somme. So I thought that set up was a "band of brothers" type of unique and psychologically spot on understanding. And yet that's where all the 4 star qualities stopped for my read.
Within all those village details of coming and going (200 pages of who works, eats, and gossips everywhere and how Ian noses in on their habits constantly asking questions)- and also particularly for the entire onus of the perpetrator's motive and operational crime spree- it was so outlier and complicated (most crimes of such natures are not)? Way too complicated for this perp to have any inkling at any portion of his "reasoning" to believe or conceive it would/ might work. Not the way he displayed within the town. No spoilers. But that was disappointing. It just didn't make sense that it would ever "work" for the complexity of the actual numbers for the process. Too many victims, too much visible exposure, too many characters going to the same places (even in France) and seeing the same people within their social crowds. At least half of them would be pea brains if they didn't put 2 and 2 together to make 4. Even in 1919, and especially within the death stats of that period- people were not blind sheep. And I'm sure they evaluated by actions, even more than by words in that period. Look where the words had gotten them!
Regardless, I was super disappointed at the reveal and the wide spread tentacles reaching to all the various crimes and disappearances "connections" as it played out. It was way too obtuse to be possible. And for the survivor relative to have all those photographs?? With negatives she would give away in that early period? That's a lot to swallow, even for this genre of fiction.
Also Ian was gone from his station in London SO LONG. Weeks. He seems set into a free wheeling type of connection to the "bosses" at this point in his constabulary. Very strange too with no telephones or telegraphs in this town. Especially since it was only declared POSSIBLE murder by the authority medicals in those "accidents".
Well, you get a lot of Hamish and tons of his compassion and understanding for the survivor mindset and anguish conditions. Even more than in the earlier Rutledge. But still this is rather flashback because his sister Francis is just setting up her wedding. It seems Charles Todd is doing much backward / intermittent cases now and that they (writing team)don't want to get Ian far into those rocking and jazzy 1920's. You know, he actually doesn't fit them well either. He's too joyless in nature, quite beyond the life experience.
Those who like the effusive far flung and evil monster with dozens of victims type of baddie will like this one more than I did. I did enjoy Melinda and the "connections" network she has to get the dirt on everyone, as needed and as can be then meanly applied. That sure is real and is in fine form today. Special people have "special" privileges and access. Eternally.
The town is on the chalk cliffs that are falling away. They should have done more about that and the people "leaving" because of losing their homes for those conditions (it was interesting their mindsets about it- as little as it was indulged)- rather than all those meal and driving details that had little to nothing to do with anything other than be page fillers and red herrings.
I think I'm just about done with Rutledge. He's going backwards. They had the trailer and first chapters to read for the next one on my Kindle edition of this. Black Ascot is the title.
June 18, 2017
Some reading friends and I were talking the other day about authors aging their detectives in "real time" or not. The Charles Todd duo (mother and son) have chosen not to age Inspector Rutledge for here we are at installment #19 and we are still in 1920 with memories of World War One still fresh enough to impact of people's lives and actions. Many of the novels delve back into the past with incidents that took place during the war, and that now have impact post-war. There is a lot of information about the war and its economic and social impact on Britain, particularly on villages like the one where RACING THE DEVIL is set.
Little things like the story of Hamish McLeod are repeated from novel to novel, an attempt I think to ensure that a reader new to the series doesn't miss out on too much important background.
In many ways though Ian Rutledge feels like a "modern detective". Apart from the fact that getting from one place to another is pretty slow because mostly people are on foot or horseback (motorcars are still a rarety), and telephones virtually non-existent, Rutledge has relatively modern methods.
I wasn't totally clear by the end about all the links between the various plot lines. Perhaps I was just reading too fast in my attempt to get to the end of the book. It is a novel with a complex set of plot lines, and also lots of red herrings.
One interesting feature of this novel is that Rutledge contacts old friend Melinda Crawford, and so gets her daughter Bess Crawford (detective in the other Charles Todd series) to do some investigating for him. I have only read one title in the Bess Crawford series and this has sparked my interest to try another.
Overall, a satisfying read with just enough of a historical flavour.
Little things like the story of Hamish McLeod are repeated from novel to novel, an attempt I think to ensure that a reader new to the series doesn't miss out on too much important background.
In many ways though Ian Rutledge feels like a "modern detective". Apart from the fact that getting from one place to another is pretty slow because mostly people are on foot or horseback (motorcars are still a rarety), and telephones virtually non-existent, Rutledge has relatively modern methods.
I wasn't totally clear by the end about all the links between the various plot lines. Perhaps I was just reading too fast in my attempt to get to the end of the book. It is a novel with a complex set of plot lines, and also lots of red herrings.
One interesting feature of this novel is that Rutledge contacts old friend Melinda Crawford, and so gets her daughter Bess Crawford (detective in the other Charles Todd series) to do some investigating for him. I have only read one title in the Bess Crawford series and this has sparked my interest to try another.
Overall, a satisfying read with just enough of a historical flavour.
February 3, 2023
Set in 1920 in East Sussex on the coast of England, in the hamlets of Birling Gap and East Dedham, between Brighton and Hastings.
Inspector Rutledge is summoned to the scene when rector Wright is run off the road outside Birling Gap, instantly dying — or so it seems. Another good mystery read, with its roots reaching back into the war. It is a bit far-fetched. I liked the tomboy Jem and the competent and cheerful Constable Neville. I despised the villain — merciless. I enjoyed Rutledge’s disgust for Saint Simon’s new rector appointee- a jerk named Barnes. Also liked the rector’s housekeeper.
Other characters: Inspector (or constable?) Brewster in East Dedham. Captain Standish, local landowner, injured in war, and the other officers who raced in France. Trotter is the blacksmith-cum- mechanic in East Dedham. Dr. Hambey, local man. Various others …
For some reason, the author feels it necessary to repeat the backstory of Hamish, even in book 19. It’s been repeated in every book from the beginning. Soooooo annoying!
Inspector Rutledge is summoned to the scene when rector Wright is run off the road outside Birling Gap, instantly dying — or so it seems. Another good mystery read, with its roots reaching back into the war. It is a bit far-fetched. I liked the tomboy Jem and the competent and cheerful Constable Neville. I despised the villain — merciless. I enjoyed Rutledge’s disgust for Saint Simon’s new rector appointee- a jerk named Barnes. Also liked the rector’s housekeeper.
Other characters: Inspector (or constable?) Brewster in East Dedham. Captain Standish, local landowner, injured in war, and the other officers who raced in France. Trotter is the blacksmith-cum- mechanic in East Dedham. Dr. Hambey, local man. Various others …
For some reason, the author feels it necessary to repeat the backstory of Hamish, even in book 19. It’s been repeated in every book from the beginning. Soooooo annoying!
February 22, 2017
It was delightful to read this latest in the Rutledge series. It was excellent - so tightly woven and well written. It was a series of baby steps to the solution which continued from the first to the last page. The novel was seamless. I appreciated the story line, the history, the way it unfolded, and the characters. The balance of people from the nasty to the endearing, the police from the capable to the redundant. and a detective who leaves no stone unturned, makes the reading even more enjoyable.
I've said before that I would like to understand how the mother and son collaborate because the writing is of one voice. Well done Charles Todd! I thank you for the reading pleasure.
I've said before that I would like to understand how the mother and son collaborate because the writing is of one voice. Well done Charles Todd! I thank you for the reading pleasure.
August 12, 2019
This was an interesting book, and it still has me thinking largely because I'm still not sure what said character, used as a motive for murdering the unsuspecting men. Sometimes I read books and I am still completely clueless as to why it ends the way it does. I won't worry too much, I'll just move on to the next book. I like getting a good feel for the formula that authors use to move their readers through the beginning of the mystery to the end.
March 15, 2022
A mystery that moves from the Somme to Nice to England. Ian is once again presented with a murderous conundrum.
March 13, 2017
Nineteenth in the Inspector Ian Rutledge historical mystery series and revolving around events from World War I and a roving Scotland Yard inspector. Events take place on the frontline in France in 1916, along the road from Paris to Nice in 1919, and in 1920 in East Sussex.
My Take
And, yep, the callous behavior of the British command comes through right at the beginning with the description of the German trenches, as does governments who ignore the plight of the men who come back from war.
Government blindness is not the primary theme of the story — man's greed and using others without thought is — but the horrible aftereffects of war is one of the issues that brings life to the story. There are plenty of minor conflicts to add yet more life: Standish's psychological issues and his refusal to cooperate is too typically bullheaded and stupid; the family constraints between father and daughter when it comes to love; the wandering husband; the gullible women who think nothing of blackmail; the prideful, poor and otherwise; and, the ranging aid of the police inspectors and constables.
It's one of the things I adore about mysteries: how the detective manages to find the guilty party with so few clues! Luckily, it's third-person point-of-view from Rutledge's perspective, so we know everything he does. Even if there are a few obscure scenes that weren't cleared up until later in the story — Standish's hand was one.
One scene that is NOT obscure is the one with Barnes, lol. Rutledge does NOT like him. I love it! It's a nice bit of support for Mrs. Saunders, who colludes with Rutledge.
It doesn't take long before the killer begins to target Rutledge, but it isn't exclusive, as the killer is intent on eliminating anyone who might be able to identify him.
Todd makes it so easy to slip into the time period with the show of how people behaved from manners to expectations to the use of dress to communicate class and career; the conflict between horse and automobile; the deficiencies of communication; and, the efforts involved in solving crime without all the forensic techniques we have today.
It definitely makes me appreciate cellphones!
The Story
They'd lived through the worst of the war. And survived. Now they'll fulfill that pledge they made on the eve of the bloody Battle of the Somme: They will celebrate their good fortune by racing motorcars they beg, borrow, or own from Paris to Nice.
What none of them will be brave enough to say is how they were nearly forced off the road. Not even the one man who was.
Then "accidents" begin to happen in England. A heavy rainstorm. A crash into a tree.
Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge discovers that the truth is elusive — and that the villages on the South Downs, where one accident happened, are adept at keeping secrets, frustrating his search.
Determined to remain in the shadows, this faceless killer is willing to strike again to stop Rutledge from finding him. This time, the victim he chooses is a child, and it will take all of Rutledge's skill to stop him before an innocent young life is sacrificed.
The Characters
November 1920, England
Inspector Ian Rutledge still battles his own demons from World War I with Corporal Hamish MacLeod, a voice in his head. Fiona is the woman Hamish left behind. Frances is Rutledge's about-to-be-married sister.
The very bright and efficient Melinda Crawford is an old family friend who appears in the Bess Crawford series as well. And, yes, Bess Crawford has a minor role in this. Shanta is Melinda's Indian housekeeper. Colonel Richard Crawford is Bess' "retired" father. Sergeant Major Simon Brandon "retired" with the Colonel. George is a friend, a retired naval officer, living in Nice.
Scotland Yard
Markham, a Yorkshireman of few words, has been appointed new acting superintendent. Sergeant Gibson isn't a friend, but more of a coworker of my enemy with Rutledge. Chief Constable Cummings had been a mentor to Rutledge early on in his career.
Burling Gap is…
…a small village slowly growing smaller as the chalk cliffs drop off into the sea and is Constable Neville's patch. The Sailor's Friend is a local pub where Fiona is wife to the owner and serves as a waitress. Mrs. Grant is furious that her philandering husband, Timothy Grant, a rag-and-bone man, has taken off with her money. Mrs. Mitchell is a gossipy old biddy with a good heart. Mr. Davidson is a regular visitor to his widowed sister.
Harry Dixon, Gerald, and Tom found the body at the lighthouse. Parson Dolby's cavern is named for the clergyman, who, two hundred years ago, was determined to prevent so many shipwrecks.
East Dedham is…
…the closest bigger town and is policed by the unimaginative, uncaring Constable Brewster. Nathaniel Wright is the rector for St. Simon's, his first church. Mrs. Saunders is the Rector's housekeeper. Mr. Stapleton had subbed for Wright while he was a chaplain in the war. The nasty, snotty Jonathan Barnes is sent by the bishop to take over temporarily.
Captain Roger Standish is the local squire with a handicap. Mrs. Donaldson is his cook. Wilson was the previous estate manager. The tenants on his estate include the Tomlinsons, the Meadowses are reduced to the missus and her child, Jem, and the Fieldings with three teenaged sons.
Emily Stuart is the jilted fiancée. Sewell is her coachman.
Dr. Hanby is the nearest doctor. James is a farmer. Trotter, the blacksmith, came back from the war and converted an old blacksmith shop into a motorcar garage. Dicky Melford finally died, leaving behind his grieving parents. The Misters Edgecombe, older and younger, are the local solicitors. Henderson is their clerk.
Eastbourne
Elizabeth Wilding is the younger daughter, seeing a gentleman on the sly. Ginger is the golden retriever she likes to walk. Her disapproving father is Dr. Wilding. Sally is a maid in the Wilding household. Margaret is the older sister who threw another man over to live in London and for a social upgrade to a barrister, Lawrence Montgomery, who is head of chambers at Montgomery, Applegarth, & Winter.
Patricia Sedley runs a shop called Past Perfect. Constable Plant. Delilah and Betty are barmaids at The Jolly Sailor. The gullible Ivy Brown has fled to her mother's. "Ralph Mercer", a.k.a., Sergeant Miller, is suffering from head injuries.
Sevenoaks
Major Holt from Surrey runs into a tree. Inspector Judd is most uncooperative. Dr. Lodge is the local surgeon.
Rye
Lieutenant Cedric Russell had moved home to his mother's. Captain Newland had been his commanding officer.
Hastings
Mr. Ferris, the bishop's representative, is identified. Inspector Gage is in charge.
Canterbury
Lady Kathleen Marshall is the widow of Sir Wilfred Marshall, who is engaged to be married to an American, Michael Reston. The Dowager Lady Marshall is/was Wilfred's mother.
Pevensey
Constable Arnold is in charge.
1919, Paris to Nice
Everett has gangrene. Captain Andrew Brothers of Kent is racing Williams', his brother-in-law's, [borrowed] car. Taylor, Standish, Russell, and Holt were the only other officers who raced.
1916, before the Somme, France
Dobson bought it here. The rest who pledged included Brothers, Holt, Standish, Russell, Everett, and Taylor. Randolph Graves had driven in the Grand Prix de Monte Carlo twice and almost won. He bought it at Ypres.
Eleanor Hardy receives some mercy at her trial. Boils is the innkeeper of The Boar where an inquest was held.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a deep, dusky blue of the night, a touring car, its headlights blazing, trundling down a dirt track, overshadowed by the arching bare branches of the massive trees that line the road. The author's name is in a thin serif font while the title is in a thick sans-serif below with both in white. The series information is tiny at the bottom in yellow.
The title is all about Racing the Devil lest he push you off the road.
My Take
And, yep, the callous behavior of the British command comes through right at the beginning with the description of the German trenches, as does governments who ignore the plight of the men who come back from war.
Government blindness is not the primary theme of the story — man's greed and using others without thought is — but the horrible aftereffects of war is one of the issues that brings life to the story. There are plenty of minor conflicts to add yet more life: Standish's psychological issues and his refusal to cooperate is too typically bullheaded and stupid; the family constraints between father and daughter when it comes to love; the wandering husband; the gullible women who think nothing of blackmail; the prideful, poor and otherwise; and, the ranging aid of the police inspectors and constables.
It's one of the things I adore about mysteries: how the detective manages to find the guilty party with so few clues! Luckily, it's third-person point-of-view from Rutledge's perspective, so we know everything he does. Even if there are a few obscure scenes that weren't cleared up until later in the story — Standish's hand was one.
One scene that is NOT obscure is the one with Barnes, lol. Rutledge does NOT like him. I love it! It's a nice bit of support for Mrs. Saunders, who colludes with Rutledge.
It doesn't take long before the killer begins to target Rutledge, but it isn't exclusive, as the killer is intent on eliminating anyone who might be able to identify him.
Todd makes it so easy to slip into the time period with the show of how people behaved from manners to expectations to the use of dress to communicate class and career; the conflict between horse and automobile; the deficiencies of communication; and, the efforts involved in solving crime without all the forensic techniques we have today.
It definitely makes me appreciate cellphones!
The Story
They'd lived through the worst of the war. And survived. Now they'll fulfill that pledge they made on the eve of the bloody Battle of the Somme: They will celebrate their good fortune by racing motorcars they beg, borrow, or own from Paris to Nice.
What none of them will be brave enough to say is how they were nearly forced off the road. Not even the one man who was.
Then "accidents" begin to happen in England. A heavy rainstorm. A crash into a tree.
Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge discovers that the truth is elusive — and that the villages on the South Downs, where one accident happened, are adept at keeping secrets, frustrating his search.
Determined to remain in the shadows, this faceless killer is willing to strike again to stop Rutledge from finding him. This time, the victim he chooses is a child, and it will take all of Rutledge's skill to stop him before an innocent young life is sacrificed.
The Characters
November 1920, England
Inspector Ian Rutledge still battles his own demons from World War I with Corporal Hamish MacLeod, a voice in his head. Fiona is the woman Hamish left behind. Frances is Rutledge's about-to-be-married sister.
The very bright and efficient Melinda Crawford is an old family friend who appears in the Bess Crawford series as well. And, yes, Bess Crawford has a minor role in this. Shanta is Melinda's Indian housekeeper. Colonel Richard Crawford is Bess' "retired" father. Sergeant Major Simon Brandon "retired" with the Colonel. George is a friend, a retired naval officer, living in Nice.
Scotland Yard
Markham, a Yorkshireman of few words, has been appointed new acting superintendent. Sergeant Gibson isn't a friend, but more of a coworker of my enemy with Rutledge. Chief Constable Cummings had been a mentor to Rutledge early on in his career.
Burling Gap is…
…a small village slowly growing smaller as the chalk cliffs drop off into the sea and is Constable Neville's patch. The Sailor's Friend is a local pub where Fiona is wife to the owner and serves as a waitress. Mrs. Grant is furious that her philandering husband, Timothy Grant, a rag-and-bone man, has taken off with her money. Mrs. Mitchell is a gossipy old biddy with a good heart. Mr. Davidson is a regular visitor to his widowed sister.
Harry Dixon, Gerald, and Tom found the body at the lighthouse. Parson Dolby's cavern is named for the clergyman, who, two hundred years ago, was determined to prevent so many shipwrecks.
East Dedham is…
…the closest bigger town and is policed by the unimaginative, uncaring Constable Brewster. Nathaniel Wright is the rector for St. Simon's, his first church. Mrs. Saunders is the Rector's housekeeper. Mr. Stapleton had subbed for Wright while he was a chaplain in the war. The nasty, snotty Jonathan Barnes is sent by the bishop to take over temporarily.
Captain Roger Standish is the local squire with a handicap. Mrs. Donaldson is his cook. Wilson was the previous estate manager. The tenants on his estate include the Tomlinsons, the Meadowses are reduced to the missus and her child, Jem, and the Fieldings with three teenaged sons.
Emily Stuart is the jilted fiancée. Sewell is her coachman.
Dr. Hanby is the nearest doctor. James is a farmer. Trotter, the blacksmith, came back from the war and converted an old blacksmith shop into a motorcar garage. Dicky Melford finally died, leaving behind his grieving parents. The Misters Edgecombe, older and younger, are the local solicitors. Henderson is their clerk.
Eastbourne
Elizabeth Wilding is the younger daughter, seeing a gentleman on the sly. Ginger is the golden retriever she likes to walk. Her disapproving father is Dr. Wilding. Sally is a maid in the Wilding household. Margaret is the older sister who threw another man over to live in London and for a social upgrade to a barrister, Lawrence Montgomery, who is head of chambers at Montgomery, Applegarth, & Winter.
Patricia Sedley runs a shop called Past Perfect. Constable Plant. Delilah and Betty are barmaids at The Jolly Sailor. The gullible Ivy Brown has fled to her mother's. "Ralph Mercer", a.k.a., Sergeant Miller, is suffering from head injuries.
Sevenoaks
Major Holt from Surrey runs into a tree. Inspector Judd is most uncooperative. Dr. Lodge is the local surgeon.
Rye
Lieutenant Cedric Russell had moved home to his mother's. Captain Newland had been his commanding officer.
Hastings
Mr. Ferris, the bishop's representative, is identified. Inspector Gage is in charge.
Canterbury
Lady Kathleen Marshall is the widow of Sir Wilfred Marshall, who is engaged to be married to an American, Michael Reston. The Dowager Lady Marshall is/was Wilfred's mother.
Pevensey
Constable Arnold is in charge.
1919, Paris to Nice
Everett has gangrene. Captain Andrew Brothers of Kent is racing Williams', his brother-in-law's, [borrowed] car. Taylor, Standish, Russell, and Holt were the only other officers who raced.
1916, before the Somme, France
Dobson bought it here. The rest who pledged included Brothers, Holt, Standish, Russell, Everett, and Taylor. Randolph Graves had driven in the Grand Prix de Monte Carlo twice and almost won. He bought it at Ypres.
Eleanor Hardy receives some mercy at her trial. Boils is the innkeeper of The Boar where an inquest was held.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a deep, dusky blue of the night, a touring car, its headlights blazing, trundling down a dirt track, overshadowed by the arching bare branches of the massive trees that line the road. The author's name is in a thin serif font while the title is in a thick sans-serif below with both in white. The series information is tiny at the bottom in yellow.
The title is all about Racing the Devil lest he push you off the road.
February 20, 2017
I absolutely love it when a mystery author (or in this case, a team of authors) is able to fool me about the guilty party. I fell for the entire story and was genuinely surprised when the solution was revealed. I read lots of mysteries, and I do mean lots, so that surprise doesn't happen very often. This is a really, really good book added to the accumulated works.
A group of seven officers were gathered completely by happenstance in France on the evening before one of the largest offensives of World War I. Even though they hadn't known each other in civilian life their circumstances forged a sense of kinship on this night. Each knew their chances of surviving through the remainder of the war were slim and yet, as if to taunt the devil, they made plans for meeting in Paris one year after the war ended and racing each other in motorcars to Nice. Five survived the war and met in Paris. How many would survive the drive through the mists along the twisting, dangerous road leading to Nice?
For some inexplicable reason this book had the feeling of moving backward in the story arc and yet the year of this investigation doesn't show that. It must have been my imagination. It was absolutely captivating to see how two tiny villages being so close together could remain so separate from each other simply because of the difficulties of transportation in 1920. Two villages, two police constables, each extremely aware of his own territory and professional jurisdiction. When Inspector Rutledge was called in by one of the constables, as the representative of Scotland Yard, he had to practically insist on help from both villages - so isolated within themselves were they. It made for very entertaining reading watching Rutledge work his way around the complications something as simple as geography set up. The one thing both villages had in common was their disbelief and grief over the death of the Rector of East Dedham, Sussex, but what none could understand was why he was driving a car belonging to someone else.
There are, as usual, many characters in this novel, but I didn't have trouble keeping them clear in my mind. Rutledge uses his own experiences in the war to help him understand the undercurrents of what is happening in this mystery and series of deaths. Hamish MacLeod, that persistent voice in Rutledge's subconscious, is present again in this story and contributes his usual warnings when Rutledge is in danger. This book especially was written to make it easy for readers new to the series to feel they understand what is happening. Those of us who have followed the books as they have been published understand about Hamish, but sometimes the books can be a little sparse on explaining about him and in making him a sympathetic character. Rutledge calls on his many contacts to gather information in an unofficial capacity as well as using Sergeant Gibson at Scotland Yard in London. There are a lot of trips in Rutledge's motorcar, but they seemed completely necessary and didn't bother me quite as much as usual. At least he did stop for petrol one time in this story. The only slightly negative thing I found was the exceedingly abrupt ending. I turned the page only to find the book was finished. I think that might have been handled better, but I'm sure it will play a part in another novel down the road. I can't wait.
A group of seven officers were gathered completely by happenstance in France on the evening before one of the largest offensives of World War I. Even though they hadn't known each other in civilian life their circumstances forged a sense of kinship on this night. Each knew their chances of surviving through the remainder of the war were slim and yet, as if to taunt the devil, they made plans for meeting in Paris one year after the war ended and racing each other in motorcars to Nice. Five survived the war and met in Paris. How many would survive the drive through the mists along the twisting, dangerous road leading to Nice?
For some inexplicable reason this book had the feeling of moving backward in the story arc and yet the year of this investigation doesn't show that. It must have been my imagination. It was absolutely captivating to see how two tiny villages being so close together could remain so separate from each other simply because of the difficulties of transportation in 1920. Two villages, two police constables, each extremely aware of his own territory and professional jurisdiction. When Inspector Rutledge was called in by one of the constables, as the representative of Scotland Yard, he had to practically insist on help from both villages - so isolated within themselves were they. It made for very entertaining reading watching Rutledge work his way around the complications something as simple as geography set up. The one thing both villages had in common was their disbelief and grief over the death of the Rector of East Dedham, Sussex, but what none could understand was why he was driving a car belonging to someone else.
There are, as usual, many characters in this novel, but I didn't have trouble keeping them clear in my mind. Rutledge uses his own experiences in the war to help him understand the undercurrents of what is happening in this mystery and series of deaths. Hamish MacLeod, that persistent voice in Rutledge's subconscious, is present again in this story and contributes his usual warnings when Rutledge is in danger. This book especially was written to make it easy for readers new to the series to feel they understand what is happening. Those of us who have followed the books as they have been published understand about Hamish, but sometimes the books can be a little sparse on explaining about him and in making him a sympathetic character. Rutledge calls on his many contacts to gather information in an unofficial capacity as well as using Sergeant Gibson at Scotland Yard in London. There are a lot of trips in Rutledge's motorcar, but they seemed completely necessary and didn't bother me quite as much as usual. At least he did stop for petrol one time in this story. The only slightly negative thing I found was the exceedingly abrupt ending. I turned the page only to find the book was finished. I think that might have been handled better, but I'm sure it will play a part in another novel down the road. I can't wait.
November 1, 2019
I felt like this was another solid installment in the series. The mystery is interesting. This one doesn't fall into the trap of making everyone in the small town Rutledge ends up in vaguely sinister. I don't have a lot to say about it. Character arcs continue to not to move, but it's a competent mystery.
March 15, 2017
Ian Rutledge races against the devil in a daring mystery set after WWI. Seven English soldiers vow to race from Paris to Nice a year after the war, if they survive the bloody battles. The war ends, and five men speedily engage in the adventurous journey, but soon disaster pursues the me. The mother and son team named Charles Todd beautifully lavish scenes of the English countryside and the hardships of the common folk. The small villages display the caliber of everyday life and the sense of community. Rich characters illustrate all levels of society, from the tenant farmer to the lord of the manor. Racing the Devil catches the despair and uncertainty of the men returning from war.
October 4, 2018
Not one of the better books in the series. There are too many unanswered questions, and the 1916 prelude in France was kind of a snooze. (Who cares who the reigning motorcar race driver was?) Even on the eve of the Somme offensive, there is no suspense, just men sitting around drinking and talking about motorcars. They decide to make a pact to meet in Paris one year after war’s end, then race their cars to Nice. Why these seven officers in particular? That is never explained, and it’s rather important, since he is killing them off one by one!
All are single except for Sergeant Barnes. We’re told that he killed an officer with whom his wife had an affair. But where and when did that occur? It couldnt be present-day if he suspects one of this group, unless the wife is in France, which seems highly unlikely. Then the wife allegedly said she lied and gave him the wrong name—so he killed her. (Long-distance marriage is a killer, n’est-ce pas??) He skillfully asks each of them personal questions—why? Does he suspect one of them is guilty? Again—Why those seven? Is he going to kill *all* of them? The whole scenario makes little sense to me. (Feel free to explain in a Comment below!)
Another plot pitfall (though minor): the slash in Rutledge’s car tire early on, when he visits Standish. It doesn’t make sense because Barnes has not arrived yet (he’s either in Canterbury or Pevensey), so who else would do such a thing? Rutledge asks Jem if she saw who knifed the tire, but she says no. Much later—when she trusts him—he asks her the same thing, and she still doesn’t know. Even if Barnes had been in the area that night, why would he have done that to Rutledge’s car, a car he knew didn’t belong to Standish? Any killer with half a brain would want to stay hidden so his chances at escape were better. Why provoke the man from the Yard? If the killer saw Jem lurking in the shadows, why didn’t he kidnap or do away with her then? She would have seen his face, which was the only reason Barnes kidnapped her later.
There is a lot that doesn’t make sense, and several loose plot threads that go nowhere.
Melinda Crawford has a cameo appearance, and Bess gets a mention, albeit a very brief one. No Frances, no Meredith, no Kate. The only thing that redeems this book IMHO is the endearing little girl named Jem.
There are several scenes with Rutledge and little Jem; we get to see his soft side and his protective nature. You can just tell he would make a great dad, because he never condescends or dismisses her as other adults might do; he’s careful with her feelings. She is so vulnerable, sadly alone most of the time, wandering the countryside where she could so easily be preyed upon. A child who expects herself to fill the shoes of her dead father and brothers, to be “the man of the house”. She has nothing of her own and longs for a bicycle. When Standish says he will hire someone to help Mrs. Meadows on the farm, Rutledge suggests rewarding Jem for her loyalty and friendship; she came to Standish’s rescue and he probably didn’t even notice. Ian sees that she is bright and inquisitive and should be in school. He feels badly when she says she has never even been to Eastbourne—not far at all. He wants to protect her as best he can, but knows he must maintain a professional distance. The scenes he shares with this little girl are just very special and provide a nice contrast with the hard-edged crime.
All are single except for Sergeant Barnes. We’re told that he killed an officer with whom his wife had an affair. But where and when did that occur? It couldnt be present-day if he suspects one of this group, unless the wife is in France, which seems highly unlikely. Then the wife allegedly said she lied and gave him the wrong name—so he killed her. (Long-distance marriage is a killer, n’est-ce pas??) He skillfully asks each of them personal questions—why? Does he suspect one of them is guilty? Again—Why those seven? Is he going to kill *all* of them? The whole scenario makes little sense to me. (Feel free to explain in a Comment below!)
Another plot pitfall (though minor): the slash in Rutledge’s car tire early on, when he visits Standish. It doesn’t make sense because Barnes has not arrived yet (he’s either in Canterbury or Pevensey), so who else would do such a thing? Rutledge asks Jem if she saw who knifed the tire, but she says no. Much later—when she trusts him—he asks her the same thing, and she still doesn’t know. Even if Barnes had been in the area that night, why would he have done that to Rutledge’s car, a car he knew didn’t belong to Standish? Any killer with half a brain would want to stay hidden so his chances at escape were better. Why provoke the man from the Yard? If the killer saw Jem lurking in the shadows, why didn’t he kidnap or do away with her then? She would have seen his face, which was the only reason Barnes kidnapped her later.
There is a lot that doesn’t make sense, and several loose plot threads that go nowhere.
Melinda Crawford has a cameo appearance, and Bess gets a mention, albeit a very brief one. No Frances, no Meredith, no Kate. The only thing that redeems this book IMHO is the endearing little girl named Jem.
There are several scenes with Rutledge and little Jem; we get to see his soft side and his protective nature. You can just tell he would make a great dad, because he never condescends or dismisses her as other adults might do; he’s careful with her feelings. She is so vulnerable, sadly alone most of the time, wandering the countryside where she could so easily be preyed upon. A child who expects herself to fill the shoes of her dead father and brothers, to be “the man of the house”. She has nothing of her own and longs for a bicycle. When Standish says he will hire someone to help Mrs. Meadows on the farm, Rutledge suggests rewarding Jem for her loyalty and friendship; she came to Standish’s rescue and he probably didn’t even notice. Ian sees that she is bright and inquisitive and should be in school. He feels badly when she says she has never even been to Eastbourne—not far at all. He wants to protect her as best he can, but knows he must maintain a professional distance. The scenes he shares with this little girl are just very special and provide a nice contrast with the hard-edged crime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2018
It is 1920 and the Great War has been over for a couple of years, but it continues to affect people's lives as both civilians and those who served in the military struggle to come back from the ongoing effects of that conflict. That is nowhere more true than in the remote villages of England which lost nearly a whole generation of young men in the terrible trench warfare in France.
Inspector Ian Rutledge still struggles with the repercussions of his experience in those trenches. He suffers from PTSD (shell shock in that day) and is haunted by the spirit of Hamish McLeod, the young Scottish soldier whom he executed for insubordination and refusal to follow an order on the field of battle.
Rutledge does, however, seem to have made some progress in dealing with his psychological problems. Hamish is still there and his voice pops up in the narrative from time to time, but it is not the overwhelming presence that it was in some of the earlier books and that is a relief. Rutledge continues to be constantly on guard to hide his problems from others, even friends and loved ones.
The story here harks back to the eve of the disastrous Battle of the Somme. Seven English officers, fans of motorcar racing, meet up in a makeshift bar in a deserted barn in France and make a pledge that, if they make it through the coming battle and the rest of the war, they will meet in Paris one year after peace breaks out and celebrate their good fortune by racing motorcars - their own or borrowed ones - from Paris to Nice. Five of them survive to fulfill the pledge but something happens as they race down to Nice. One driver is forced off the road and seriously injured. At least two others have close encounters with disaster but are able to avoid it.
Back in England a year later, the rector of a village church on the South Downs is forced off the road one night and killed as he drives the car of one of those five officers. The rector was a much beloved man in the community and seems to have had no enemies, no one who would want him dead. Was it a case of mistaken identity? In the darkness, did the killer think his victim was the English officer who owned the car?
In the midst of this investigation, Rutledge learns that another of those English officers has recently been run off the road and killed. That only confirms the conclusion that he has reached after roaming around the countryside and getting to know this insular community as he interviews people; the thing which the crimes have in common is that last supper before the battle in France. That must be the key to the mystery.
As usual, he finds the people of the village close-mouthed and unwilling to share much information and he has to call on some of his sources in London and in the intelligence world to get the facts that he needs to find the solution to the crimes. But, of course, he gets there in the end.
This particular entry in this long-running series seemed rather static to me. I found it hard to keep engaged in the story. The things that I liked about it were the (as usual) plentiful historical details of the period and the ability of the writing team of Todd to convey the despair and brokenness of society following the war. In short, though this was not one of my favorites in the series, it was still an interesting read.
Inspector Ian Rutledge still struggles with the repercussions of his experience in those trenches. He suffers from PTSD (shell shock in that day) and is haunted by the spirit of Hamish McLeod, the young Scottish soldier whom he executed for insubordination and refusal to follow an order on the field of battle.
Rutledge does, however, seem to have made some progress in dealing with his psychological problems. Hamish is still there and his voice pops up in the narrative from time to time, but it is not the overwhelming presence that it was in some of the earlier books and that is a relief. Rutledge continues to be constantly on guard to hide his problems from others, even friends and loved ones.
The story here harks back to the eve of the disastrous Battle of the Somme. Seven English officers, fans of motorcar racing, meet up in a makeshift bar in a deserted barn in France and make a pledge that, if they make it through the coming battle and the rest of the war, they will meet in Paris one year after peace breaks out and celebrate their good fortune by racing motorcars - their own or borrowed ones - from Paris to Nice. Five of them survive to fulfill the pledge but something happens as they race down to Nice. One driver is forced off the road and seriously injured. At least two others have close encounters with disaster but are able to avoid it.
Back in England a year later, the rector of a village church on the South Downs is forced off the road one night and killed as he drives the car of one of those five officers. The rector was a much beloved man in the community and seems to have had no enemies, no one who would want him dead. Was it a case of mistaken identity? In the darkness, did the killer think his victim was the English officer who owned the car?
In the midst of this investigation, Rutledge learns that another of those English officers has recently been run off the road and killed. That only confirms the conclusion that he has reached after roaming around the countryside and getting to know this insular community as he interviews people; the thing which the crimes have in common is that last supper before the battle in France. That must be the key to the mystery.
As usual, he finds the people of the village close-mouthed and unwilling to share much information and he has to call on some of his sources in London and in the intelligence world to get the facts that he needs to find the solution to the crimes. But, of course, he gets there in the end.
This particular entry in this long-running series seemed rather static to me. I found it hard to keep engaged in the story. The things that I liked about it were the (as usual) plentiful historical details of the period and the ability of the writing team of Todd to convey the despair and brokenness of society following the war. In short, though this was not one of my favorites in the series, it was still an interesting read.
March 10, 2017
Racing the Devil is the latest Ian Rutledge mystery and I have read most of them at this point. An excellent story and the writers do weave together different story lines and Ian is often the only person looking for connections and open to thinking about how people can do evil. We see again the themes of status and wealth, including what people will do for wealth. The class tensions are significant and one can think about how World War I brought segment of the British population together in roles that were different from civilian life. Is this where some people learn they want more? Yet among the civilians, Ian has to negotiate class and status territories, both above him and below him, like how he cannot seem to pity the poor young girl, but let her have a sense that she is in control of her own life, even when she is not. During the war, the upper class is not as pleasant up close and personal. Yet, he war has a toll on many, which we see as Ian interviews many men who did survive the war with their own set of scares. This murderer has a grand plan, but it takes a while to connect the crimes and then find the source of the plot, as the villain is quick to disguise who he is in complicated way. He murders many people in accomplish what he sees as a path to wealth. Yet, others are also plotting to blackmail and find other ways to secure funds. Many questions are still left, but Ian has proof of enough crimes to secure a guilty verdict and sometimes that is the best we can get in life. In this book he is mostly out of London, so the internal dynamics of Scotland Yard are very much in the background. However, we get to see how different Constables in small communities vary in their own skills and willingness to listen to others.
October 21, 2017
The latest Inspector Ian Rutledge begins in a makeshift bar in France during WWI when 7 officers make a date to meet in Paris a year after the war ends and race each other to Nice. Five survive the war and head off to Nice and a bottle of champagne. Later, back in England, a minister crashes a car he has borrowed and dies but did he crash or was he pushed and how was this all related to the race in France. Rutledge, who is fighting his own war demons is asked to investigate. Not just a mystery but a bit of thriller that brings in all the who done it elements along with the suspense of who’s next. You might guess who the villain is but the trip there is worth it.
Get Racing the Devil from the Denver Public Library
- Lisa B
Get Racing the Devil from the Denver Public Library
- Lisa B
June 7, 2024
1919-1920 Nice, France and Sussex, England
I've slowly been reading this series for many years. With this 19th novel, I've come to understand and appreciate the "character" of Hamish. As with other novels by this mother/son writing team, this one is twisted and engaging.
I've slowly been reading this series for many years. With this 19th novel, I've come to understand and appreciate the "character" of Hamish. As with other novels by this mother/son writing team, this one is twisted and engaging.
October 16, 2018
Review after bookclub :)
January 30, 2020
This may have been my favorite Ian Rutledge book yet. I appreciate that the Rutledge series doesn't follow a routine or format, beyond the basic outline of Ian goes to investigate murder, (most of the time case gets complicated by an additional murder or attack), Ian eventually solves murder. This book also deals with a different side of Rutledge's struggles to deal with his time in the trenches. Much like his fellow soldiers, Rutledge his haunted and plagued by his time on the battlefield. His constant companion is a voice in his head, the voice of Hamish MacLeod (a sergeant who did not survive the war - because Rutledge shot him). Throughout the books Hamish has become sort of a sidekick/sounding board. He's not there, but Rutledge still talks through his thoughts with him. In this book, survivor's guilt kind of takes a center stage. Yes, horrible things happened during the war, but the ones who made it home don't always feel like they deserved to go home. That guilt isn't instrumental to solving the case, but it still is a major part of this installment, and I appreciated that Rutledge's trauma didn't seem gimicky in this book, but is a multi-faceted psychological way of dealing with his past.
Also that Bess Crawford gets a shout out in this book was funny to me, since I haven't read Bess Crawford's series... yet.
Also that Bess Crawford gets a shout out in this book was funny to me, since I haven't read Bess Crawford's series... yet.
December 29, 2017
The novel begins in June of 1916 as the battle of the Somme is raging. A group of English officers are having a last drink before they return to the Front. They do not know each other, but under the influence of drink, they make a pledge to reunite every year to celebrate their love of motor cars if they survive. They plan to meet a year after the war ends in Paris and race to Nice. They reunite in 1919 and set out. In the mountains just north of their destination, a car crashes after being struck from behind is an attempt to push him off the road. He succeeds and one year later, a rector driving the same route finds the remains of the car and it looks like he was ejected from the car and hut his head and was killed. Another set of car tracks raise questions. Was the car deliberately pushed off the road? Inspector Rutledge is investigating the death. The rector is a friend of the man killed and has to inform his wife of his death. Rutledge begins his search for a search for a merciless killer. When the next victim is a child, he will stop at nothing to find the victim in time.
The Charles Todd duo of mother and son are the best selling writers of the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series and a delight to read.
The Charles Todd duo of mother and son are the best selling writers of the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series and a delight to read.
April 27, 2017
I am not all that fond of mystery stories although I have read quite a few that have been well done. This novel however, as well done as it was, seemed to be a bit long winded and a bit boring. I do understand that this seems to be a series and perhaps if I had met Inspector Rutledge before in previous novels, I would have been a bit more understanding of his character, background, and motives. Suffice to say however, that the characters written about by Mr Todd have that stoic typically English quality about them. I, however, could not develop any type of reading rapport with any of them. As always pushing through a novel when your goal is ultimately hoping to find it gets better oftentimes results in disappointment. Such was the case for me.
September 21, 2017
Took stairs two at a time on three occasions in this one. About the average now per book, down from five or six mentions in the earlier books. But, for the first time ever, in 19 books, he took the stairs THREE at a time. What's next!?! Four!?!
I really do enjoy these books but when I am reading them I can't help but tell, call, or text my husband every time I come across the phrase "He took the stairs two at a time." It happens a lot. It has become a thing.
I really do enjoy these books but when I am reading them I can't help but tell, call, or text my husband every time I come across the phrase "He took the stairs two at a time." It happens a lot. It has become a thing.
July 15, 2019
It was very confusing...I felt very "removed" from Ian...strange ending...I'll have to wait another year !
June 22, 2018
I've been trying to get caught up with a lot of my favorite authors. So as of books published in 2017 (with the exception of one of the older ones), I've done that. In this case, I plan to go forward. This book, like the authors' others (Charles Todd is a pseudonym for a mother/son writing team) is full of wonderful details and red herrings. When the local popular young Rector of a local church is found dead in a questionable automobile accident, there is a question of jurisdiction. For this reason, Scotland Yard in the persona of Ian Rutledge is called in. One of the local police on the scene noticed a second set of tracks. Later Rutledge discovers a smear of green paint on the car. It is a common color though. What is intriguing is that the book opens with a small group of men who meet after the end of WW1 for an informal car race from Paris to Nice. One of them is run off the road in a horrific accident that results in the loss of his hand. He is a local landowner of a large farm with tenants. He is reclusive and unhappy. There is a lot going on in this novel. Why did the Rector take the Captain's car while he was away? He did it without permission. This was really intriguing. I really enjoy these books so much because of their meticulous attention to detail. One of the ongoing themes of the book is the "haunting" of Rutledge by his former Master SGT, Hamish, who refused his direct order to lead his men to certain death. As the books have progressed, the voice in his head is receding. One can hope that this will continue to be the case. Also intriguing was the use of the other Todd character, Bess Crawford, in the book. She is related to a good friend of Rutledge's parents who has a lot of contacts and is very helpful to him in this particular inquiry. Will Ian and Bess meet in another book? Interesting thought!
September 18, 2019
This is my 3rd Ian Rutledge book--and, IMHO, by far the best. I'd give this a 4+. Of course, it's far along in the series, and the Todds have found their writing rhythm. The Hamish quirk is subdued and only occasional, and Rutledge shows some anger as the facts of the case emerge, instead of presenting as the perfect gentleman from The Yard. The fact that the bad guy is not easily identifiable, and also has some wrecked-by-the-war baggage makes it more poignant.
There are a lot of characters in this book--maybe too many. Rutledge dispatches them all handily near the end of the book, using the only means available to a police officer a century ago. I found the plot, beginning with seven men who agree to meet in Paris if they make it through the upcoming Battle of the Somme, very real and touching. War changes people, and not usually in a good way. Every time Rutledge meets another soldier, you feel this gut punch.
There are a lot of characters in this book--maybe too many. Rutledge dispatches them all handily near the end of the book, using the only means available to a police officer a century ago. I found the plot, beginning with seven men who agree to meet in Paris if they make it through the upcoming Battle of the Somme, very real and touching. War changes people, and not usually in a good way. Every time Rutledge meets another soldier, you feel this gut punch.
March 30, 2020
Inspector Ian Rutledge is back in this installment of a long-running series, this time investigating a car crash that leaves a well-liked village priest dead. The trouble is, the rector didn't own the car he was driving when he died ...
That's the setup for a novel that races back and forth in time and location, linking people and their pasts even as more bodies pile up--but not so many that it felt like overkill (sorry, that was an inexcusable pun!).
And once again, the authors deliver more insights into Rutledge, a troubled ex-soldier who relies on his work for Scotland Yard to keep shell shock at bay.
That's the setup for a novel that races back and forth in time and location, linking people and their pasts even as more bodies pile up--but not so many that it felt like overkill (sorry, that was an inexcusable pun!).
And once again, the authors deliver more insights into Rutledge, a troubled ex-soldier who relies on his work for Scotland Yard to keep shell shock at bay.
January 28, 2021
I had no idea that this book was part of a large series, but coming in cold presented no problem to following the story. It easily stands on its own. It has also tempted me to seek out others in this series.
The book takes place shortly after the end of WWI, as men are coming to deal with the aftermath of what they saw in France during the war. When a suspicious motorcar accident occurs in the town of Burling Gap on the East Sussex coast, Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is called in to assist the local constable. As Rutledge attempt to unravel what happened in Rector Nathaniel Wright’s last hours, he discovers a puzzle within a puzzle within a puzzle.
Assisted by a few helpful if reluctant locals and some old friends, Inspector Rutledge works to solve a case that might have been an accident or a murder. As he unfolds the details, he discovers a growing series of similar cases that acts to complicate his investigation.
Rutledge is a capable investigator. He’s thorough, but he’s also kind and caring, a good man who wants to see justice served. He’ll do what it takes to find the culprit, but he’ll be sympathetic and compassionate while he does, if he’s able.
This is an excellent British mystery, complete with dreary atmosphere, suspicious small-town residents, a beloved church rector, and a wealthy squire who might also be involved. There’s also a bumbling but capable second constable from a neighboring town.
This was a highly satisfying read. It’ll keep you guessing as it introduces you to a series of wonderful characters. The setting is interesting, and the book provides some informative information about the local geography.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher through Netgalley. I thank them for their generosity, but it had not effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
The book takes place shortly after the end of WWI, as men are coming to deal with the aftermath of what they saw in France during the war. When a suspicious motorcar accident occurs in the town of Burling Gap on the East Sussex coast, Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is called in to assist the local constable. As Rutledge attempt to unravel what happened in Rector Nathaniel Wright’s last hours, he discovers a puzzle within a puzzle within a puzzle.
Assisted by a few helpful if reluctant locals and some old friends, Inspector Rutledge works to solve a case that might have been an accident or a murder. As he unfolds the details, he discovers a growing series of similar cases that acts to complicate his investigation.
Rutledge is a capable investigator. He’s thorough, but he’s also kind and caring, a good man who wants to see justice served. He’ll do what it takes to find the culprit, but he’ll be sympathetic and compassionate while he does, if he’s able.
This is an excellent British mystery, complete with dreary atmosphere, suspicious small-town residents, a beloved church rector, and a wealthy squire who might also be involved. There’s also a bumbling but capable second constable from a neighboring town.
This was a highly satisfying read. It’ll keep you guessing as it introduces you to a series of wonderful characters. The setting is interesting, and the book provides some informative information about the local geography.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher through Netgalley. I thank them for their generosity, but it had not effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
March 26, 2018
Another excellent Ian Rudledge investigation. Based in England between the two world wars, Rutledge uses common sense and little forensics, if any to lead him to the murder suspect. This one was particularly troubling as it had more than one murder none of which seemed to have any connection. What little evidence Rutledge had was destroyed before he could examine it closely. He always manages to find the perp and solve the mystery. Interestingly, Bess Crawford, another series character of Charles Todd, is mentioned as an acquaintance of Rutledge.
July 25, 2020
Best of the series so far....an interesting story, mostly believable, and the police work is built gradually with little reliance on coincidence or serendipity. Author(s) have a really good handle on small town life in post-WW I England and most of the characters come off as real folks, not archetypes. The biggest problem with this book (I read it as an e-book) is the horrible editing....in more than one case, an entire paragraph was repeated later on in the book to make the same point. Early on, some confusion with character names. I mean, come on.
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