Most exciting by Todd Yet

This is was one of the most exciting books I have ever listened to. Simon Prebble does a perfect job of the voices and brings the whole story alive.

In many ways this is almost a gothic novel - the air of brooding and unknown evil hanging over the Essex marshes and the little village of Furnham and the house River's Edge makes the book electric with suspense. I couldn't stop listening to it. Rutledge has to trace the murders back to their beginning over 20 years before the start of the murder which attracts Rutledge's attention. From a man coming to Scotland Yard to confess to a muder he didn't commit, Rutledge must finally go back over 20 years to find the first murder committed by this serial killer. Is is amazing to watch him untangle it all.

The solution to the murders will come as a big surprise and you will have a hard time figuring out. It is amazing the way Inspector Rutledge puts his case together and all the strange twists and turns it takes. With all the driving back and forth he does, I wonder the man gets any sleep at all.

The plotting is excellent and bit by bit we uncover the history of this reclusive town on the River Hawking. Each character is well fleshed out and we can picture them in their cottages so vivid is the characterization of each villagel Inspector Rutledge meets.

I wish Audible would publish all his books in audio but I am going back and reread all the books in the series from the start.

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And I thought I wouldn't like it!

If you could sum up The Confession in three words, what would they be?

I don't like these canned questions, so I'm just going to tell you why this book was great. I didn't think I would like some old British war story. Not that it's a war story - not really, but as soon as the war was mentioned, I groaned.

I'm glad I kept listening.

I couldn't wait to find out what the heck was going to happen next. Todd did a great job of creating this air of menace and creepiness. And the twists and turns! By the time I saw it coming, it was all over. A great mystery, outstanding writing - I couldn't wait to keep listening.

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Clever plot - fun to follow along

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

Overall was well read. Just a little difficulty discerning one voice from another during conversations between some characters. Also a little difficult to understand Hamish's brogue.

Any additional comments?

This was my first outing with Inspector Rutledge, and in spite of it being well into the series, The Confession stands on its own, and references to earlier installments were not confusing. The writing was good, plenty of descriptive atmosphere. I liked the complexity of the plot well enough, but felt that while Rutledge was trying to sort out how the current and past events fit together, there were some very thin assumptions that barely held water. I had figured out the murderer and motive well ahead of Rutledge, and felt that the author(s) kept Rutledge from figuring it out somewhat artificially. He should have asked the right questions long before he finally did. But I hadn't expected at least one of the big reveals, and overall it was a satisfying mystery. Just a bit short of 5 stars, but I can see downloading others in the series.

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The best of the best, the ultimate Ian Rutledge

Charles Todd just gets better with age - like a fine wine he is. Begin in Audible with the first of the series (confession: I've only listed to the those narrated by Simon Prebble - he is "The Man" as far as I am concerned) and work your way through to the end; they only get better and better.

Hamish MacLeod was quiet in this novel and I admire Todd for that. The best hope in life is that, no matter what the ailment, a person gets better, survives, and that is where I felt Todd was taking Rutledge in this one. It made me want to read the next one, a new facet to Todd, a hope for his character.

To sum this up, the best Ian Rutledge story yet. I loved every page of it. Now, saying that - this was the first novel I figured out "who-done-it" (about 2/3 in) but it did not ruin the novel because I was never 100% sure I was right, Todd kept me guessing and ultimately that is what I want in every mystery.

I cannot wait for the next one.

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Simon Prebble's narration adds ...

....to an engaging mystery story.
This is not the usual sort of Police Procedural presenting all the clues for us to follow the solving of a crime, nor is Rutledge a regular guy. He has a secret.
As it is set post WW1, there is the ambience of a society going through it's own changes after The Great War. Yet this is not laboured. A fishing villiage has it's own secrets it wants to keep. What those secrets are, and why a man already near death is murdered, are the questions Ian Rutledge begins to ask.
As a "Who Done It?', it does have a Butler/Driver, a femme fatal and a Major.

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Pretty Dang Good

Would you consider the audio edition of The Confession to be better than the print version?

I don't think the other drivers on Florida's Turnpike would appreciate me reading the print version, just to compare the two.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Confession?

There's no one defining moment - it's the inter-weaving of the characters, the depth of their personalities and the story that really make this series. This is just another fine example of the genre.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

What's not to like? You always know which character is speaking, he's understandable and exceptionally easy to listen to. In fact, after listening to his narration for the duration of one of my longer trips, I found myself thinking with his accent. It was a little disturbing.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Confession - OR IS IT?

Any additional comments?

Nah.

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AN ADDICTIVE SERIES!

Somehow I started with just one of the books in the series but soon bought all of them back to back. FYI: This is the 14th in the series. Simon Prebble, as always, is a superb narrator - much better than Samuel Gillies, who narrates like he's performing "Hansel and Gretel" to 6 year olds!

No matter how hard you try, you will never guess who will be murdered and by whom. There are so many twists and turns and red herrings that the reader is always kept guessing. The Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge is a tortured soul but a great detective. He suffers from World War I "shell shock" which is what we now recognize as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that is manifested by a dead "imaginary friend" named Hamish McCloud. This adds an interesting component into how this detective acts and reacts. Hamish is to Rutledge what cocaine is to Sherlock Holmes - a dangerous nemesis that both helps and hampers. All of the books are pretty much the same plot but just different enough in locations, people, class distinctions, and twists to make each worth reading. My suggestion is to go on Google or Wikipedia to learn the order of the series and start with the first one. Each book fills in the gaps if you start somewhere in the middle but the continuity really helps. It would be nice if Audible.com would assign chronological order to books which contain a series or prequels and sequels. )I will post this same comment on all of the Ian Rutledge books that I've read.)

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A New Author for Me!

What made the experience of listening to The Confession the most enjoyable?

Simon Prebble is one of my favorite narrators. He never jars me out of the world of the story, and in fact, I forget that I'm being read to and simply fall into the story.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I was impressed with the plot/mystery of this book. It has been a long while since I have been stumped in a murder mystery, and this one had me. Also, I didn't feel I had been cheated out of the solution at the end of the book. Two very important factors in a mystery. The main character, Inspector Rutledge is a broken man trying to go on. One of my very favorite types of characters. The way the War was presented, and its aftereffects was well done and realistic.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I believe he read The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie. Loved that one, too. I will seek out books read by Simon Prebble, because a good reader is a treasure.

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Good Escape

Great narration and interesting story line. If you love British mysteries, this is a good one.

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Great story!

Here is Ian Rutledge trying to decide if he has 2 cases or 1 very nasty case. As one of his counterparts would say, "He is using his little grey cells." This is a good, complex mystery-don't miss it!

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