Proof of Guilt

An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery, Book 15

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Scotland Yard's Ian Rutledge must contend with two dangerous enemies in this latest complex mystery in the New York Times bestselling series

London, summer 1920. An unidentified body appears to have been run down by a motorcar and Ian Rutledge is leading the investigation to uncover what happened. While the signs point to murder, vital questions remain: Who is the victim? And where, exactly, was he killed?

One small clue leads Rutledge to a firm built by two families, famous for producing and selling the world's best Madeira wine. Lewis French, the current head of the English enterprise, is missing. But is he the dead man? And does either his fiancée or his jilted former lover have anything to do with his disappearance - or possible death? What about his sister? Or the London office clerk? Is Matthew Traynor, French's cousin and partner who heads the Madeira office, somehow involved?

The experienced Rutledge knows that suspicion and circumstantial evidence are not proof of guilt, and he's going to keep digging for answers. But that perseverance will pit him against his supervisor, the new acting chief superintendent. When Rutledge discovers a link to an incident in the French family's past, the superintendent dismisses it, claiming the information isn't vital. He's determined to place the blame on one of French's women despite Rutledge's objections. Alone in a no-man's-land rife with mystery and danger, Rutledge must tread very carefully, for someone has decided that he, too, must die so that cruel justice can take its course.

©2013 Charles Todd (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Best of a great series. A more than once listen.

What made the experience of listening to Proof of Guilt the most enjoyable?

The usual pleasant flow of Rutledge's investigation is combined with a really baffling mystery.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the author Todd disguised the real perpetrators to every one except Rutledge (and finally the reader).

What does Simon Prebble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Given a choice - Read the book or have Simon Prebble read it to you is a no-brainer.

I listened to Prebble read this book to me twice. It may have been better the second time.

Prebble is in a class with only one other narrator (in my opinion). That would be George Guidall. Since Rutledge is British, Prebble is the better of the two for narration of this series.The earlier books are narrated by Samuel Gillies and he does a good job, but he is no Prebble.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Rutledge suspected that the real perpetrators were not as his superior insisted, but he had no way to prove it and his only recourse was to put himself in real danger so the killer would reveal himself.

Any additional comments?

This is #15 in the series and it's the best one. But to really appreciate this series one should begin with the first in the series. They are all above average and the listener (reader) will have a good time by starting at #1 and going through the list. Unfortunately there is a gap (6,7,8 & 9) are not available from Audible.

15 books and still going strong!

Just another great story by Charles Todd and outstanding narration by wonderful Simon Prebble! Enjoy.

Not Up to the Standards of Rest in Series

Sadly, I'm disappointed in this book, the 15th in the series. Normally, I am a huge fan of the Ian Rutledge Mysteries, but this one had so many threads that it was difficult to keep it all straight. Also it didn't evoke all the emotions which I usually feel when listening to the rest of the series. The ending felt flat to me.

Disappointed

Having read several mother/son team books authored as Charles Todd and enjoyed them, I was somewhat lost in this one. It seemed a stretch in both plot and characters.Perhaps I listened in too many short snatches of time. I wanted to like it!

Wouldn’t listen again

While I am a great fan of this series, I consider this book worth only 3 1/3 stars. The narration by Simon Prebble is the only reason I finished listening. In fairness to the authors, I have to admit I have been ill for some time and that may have affected my judgment. However, I did listen to The Confession while hospitalized and throughly enjoyed most of it and would listen again.

A tangled web

Another great addition to this amazing series! Not a lot from Hamlisch this time which was good. Trying to figure out what was going on was a journey!

Suspenseful

The book takes its time to develop characters and plot. It finishes with a flourish! The reader is outstanding.

Disappointed -- could have been better

I really appreciate Charles Todd, both his (their) Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series. I get them as soon as they come out, without question. I am hoping that this book was an anomaly, and not a sign that the mother-son partnership is flagging or that the authors are becoming tired of Ian Rutledge.

First of all, this book was wonderfully complex, with lots of trails to follow, many characters who could be clues to unravelling the mysteries and possible suspects. This is as you are listening to it. I found myself having to concentrate very hard to keep everyone straight. Rutledge is driving from London to Sussex to Kent over and over. And I am thinking that Somerset might have been in there somewhere too.

The problem is that there is no wrap-up to speak of where the author traditionally continues the story to (basically) explain to those of us who haven't been able to figure out how the culprit was the culprit or managed to pull off exactly what they did. This area in the book generally explains all of those tiny details that you (at least this is what happens to ME) have been saying to yourself "But how did they manage to do that?" for some hours.

At the end of this one, however, there is almost no wrapup and the reader is not even told if one of the people who is talked about throughout the book is dead or alive or where he could possibly be! Very confusing and overall disappointing, because as I listened to it I thought the story had promise.

The background story of Rutledge and how the higher-ups at the Yard are faring does move a little bit and it sounds like the new boss may be worse than Old Bowles, if that is possible. Rutledge is finally taking Hamish more in stride. He no longer fears that he is in the back seat of his car and understands that he is in the back of his mind and is likely to stay there. I think that is progress.

I recently listened to the first of this series "Test of Wills" (it was totally out of print when I first started reading this series) and am really glad I did. If you want to read another Rutledge that may be new to you, you might try that one!

A wonderful story enhanced by Simon Prebble as always

Simon Prebble has an exquisite talent for the capacity to manufacture surprisingly different voices for Todd's complicated characters.held my attention throughout.

Disappointing

All was fine until the end. It left a couple of issues unresolved. Mr. Todd usually writes a tighter story.