The Confession: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Scotland Yard’s best detective, Inspector Ian Rutledge, must solve a dangerous case that reaches far into the past in this superb mystery in the acclaimed series.

Declaring he needs to clear his conscience, a dying man walks into Scotland Yard and confesses that he killed his cousin five years earlier during the Great War. When Inspector Ian Rutledge presses for details, the man evades his questions, revealing only that he hails from a village east of London. With little information and no body to open an official inquiry, Rutledge begins to look into the case on his own.

Less than two weeks later, the alleged killer’s body is found floating in the Thames, a bullet in the back of his head. Searching for answers, Rutledge discovers that the dead man was not who he claimed to be. What was his real name - and who put a bullet in his head? Were the “confession” and his own death related? Or was there something else in the victim’s past that led to his murder?

The inspector’s only clue is a gold locket, found around the dead man’s neck, that leads back to Essex and an insular village whose occupants will do anything to protect themselves from notoriety. For notoriety brings the curious, and with the curious come change and an unwelcome spotlight on a centuries-old act of evil that even now can damn them all.

©2012 Charles Todd (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Not a winner

I found this mystery novel tedious, long and a bit boring. The main character was depressive and the mystery was not particularly interesting. None of the characters seemed well developed or engaging.

Good Escape

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

A "Stiff" Upper Lip

This British detective procedural is fair. I enjoy a bit more of a pace in my mysteries.
I just could not get pulled into this novel. Too much talk and little else.

The best in the series (so far)

I am a fan of this series, and this book is maybe the best of them yet. The plotting is tight, the outcome is not predictable and Ian and Hamish are in good form.

Good Story

This book is well written, good story line. As always, Simon Prebble is a wonderful narrator bringing the story to life.

Interesting but not captivating

Interesting but not captivating. I did find it interesting enough to keep listening, but didn't find it compelling. I enjoyed the period details. I don't think the plot was complex enough to fully hold my interest.

A Great Who Did Story

What did you love best about The Confession?

I liked the way the book wove the characters together. Making you really think about who did it.

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

to me it wasn't an on the edge book, but a good tale that kept you coming back to hear more.

Which character – as performed by Simon Prebble – was your favorite?

Ruledge & his dead mate giving his opinion was excellent.

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

No

ANOTHER DARK MYTERY FROM TODD, BUT ALITTLE TO LONG

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

MAYBE, NOT SURE

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

THE WAY TODDS PLOTS, ALWAYS CIRCLE BACK ON THEM SELFES.

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

SIMON PREBBLE IS ONE OF THE TOP NARRATORS IN THE BUISNESS AS FAR AS I,M CONCERNED.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

NO

Loved this book!

Where does The Confession rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of my favourites

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

He made me feel like I was part of the book

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Couldn't put it down.

Any additional comments?

It's a classic great "who done it". Enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.

Intricate and engaging mystery

I always greatly enjoy the work of the mother and son team writing under the name of Charles Todd. This entry in the Ian Rutledge series is excellent and highly engaging, enhanced by this narrator, who is one of my favorites. Hughes rendering of accents is extraordinary, and he is one of the only male readers I know who can credibly do female characters voices, as well. Overall, I found the plot extremely intricate and twisty; the various characters and their relationships were a little hard to follow. My only disappointment was in the last couple of chapters, which seemed to me of a different/lesser caliber, wrapping up the mystery in a slightly less than credible manner.