• Wings of Fire

  • Ian Rutledge, Book 2
  • By: Charles Todd
  • Narrated by: Samuel Gillies
  • Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (894 ratings)

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Wings of Fire  By  cover art

Wings of Fire

By: Charles Todd
Narrated by: Samuel Gillies
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Publisher's summary

When reclusive war poet Olivia Marlowe and her half-brother, Nicholas Cheney, die together in their ancestral home on the Cornish coast, it looks like suicide. The grieving relatives gather together to discuss the fate of Barcombe Hall, when another shocking death occurs. Inspector Rutledge, who is still shell-shocked from his experiences in the Great War, is sent from Scotland Yard to investigate. Rutledge is soon convinced that the answers to this baffling case lie within the family’s secret history.

©1998 Charles Todd (P)1999 W.F. Howes

What listeners say about Wings of Fire

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

I just discovered Inspector Rutledge and I’m in love! The narrator is awesome! I listened to the first book and started reading this one, but I missed the way he told the story so I switched to the audiobook. Already bought book 3!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Excellent characterization and texture - thin plot

Tastes differ. I think Samuel Gillies gives a brilliant performance that saves the book. The family history is intensely detailed. The actual plot thin and repeated endlessly. I enjoyed dropping into a vividly defined setting but what went on was not very exciting. Try a different Rutledge story before this one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

He draws you gently but firmly in!

Character driven as the best British mysteries usually are, it still is a true mystery.
I thought at first I really didn’t care for this driven man, but boy did he win.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent in every way

If you like smart writing in great mysteries, Ian Rutledge stories are some of the best.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story,

I love this series, the narrator in the later stories is better, but Samuel is not bad.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

the story may be good but

the narration is terrible. this book has so many characters that sound the same it is confusing.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting but Too Long

This Rutledge book was much better than the first, but it just seemed to move at a snail's pace. Between the demon in the detective's head, and the constant struggle to ferret out a little truth, it is just too drawn out.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Drag on......

I love a murder mystery, but this thing just keeps dragging forward. I actually tuned out for several segments of the story and didn't miss a thing. The ending disappointed. Will not recommend.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It's Only Okay

I have so far liked this period piece series which I started near the end before going to book 1, which I enjoyed. This story suffers from some inane dialog and a detective too stupid to know when he needs help from other law enforcement authorities. Building suspense from actions no reasonable person would take, is not my idea of the way to develop a story. Nonetheless, if you like this series, this story, with its authentic post WW I feel, will likely keep you interested.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

not the best Ian Rutledge

the basis of the story is a bit far fetched, but Ian Rutledge's writing makes it work somehow.

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