A Christmas Witness

Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries

De: Charles Todd

Narrado por: Steven Crossley

Inspector Ian Rutledge investigates a possible attempted murder in this seasonal mystery novella from New York Times bestseller Charles Todd.

December 1921: Being single and a new Chief, Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard gets the short straw at Christmastime and is called upon by Chief Superintendent Markum to go to the Kentish home of a lord recovering from an attempt on his life. In bed with a concussion, the man is convinced someone is trying to kill him after he claims he was struck by the hoof of a running horse whose rider never stopped to check on him.

Struggling with his own demons from the war and misgivings about helping a man who, as a colonel, oversaw the suffering of those on the frontlines from afar, Rutledge undertakes an uneasy investigation. And as the winter holiday approaches, he becomes increasingly convinced that nothing is as it seems....

©2025 Charles Todd (P)2025 Highbridge Audio

A good attempt to understand the guilt and indecision of the officers in charge

The narrator , didn’t suit Rutledge’s personality at all
All I could think of,throughout the book was Mathew Shardlake and that is not flattering

This narrator gives Rutledge a panzy sound.

I love all the Rutledge books. This new narrator changes the temperature of the story. I would like the book well enough if I had not heard the books done by better narrator.

Not the same

I miss Caroline Todd and her input to the books.
This is not the right narrator for any Ian Rutledge book-what were they thinking?

The wrong voice for Ian

I was thrilled to listen to a new novella in the Ian Rutledge series. However, Steven Crossley is not the right voice for Ian. Ian is a man haunted by the past. He is a serious policeman. His voice should reflect that.

uplifting

Enjoyed this little novella! It was good to see my old friend Ian Rutledge again. Told in third person, the plot is set in 1921 in Kent at Christmastime. This is the first book that portrays Ian as a chief inspector. Markham is still an ass. Ghosts of the Great War are still very much a part of Ian, but there are also other hauntings and “hauntees” in this book. This story is more uplifting than most books in the series. The characters are kinder and more capable. The main tension for me was the concern that Rutledge's first case after his promotion would end in his own shaming or disgrace. A good read! It’s a bit gentler than expected, and not to be taken too seriously — like figgy pudding, its’s a seasonal treat!

One aspect of the writing bothered me: The author used the name Rutledge too often — every other sentence in many cases. We all know it is Rutledge doing things and thinking things, as the whole story is focused around him, so it would be fine to just use the pronoun he and his first name, Ian.

Also, another thing that seemed odd : at the end of Game of Fear, readers were left with the clear impression that Ian’s promotion was not due to Mrs Crawford’s machinations or interferences but rather to Ian’s successful investigations, duly noted by others in power. Yet in this book we are told the opposite. I hope this was a mistake in my own reading comprehension, as it diminishes them both, Ian and Melinda.

Disappointing story line

Not up to snuff compared to all of the other Rutledge novels. No meaningful story line. No suspense. Reading was below expectaions. Fear to say more.

Rutledge does Dickens

Perhaps it was the narrator who made this feel less than the serious Ian we have come to expect. Even Hamish seemed light at heart. I see the book on preorder has one of the previous narrators so it should be bettor. If you are a fan it is worth a credit.

This was just not good at all

I pretty much agree with all the other reviewers in that the narrator did not do Ian’s voice correctly. He’s never been that friendly and I’ve listened to every book on audio of Charles Todd. The story was baseless and senseless and extremely disapointing ! I’ve been waiting a long time for this new book to come out.😕😕

Short story but they killed you with way too much detail

The performance by Steven Crossley was just bad. I wish Samuel Gillies was the narrator. He did a stellar job, on the previous books, you felt you were part of the story

So dissapointed

I have always enjoyed Charles Todds books, especially this series. However, this was a complete waste of time and I would love to have sent it back, Very weak plot and ending. The reader almost sent me to sleep (it could have just been the book!)