A Test of Wills

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Samuel Giles

Ian Rutledge returns to his career at Scotland Yard after years fighting in the First World War. Unknown to his colleagues he is still suffering from shell shock, and is burdened with the guilt of having had executed a young soldier on the battlefield for refusing to fight. A jealous colleague has learned of his secret and has managed to have Rutledge assigned to a difficult case which could spell disaster for Rutledge whatever the outcome.

A retired officer has been murdered, and Rutledge, fighting the torment of his illness, goes to investigate. As he digs into the lives of the villagers, the witness who disturbs him most is a war-ravaged ex-soldier who chills Rutledge with the realization that he could become like this man.

©1996 Charles Todd (P)1999 W.F. Howes

Difficult to follow the narrator

Inspector Rutledge returns to his position at Scotland Yard after long and horrendous combat service as an officer in World War I. He has been damaged in soul and psyche, and in ways that make him one of the most fascinating detectives in the genre. This first book in the series is truly special, well written, compelling, and different.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend listening to this narration. Even though I've read the book (albeit a number of years ago), I found myself totally confused almost from the beginning as to which character was speaking. We become so used to narrators who handle multiple-character dialog well (even if they don't always sound like we think a beloved character should) that it's a shock to listen to someone with this little skill at voice differentiation. In scenes where Rutledge is conducting interviews, it's almost impossible to follow the flow of questions and answers and the vital information (the plot is fairly complicated) that emerges from these interviews.

There's nothing "wrong" with Giles's voice, he just doesn't use it well. Read the book, skip this audio.

Charles Todd at his best!

A Teat of Wills is Ian Rutledge Book 1. I've just written a 3 star review for Book 10 in the series. Charles Todd is an outstanding author of police thrillers and teamed with narrator Simon Prebble his novels are usually outstanding.

This book is really special. Rutledge has just returned from fighting in WWI where he had to execute a man for refusing to fight. He is assigned a case that is likely to turn out bad for him.

I listened to this book 2 years ago.

Shell Shock and Murder

The first in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series gives us the background of the Scotland Yard detective, who has returned to his post at the yard, following service in WWI on the battlefields of France. He is constantly accompanied by Corporal Hamish MacLeod, long dead, whom Rutledge had ordered shot by firing squad in France, because of his desertion. Following the war, Rutledge was hospitalized for wounds sustained in the War to End all Wars, and also treated for shell shock. Learning to deal with the voice in his head (Hamish), who it seems had come to be part of his conscience as well as a guide in his work as a Scotland Yard detective, was a battle that Rutledge fought daily. Trying to quell his urge to speak out loud to Hamish when in the company of others was difficult. Yet the wounds left by the war made Ian Rutledge a much better detective in many ways, much to the dismay of his superiors at the Yard . . . who were expecting him to fail. His insight into the case of murder of the retired officer and the accused shell-shocked ex-soldier and his manner of conducting the investigation wasn’t what many expected . . . but it made for a most excellent story. . . and conclusion. Bravo! Great first in the series!

Great Mystery

Charles Todd is a superlative writer. I'm already on my next Ian Rutledge novel. Terrific plots and character studies. Buy it.

ok

ok but some unnecessay dialogue. A little confusing at times. Names were confusing and relationships odd until the end.

Great listening

Wonderful all around! Enjoyed it from beginning to end. Will listen to the others in the series.

A good start to a series

I had read this book several years ago, and wanted to read more in the series, so I listened to this one to get reintroduced to the main character. I found the narrator to not be great at differentiating multiple characters' voices,and sometime I just couldn't tell who the speaker was, unless the name of the speaker was revealed. I found the solution to the mystery to be a complete surprise; there is nothing in the book that even hinted at the identity of the murderer. I'm not sure what I thought about that technique; I'll see if that continues in later books

Good Start to this Mystery Series

A good tale that was too drawn out. About two thirds of the way through, and having gone over the same clues for the 3rd or 4th time, I was ready for the resolution. I listened through to the end, though, and it was an interesting and unexpected twist that could have been woven in more effectively earlier. Felt contrived. I'm backfilling this series after listening to #22 first. Really enjoyed that, and this is good background. Good narration.

So much talking

Narration great, but the detective talks & talks & talks. Good enough to want to read more.

Murder Mystery with a Ghostly twist!!

Todd has added a 'dead' army colleague as his Detective's conscience and part time narrator. It was odd at first but as this book progressed the idea grew in its integrity.

Ian Rutledge brought his conscience 'Hamish' back with him from WW1 and he is essential to the problem solving of Scotland Yard's least respected and psychologically fragile crime fighter.

First in the series, it will make you want to hear more.