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

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.

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.

Worst Rutledge book ever. Xmas story mixed with A Christmas Story

The plot was stupid. the reader was just wrong. Really annoying. Someone got this all wrong