Proof of Guilt

An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery, Book 15

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Scotland Yard's Ian Rutledge must contend with two dangerous enemies in this latest complex mystery in the New York Times bestselling series

London, summer 1920. An unidentified body appears to have been run down by a motorcar and Ian Rutledge is leading the investigation to uncover what happened. While the signs point to murder, vital questions remain: Who is the victim? And where, exactly, was he killed?

One small clue leads Rutledge to a firm built by two families, famous for producing and selling the world's best Madeira wine. Lewis French, the current head of the English enterprise, is missing. But is he the dead man? And does either his fiancée or his jilted former lover have anything to do with his disappearance - or possible death? What about his sister? Or the London office clerk? Is Matthew Traynor, French's cousin and partner who heads the Madeira office, somehow involved?

The experienced Rutledge knows that suspicion and circumstantial evidence are not proof of guilt, and he's going to keep digging for answers. But that perseverance will pit him against his supervisor, the new acting chief superintendent. When Rutledge discovers a link to an incident in the French family's past, the superintendent dismisses it, claiming the information isn't vital. He's determined to place the blame on one of French's women despite Rutledge's objections. Alone in a no-man's-land rife with mystery and danger, Rutledge must tread very carefully, for someone has decided that he, too, must die so that cruel justice can take its course.

©2013 Charles Todd (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

New mystery

Different death. new climes. I thi k I just like hearing the narrator every day. mayne he should be my person al voice in all my AI. lol

Whodunit? I still don't know!

I typically love this series--the writing, characters, historical setting--and I love the narrator. I was enjoying it right up until the last chapter. But I am so disappointed, annoyed and a little angry at the ending (or really, the lack thereof) that I am returning the next book in the series before I even start it and quitting here. Sad.

Predictably excellent addition to Rutledge series

Would you listen to Proof of Guilt again? Why?

Maybe, but I don't usually re-read mysteries until I have forgotten the details. However, on the list of series I would read again, this would be high! I read most of the books in the Rutledge series before finding and listening to, the last couple on Audible.

If I were to listen to the ones I already read, it would be largely because of the excellence of Simon Prebble's narration! He is incredibly talented. Creates different voices for each character that are easily identifiable, and has good pacing and intonation for the reading, in general. Far better than many narrators.

What other book might you compare Proof of Guilt to and why?

Well, Rutledge, a Scotland Yard detective, falls into the category of loner detectives, who buck authority at times to find answers to the crimes. I really like the character as created and developed by Charles Todd (a mother and son writing duo). It brings in history, psychology and good mysteries in engaging plots that do not insult the reader through simplicity or dull passages.

Any additional comments?

Rutledge is a fascinating lead character. He has been through the horrors of WWI and has been wounded in body, mind and soul. Because of visible scars, he has lost his fiancée after his return from France. Due to a complicated situation of moral anguish, he is struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome that includes a rich, troubled inner relationship with a dead comrade who has become an internalized aspect of his own psyche. In a twist unlike any I can recall in mystery writing, the voice of this dead, internalized comrade (toward whom Rutledge feels a combination of love and guilt) becomes something akin to Rutledge's "sidekick"--someone who offers advice and warnings and has a kind of wisdom that often helps Rutledge stay alive and solve the crimes.

While reading the first book in the series, I was skeptical that this was a workable character presentation. But the consistency of how psychologically well thought out this is, has left me very impressed. Highly recommend both the writing of this series and the narration of Simon Prebble. There are always unexpected plot developments that surprise, and this book is no exception. Very satisfying book(s).

Disappointing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The end was entirely unsatisfactory. I couldn't believe it was over and so many loose ends. I listened to the last chapter twice to see if I was missing something.

Would you be willing to try another book from Charles Todd? Why or why not?

I love the Inspector Rutledge series and have read them all. Of course I will read the next one.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

His British accent is so authentic as are all of the voices he performs. He is the best!

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably not.

Any additional comments?

None

Story gaps were frustrating, but read them all!

Always a fun read, and I will read them all. Nevertheless, this one had a few gaps that seemed a tad sloppy.

Abrupt ending

I love this series and was so disappointed. I finished the book not knowing what happened to the Missing Main Character. Was he alive or dead? I read some reviews with spoilers (I was not the only one that missed this apparently) that alerted me to a single line of dialog in the last 2 minutes of the read that alleged his body was buried in the rose garden. I reread to find this. However this fact was never corroborated which is a number one No-No for police procedurals. I love Ian and Francis and Hamish and Meredith and will keep reading the series as I want to know where the story goes from here.

love Charles Todd

every one of their books is excellent and Light reading I enjoy each and every one of them

Charles Todd never fails with Inspector Rutledge

Proof of Guilt was worth the wait. Inspector Rutledge mysteries are some of the most entertaining mystery writings that I have read, or listened to. Simon Prebble's narration of Charles Todd seems to evoke the time period and enhances the listening flow. The one aspect of this book that held my attention was the way in which Ian Rutledge's character has emerged from the severely tormented detective of the early novels, into the more interesting persona of the professional detective, with only the hint of the troubled ghost of Hamish haunting him. Ian Rutledge is a proven commodity and Charles Todd is still keeping him fresh. A very good listen.

Disappointed -- could have been better

I really appreciate Charles Todd, both his (their) Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series. I get them as soon as they come out, without question. I am hoping that this book was an anomaly, and not a sign that the mother-son partnership is flagging or that the authors are becoming tired of Ian Rutledge.

First of all, this book was wonderfully complex, with lots of trails to follow, many characters who could be clues to unravelling the mysteries and possible suspects. This is as you are listening to it. I found myself having to concentrate very hard to keep everyone straight. Rutledge is driving from London to Sussex to Kent over and over. And I am thinking that Somerset might have been in there somewhere too.

The problem is that there is no wrap-up to speak of where the author traditionally continues the story to (basically) explain to those of us who haven't been able to figure out how the culprit was the culprit or managed to pull off exactly what they did. This area in the book generally explains all of those tiny details that you (at least this is what happens to ME) have been saying to yourself "But how did they manage to do that?" for some hours.

At the end of this one, however, there is almost no wrapup and the reader is not even told if one of the people who is talked about throughout the book is dead or alive or where he could possibly be! Very confusing and overall disappointing, because as I listened to it I thought the story had promise.

The background story of Rutledge and how the higher-ups at the Yard are faring does move a little bit and it sounds like the new boss may be worse than Old Bowles, if that is possible. Rutledge is finally taking Hamish more in stride. He no longer fears that he is in the back seat of his car and understands that he is in the back of his mind and is likely to stay there. I think that is progress.

I recently listened to the first of this series "Test of Wills" (it was totally out of print when I first started reading this series) and am really glad I did. If you want to read another Rutledge that may be new to you, you might try that one!

A wonderful story enhanced by Simon Prebble as always

Simon Prebble has an exquisite talent for the capacity to manufacture surprisingly different voices for Todd's complicated characters.held my attention throughout.