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Hunting Shadows: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery
Hunting Shadows: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery
Hunting Shadows: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery
Audiobook10 hours

Hunting Shadows: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery

Written by Charles Todd

Narrated by Simon Prebble

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

A dangerous case with ties leading back to the battlefields of World War I dredges up dark memories for Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge in Hunting Shadows, a gripping and atmospheric historical mystery set in 1920s England, from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd.

A society wedding at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire becomes a crime scene when a man is murdered. After another body is found, the baffled local constabulary turns to Scotland Yard. Though the second crime had a witness, her description of the killer is so strange its unbelievable.

Despite his experience, Inspector Ian Rutledge has few answers of his own. The victims are so different that there is no rhyme or reason to their deaths. Nothing logically seems to connect them—except the killer. As the investigation widens, a clear suspect emerges. But for Rutledge, the facts still don’t add up, leaving him to question his own judgment.

In going over the details of the case, Rutledge is reminded of a dark episode he witnessed in the war. While the memory could lead him to the truth, it also raises a prickly dilemma. To stop a murderer, will the ethical detective choose to follow the letter—or the spirit—of the law?

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateJan 21, 2014
ISBN9780062308641
Author

Charles Todd

Charles and Caroline Todd are a mother-and-son writing team who live on the east coast of the United States. Together, they have written nearly thirty mysteries, including the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series.

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Reviews for Hunting Shadows

Rating: 4.034482709359606 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I really enjoyed this one. As always the mystery was good but I also enjoyed the characters and how they unfolded.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When a British Army officer is killed by a rifle marksman while standing outside the church at a wedding, there are virtually no clues. The only witness says the shooter looked like a monster. Then a candidate for Parliament is killed in similar fashion, and farmer is wounded but survives. When Inspector Ian Rutledge from Scotland Yard is assigned the case, he is told it will be like hunting shadows.“Hunting Shadows” (2014) is a solid entry in Charles Todd’s Ian Rutledge mystery series. British mysteries can sometimes be difficult for American readers to follow, but that is not the case here. But then Charles Todd is an American, actually two Americans — a mother and son. (There are several Americans writing British mysteries, Elizabeth George being among the most prominent.)As it is 1920, just two years since the Great War ended, Rutledge reasons the killer must be a veteran, perhaps a former sniper, who somehow managed to bring his rifle home with him. But what ties the three victims together? Or are they tied together? Might the killer just be someone who came to like killing?Rutledge, himself a veteran of the war, works alone, except he is rarely alone. Accompanying him in his mind is Hamish, a Scottish soldier whose death haunts Rutledge. Hamish tends to butt in with commentary at key moments, yet he is mostly silent in this novel, much to the relief of both Rutledge and the reader.The ending comes with multiple surprises, as one hopes to find in a good mystery.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is my first Ian Rutledge novel but not my first Charles Todd novel. I’ve read several in the Bess Crawford series and enjoyed them so I thought I venture into this other series. This book opens not with our hero but rather with the soon to be murderer as he spots a man he feels is responsible for the death of someone he cared about. Not long after the first murder a second one occurs in a village not far away but there seems to be no connection between the two victims. The local police soon reach a dead end so Scotland Yard is called in to find the answers.Ian Rutledge is barely holding himself together after the war. He is (literally) haunted by the ghost of his war buddy Hamish who invades his sleep and talks to him at odd times often providing insights into his current situation. Rutledge is heading out to visit one of the two small towns when he gets lost in the fog and this sets up the best part of the book – the scene descriptions. This mother/son writing duo really knows how to set their scenes. I felt the cold of that mist just sitting in my living room.Rutledge spends a lot of time going back and forth between the two villages and London – always in his motorcar – finding clues and building towards the surprising ending. Where the book falls down is in its character development. As Rutledge motors about he meets a lot of people and therefore so do we as readers but it becomes difficult keeping track of them all. Very few are fleshed out beyond the basics so they don’t really leave enough of an impression to stand out.The bits and pieces slowly come together and Ian, with Hamish’s help (or is it his subconscious?) realizes exactly what the connection is between the two men and why they were killed. He stirs up a lot of old history along the way; history that in some cases is better left in the past. All the while wresting with what we would now call PTSD from his experiences during the war.I did enjoy the book despite the issues I mentioned above. I know many others are disappointed with this book compared to others in the series but since I’ve not read any others I have nothing to compare it to – I can only go on this one book. I would definitely read another in the series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge is headed north to “fen country,” help two small Cambridgeshire village police departments solve murders on their turf. It is 1920, and two men have been murdered by what appears to be sniper fire. Rutledge’s first instinct is to look at war veterans who may have been snipers – a fact of war experience most men wouldn’t brag about. Rutledge’s early efforts, mostly unsuccessful, are to find a tie between the two men – something that would give at least a small clue about the sniper’s motivation.As usual, Rutledge spends a lot of time motoring between the villages. That’s time that, in earlier books in this series, would have given rise to extended conversations between Rutledge and Hamish, a man Rutledge, a military officer, was forced to execute during The Great War. One manifestation of Rutledge’s post-traumatic stress is Hamish’s voice in his head. But Hamish is pretty much sidelined in Hunting Shadows, which takes away one thing that makes Inspector Rutledge’s stories different than other historical mysteries set in the period. And Hamish was a character that cut the tension in the books with a little bit of humor.This is a good series that’s not gotten significantly better over the years. I don’t know if I’m the only one to notice how much of the books is taken up with transportation. Actually, my husband was the first to point that out to me and I have now noticed the same thing. I think the different casts of characters in the villages which Rutledge travels between make the story more complicated than it needs to be. I long for a mystery in which Rutledge goes to point A and stays there for the duration, rather than traveling back and forth – especially without Hamish as a traveling companion.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A man with a rifle shoots first a former military officer, and then a man running for elective office. What is the connnection? Lots of great locale scenes and atmosphere.Such a great series. Ian struggling with his demons from the Great War, often hunting men in the same condition. This one takes place in the Fens and has lots of atmosphere and colorful locale and locals as well as the psychological depths these books keep exploring.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As always with a Charles Todd novel, a good mystery. Interesting setting in the Fens. Time 1920. Reading about police operating with very little communication (most of the small villages didn't have telephones) was a reminder of how very slow investigations like this one would have been. I have compassion for Rutledge, perhaps even pity, although he wouldn't appreciate that, but no desire to keep his company. Therefore, this book will find a new home as I won't read it again. However, if you enjoy historical settings with a good mystery and good characters, you should enjoy this.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An excellent meaty tale with a side order of history and geography thrown in. I loved it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Fens seem to be a recurring setting in a number of books I've read this year. I'm beginning to think I need to schedule a trip!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Rifle fire in the Fens kills two seemingly disparate men and Rutledge is called to sort it out. Many loose ends need to be followed during the early days of his sleuthing. With his usual patience and the occasional plod, he sorts it out for a surprising but satisfactory finish. Hamish seems to be fading as a muse and a literary device. Which is probably a good thing for Rutledge and this good series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    While I enjoyed this Inspector Ian Rutledge book I have enjoyed previous ones more.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Ahhhhhh this one was good! And tied up some loose ends! And didn't race to the ending!!! Ahhhh happy I am tonight!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A satisfying mystery in the continuing series of Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard, surviving after service in WWI, with the on-going presence of Hamish, commenting in the back of his head. Murders in the Fen country. Great sense of place and time and a good mystery to solve. 4.5 stars.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    HUNTING SHADOWS bored me, and I finished reading it only because it was a book group choice and I will be leading the group this month.If you've never read Charles Todd, as I hadn't, I would not suggest you start with this book, number 16 in a series. My friend started with number 1 and liked it. Perhaps it would have made a difference if I had read the series in order, but number 16 bored me so much that I don't want to read anymore of Todd's books.The setting is various cities in England in 1920, shortly after World War I. Two murders and one attempted murder have occurred, and Scotland Yard's Inspector Ian Rutledge has been brought into the investigation. So we follow Rutledge (along with Hamish, who is never adequately explained in this 16th book in the series) as he tries to solve the murders, which seem to all be committed by one person.But Rutledge encounters many suspects and many other characters along the way. It may be a trick for you to remember them all. Also, you will have to pay close attention to seemingly unimportant comments Rutledge makes early in the story; late in the book, he discovers what he wondered way back then.This may be more interesting if you read the previous 15 books in the series first.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "Hunting Shadows," is the 14th in the series of Ian Rutledge belonging to the 'Mystery' genre. The title and cover are very appropriate for the story. It is set against rural and isolated villages in England, where gossip is the main source of news. There are good references to the local areas, and the description of the characters are well developed. All the characters are strong, with loneliness a common thread among them. The story is well plotted and well written. With the war never far from his mind, a voice from the past like a shadow, he must solve a crime by a sniper using a WW1 weapon. The story holds on to the end, but the end doesn't seem like a big surprise - more like something expected.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Inspector Rutledge searches for a sharp shooter that has recently killed two men in a rural community. Lots of minutia in following the trail of the killer, with more and more possibilities added. Got to be confusing, and since I wasn't following carefully, rather boring.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I absolutely love Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series, but funnily enough I've only read one or two of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries. And I'm not sure why, as I really enjoyed Hunting Shadows, the 16th entry in this series.Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is called in by the local constabulary when they are stymied by not one, but two murders - both perpetrated by a sniper. The two victims are completely disparate and it's up to Rutledge to find the common denominator - and the killer.Todd writes wonderful historical mysteries - the times, the social customs and mores, the language and more are just lovely to immerse yourself in. It's a gentler time, but it's also coloured by the aftermath of World War 1. (Hunting Shadows is set in 1920) Shell shock (what we now call PTSD) plays a part in both the plot and with our main character. Rutledge often converses with Hamish, a dead soldier from Rutledge's past.I enjoyed and savoured the slow building of the case. Finding clues, conducting interviews, visiting scenes - it's all done in a measured manner that is just a treat to read. Yes, it's a murder mystery, but it's such a rich, atmospheric read on top of that. There's so much detail in Todd's prose, bringing the time period, the settings and the supporting cast to life.The final whodunit is a satisfying end to some excellent plotting - one a reader will not guess beforehand. Definitely recommended.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Someone with a grudge to settle, kills an Army Captain on his way to a wedding. No witnesses, no clues, and no one could even guess where the shot was fired from. A little more than a week later another man was shot at a political rally where he was going to give his speech declaring why he should be the one elected and sent to parliament.With no real clues left behind, the local police felt obliged to call in Scotland Yard. This is where Rutledge is brought in. When he is sent on his way, the interim commander once again implies that speed to a conviction is the most important part of his job. Much to Ian’s irritation. On his way to Ely the fog rolled in, so thick he couldn't see past the end of the bonnet and ended up in Wriston, the other town he needed to visit. With the help of a stranger that didn't bother to introduce himself, he was led to a little cabin. Later he found out how close he came to falling into an old burned building. Lots of things are hidden in the fens, not just by the fog.Ian has a slow start to his investigation since the shooter was so thorough in covering his tracks. The local constables help where they can but there just isn’t much to go on. The hardest part is finding some kind of connection between the victims. When a third almost joins the ranks of the deceased, the pressure really is on.I really enjoy the Ian Rutledge books and these bring to life England in the 1920’s, just after the war. People are still adjusting, both those left behind and those who returned, some whole, others not so much. Ian being one who hides his problem a little better than most. It also highlights how people with PTSD (then known as Shell Shock) were treated. I think this is one of the best I’ve read in the series and highly recommend it, even if you haven’t read any of the previous books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is my first Ian Rutledge novel but not my first Charles Todd novel. I’ve read several in the Bess Crawford series and enjoyed them so I thought I venture into this other series. This book opens not with our hero but rather with the soon to be murderer as he spots a man he feels is responsible for the death of someone he cared about. Not long after the first murder a second one occurs in a village not far away but there seems to be no connection between the two victims. The local police soon reach a dead end so Scotland Yard is called in to find the answers.Ian Rutledge is barely holding himself together after the war. He is (literally) haunted by the ghost of his war buddy Hamish who invades his sleep and talks to him at odd times often providing insights into his current situation. Rutledge is heading out to visit one of the two small towns when he gets lost in the fog and this sets up the best part of the book – the scene descriptions. This mother/son writing duo really knows how to set their scenes. I felt the cold of that mist just sitting in my living room.Rutledge spends a lot of time going back and forth between the two villages and London – always in his motorcar – finding clues and building towards the surprising ending. Where the book falls down is in its character development. As Rutledge motors about he meets a lot of people and therefore so do we as readers but it becomes difficult keeping track of them all. Very few are fleshed out beyond the basics so they don’t really leave enough of an impression to stand out.The bits and pieces slowly come together and Ian, with Hamish’s help (or is it his subconscious?) realizes exactly what the connection is between the two men and why they were killed. He stirs up a lot of old history along the way; history that in some cases is better left in the past. All the while wresting with what we would now call PTSD from his experiences during the war.I did enjoy the book despite the issues I mentioned above. I know many others are disappointed with this book compared to others in the series but since I’ve not read any others I have nothing to compare it to – I can only go on this one book. I would definitely read another in the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another good addition to the Rutledge series that I personally like much better than the Bess Crawford books. The setting , in the Fens, is very descriptive and adds atmosphere to the book. A lengthy cast of characters, lots of red herrings , keep the story moving, although slowly at times. I think I like this series as much for the historical placement as I do for the evolution of Rutledge's character.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent to fen country by Scotland Yard to help two small villages solve recent homicides. A wedding guest is gunned down as he approaches the church with the groom, and a man running for political office is shot in the face as he begins a campaign speech. But the only "witness" to either murder sees a monster. After figuring out that the suspect would have to have sniper training, Rutledge questions veterans of WWI. Since no one talks about the war, and snipers are particularly maligned for killing men who don't know they are being shot at, it's difficult to determine who has the skills. Making things more difficult is the fact that Rutledge is a veteran suffering post traumatic stress, and his friend Hamish, who died in the war, talks to him constantly.The storyline is complex and it wasn't easy to keep all the characters straight. But the book was pretty good and I didn't guess the murderer.It's interesting that Charles Todd is actually a mother/son duo Caroline and Charles Todd. Hunting Shadows is the 16th in the Ian Rutledge series and the first one I've read. It looks like the series is going strong.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I sill enjoy the characters and the tone, but the stories need help. Murders are solved by Rutledge rushing around England (here the fens) in his motorcar. Mysteries involve post WWI soldiers suffering one disability or another. Plots difficult to keep track of. A disappointing entry in the series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It is a couple of years since I've caught up with this series, despite the best intentions of reading them all. HUNTING SHADOWS makes me want to read more.However Ian Rutledge hasn't moved on very far in that time. The setting is 1920, he is still working on demand out of Scotland Yard, and still suffering from post-war stress. World War One is still raw in the memories of rural England, where so many young lads went off to war and either did not return or came back maimed in body and soul.Rutledge comes from London to the Fens to solve a murder at Ely Cathedral. The expectation both by his boss in London and the local Inspector in charge is that it won't take long. On the face of it there are no connections between the first murder and the second, nor with the shooting that follows. But of course there are connections as Rutledge will eventually ferret out.The plots in this series are so well constructed, and there is enough of Rutledge's continuing story to maintain the reader's interest too. There is a post-war flavour that comes out well, and some interesting characters and occupations, some of which no longer exist.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoy the method of writing for the mother/son team called Charles Todd. The characters are well developed and the setting becomes visible with their description. My only problem with this team is the extensive cast of characters. The ending exposes the killer and the need for vengeance for wrongs of the past. I like Ian Rutledge and his battle with the demons of the war, but at times, he seems so lonely. The story gives a realistic rendering of village life in England after WWI.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the first book I have read by the mother/son writing team that go by the moniker Charles Todd. This is the story of a Scotland Yard investigator that must find the murderer of two prominent men done by a marksman with a high powered rifle. The book takes place in England right after WW1. The book is well written and the story is clearly defined. It also has a very satisfying ending that is logical and interesting once the plot plays out. What I found tough to take was the tiny bit of usable information that the investigator gets from each person that he interviews. This causes the book to move along at a snails pace much of the time. Also,, it seems every person he talks to has some shred of information for him to build on to solve the crime. Isn't that convenient!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wonderfully written mystery with a WWI shell-shocked veteran as the detective. The setting is marvelous and haunting, and the mystery turns out to be very intriguing indeed. The detective is thorough, but makes mistakes, which adds to the complexity of his character. The solution is hidden in plain sight... no cheating on the author's part, but most readers will be surprised by the ending. Probably not your cup of tea if you're into thrillers, but if you like a great mystery story that brings alive a time and place, this is highly recommended.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Charles Todd interests me because "he" is actually a mother and son writing team. That fact just blows me away. They live in different states, yet manage to collaborate on excellent books. This is the latest in their Inspector Ian Rutledge series.Set in England just after World War I many of the characters are suffering from physical and mental problems due to their service in that horrible war. Rutledge is too. He is accompanied everywhere he goes by the voice of a Scottish soldier named Hamish, a sensible man who was killed in the trenches. Rutledge blames himself so Hamish is always with him and gives him good advice.Rutledge is sent to the Fens as the local police have requested help solving two murders. First an army officer is killed as he approaches the cathedral in Ely for a society wedding. Then a local man standing for Parliament is shot and killed just as he begins a speech in the middle of the village of Wriston one evening. Bystanders carry torches so it's difficult to see but one woman sees a "monster" in a window above the ironmonger's shop. The Fens are very much a character in the story as is the relative isolation of villages in the area. I didn't know anything about this part of England but found it very interesting. There are windmills to direct water for irrigation and drainage, little bridges, and all of the land except where roads and villages are has been lowered to stave off flooding. There are nights when misty fog makes any travel impossible, and wouldn't you know it's on such a dangerous night that Rutledge arrives. The people have been shaped by geography and the difficulty of making a living.The mystery fooled me. I kept mentally accusing the wrong man, but when I reached the end, the whole story made perfect sense. Rutledge's own difficulties with his war experiences make him more interesting than the average detective, and I loved Hamish. Wonderful read.Highly recommended.Source: William Morrow Imprint of HarperCollins
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I really enjoyed this latest Charles Todd mystery. The mother/son writing duo brought to life the fen countryside, the post WWI fatigue and depression of England, and the oh so brooding Inspector Rutledge.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Often mystery book series it can get to a point where the books develop an assembly line feel. That is definitely not the case in this mother/son writing duo's 16th Inspector Rutledge mystery. This standalone '20s period mystery follows Rutledge as he investigates into two seemingly unrelated murder victims, both killed by an expert sniper. The writing for this novel is so vivid that you can feel the foggy atmosphere and easily imagine the individual characters. The mystery stands up to scrutiny as the Inspector makes connections and digs into the past for clues. I would say this would be a great bedside read except once you start the book you'll be up all night to finish it! Read this book and go back and read the other Inspector Rutledge's mysteries!I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is part of an ongoing series of Inspector Rutledge and the Scotland Yard. Fortunately, you don't have to have read other books in the series to get into this one. I like series where I can jump in and not be lost about all the relationships between the characters.The place for this mystery is an area of England called the Fens, a marshy, boggy area prone to heavy fogs and surface flooding during heavy rains. The time is just after WWI. The mystery itself is well hidden, with plenty of red herrings to keep us guessing. I was really fooled until the end. All in all, a good read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Returning for his 16th novel, WWI survivor and Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge is on the road again, solving murders in the appropriately named Hunting Shadows.This time, the story begins with an old soldier who largely keeps to himself but feels he needs to pay his respects to another soldier by attending his funeral in the Fens country. He stops short of entering the church upon seeing an old enemy, a former officer. He waits until the man returns to the area for a wedding and, drawing on his sniper experience during the war, kills the man in front of the bridegroom.The public slaying horrifies the area. People are even more scared when another man, a quiet country solicitor running for Parliament, also is killed by an unknown assailant in public.En route to the small villages where the murders took place, Rutledge is lost in the fog one night on the Fens, guided by a ghostly presence who leads him to eventual safety. As with many people Rutledge meets in his investigations, people are suspicious of the police yet expect them to solve crimes, preferably before they happen.Mixed in with the prickly characters are those who intrigue Rutledge as people, whether they may know much about the murders or even be suspects. There are at least two who would be worth seeing in subsequent novels in this series.One of the highlights of this novel is the focus on the role of snipers in WWI. Although they saved many lives, their ability to blend into their surroundings to kill was seen by many as cowardly, as not forthright or sporting. The snipers often keep their past a secret, to avoid being shunned. It's an interesting commentary on warcraft and the needs of the battlefield.The novel also does a wonderful job of bringing the bleak, blandly treacherous Fens to life. This is the landscape in which Lord Peter Wimsey got lost in The Nine Tailors, and this Todd novel recalls that classic tale as well as tells its own strong story.Rutledge remains haunted by Hamish MacLeod, although the corporal whose execution Rutledge ordered does not disrupt the narrative. He serves as Rutledge's inner guide, asking the right question at the right time and being a bit of a worrywart. Rutledge still suffers from being in the trenches. As his investigation brings back the horrors of those times, he relives them as well.But he also is soldiering on in that he shows signs of trying to move on by doing his job with diligence, wishing happiness for those he cares about and showing a wee bit more of his human side in his consideration of people he comes across in this outing.Hunting Shadows is a superb entry in one of the most consistently entertaining historical mystery series around.