The Confession

One of the best historical series being written today. Washington Post Todd once and for all establishes the shell-shocked Rutledge as the genres most complex and fascinating detective. Entertainment Weekly The Confession is historical crime fiction at its finest, continuing Charles Todds New York Times bestselling mystery series featuring severely damaged British World War I veteran, and yet still astonishingly efficient Scotland Yard inspector, Ian Rutledge. Todds troubled investigator wrestles with a startling and dangerous case that reaches far into the past when a false confession from a man who is not who he claims to be leads to a brutal murder. The Confession is a must-read for every fan of Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes, P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, and Jacqueline Winspear, as post-war Londons best detective finds himself ensnared in a dark and deadly investigation that unearths shocking small town secrets dating back more than a century. From Booklist British Detective Inspector Ian Rutledge has had the satisfaction of solving some tough cases, but theres no balm to soothe the psychic wounds he suffered as a soldier in WWI. In this entry, set in 1920, Rutledge applies his formidable detecting skills to the case of Wyatt Russell, a terminally ill man who confesses to murdering his cousin. Rutledge doesnt believe Russell for a moment, and a lunch meeting with the dying man does nothing to change his mind. Armed with just a few leads, Rutledge journeys to an obscure corner of Essex, where the locals receive him with equal parts loathing and fear. The cold case becomes even more chilling when Russell is fatally shot. Rutledge continues to probe, as a singular question consumes his thoughts. Why would Russell confess to a crime he didnt commit? Todd serves up plenty of period detail and plot twists, but the real attraction here is Rutledge, a shrewd, dedicated detective grappling with the demons of his past. --Allison Block Review Todds masterful storytelling skills shine.