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Inspector Ian Rutledge #10
A Pale Horse
In the ruins of Yorkshire's Fountains Abbey lies the body of a man wrapped in a cloak, the face covered by a gas mask. Next to him is a book on alchemy, which belongs to the schoolmaster, a conscientious objector in the Great War. Who is this man, and is the investigation into his death being manipulated by a thirst for revenge?
Meanwhile, the British War Office is searching for a missing man of their own, someone whose war work was so secret that even Rutledge isn't told his real name or what he did.
The search takes Rutledge to Berkshire, where cottages once built to house lepers stand in the shadow of a great white horse cut into the chalk hillside. The current inhabitants of the cottages are outcasts, too, hiding from their own pasts. Who among them is telling the truth about their neighbors and who is twisting it?
Here is a puzzle requiring all of Rutledge's daring and skill, for there are layers of lies and deception, while a ruthless killer is determined to hold on to freedom at any cost. And the pale horse looming overhead serves as a reminder that death is never finished with anyone, least of all the men who fought in the trenches of France.
Meanwhile, the British War Office is searching for a missing man of their own, someone whose war work was so secret that even Rutledge isn't told his real name or what he did.
The search takes Rutledge to Berkshire, where cottages once built to house lepers stand in the shadow of a great white horse cut into the chalk hillside. The current inhabitants of the cottages are outcasts, too, hiding from their own pasts. Who among them is telling the truth about their neighbors and who is twisting it?
Here is a puzzle requiring all of Rutledge's daring and skill, for there are layers of lies and deception, while a ruthless killer is determined to hold on to freedom at any cost. And the pale horse looming overhead serves as a reminder that death is never finished with anyone, least of all the men who fought in the trenches of France.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2007
378 people are currently reading
1573 people want to read
About the author
Charles Todd
112 books3,501 followersCharles Todd was the pen name used by the mother-and-son writing team, Caroline Todd and Charles Todd. Now, Charles writes the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford Series. Charles Todd ha spublished three standalone mystery novels and many short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 471 reviews
August 28, 2013
Not a review so much as a commentary, a quiet rant, some observations, a few complaints, and perhaps (to paraphrase Socrates) to "gently blame" the Todds for all of the following:
Let me say first and again (and I blame the Todds for this, too) I LOVE this series! But I have observed and must say...
---Why are all the villagers, townsfolk, suspects, witnesses, and even victims invariably hostile, unfriendly, secretive, stubborn,manipulative, obfuscating, resentful and uncooperative to the extreme whenever Rutledge tries to get to the bottom of a murder of one of their own. A person is murdered most foully in their very midst, and they (nearly to a man and woman) blame the Inspector for disrupting their lives by trying to find out who done it! This has been a pattern in every book so far...do the Todds really want to cast rural England in such an unflattering light?
---Why too are the local authorities nearly always imbued with the same attributes of the above villagers...and I might add jealously territorial and sometimes criminally obstructive to Rutledge's investigations as well? Their attitude is somewhat understandable and some of it even forgivable, but it is a bit much, nevertheless.
---Why is a man as lovely and good as Ian Rutledge so often alone and unsupported by friends and family. Yes, I know his sister loves him dearly as does his godfather...his parents are in only one book that I remember. The authors have chosen to have him struggle w/ loneliness and depression and to have lost his best friend in the war and to deliberately cope w/ all this alone. But some support from somewhere wouldn't weaken the plot. The whole shellshock thing and Haemish's character are excellent plot elements, and it's been barely a year since Rutledge's release from the hospital, but do all things personal for him have to be so grim? The one woman he meets and shares mutual attraction with declares their future together a non-starter..really???? And in this book he hears of a death of another who once was close to him. Naturally, he assumes guilt for that, too. Honestly, considering the unremitting stress this man is under, the fact that he hasn't gone through w/suicide is miraculous. The authors are stretching the bounds of reality by piling on beyond what any human would be able to survive. By now, some evolvement should be occurring.
---And why oh why does he have to suffer the endless scorn and enmity of that blasted Bowles. Rutledge has been sent on 10 "mission impossibles" and solved EVERY LAST ONE!!!! But does he ever get credit, a "well-done", any acknowledgement at all? No, just more complaint and criticism and another crime to solve that will be complicated, political, and sticky wickety! Why can't Bowles's superiors figure out that this man is GOOD and deserves a promotion? And when is that rat Bowles going to get his, anyway? It's past time.
Thanks for listening. I feel better now. Can't wait for the next one.
Let me say first and again (and I blame the Todds for this, too) I LOVE this series! But I have observed and must say...
---Why are all the villagers, townsfolk, suspects, witnesses, and even victims invariably hostile, unfriendly, secretive, stubborn,manipulative, obfuscating, resentful and uncooperative to the extreme whenever Rutledge tries to get to the bottom of a murder of one of their own. A person is murdered most foully in their very midst, and they (nearly to a man and woman) blame the Inspector for disrupting their lives by trying to find out who done it! This has been a pattern in every book so far...do the Todds really want to cast rural England in such an unflattering light?
---Why too are the local authorities nearly always imbued with the same attributes of the above villagers...and I might add jealously territorial and sometimes criminally obstructive to Rutledge's investigations as well? Their attitude is somewhat understandable and some of it even forgivable, but it is a bit much, nevertheless.
---Why is a man as lovely and good as Ian Rutledge so often alone and unsupported by friends and family. Yes, I know his sister loves him dearly as does his godfather...his parents are in only one book that I remember. The authors have chosen to have him struggle w/ loneliness and depression and to have lost his best friend in the war and to deliberately cope w/ all this alone. But some support from somewhere wouldn't weaken the plot. The whole shellshock thing and Haemish's character are excellent plot elements, and it's been barely a year since Rutledge's release from the hospital, but do all things personal for him have to be so grim? The one woman he meets and shares mutual attraction with declares their future together a non-starter..really???? And in this book he hears of a death of another who once was close to him. Naturally, he assumes guilt for that, too. Honestly, considering the unremitting stress this man is under, the fact that he hasn't gone through w/suicide is miraculous. The authors are stretching the bounds of reality by piling on beyond what any human would be able to survive. By now, some evolvement should be occurring.
---And why oh why does he have to suffer the endless scorn and enmity of that blasted Bowles. Rutledge has been sent on 10 "mission impossibles" and solved EVERY LAST ONE!!!! But does he ever get credit, a "well-done", any acknowledgement at all? No, just more complaint and criticism and another crime to solve that will be complicated, political, and sticky wickety! Why can't Bowles's superiors figure out that this man is GOOD and deserves a promotion? And when is that rat Bowles going to get his, anyway? It's past time.
Thanks for listening. I feel better now. Can't wait for the next one.
February 17, 2025
Another excellent entry in this long-lived, very well-written mystery series.
Great setting and a selection of characters that all become, at one time or another, suspects in the potential disappearance of a neighbor who is nothing like they thought. This neighborhood is just piled high with secrets.
And in another area of England,a body is found (complete with WWI gas mask) twice. And back in the neighborhood (under the watchful eye of the chalk white horse) more violence occurs.
What follows are questions, suppositions, meddling government officials, red herrings galore and in the end—two revelations. I happen to like a slightly complicated story when murder’s afoot!
I continue to be fascinated by Rutledge and his inner dialogue. It’s believable, heartbreaking and immensely well done. And one of the reasons I continue to look forward to more mysteries featuring our tortured, human hero.
Great setting and a selection of characters that all become, at one time or another, suspects in the potential disappearance of a neighbor who is nothing like they thought. This neighborhood is just piled high with secrets.
And in another area of England,a body is found (complete with WWI gas mask) twice. And back in the neighborhood (under the watchful eye of the chalk white horse) more violence occurs.
What follows are questions, suppositions, meddling government officials, red herrings galore and in the end—two revelations. I happen to like a slightly complicated story when murder’s afoot!
I continue to be fascinated by Rutledge and his inner dialogue. It’s believable, heartbreaking and immensely well done. And one of the reasons I continue to look forward to more mysteries featuring our tortured, human hero.
January 12, 2021
4.5* Another solid instalment in this great series by the mother-and-son duo who write as Charles Todd.
It is April 1920 and Detective Inspector Ian Rutledge continues to suffer the vestiges of "shell-shock" (now known as PTSD) from his time on the front line in Northern France during the Great War (WW1). He ostensibly has two cases to solve - one at either end of the country. First, his assistance is requested by a shadowy figure in the Defence Ministry, to track down a person of interest who's disappeared from his cottage in Berkshire. He's hardly scratched the surface before he's sent as a favour called in by a higher-up to Yorkshire, to investigate the discovery of a body, wearing an army-issue gas mask, found in the cloisters of the ruined Fountains Abbey.
The intelligent and intuitive Rutledge quickly reaches the conclusion that the two cases are linked - the difficulty is in proving it, with obfuscating witnesses, unhelpful police colleagues and government secrecy in abundance.
The narrative takes us to two mysterious and picturesque sites in England - the stunning prehistoric chalk horse near Uffington, Berkshire
and the hauntingly beautiful remnants of the former Cistercian monastery near Ripon, Yorkshire.
With the constant presence of the ghostly Hamish MacLeod in his ear, Rutledge motors around the countryside in pursuit of the truth.
Consistent with the rest of the Ian Rutledge Series, A Pale Horse is a slowly unfolding character-driven mystery, with a complex plot but a satisfying conclusion. The reader must be willing to commit to the slow-burn nature of the plotting, rich with detail and personal introspection on the part of the central character. The presence/character of Hamish provides a useful foil, challenging Rutledge's perceptions and conclusions, whilst also acting as an occasional guardian angel as trouble approaches.
Highly recommended to both existing enthusiasts of the series and newcomers.
It is April 1920 and Detective Inspector Ian Rutledge continues to suffer the vestiges of "shell-shock" (now known as PTSD) from his time on the front line in Northern France during the Great War (WW1). He ostensibly has two cases to solve - one at either end of the country. First, his assistance is requested by a shadowy figure in the Defence Ministry, to track down a person of interest who's disappeared from his cottage in Berkshire. He's hardly scratched the surface before he's sent as a favour called in by a higher-up to Yorkshire, to investigate the discovery of a body, wearing an army-issue gas mask, found in the cloisters of the ruined Fountains Abbey.
The intelligent and intuitive Rutledge quickly reaches the conclusion that the two cases are linked - the difficulty is in proving it, with obfuscating witnesses, unhelpful police colleagues and government secrecy in abundance.
The narrative takes us to two mysterious and picturesque sites in England - the stunning prehistoric chalk horse near Uffington, Berkshire
and the hauntingly beautiful remnants of the former Cistercian monastery near Ripon, Yorkshire.
With the constant presence of the ghostly Hamish MacLeod in his ear, Rutledge motors around the countryside in pursuit of the truth.
Consistent with the rest of the Ian Rutledge Series, A Pale Horse is a slowly unfolding character-driven mystery, with a complex plot but a satisfying conclusion. The reader must be willing to commit to the slow-burn nature of the plotting, rich with detail and personal introspection on the part of the central character. The presence/character of Hamish provides a useful foil, challenging Rutledge's perceptions and conclusions, whilst also acting as an occasional guardian angel as trouble approaches.
Highly recommended to both existing enthusiasts of the series and newcomers.
April 9, 2022
4,5 stars
I keep enjoying this series.
I keep enjoying this series.
October 3, 2021
AROUND THE WORLD OF CRIME AND MYSTERY
2008
CAST - 2 stars: Rutledge is fascinating as always. There are nine 'strangers' (with secrets) living in nine cottages originally built for invalids. Two sisters fight. Characters come and go. I sorta lost track.
ATMOSPHERE - 3 stars: A crumbling ruin of an abbey. Pubs. Inns. English countryside. Nice.
CRIME - 2 stars: Rather pedestrian.
INVESTIGATION - 1 star: A mess. And late clues, as if the Todd duo were sending chapters back and forth.
RESOLUTION - 1 star: What?
SUMMARY: 1.8 stars. A weak entry in this series. A meandering story.
2008
CAST - 2 stars: Rutledge is fascinating as always. There are nine 'strangers' (with secrets) living in nine cottages originally built for invalids. Two sisters fight. Characters come and go. I sorta lost track.
ATMOSPHERE - 3 stars: A crumbling ruin of an abbey. Pubs. Inns. English countryside. Nice.
CRIME - 2 stars: Rather pedestrian.
INVESTIGATION - 1 star: A mess. And late clues, as if the Todd duo were sending chapters back and forth.
RESOLUTION - 1 star: What?
SUMMARY: 1.8 stars. A weak entry in this series. A meandering story.
May 24, 2013
A classic, traditional Golden Age suspense novel from a veteran pair of savvy crime writers. The mother/son writing team persist in producing historical crime novels of excellence, taste and balance. That the stories are thoughtfully constructed with many seemingly disparate parts coming together in nicely meshed, logical progressions is a distinct advantage for the reader.
The tall incisively intelligent Scotland Yard Inspector, Ian Rutledge, is back again in another puzzler. This time his investigation is beset by recalcitrant relatives, mysterious unidentified bodies, a missing scientist and a dangerous War Office adversary.
Rutledge, as fans of the series (this being the eleventh) know, like so many Britons in 1920 when this novel is set, is still mightily affected by the experiences in the Great War, that vicious, appallingly wasteful conflict most Americans now know as World War I. Rutledge served in France during the height of trench warfare and saw many of his men butchered. He returns to England wounded in mind and sometimes only tenuously hanging on to rationality. Scotland Yard with its routines and attitudes seems to function as a safety net, even when the intelligent Rutledge follows his instinct more than stated police procedures. His other crutch is the voice he carries with him, that of one of his dead men from the war. As a clever alter-ego, Hamish allows Rutledge, through the authors, affine creative sensibility, an ability to look with different eyes at the circumstances that confront the detective. From time to time this helps Rutledge to step back from the black hole of madness.
In this novel, the War Office seems to have misplaced one of its important scientists involved in a top secret project. Rutledge is sent into the western provinces to find the missing man and report back. The question soon becomes, is the scientist missing or is he dead as well? Rutledge’s development of the answers is a complicated, tortuous journey through murder, and disturbing relationships. A fine, multi-layered novel comes highly recommended.
September 11, 2019
This one was solid, but not a favourite. I thought it dragged a bit in the second half, and the resolution of the murder (well, both cases actually), came around rather quickly. I did like the setting, with the remote hamlet in view of a pale horse on the hillside. I do think the two cases meant that the cast of characters introduced in the first half got whisked out of sight rather quickly.
On the other hand, I am intrigued that Frances seems to be getting herself a minor subplot. Plus Mrs. Channing showed up again, and she is interesting. Mostly, I support this series having secondary characters that it uses a little bit.
On the other hand, I am intrigued that Frances seems to be getting herself a minor subplot. Plus Mrs. Channing showed up again, and she is interesting. Mostly, I support this series having secondary characters that it uses a little bit.
December 6, 2020
Three somewhat reluctant, probably rounded up stars.
My experience with the Todd duo’s books is all over the place, partly because I’ve only read a few and not at all in the right order.
I was underwhelmed with the first one I picked up, far more satisfied with the next one, happy with yet another couple of books I read from their other series, and now most disappointed by Pale Horse. It was a real push to finish it.
I’ll definitely continue their other series and look forward to it. I’ll probably try another in this series but actually dread the potential repeat disappointment.
My experience with the Todd duo’s books is all over the place, partly because I’ve only read a few and not at all in the right order.
I was underwhelmed with the first one I picked up, far more satisfied with the next one, happy with yet another couple of books I read from their other series, and now most disappointed by Pale Horse. It was a real push to finish it.
I’ll definitely continue their other series and look forward to it. I’ll probably try another in this series but actually dread the potential repeat disappointment.
February 26, 2022
Complex Murder mystery set in a village at the foot,of the chalk horse. (Once again O.A. Manning’s poetry is referred to.)
January 27, 2016
Charle's Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge carries a heavy burden: on one shoulder he carries the guilt that he feels for the death of the soldiers under him during World War I; on the other shoulder, he carries the burden of continuing to face death and its aftermath as a detective with Scotland Yard.
In this latest novel, it is 1920 and Rutledge is sent to Berkshire, in the shadow of its 'Pale Horse' created in the side of a mount, to find a man for the military. The object of his watch has disappeared and it soon looks like he is the mysterious body found in the ruins of an abby, clothed in a monk's robe and wearing a gas mask. And Rutledge must cut away the shadows of the past, of secrets and emotions to get to the truth. Who is the man in the mask and who killed him is only part of what he discovers.
In this latest novel, it is 1920 and Rutledge is sent to Berkshire, in the shadow of its 'Pale Horse' created in the side of a mount, to find a man for the military. The object of his watch has disappeared and it soon looks like he is the mysterious body found in the ruins of an abby, clothed in a monk's robe and wearing a gas mask. And Rutledge must cut away the shadows of the past, of secrets and emotions to get to the truth. Who is the man in the mask and who killed him is only part of what he discovers.
May 14, 2017
Recommended. Have read/listened to several in series. Lead is a troubled soul but a pitbull detective, makes for an interesting read or listen - your choice. No gore, graphics some language. Audio done well, as usual, by Simon Prebble. ©2008
August 7, 2021
You can't go wrong with an Ian Rutledge (from Scotland Yard) story. I have read several Rutledge stories by this author and have enjoyed them all equally.
The story begins with a few schoolboys trying to conjure up a ghost with the help of an alchemy book belonging to one of their teachers. They become frightened when in the middle of their "conjuring" they think they see a man in dark clothing and fear they have called forth the devil. They run in haste, but without the stolen book. When a dead man is discovered in a cave with an alchemy book at his feet, Scotland Yard hits the ground with their feet running - pardon the pun.
Rutledge's clues, as they are collected, eventually find him in the outskirts of a small village with a secluded community of 8 small cottages. Originally meant to be homes for leprosy inflicted individuals, they have come to be the hiding place of individuals who wish to remain anonymous, unseen and unheard from. The problem is that there could be a killer amongst them and now it appears that one of their own has gone missing.
A great cat and mouse game begins with a skillful detective at the helm that leaves no stones unturned. I always enjoy watching a great mind at work and following his train of thought. I especially like it when Hammish (the voice of one of Rutledge's long lost soldiers from the Great War) joins the battle of wits.
The story ended on a strong note and the only thing that paled in comparison was the horse.
The story begins with a few schoolboys trying to conjure up a ghost with the help of an alchemy book belonging to one of their teachers. They become frightened when in the middle of their "conjuring" they think they see a man in dark clothing and fear they have called forth the devil. They run in haste, but without the stolen book. When a dead man is discovered in a cave with an alchemy book at his feet, Scotland Yard hits the ground with their feet running - pardon the pun.
Rutledge's clues, as they are collected, eventually find him in the outskirts of a small village with a secluded community of 8 small cottages. Originally meant to be homes for leprosy inflicted individuals, they have come to be the hiding place of individuals who wish to remain anonymous, unseen and unheard from. The problem is that there could be a killer amongst them and now it appears that one of their own has gone missing.
A great cat and mouse game begins with a skillful detective at the helm that leaves no stones unturned. I always enjoy watching a great mind at work and following his train of thought. I especially like it when Hammish (the voice of one of Rutledge's long lost soldiers from the Great War) joins the battle of wits.
The story ended on a strong note and the only thing that paled in comparison was the horse.
May 1, 2011
Charles Todd returns to top form with "A Pale Horse." Inspector Rutledge is on special assignment for the War Department. One of their men is missing. Rutledge travels to Berkshire, a small village over which an ancient chalk horse looms, carved into the hillside. At its base stand a circle of seven cottages built years ago by a philanthropist as a retreat for lepers. The cottage occupants are all lepers of a sort. They each have their secrets that have led them to live in isolation. One is the man Rutledge is charged with finding.
In a distant village the body of a man is found on the grounds of an abbey. Wrapped in an opera cloak, his face is covered with a gas mask. At his feet lies a book owned by a school teacher who was a conscientious objector during the great war.
Rutledge reports to London that the War Department man is missing in action. Could the unidentified corpse be the missing man? Why would the War Department mislead Rutledge by telling him the dead man was not the man he had been sent to find?
Todd writes a novel that explores the themes of guilt, remorse and responsibility against the backdrop of the Great War and the first use of chemical warfare. Deftly plotted and filled with memorable characters, "A Pale Horse" just might be the best of the Rutledge series.
In a distant village the body of a man is found on the grounds of an abbey. Wrapped in an opera cloak, his face is covered with a gas mask. At his feet lies a book owned by a school teacher who was a conscientious objector during the great war.
Rutledge reports to London that the War Department man is missing in action. Could the unidentified corpse be the missing man? Why would the War Department mislead Rutledge by telling him the dead man was not the man he had been sent to find?
Todd writes a novel that explores the themes of guilt, remorse and responsibility against the backdrop of the Great War and the first use of chemical warfare. Deftly plotted and filled with memorable characters, "A Pale Horse" just might be the best of the Rutledge series.
November 12, 2010
Maybe I've just read too much of this series in too short of a time, but this one bored me. It also confused me, but that's probably because my boredom was making me read a little too fast. I couldn't keep track of the nine inhabitants of nine different houses, and I didn't really care. I thought the man dying of TB was a young man until well after he finally died, and when the killer was revealed, I had no clear sense of who that person was, much less why they were killing people. I think I tend to over-read series I initially enjoy, to the point where I get annoyed by the repetition of themes, techniques, etc. It's happened with Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ellis Peters, Anne Perry, Sue Grafton and Walter Mosley, so Charles Todd is (are?) in good company. The only mystery authors who still enthrall me dozens of books later are Elizabeth George and Reginald Hill. I won't stop reading Todd, but I'll take a long break before continuing.
March 15, 2014
A Pale Horse, like all the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, is well crafted, beautifully written, and full of the subtleties of human nature. But Rutledge himself is the lynchpin that holds the stories together. From the very first book in the series, the notion of a shell-shocked policeman back from the fields of France and trying to hold his own among his walking nightmares has fascinated me. The darkness of his past is finely balanced by the inspector's integrity and courage, as well as by the often endearing Scottish "ghost" who has taken up residence in his mind. A subtle and endlessly creative series of books!
January 5, 2019
Was disappointed in this one. :-(
I jumped into the Ian Rutledge series at the very end with #20. Moving back to #10 didn't find me feeling as though I missed out on much. The development of Ian Rutledge's character hadn't changed much in a 10 book span. He still had Hamish prattling around in his head, he was still licking his psychological war wounds. So I don't feel like I've missed too much by jumping into the series at the very end and I will happily continue on with #21 coming out soon.
I found the mysteries/storylines to be convoluted and very drab in this instalment.
I jumped into the Ian Rutledge series at the very end with #20. Moving back to #10 didn't find me feeling as though I missed out on much. The development of Ian Rutledge's character hadn't changed much in a 10 book span. He still had Hamish prattling around in his head, he was still licking his psychological war wounds. So I don't feel like I've missed too much by jumping into the series at the very end and I will happily continue on with #21 coming out soon.
I found the mysteries/storylines to be convoluted and very drab in this instalment.
January 15, 2024
I liked this but didn't love it, which is why I am giving it 3 stars instead of 4. Very nicely written, readable, good characters, good mystery. If there was no reference to the war I can almost believe this is a contemporary mystery although this story takes place 100 years back. That is my only criticism of the book. One thing though - I want to see that horse, someday.
August 13, 2018
I wavered between 3 and 4 stars... Doesn’t quite deserve 4, but it’s not completely run-of-the-mill, either.
Once again, there is more than one plot, but here, they do not all happen simultaneously. They overlap, some more than others. The question of the dead John Doe’s identity is the thread that runs throughout the book. One needn’t be a rocket scientist to figure out his identity, though officially the case is still open until the very end, when Rutledge finally finds someone to identify the body. The action also moves headspinningly fast between Yorkshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, and London—I had to take notes to keep track of all the placenames.*
The book opens with an innocent schoolboy prank that quickly leads to their schoolmaster’s arrest. The petty Police Inspector (Madsen) in Elthorpe (the Norse-origin name a clue to its Yorkshire location) is still sore that Crowell’s wife threw him over for the “conchie”. He’s contemptuous of Crowell even though he, Madsen, did not step foot out of England to serve in the war. Crowell, the conscientious objector who refused to kill, still put himself in harm’s way by driving an ambulance in war-torn France, and was lauded for an act of heroism. Madsen is also jealous of Crowell’s upperclass background, because he, the copper, clearly does not possess the same level of breeding and education. So Crowell will remain under suspicion until Rutledge can find the real killer. Why? Because the alchemy book found near John Doe’s body contains Crowell’s signature. One of his students ‘lifted’ the book from Crowell’s office, then left it when the boys were spooked by the dead body.
The subject of alchemy is just a teaser to hook the reader. I was a bit disappointed that there was not more about the boys and their alchemical pursuits, perhaps because it all reminded me of Harry Potter & Crew. Fountain’s Abbey is after all a perfect setting for anything mysterious.
Other subplots include Alice Crowell’s accident which left her scarred; the mystery surrounding the identity of her “attacker”; and the lifelong repercussions for said attacker and his extended family. Midway through the book, one of these subplots is resolved.
Another mysterious element: the secluded Tomlin Cottages themselves near Uffington, Berkshire, that were intended by a missionary benefactress for lepers. Since there were none, the nine Cottages became available to renters. The fact that the Cottages are located near a prehistoric tomb called Wayland’s Smithy adds further mystery. The residents also have a view of the great, Stone-Age horse carved into the chalk hill. I love that the authors include regional history like this; it makes me want to visit the area, where there are said to be several similar carvings. They have nothing to do with the plot, other than the fact that the dead man loved to stare at the one nearby, especially at night when the moonlight made it appear luminous and ghostlike.
I don’t want to write a book report here or name all the characters involved, because there are too many to mention. Suffice it to say, the main character—the missing scientist about whom the War Office is mightily concerned—has invented a new poison gas that could turn the tide of the war, but would also lead to many more deaths. His obsession with this invention has also ‘poisoned’ his family, unfortunately, alienating him from his wife and daughters. (Another subplot.)
Then there is the mysterious Martin Deloran at the War Office in London. Just who is this powerful man, and why does he sabotage Rutledge’s career? Ian did determine the dead man’s identity, after all. What so ruffled Deloran’s feathers? That Ian didn’t produce the scientific paper Parkinson wrote about the new gas? How would he even have known there was such a paper? (And why *didn’t* Parkinson/Partridge give it to his employer? Because he finally developed a conscience and wanted to prevent thousands more deaths?) I suspect readers will hear more about Deloran in future books. At least I hope so!
There is one more tantalizing mystery concerning the scientist which is not resolved, and that concerns his newborn son. (About whom I shall say no more.) And a surprising number of additional deaths at the Cottages, which seem to be a bit of an afterthought—and overkill, both literally and figuratively.
All of the Londoners in Book 9 reappear here, including Meredith Channing (cameo appearance) and Ian’s sister Frances, who is heartbroken because the clergyman Simon Barrington has mysteriously vanished. Adding more grief to Ian’s plate: the death of his former fiancée in Canada. A veritable cornucopia of sideplots.
_____
* Notes:
1. The authors really should have included a map of the areas Ian visited because there are so many.
2. I recommend extra reading on the subject, because it is quite fascinating—and frustrating, because there are competing histories about the place. A lot of speculation and not much proven fact. One thing that has changed is the jurisdiction of the historic site: in 1974 the border was changed (inexplicably) between Berkshire and Oxfordshire so that the Uffington White Horse and Dragon’s Hill are now officially in Oxfordshire. Since the setting of the book is 1922, the historical site was still in Berkshire.
3. FYI: One website cites a 1922 newspaper article that states that the Uffington horse was neglected after the Great War, and by 1922 was ‘barely visible’.
4. Also FYI: During World War II, this white horse was covered up so the Luftwaffe could not use it as a navigation aid in its bombing campaign.
Once again, there is more than one plot, but here, they do not all happen simultaneously. They overlap, some more than others. The question of the dead John Doe’s identity is the thread that runs throughout the book. One needn’t be a rocket scientist to figure out his identity, though officially the case is still open until the very end, when Rutledge finally finds someone to identify the body. The action also moves headspinningly fast between Yorkshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, and London—I had to take notes to keep track of all the placenames.*
The book opens with an innocent schoolboy prank that quickly leads to their schoolmaster’s arrest. The petty Police Inspector (Madsen) in Elthorpe (the Norse-origin name a clue to its Yorkshire location) is still sore that Crowell’s wife threw him over for the “conchie”. He’s contemptuous of Crowell even though he, Madsen, did not step foot out of England to serve in the war. Crowell, the conscientious objector who refused to kill, still put himself in harm’s way by driving an ambulance in war-torn France, and was lauded for an act of heroism. Madsen is also jealous of Crowell’s upperclass background, because he, the copper, clearly does not possess the same level of breeding and education. So Crowell will remain under suspicion until Rutledge can find the real killer. Why? Because the alchemy book found near John Doe’s body contains Crowell’s signature. One of his students ‘lifted’ the book from Crowell’s office, then left it when the boys were spooked by the dead body.
The subject of alchemy is just a teaser to hook the reader. I was a bit disappointed that there was not more about the boys and their alchemical pursuits, perhaps because it all reminded me of Harry Potter & Crew. Fountain’s Abbey is after all a perfect setting for anything mysterious.
Other subplots include Alice Crowell’s accident which left her scarred; the mystery surrounding the identity of her “attacker”; and the lifelong repercussions for said attacker and his extended family. Midway through the book, one of these subplots is resolved.
Another mysterious element: the secluded Tomlin Cottages themselves near Uffington, Berkshire, that were intended by a missionary benefactress for lepers. Since there were none, the nine Cottages became available to renters. The fact that the Cottages are located near a prehistoric tomb called Wayland’s Smithy adds further mystery. The residents also have a view of the great, Stone-Age horse carved into the chalk hill. I love that the authors include regional history like this; it makes me want to visit the area, where there are said to be several similar carvings. They have nothing to do with the plot, other than the fact that the dead man loved to stare at the one nearby, especially at night when the moonlight made it appear luminous and ghostlike.
I don’t want to write a book report here or name all the characters involved, because there are too many to mention. Suffice it to say, the main character—the missing scientist about whom the War Office is mightily concerned—has invented a new poison gas that could turn the tide of the war, but would also lead to many more deaths. His obsession with this invention has also ‘poisoned’ his family, unfortunately, alienating him from his wife and daughters. (Another subplot.)
Then there is the mysterious Martin Deloran at the War Office in London. Just who is this powerful man, and why does he sabotage Rutledge’s career? Ian did determine the dead man’s identity, after all. What so ruffled Deloran’s feathers? That Ian didn’t produce the scientific paper Parkinson wrote about the new gas? How would he even have known there was such a paper? (And why *didn’t* Parkinson/Partridge give it to his employer? Because he finally developed a conscience and wanted to prevent thousands more deaths?) I suspect readers will hear more about Deloran in future books. At least I hope so!
There is one more tantalizing mystery concerning the scientist which is not resolved, and that concerns his newborn son. (About whom I shall say no more.) And a surprising number of additional deaths at the Cottages, which seem to be a bit of an afterthought—and overkill, both literally and figuratively.
All of the Londoners in Book 9 reappear here, including Meredith Channing (cameo appearance) and Ian’s sister Frances, who is heartbroken because the clergyman Simon Barrington has mysteriously vanished. Adding more grief to Ian’s plate: the death of his former fiancée in Canada. A veritable cornucopia of sideplots.
_____
* Notes:
1. The authors really should have included a map of the areas Ian visited because there are so many.
2. I recommend extra reading on the subject, because it is quite fascinating—and frustrating, because there are competing histories about the place. A lot of speculation and not much proven fact. One thing that has changed is the jurisdiction of the historic site: in 1974 the border was changed (inexplicably) between Berkshire and Oxfordshire so that the Uffington White Horse and Dragon’s Hill are now officially in Oxfordshire. Since the setting of the book is 1922, the historical site was still in Berkshire.
3. FYI: One website cites a 1922 newspaper article that states that the Uffington horse was neglected after the Great War, and by 1922 was ‘barely visible’.
4. Also FYI: During World War II, this white horse was covered up so the Luftwaffe could not use it as a navigation aid in its bombing campaign.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2021
Another good one. Obsessions can tear families apart. Hidden wounds run deep. In this mystery Rutledge becomes tangled in several mysteries- the author/s weave the storylines together nicely.
August 29, 2019
Once more, I painfully finished a book in the Ian Rutledge series.
Once more, I am thankful for such a well-written, complicated, sad view into a mostly-forgotten period of time in a mostly-ignored area of the world. Mother-and-son writer Charles Todd takes the reader on a difficult journey through the tragic period of time in England following WWI (The Great War, as there was no WWII obviously at the time) and into the heart of several small villages and towns reeling from its aftermath.
Those who survived the war were possibly not as lucky as those who perished, the author seems to be indicating. Many entries into this excellent series probe this idea, and posit that for the survivors, there is no going back to the way life used to be.
It is very hard for me to read these books, and I need to take breaks in between them - but I will soldier on, as does the protagonist. They are indescribably tragic and almost morose in tone, with few sparks of optimism. This, however, is part of their appeal - they tell it like it very possibly was, now that there is essentially no one alive to share this period of history from firsthand knowledge. The books are also a primer on the class system, social structure, absence of communications and emergency systems, poor/nonexistent healthcare, rampant sexism and policing issues that existed at this time, which only add to the feeling of helplessness the reader experiences on behalf of the hapless Rutledge. At least in my case, I'm hard put to see ANY of my first-world problems as terribly severe in light of the daily struggles that characterize what the policeman, and his suspects and their victims, deal with.
In this entry a few characters from the past have small cameos, and a brief conversation between the main character and his sister teases that a favorite character has come to grief. The always-hovering spectre of the not-quite-departed Hamish again figures into the plot, although not, I felt, as intrusively as in past entries. I thoroughly enjoyed the description of the Pale Horse of Uffington, which is a real thing and not simply a plot device. This entry employed many a red herring and plenty of misdirection. I typically give up trying to suss out the criminal by about halfway through, and had completely abandoned any ideas I had by the end, where I found that I was, as usual, completely wrong about the villain(s) and their motives and MOs.
Well done and enjoyable, much the way it is enjoyable to find yourself on the other side of a bad dream, thankfully waking in your own 21st century bed.
Once more, I am thankful for such a well-written, complicated, sad view into a mostly-forgotten period of time in a mostly-ignored area of the world. Mother-and-son writer Charles Todd takes the reader on a difficult journey through the tragic period of time in England following WWI (The Great War, as there was no WWII obviously at the time) and into the heart of several small villages and towns reeling from its aftermath.
Those who survived the war were possibly not as lucky as those who perished, the author seems to be indicating. Many entries into this excellent series probe this idea, and posit that for the survivors, there is no going back to the way life used to be.
It is very hard for me to read these books, and I need to take breaks in between them - but I will soldier on, as does the protagonist. They are indescribably tragic and almost morose in tone, with few sparks of optimism. This, however, is part of their appeal - they tell it like it very possibly was, now that there is essentially no one alive to share this period of history from firsthand knowledge. The books are also a primer on the class system, social structure, absence of communications and emergency systems, poor/nonexistent healthcare, rampant sexism and policing issues that existed at this time, which only add to the feeling of helplessness the reader experiences on behalf of the hapless Rutledge. At least in my case, I'm hard put to see ANY of my first-world problems as terribly severe in light of the daily struggles that characterize what the policeman, and his suspects and their victims, deal with.
In this entry a few characters from the past have small cameos, and a brief conversation between the main character and his sister teases that a favorite character has come to grief. The always-hovering spectre of the not-quite-departed Hamish again figures into the plot, although not, I felt, as intrusively as in past entries. I thoroughly enjoyed the description of the Pale Horse of Uffington, which is a real thing and not simply a plot device. This entry employed many a red herring and plenty of misdirection. I typically give up trying to suss out the criminal by about halfway through, and had completely abandoned any ideas I had by the end, where I found that I was, as usual, completely wrong about the villain(s) and their motives and MOs.
Well done and enjoyable, much the way it is enjoyable to find yourself on the other side of a bad dream, thankfully waking in your own 21st century bed.
December 12, 2017
"I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him." Apocalypse.
Charles Todd continues exploring the hideous ramifications of war in this tenth Ian Rutledge mystery. Four years after the end of WWI, Rutledge still suffers symptoms of PTSD, which are debilitating even though he manages his flashbacks quite well. The most prominent among his symptoms is the voice of Hamish, a soldier whom Rutledge unwillingly ordered executed for refusing to follow orders. Hamish functions as a sort of conscience and sounding board , giving readers insight into Rutledge's thoughts and emotional struggles.
In spite of those struggles, Rutledge is a fine detective, doing a credible job with Scotland Yard, no thanks to his superior, Chief Superintendent Bowles. Now he's sent to Berkshire to assist in a War Department search for a missing operative, Gaylord Partridge (really!) Partridge has been residing in a tiny village among eight misfits, who reside in a cluster of cottages originally built for lepers, at the foot of the famous iron age White Horse of Uffington. Though he's not been briefed, Rutledge strongly suspects that Partridge participated in some top secret mission during the war. Muddying the waters is the discovery, within the ruins of Yorkshire's Fountains Abbey, of a corpse wrapped in a hooded cloak, face covered with a gas mask. Though not a part of Rutledge's assignment, that will prove to be the crucial piece of the puzzle.
Populated with an array of interesting characters, some quite complex and all very human, and set in one of England's most mysterious locales, A Pale Horse is a layer cake of secret upon secret, some interrelated and some discrete. If it weren't so tightly plotted, following this investigation might have been a bit confusing. As more murders and several arsons occur, Rutledge has an ever increasing abundance of connections to sort through while trying not to tread on the toes of the local police.
The Inspector Rutledge series has a prominent place among the more literary mysteries in the genre, and A Pale Horse definitely fits well into that place; it's an intelligent, socially relevant novel with resonance in today's world, where war, business, and political secrets play such a large role.
Charles Todd continues exploring the hideous ramifications of war in this tenth Ian Rutledge mystery. Four years after the end of WWI, Rutledge still suffers symptoms of PTSD, which are debilitating even though he manages his flashbacks quite well. The most prominent among his symptoms is the voice of Hamish, a soldier whom Rutledge unwillingly ordered executed for refusing to follow orders. Hamish functions as a sort of conscience and sounding board , giving readers insight into Rutledge's thoughts and emotional struggles.
In spite of those struggles, Rutledge is a fine detective, doing a credible job with Scotland Yard, no thanks to his superior, Chief Superintendent Bowles. Now he's sent to Berkshire to assist in a War Department search for a missing operative, Gaylord Partridge (really!) Partridge has been residing in a tiny village among eight misfits, who reside in a cluster of cottages originally built for lepers, at the foot of the famous iron age White Horse of Uffington. Though he's not been briefed, Rutledge strongly suspects that Partridge participated in some top secret mission during the war. Muddying the waters is the discovery, within the ruins of Yorkshire's Fountains Abbey, of a corpse wrapped in a hooded cloak, face covered with a gas mask. Though not a part of Rutledge's assignment, that will prove to be the crucial piece of the puzzle.
Populated with an array of interesting characters, some quite complex and all very human, and set in one of England's most mysterious locales, A Pale Horse is a layer cake of secret upon secret, some interrelated and some discrete. If it weren't so tightly plotted, following this investigation might have been a bit confusing. As more murders and several arsons occur, Rutledge has an ever increasing abundance of connections to sort through while trying not to tread on the toes of the local police.
The Inspector Rutledge series has a prominent place among the more literary mysteries in the genre, and A Pale Horse definitely fits well into that place; it's an intelligent, socially relevant novel with resonance in today's world, where war, business, and political secrets play such a large role.
November 23, 2021
Charles Todd, Inspector Ian Rutledge series
https://www.orderofbooks.com/authors/...
Our hero is Inspector Ian Rutledge, shell-shocked after WWI, routinely hears the voice of his dead corporal, Hamish McLeod, in his head. The two of them are good characters; their relationship develops over the series from antagonism to a kind of partnership.
2007 10 A Pale Horse -- Kindle, Audible, first book narrated by Simon Prebble ✅ ★★★★
1920.04 Set at the Uffington White Horse, https://kottke.org/plus/misc/images/u... ,
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5775,...
Oxfordshire https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oxf... (formerly Berkshire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire )
and at Fountains Abbey, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountai... ,
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fou...
North Yorkshire: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nor...
https://www.orderofbooks.com/authors/...
Our hero is Inspector Ian Rutledge, shell-shocked after WWI, routinely hears the voice of his dead corporal, Hamish McLeod, in his head. The two of them are good characters; their relationship develops over the series from antagonism to a kind of partnership.
2007 10 A Pale Horse -- Kindle, Audible, first book narrated by Simon Prebble ✅ ★★★★
1920.04 Set at the Uffington White Horse, https://kottke.org/plus/misc/images/u... ,
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5775,...
Oxfordshire https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oxf... (formerly Berkshire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire )
and at Fountains Abbey, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountai... ,
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fou...
North Yorkshire: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nor...
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March 11, 2021It's not every series where you can read 10 of the books in a row and not suffer from series-fatigue... but the Ian Rutledge books are THAT good.
That said, this one, A PALE HORSE, isn't 5 Stars.
The wordsmithing is still excellent. The portrayal of Characters and the ‘analysis ’ remains top notch. But there’s an internal weakness to the plotting that makes it suffer in comparison to the other volumes. This might have to do with the publisher demanding that pages be cut, but it hardly matters. There's action at the beginning which hangs awkwardly, almost separately, from the rest of the story. Just a painful situation.
I won't say more —lest I wander into spoiler territory-- except to say that I still enjoyed this book.
January 10, 2013
Ian Rutledge breaks my heart. On the surface, he's an upper class British officer returned from the front after WWI to resume his position as an inspector at Scotland Yard. Underneath the handsome facade, he is the ultimate casualty of a terrible war-- tortured by his memories, haunted by a decision made in the heat of battle and abandoned by his fiancée, he throws himself full force into solving the cases he's assigned. Instead of a partner or a sidekick, Rutledge has only the ghostly specter of a dead colleague and brother-in-arms, Hamish McCleod, to help him sort out the details. Smart and original. (Not sure why, but this one is probably my favorite in the entire series.)
October 19, 2017
the fact that it's not five stars is more my fault than the novel's - I got distracted 3/4 of the way through and almost lost interest -but that is solely because I got all ADD and everything. It's a marvelously-written book, just like the other Rutledges. I love how it's not always about what you think it's about.
July 5, 2018
I love Ian Rutledge and his adventures all over rural England. I love Hamish the ghostly Holmes in this series. Again, I did not figure out the solution until Rutledge sussed it out and revealed it to me. On to the next novel in the series.
October 19, 2019
Rutledge investigates the weird case of a gassed body found wearing a gas mask. Lots of psychology here and all the case swapping and missing persons makes things a bit muddled. Well written, however, and enjoyable despite much less Hamish than usual.
March 31, 2012
I enjoyed the complexity of this novel & appreciated the sensitive understanding of human nature.
July 22, 2022
This series just continues to improve & become richer. Inspector Rutledge is still dealing with the aftereffects of his experiences in the Great War, but with each novel he moves a little closer to peace. He's learned to deal with his emotions better & be thoughtful while working a case. This case sends him off to Berkshire, and in the shadow of the chalk horse on the hill, he finds a group of cottages where secrets dwell. He is following two cases that may or may not be intertwined & as he uncovers more detail, his work becomes more complicated. He's a fascinating character and this is a good mystery.
March 17, 2025
This is a re-read for me and one of my favorite Charles Todd mysteries. It’s a little bit Agatha Christie-ish and the writing is very good.
Sometimes you just want a murder mystery that focuses on the mystery and not gore and depravity. Cozy mysteries are not really my thing and this is definitely not that. But the historical setting and real depth of the investigation kept me reading for hours on end.
Sometimes you just want a murder mystery that focuses on the mystery and not gore and depravity. Cozy mysteries are not really my thing and this is definitely not that. But the historical setting and real depth of the investigation kept me reading for hours on end.
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