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Inspector Ian Rutledge #24.5
A Christmas Witness
Inspector Ian Rutledge investigates a possible attempted murder in this seasonal mystery novella from New York Times bestseller Charles Todd.
December 1921: Being single and a new Chief, Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard gets the short straw at Christmastime and is called upon by Chief Superintendent Markum to go to the Kentish home of a lord recovering from an attempt on his life. In bed with a concussion, the man is convinced someone is trying to kill him after he claims he was struck by the hoof of a running horse whose rider never stopped to check on him.
Struggling with his own demons from the war and misgivings about helping a man who, as a colonel, oversaw the suffering of those on the frontlines from afar, Rutledge undertakes an uneasy investigation. And as the winter holiday approaches, he becomes increasingly convinced that nothing is as it seems…
December 1921: Being single and a new Chief, Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard gets the short straw at Christmastime and is called upon by Chief Superintendent Markum to go to the Kentish home of a lord recovering from an attempt on his life. In bed with a concussion, the man is convinced someone is trying to kill him after he claims he was struck by the hoof of a running horse whose rider never stopped to check on him.
Struggling with his own demons from the war and misgivings about helping a man who, as a colonel, oversaw the suffering of those on the frontlines from afar, Rutledge undertakes an uneasy investigation. And as the winter holiday approaches, he becomes increasingly convinced that nothing is as it seems…
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2025
224 people are currently reading
4141 people want to read
About the author
Charles Todd
112 books3,495 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 141 reviews
October 24, 2025
Please do not waste your time with this book. I am a long time reader of Charles Todd, and like other fans I had been sorely missing new Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford books ever since Caroline Todd's passing in 2021. With this new installment, I wish the series hadn't continued. It's clear from this and the two solo short stories Charles has published recently that he does not have the same skill that his mother possessed. Though they were credited as co-authors, I now struggle to place what Charles could have contributed to the previous books, beyond acting as a sounding board for ideas. His prose is bland and repetitive, his plotting is flaccid, and he seems to have a strange idea about what things should be described in detail. His characters, even Rutledge and Hamish, are odd, stilted facsimiles of people. It was a genuine struggle to finish reading this novella. I think the only reason I continued was the nostalgia I had for Todd's earlier works.
Readers: If you are new to Rutledge, don't start here. Please read from the beginning of the series, or start with "Legacy of the Dead". If you are an existing fan, maybe skip this one.
Mr. Todd, if you read this review: I really hope that you keep honing your craft. However, until you make leaps and bounds, maybe a ghost writer might be a good idea if you want to continue publishing at this stage. This novella and your other two short stories read like amateurish rough drafts. In spite of this, I look forward to your next book. Please continue to improve.
Readers: If you are new to Rutledge, don't start here. Please read from the beginning of the series, or start with "Legacy of the Dead". If you are an existing fan, maybe skip this one.
Mr. Todd, if you read this review: I really hope that you keep honing your craft. However, until you make leaps and bounds, maybe a ghost writer might be a good idea if you want to continue publishing at this stage. This novella and your other two short stories read like amateurish rough drafts. In spite of this, I look forward to your next book. Please continue to improve.
October 12, 2025
This novella is a Christmas Mystery about Inspector Ian Rutledge. It was a cute story, but I was a little disappointed in the mystery. There were some fun ties to A Christmas Carol which was interesting, but overall this was ok to me and I’d hoped for more. Inspector Rutledge is sent to a case in Kent despite it almost being Christmas. A nobleman says he was attacked by a man on horseback and is insistent that Ian solve the crime. The narrator to this audiobook did a great job reading the story and bringing the characters to life. I liked the character of Ian Rutledge and definitely will read more of this series.
July 13, 2025
I received a free copy of, A Christmas Witness, by Charles Todd, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is part of the Inspector Rutledge series. Inspector has been called to Kent, to help solve a crime at Christmas time. This was a sweet Christmas mystery.
October 10, 2025
A Christmas Witness, a charming novella narrated by Steven Crossley, is part of a series the author has been writing for years. I’ve listened to many of the “Inspector Ian Rutledge” books, so I was excited to try this one. It’s a mystery wrapped up in a Christmas package, with a historical feel and a touch of mystery. It had a special Christmas twist at the end.
Thanks, Highbridge Audio via NetGalley.
Thanks, Highbridge Audio via NetGalley.
October 14, 2025
Before anything else, Charles Todd is a fantastic writer and I have read and recommended all his previous Ian Rutledge books. I always look forward to the next novel in the series. Besides writing with a wonderful sense of place, the characterization of Scotland Yard detective Rutledge is well done as he is portrayed as a serious young man struggling to keep the job he loves and trying to get his life back to normal as he copes with shell shock upon returning to England after World War I. However, the Ian Rutledge character in A Christmas Witness seems very different from the character in all of the previous books. He comes across as cheerful, chirpy and very much interested in details like inn food and lodgings. Besides the plot, I was distracted by parts of the audiobook's narration. The narrator does a fine job with all the many characters except Rutledge. The Rutledge voice is very inconsistent, sometimes sounding like an old man and other times having a voice too high-pitched for a male character. It was also disappointing that there was no real crime. A well-connected aristocrat demands the presence of a Scotland Yard detective after claiming someone on a horse ran him down and wants to kill him. That a Scotland Yard detective would even be dispatched for this is hard to believe. Even worse, (spoiler) it was easy to figure out that there never was an attack in the first place. I'm still looking forward to the next novel and hoping the next book returns to the traditional Ian Rutledge mystery form.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving my a audiobook of A Christmas Witness.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving my a audiobook of A Christmas Witness.
October 24, 2025
An extra star because the series was so good.
November 20, 2025
I really enjoy this series. Most of them I rate at 5 stars. This story was much different and unique than the rest of the books. The ending gave me whiplash. I didn’t see it coming. Outstanding narration. Enjoy!
I was blessed with an audio ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an audio ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
August 28, 2025
This is the slightest of the Rutledge books I’ve read. Nothing much happens at great length, and the plot is negligible at best.
And I do wish that less would be made of entirely mundane activities, especially driving. In every book, we see him cranking the car and getting into the seat. Over and over.
I like the character, but I’d bet his publisher said he needed another book fast, and he complied. There’s no other excuse.
And I do wish that less would be made of entirely mundane activities, especially driving. In every book, we see him cranking the car and getting into the seat. Over and over.
I like the character, but I’d bet his publisher said he needed another book fast, and he complied. There’s no other excuse.
December 4, 2025
The last Ian Rutledge mystery I read was #24 in March, 2022. That’s been more than 3 empty years that reliably produced a mystery every year. I can’t explain why this was one of my favorite series other than I like the time period of immediately after World War 1, the travels out from London all over Great Britain to solve crimes, and the characters of Ian Rutledge, the Scotland Yard Inspector, damaged survivor of the trenches, and the “ghost” of Hamish, his regimental sergeant, who never completely leaves his mind. These books were written by a mother/son team; they ceased when the mother died and this novella seems to be the restart of the series with just the son as the author.
I was very happy to read this . . . I enjoyed it, it had all the elements I liked from previous books. I liked the short length and was okay with the simple, very predictable mystery. But the dialogue was so clunky! Too much of it, too many introductions, too many thank yous! I am hoping for better writing quality in the full length novel #25 due out in the spring.
I was very happy to read this . . . I enjoyed it, it had all the elements I liked from previous books. I liked the short length and was okay with the simple, very predictable mystery. But the dialogue was so clunky! Too much of it, too many introductions, too many thank yous! I am hoping for better writing quality in the full length novel #25 due out in the spring.
November 6, 2025
I always enjoy catching up with Inspector Ian Rutledge and this makes for a very engaging holiday read. Ian has some gnarly challenges to deal with along with some very interesting characters featured in this Christmas tale.
Lucky Chicago Public Library Loan
Lucky Chicago Public Library Loan
November 9, 2025
Christmas Witness, Charles Todd, 2025, 212 pages.
Padded with mundane actions and conversations.
The books Todd wrote with his late mother and writing partner are more interesting: publication dates through 2022:
Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries #1 through #24 are good:
Todd's website: https://charlestodd.com/charles-todd-...
Charles and Caroline Todd wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolin...
Padded with mundane actions and conversations.
The books Todd wrote with his late mother and writing partner are more interesting: publication dates through 2022:
Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries #1 through #24 are good:
Todd's website: https://charlestodd.com/charles-todd-...
Charles and Caroline Todd wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolin...
October 29, 2025
I have read all the previous Ian Rutledge novels and for the most part I have enjoyed each book and always looked forward to the next books arrival.
This book seemed a departure from the previous novels in the way Rutledge interacts with other characters in the book. What is with all of the addressing everyone by their first name?! Where is the usual rough edge that is part of Rutledges personality?! And what is with all of the drawn out dialogue?!
This is not the Ian Rutledge that I am used to and the story telling style in this book does not seem typical of how the past novels have been written! Having written this story without Carolyn’s input could be the reason that it seems different and why it doesn’t click for me.
This book seemed a departure from the previous novels in the way Rutledge interacts with other characters in the book. What is with all of the addressing everyone by their first name?! Where is the usual rough edge that is part of Rutledges personality?! And what is with all of the drawn out dialogue?!
This is not the Ian Rutledge that I am used to and the story telling style in this book does not seem typical of how the past novels have been written! Having written this story without Carolyn’s input could be the reason that it seems different and why it doesn’t click for me.
December 14, 2025
Getting a case during the Christmas holidays, Chief Inspector Ian Rutledge not only meets a face from his past, but experiences his own Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol experience complete with mystery.
I have been meaning to try the Inspector Ian Rutledge series set in post-WWI era with a shell-shocked British police detective trying to get on with his life even though he can’t get past the war including a voice in his head much like Dickens’ ghost.
Occasionally, I do gutsy reader things like jumping into the middle of an ongoing mystery series like this time when I had not previously read any of the regular series books. Turned out okay, actually, as this was something of a lighter, quicker fare that gave me a feel for the series and meet the inspector had his most introspective. I enjoyed the historical background of rural England for the holidays.
Ian Rutledge arrives in Kent and discovers the victim of a ‘hit and run’ riding horse-style is an officer he remembers from the war. The Colonel was responsible for many men’s lives and the chief inspector wonders if that factors into his case. He discovers the pair of them have some key points in common including after-war struggles that are almost debilitating and a Christmas Carolesque experience complete with the ghostly voices in his mind. My heart went out to him for paying this price for serving in the war and respected his attempt to work through it especially since solving murder takes one into some pretty dark situations, too.
A Christmas Witness read fast and leaned to the personal story over the mystery which was swiftly put to pasture. There was complexity in Ian Rutledge that I like to see in a long-running series main character that shows room to grow and vulnerabilities and strengths that made him interesting.
I liked this first experience with the series and will definitely be going back for the previous stories. Those who want a slower-paced, gentler and introspective mystery set in England’s countryside for the holidays should give A Christmas Witness historical mystery a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 12.10.25.
I have been meaning to try the Inspector Ian Rutledge series set in post-WWI era with a shell-shocked British police detective trying to get on with his life even though he can’t get past the war including a voice in his head much like Dickens’ ghost.
Occasionally, I do gutsy reader things like jumping into the middle of an ongoing mystery series like this time when I had not previously read any of the regular series books. Turned out okay, actually, as this was something of a lighter, quicker fare that gave me a feel for the series and meet the inspector had his most introspective. I enjoyed the historical background of rural England for the holidays.
Ian Rutledge arrives in Kent and discovers the victim of a ‘hit and run’ riding horse-style is an officer he remembers from the war. The Colonel was responsible for many men’s lives and the chief inspector wonders if that factors into his case. He discovers the pair of them have some key points in common including after-war struggles that are almost debilitating and a Christmas Carolesque experience complete with the ghostly voices in his mind. My heart went out to him for paying this price for serving in the war and respected his attempt to work through it especially since solving murder takes one into some pretty dark situations, too.
A Christmas Witness read fast and leaned to the personal story over the mystery which was swiftly put to pasture. There was complexity in Ian Rutledge that I like to see in a long-running series main character that shows room to grow and vulnerabilities and strengths that made him interesting.
I liked this first experience with the series and will definitely be going back for the previous stories. Those who want a slower-paced, gentler and introspective mystery set in England’s countryside for the holidays should give A Christmas Witness historical mystery a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 12.10.25.
September 25, 2025
I could smell and taste Christmas in A Christmas Witness by Charles Todd. In 1921, Inspector Ian Rutledge is a newly-minted Chief, no stranger to crime solving. But one chilly December evening, he was urged by Scotland Yard to investigate a serious injury sustained by Lord Braxton. Many others were nestled warmly at home with their families but he was single and as such got less desirable calls. He arrived to a lovely inn where he stayed near the Braxton home and enjoyed delicious meals and hot tea, adding to the Christmas atmosphere. When questioning those caring for the lord and the man himself, he quickly discovered a sort of kinship in spite of Lord Braxton's abrasiveness. Many men had suffered great loss, survivor's guilt and PTSD during World War I, including Rutledge who had fought at Somme. Several nightmares are described in the book, lending a sobering reality.
I've read many of the books in this series and have always enjoyed them. This is less of a mystery in my view and more like a slow burn character study. But that's ok with me. There are references to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in the story with slight Dickens' vibes. But what I appreciated most was sinking into the quiet atmosphere. As a Canadian not fond of cold winter, I ironically do like to read stories with swirling snow. Todd's writing takes me into the era and believable historical details with beautiful ease at every turn.
My sincere thank you to Penzler Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the digital copy of this novel to enjoy.
I've read many of the books in this series and have always enjoyed them. This is less of a mystery in my view and more like a slow burn character study. But that's ok with me. There are references to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in the story with slight Dickens' vibes. But what I appreciated most was sinking into the quiet atmosphere. As a Canadian not fond of cold winter, I ironically do like to read stories with swirling snow. Todd's writing takes me into the era and believable historical details with beautiful ease at every turn.
My sincere thank you to Penzler Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the digital copy of this novel to enjoy.
October 30, 2025
Fans of Charles Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge series have waited a long time for another installment. This holiday-themed novella serves as the appetizer before the next main dish, which is the full-length book due to be released in February 2026.
In this outing, Rutledge, recently promoted to Chief Inspector, is sent to Kent to investigate a complaint from Lord Braxton, a retired Army Colonel, who claims he got a head wound when he was attacked by a rider who charged him on their horse. Clues are scarce and there are no clear suspects or witnesses that can confirm the Colonel's story.
As Rutledge might say, "There's not much to be going on with here." The prose is often needlessly repetitious, with in-depth descriptions of every step the Rutledge takes to operate his car. Here's a typical passage from late in the novella:
"Rutledge cranked his engine and then climbed into his seat in the motorcar. Adjusting the idle, he headed out onto West Street. Increasing his speed after turning left on the High helped keep the snow from building up on his windscreen. He slowed to make the right onto East Street to head out of Hartsham and then increased his speed again toward the country road that led to Cottams House. The snow was getting heavy as he passed Cooper's Warehouse. Visibility was becoming difficult as Rutledge searched for his turn. Finally, he found the turn and headed toward Cottams House. Here he slowed, not just because of the snow, but to keep a look out for the Colonel or anyone else. He really hoped that Baden Cooper was fast asleep and anyone else for that matter."
Every author strives to set the tone of their fiction, essecially if they're trying to convey a particular time and place. But the passage above shows careless editing, repeating words or phrases, padding the narrative with details that don't move the plot forward, and even including sentences that don't make sense. Even in the England of the early 1920's, dialogue would not be as wooden as it is elsewhere in this story.
The voice of Hamish is very active in Rutledge's mind in this novella, and it's clear the Inspector is still struggling with the aftereffects of the war. This is what makes Rutledge so compelling as a character: readers wonder not only how he will solve complex cases, but how he will change over time. This novella offers us another chance to see Rutledge at work, but the literary machinery was too visible and too clunky to make it a satisfying read. We'll find out in a few months whether these problems persist when Rutledge has a whole novel in which to solve his next case.
In this outing, Rutledge, recently promoted to Chief Inspector, is sent to Kent to investigate a complaint from Lord Braxton, a retired Army Colonel, who claims he got a head wound when he was attacked by a rider who charged him on their horse. Clues are scarce and there are no clear suspects or witnesses that can confirm the Colonel's story.
As Rutledge might say, "There's not much to be going on with here." The prose is often needlessly repetitious, with in-depth descriptions of every step the Rutledge takes to operate his car. Here's a typical passage from late in the novella:
"Rutledge cranked his engine and then climbed into his seat in the motorcar. Adjusting the idle, he headed out onto West Street. Increasing his speed after turning left on the High helped keep the snow from building up on his windscreen. He slowed to make the right onto East Street to head out of Hartsham and then increased his speed again toward the country road that led to Cottams House. The snow was getting heavy as he passed Cooper's Warehouse. Visibility was becoming difficult as Rutledge searched for his turn. Finally, he found the turn and headed toward Cottams House. Here he slowed, not just because of the snow, but to keep a look out for the Colonel or anyone else. He really hoped that Baden Cooper was fast asleep and anyone else for that matter."
Every author strives to set the tone of their fiction, essecially if they're trying to convey a particular time and place. But the passage above shows careless editing, repeating words or phrases, padding the narrative with details that don't move the plot forward, and even including sentences that don't make sense. Even in the England of the early 1920's, dialogue would not be as wooden as it is elsewhere in this story.
The voice of Hamish is very active in Rutledge's mind in this novella, and it's clear the Inspector is still struggling with the aftereffects of the war. This is what makes Rutledge so compelling as a character: readers wonder not only how he will solve complex cases, but how he will change over time. This novella offers us another chance to see Rutledge at work, but the literary machinery was too visible and too clunky to make it a satisfying read. We'll find out in a few months whether these problems persist when Rutledge has a whole novel in which to solve his next case.
November 11, 2025
There is very little substance to this story. Not the Charles Todd book I expected.
June 26, 2025
Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of Charles Todd’s Inspector Ian Rutledge series, having rad all of the previous novels as well as most of the short stories, so I was excited about getting a copy of “A Christmas Witness”, the latest novella in the series. Unfortunately, this was short on mystery and more of a Christmas story, based heavily on “A Christmas Carol” from Charles Dickens.
It starts out as a typical mystery. It’s Christmastime in 1921, and Rutledge gets sent out to Kent to investigate the attack on a Lord out in the countryside, he was deliberately run down by a horseman and received a severe concussion. The ever-present Hamish (a PTSD voice of his deceased sergeant from WWI) is extremely vocal as the Lord turns out to be one of the Colonels at HQ that was responsible for sending thousands to get slaughtered at the front. Rutledge interviews the victim and people in the village, including those that might have a grudge against the Colonel. But the deeper that Rutledge digs, the more questions that are raised, and the events of that attack keep on getting murkier and murkier. Can Rutledge get to the truth before the killer strikes again?
Without spoiling the story, it does turn into a Dickens Christmas. A nice Christmas gift from Mr. Todd, but I can’t wait to get back to the real mysteries.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Penzler Publishers - Mysterious Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
It starts out as a typical mystery. It’s Christmastime in 1921, and Rutledge gets sent out to Kent to investigate the attack on a Lord out in the countryside, he was deliberately run down by a horseman and received a severe concussion. The ever-present Hamish (a PTSD voice of his deceased sergeant from WWI) is extremely vocal as the Lord turns out to be one of the Colonels at HQ that was responsible for sending thousands to get slaughtered at the front. Rutledge interviews the victim and people in the village, including those that might have a grudge against the Colonel. But the deeper that Rutledge digs, the more questions that are raised, and the events of that attack keep on getting murkier and murkier. Can Rutledge get to the truth before the killer strikes again?
Without spoiling the story, it does turn into a Dickens Christmas. A nice Christmas gift from Mr. Todd, but I can’t wait to get back to the real mysteries.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Penzler Publishers - Mysterious Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
November 18, 2025
Let me first say that I’ve been a very big fan of Todd’s Rutledge series in general. Some are fantastic, some a bit less so. But that is to be expected when authors are very prolific. Either way, I even enjoyed their lesser efforts a lot and looked forward to a new book.
To say I am disappointed with A Christmas Witness would be an understatement. I am angry and frankly insulted. I wish I could give it negative stars.
It’s hard to believe this was written by the same author(s) as the previous books.
The plot and solution to the mystery are basically non-existent. The homage to A Christmas Carol did not make it any better. I could easily forgive that were it not for far more important failings.
First, the writing style is utterly dreadful. Amateurish, simplistic, lacking any sophistication, the dialogue is at the same time basic and horribly stilted.
In an interview I read on the Historical Novel Society blog Charles Todd describes how the writing duties of the team were distributed: “…one wrote a paragraph and shared it with the other, who wrote the next paragraph.”
I simply can’t believe this. To me it seems absolutely obvious that the mother was the writer of the team. This book seems to be written by a completely different author. Or maybe AI is responsible for the writing. It is that ghastly.
Like reviewer Miriam Koch I wonder what Charles actually contributed to the earlier books.
Second, the book lacks any sense of time and place. Previous books were steeped in the right atmosphere of the chosen setting.
The tone of this book is completely off. The mother-son duo have had about 30 years doing historical research for their books and in general they were successful in recreating their chosen era with its mores, social norms and people’s behavior. My pet peeve with historical novels is that too often they basically have their characters behave like modern people in a historical era.
E.g., since when do the characters address each other by their first names?
This book is only nominally set after WWI. The reader wouldn’t know it but for the endless repetition of hand-cranking the motor of the car.
It seems Todd didn’t even bother to get the feel of the era right.
Third, the characters.
Whoever the Chief Inspector is in this book, it is not Ian Rutledge. This is invasion of the body snatchers.
Rutledge is a dark and troubled character, not chipper, cheerful, chatty, full of small talk and on top of that smarmy.
The authors always had fully-rounded and complex characters populating their books. The characters here, including Rutledge, are not even flat. They have no personality at all.
Nostalgia counts for a lot when I choose a book, but I doubt I’ll be picking up the next Rutledge.
To say I am disappointed with A Christmas Witness would be an understatement. I am angry and frankly insulted. I wish I could give it negative stars.
It’s hard to believe this was written by the same author(s) as the previous books.
The plot and solution to the mystery are basically non-existent. The homage to A Christmas Carol did not make it any better. I could easily forgive that were it not for far more important failings.
First, the writing style is utterly dreadful. Amateurish, simplistic, lacking any sophistication, the dialogue is at the same time basic and horribly stilted.
In an interview I read on the Historical Novel Society blog Charles Todd describes how the writing duties of the team were distributed: “…one wrote a paragraph and shared it with the other, who wrote the next paragraph.”
I simply can’t believe this. To me it seems absolutely obvious that the mother was the writer of the team. This book seems to be written by a completely different author. Or maybe AI is responsible for the writing. It is that ghastly.
Like reviewer Miriam Koch I wonder what Charles actually contributed to the earlier books.
Second, the book lacks any sense of time and place. Previous books were steeped in the right atmosphere of the chosen setting.
The tone of this book is completely off. The mother-son duo have had about 30 years doing historical research for their books and in general they were successful in recreating their chosen era with its mores, social norms and people’s behavior. My pet peeve with historical novels is that too often they basically have their characters behave like modern people in a historical era.
E.g., since when do the characters address each other by their first names?
This book is only nominally set after WWI. The reader wouldn’t know it but for the endless repetition of hand-cranking the motor of the car.
It seems Todd didn’t even bother to get the feel of the era right.
Third, the characters.
Whoever the Chief Inspector is in this book, it is not Ian Rutledge. This is invasion of the body snatchers.
Rutledge is a dark and troubled character, not chipper, cheerful, chatty, full of small talk and on top of that smarmy.
The authors always had fully-rounded and complex characters populating their books. The characters here, including Rutledge, are not even flat. They have no personality at all.
Nostalgia counts for a lot when I choose a book, but I doubt I’ll be picking up the next Rutledge.
November 10, 2025
Well, this was a small, nothing-burger of a book. Publishers, please do not force good authors to write sad pastiches of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol just so your firms can line your executives' pockets with a few more bonus dollars. You serve neither the authors nor their readers, and you piss people off.
I love the Inspector Rutledge series, so I pounced on this at the library. Thank the book gods I did not pay to buy this. Todd tried his best to write some sort of suspenseful story, but under the constraints of a Christmas tale, his hands were clearly tied. We learn little except that the constabulary in Kent are a good crew, that the British caste system is largely still in place, and Ian is still battling with the traumas of his World War I experiences as an officer in the trenches on the Western Front.
We learn nothing new about Ian, and there isn't, in the end a real mystery to solve--just a wild goose chase as an excuse to do an Ebeneezer Scrooge on a central character.
Oh well. I discovered there is another full-length novel in the works. Hoping for that to wash the taste of this one from my memory.
I love the Inspector Rutledge series, so I pounced on this at the library. Thank the book gods I did not pay to buy this. Todd tried his best to write some sort of suspenseful story, but under the constraints of a Christmas tale, his hands were clearly tied. We learn little except that the constabulary in Kent are a good crew, that the British caste system is largely still in place, and Ian is still battling with the traumas of his World War I experiences as an officer in the trenches on the Western Front.
We learn nothing new about Ian, and there isn't, in the end a real mystery to solve--just a wild goose chase as an excuse to do an Ebeneezer Scrooge on a central character.
Oh well. I discovered there is another full-length novel in the works. Hoping for that to wash the taste of this one from my memory.
October 22, 2025
Have been waiting for almost three years for another Inspector Rutledge mystery. Though this is only a novella, and a Christmas one at that, I read it yesterday when I got it!
It was an upbeat mystery, mentioning only a few other regulars, but instead concentrating on the several characters involved in the story.
I must admit I guessed the mystery quite early, but it took nothing away from the overall story.
One thing I felt as I read the story. Everyone seemed especially polite. Even the victim (for the most part).
Can't wait for the next full novel coming in February.
It was an upbeat mystery, mentioning only a few other regulars, but instead concentrating on the several characters involved in the story.
I must admit I guessed the mystery quite early, but it took nothing away from the overall story.
One thing I felt as I read the story. Everyone seemed especially polite. Even the victim (for the most part).
Can't wait for the next full novel coming in February.
Read
November 26, 2025I struggled to connect with this 1921 holiday mystery that I did not realize was part of a series, the Inspector Rutledge books. Rutledge is summoned to the estate of a wealthy titled man who is convinced someone tried to kill him. While I did appreciate the themes of the toll that war takes on soldiers, I found the novella stodgy, the dialogue stilted, and the mystery pretty lacking.
December 2, 2025
It's been a while since I dipped into this universe. The historical atmosphere is wonderful...but the ending/solution to the mystery is...well, I'm not sure how to describe it. Unsatisfying? Confusing? Strange? Puzzling? In any event, it left me feeling rather disconcerted when I reached the last page.
December 10, 2025
This was honestly the perfect length for what the story was but didn’t love how basically nothing happened😆 also didn’t give the Christmas vibes that I was hoping for lol
November 19, 2025
Really disappointing - badly written and not at all like the other Ian Rutledge books ...
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October 28, 2025Not to put too fine a point on it, this book is a disappointment. The smooth writing of earlier books is missing here, as well as the established character of Chief Inspector Rutledge. Right off the bat, he invites people to call him Ian, something he's never done before, and he comes across as a little smarmy. The Colonel is completely unbelievable, especially in his sudden turnaround from Jacob Marley to Tiny Tim. Hamish takes the back seat (hah!) in this story, and mostly keeps his mouth shut.
Instead of an automatic buy, I'll be getting the next book from the library, to check out if this story was just an anomaly in what until now has been a top favorite series.
Instead of an automatic buy, I'll be getting the next book from the library, to check out if this story was just an anomaly in what until now has been a top favorite series.
September 17, 2025
It is almost Christmas and Ian Rutledge is looking forward to spending the holiday with his family. However, being single, he receives a late at night summons to Scotland Yard and is sent down to Kent to investigate an accident that has left a peer of the realm with a concussion and a nasty gash on his forehead. Lord Edward Braxton had been on Alexander Haig's staff during World War I. Haig, Braxton and other officers were responsible for many a massacre of young Englishmen in ordering them to take enemy positions. There are many in the village of Hartsham who do not like him. Lord Braxton, who insists Rutledge call him Colonel, is convinced someone wants him dead before Christmas. As Rutledge investigates he has trouble trying to envision the accident and how it could have happened the way Colonel Braxton described. At the height of the investigation, Colonel Braxton disappears. As Rutledge and the Kent County constables search for him, he is discovered at the old family chapel, nearly dead from hypothermia. As he recovers, he regains his memories of the accident and Rutledge is able to resolve the issue. This short novella focuses on both Rutledge's and Braxon's memories of the horrors of trench warfare in WWI, bringing to light, again, how dreadful the experience must have been.
October 24, 2025
I've read every book in the Ian Rutledge series and it's always been one of my favorites. But this one lacks the depth of the others. It was a charming story, but not the same Ian Rutledge.
June 30, 2025
A lighter turn in the Inspector Rutledge series, but not much for the better. A Christmas Witness finds Inspector Ian Rutledge assigned a last minute case right before Christmas. One of Sir Douglas Haig's general staff has been injured under mysterious circumstances at his country estate, and it is up to Rutledge to solve the case quickly and quietly.
It is December 1921 only months removed from A Game of Fear (Book #24) but not much seems changed. Rutledge still lives a lonely life with a few close friends and a sister, but his job is what takes his focus and energy. There is still Hamish, his second in command during the War, who Rutledge was forced to execute as an example moments before the entire firing squad was hit by a shell. As we are told more than once in this novella.
If you like the other books you might like this holiday themed softer story. It makes early allusions to A Christmas Carol and retells that story, but not from an interesting perspective. Will Rutledge ever fully come to terms with the war and what it has done to his psyche? Todd continues to mine the post war struggles of returning to everyday life after the extraordinary trauma of combat.
Recommended to readers of other Inspector Rutledge books or schmaltzy lessons learn holiday tales.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
It is December 1921 only months removed from A Game of Fear (Book #24) but not much seems changed. Rutledge still lives a lonely life with a few close friends and a sister, but his job is what takes his focus and energy. There is still Hamish, his second in command during the War, who Rutledge was forced to execute as an example moments before the entire firing squad was hit by a shell. As we are told more than once in this novella.
If you like the other books you might like this holiday themed softer story. It makes early allusions to A Christmas Carol and retells that story, but not from an interesting perspective. Will Rutledge ever fully come to terms with the war and what it has done to his psyche? Todd continues to mine the post war struggles of returning to everyday life after the extraordinary trauma of combat.
Recommended to readers of other Inspector Rutledge books or schmaltzy lessons learn holiday tales.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
July 31, 2025
In A CHRISTMAS WITNESS, written by Charles Todd, Inspector Ian Rutledge is called to Scotland Yard by Chief Superintendent Markum. Markum assigns Rutledge a case in Kent involving Lord Braxton, a Colonel who has requested Rutledge and believes he will die after an accident that left him with a concussion. What is the reason for the accident? I want to know more about this case that takes Ian Rutledge away from celebrating Christmas with his sister and brother-in-law.
The Christmas setting is appreciated. I like the inclusion of information about Rutledge’s imaginary friend (voice), Hamish MacLeod. Ian Rutledge’s backstory is as interesting as the mystery in this novella. I want to know more about Ian Rutledge’s relationship with Melinda Crawford. I still enjoy reading the Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery series, even though Caroline has died and her son is on his own to continue the series. Thank you, Penzler Publishers and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of A CHRISTMAS WITNESS.
The Christmas setting is appreciated. I like the inclusion of information about Rutledge’s imaginary friend (voice), Hamish MacLeod. Ian Rutledge’s backstory is as interesting as the mystery in this novella. I want to know more about Ian Rutledge’s relationship with Melinda Crawford. I still enjoy reading the Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery series, even though Caroline has died and her son is on his own to continue the series. Thank you, Penzler Publishers and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of A CHRISTMAS WITNESS.
September 23, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella by Charles Todd. It is a continuation of the character Chief Inspector Ian Rutledge, and his last-minute assignment from Scotland Yard. His past service in WWI is very important in this series, and a point used to relate to other characters too. It is a mystery taking place right around Christmas, so there are multiple cozy scenes.
Received this book from NetGalley as an ARC.
Received this book from NetGalley as an ARC.
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