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Inspector Ian Rutledge #25
A Day of Judgment
Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard travels to England’s windswept coastline to investigate a murder in a place where, several years after the end of WWI, the memory of the war still runs strong . . .
July, 1921: England is suffering a heatwave and the coast of Northumberland, just across the border from Scotland, is filled with holiday-makers bird watching and enjoying the beaches. Pilgrims also come to visit the home of Saints Cuthbert and Aiden—the founders of Christianity in England—located on the “Holy Island” of Lindisfarne, accessible by a causeway at low tide.
When the murdered body of a local man washes ashore just south of Lindisfarne, the government and the Church of England are concerned about protecting both the reputation of the Church and the sacred sites that are a destination for hundreds of pilgrims at this time of year. With his ability to move in the highest social and political circles, Rutledge is sent by Scotland Yard to solve this crime and dispel any association with the Church.
Upon arrival, Rutledge finds himself pulled between two coastal fishing villages, scarred by home front battles and coastal bombardment from the German Navy, where animosity towards Germany still runs high even years after the war. This, combined with a constabulary in the process of being consolidated to form a countywide police force, with local militias still wielding a great deal of power, means Rutledge must tread with care.
Facing a puzzling case and a cast of locals that don’t take kindly to outsiders, the newly promoted Rutledge meets one of the most challenging cases of his career. To solve it, he’ll also have to confront his own demons left over from his time in the war.
July, 1921: England is suffering a heatwave and the coast of Northumberland, just across the border from Scotland, is filled with holiday-makers bird watching and enjoying the beaches. Pilgrims also come to visit the home of Saints Cuthbert and Aiden—the founders of Christianity in England—located on the “Holy Island” of Lindisfarne, accessible by a causeway at low tide.
When the murdered body of a local man washes ashore just south of Lindisfarne, the government and the Church of England are concerned about protecting both the reputation of the Church and the sacred sites that are a destination for hundreds of pilgrims at this time of year. With his ability to move in the highest social and political circles, Rutledge is sent by Scotland Yard to solve this crime and dispel any association with the Church.
Upon arrival, Rutledge finds himself pulled between two coastal fishing villages, scarred by home front battles and coastal bombardment from the German Navy, where animosity towards Germany still runs high even years after the war. This, combined with a constabulary in the process of being consolidated to form a countywide police force, with local militias still wielding a great deal of power, means Rutledge must tread with care.
Facing a puzzling case and a cast of locals that don’t take kindly to outsiders, the newly promoted Rutledge meets one of the most challenging cases of his career. To solve it, he’ll also have to confront his own demons left over from his time in the war.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2026
About the author
Charles Todd
102 books3,570 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 158 reviews
September 25, 2025
The author used to be two people, now it is just one, and while he can keep cranking these out, I'm not sure how much longer I will be reading them.
I am tired of Hamish,and why does every
meal Rutledge eats have to be cataloged?
I am tired of Hamish,and why does every
meal Rutledge eats have to be cataloged?
March 20, 2026
it is obvious from this book that Caroline wrote and developed the characters, while Charles did the historical research.
Rutledge and all the rest were FLAT on the page, and completely one dimensional.
The book read like a guidebook or roadmap...turn left, then right, go here, then there. The eternal descriptions of what he had to eat and please and thank yous, we're endless.
I have LOVED THESE BOOKS, but alas, I can't read anymore. So sad, Caroline, passed away...she was Ian's soul.
Rutledge and all the rest were FLAT on the page, and completely one dimensional.
The book read like a guidebook or roadmap...turn left, then right, go here, then there. The eternal descriptions of what he had to eat and please and thank yous, we're endless.
I have LOVED THESE BOOKS, but alas, I can't read anymore. So sad, Caroline, passed away...she was Ian's soul.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2026
Let me just say that I love the Ian Rutledge mysteries and they are really what got me into this genre (although I had read some mysteries off and on). I first picked up one of the books in the series at Costco and was hooked!! I was lucky to be able to go to a reading and signing by the son and mom co-authors when they came to Richmond, VA several years ago, so I will always be a reader of this series. And now the wait is over....
So nice to be back with Ian and he seems to slowly be coming back to himself. The mystery involves a body found washed ashore near the Holy Island and it turns out to be a murder, not just a fisherman/sailor washed ashore. Ian meets many townspeople who wanted the man dead because he was a "Hun lover" and it seems that many are keeping secrets.
The descriptions of the coastal areas and towns was wonderful as was the food descriptions.
So, I loved the book and the mystery was good, although I had an inkling of who it was. Can't wait for the next in the series!!
So nice to be back with Ian and he seems to slowly be coming back to himself. The mystery involves a body found washed ashore near the Holy Island and it turns out to be a murder, not just a fisherman/sailor washed ashore. Ian meets many townspeople who wanted the man dead because he was a "Hun lover" and it seems that many are keeping secrets.
The descriptions of the coastal areas and towns was wonderful as was the food descriptions.
So, I loved the book and the mystery was good, although I had an inkling of who it was. Can't wait for the next in the series!!
April 12, 2026
I am trying to be as diplomatic as possible when I say that the book was not “My Cup of Tea”…. Tea, breakfast , lunch and , dinner was written multiple times throughout out the book. It moved at a snails pace.
It seemed I read 3/4’s of the book before the original intent was revealed. Very disappointed
It seemed I read 3/4’s of the book before the original intent was revealed. Very disappointed
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September 27, 2025I felt like I was reading a novel written specifically for elderly women. It was just a little tedious. I enjoyed this book because I liked the mystery and found the characters interesting, but there was just too much extraneous information about settings, architectural details and foods which the English are inclined to somehow eat. I mean seriously, I didn't need to know what the inspector had for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday! Too many details all around. The mystery was a good one, just mired down in the unnecessary details which did not add to the story.
March 16, 2026
Fantastic next installment of Inspector Rutledge. Each book gets closer and closer to his true self and how he conducts his job. I love how Charles Todd brings to life the Inspector and his “relationship “ with Hamish.
April 12, 2026
Listened. One of the weakest in the series. Not horrible, but the whole thing was just flat, at least until the very end, which was at least decent-ish. Weak, boring plot/mystery ; far, far too many pointless details useful for padding, but nothing else ; "flat" is indeed the word.
March 11, 2026
The narrator does a wonderful job with all the different accents. I can't get them right in my head when I read the book myself so this really enhanced the reading experience. I really like Ian Rutledge. In this book, I also loved all the secondary characters and hated knowing that at least one of them was involved with the murder. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads.
January 10, 2026
3.5 stars
The latest offering from Charles Todd is an enjoyable installment of Chief Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard. I’ve always enjoyed Rutledge, and learning more about him and the trauma he deals with from WWI, but felt the character had kind of stalled a bit. This time I was happy to see more development in his situation and perhaps in perspective a bit. I’m always looking for characters who behave more like humans, not robots, if in multiple books. This helps me to want to continue to read about them. It didn’t catch my attention as much as some books have, but I ended up enjoying it over several weeks time.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
The latest offering from Charles Todd is an enjoyable installment of Chief Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard. I’ve always enjoyed Rutledge, and learning more about him and the trauma he deals with from WWI, but felt the character had kind of stalled a bit. This time I was happy to see more development in his situation and perhaps in perspective a bit. I’m always looking for characters who behave more like humans, not robots, if in multiple books. This helps me to want to continue to read about them. It didn’t catch my attention as much as some books have, but I ended up enjoying it over several weeks time.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 19, 2026
I have read all the Charles Todd books and thoroughly enjoyed them. This will be my last one. Two pages into this book and I wondered what happened to the editor? There are punctuation and grammatical mistakes throughout, even taking into consideration the times Todd was perhaps trying to convey regional accents. That didn't work either. Too many characters, too many towns, too many descriptions of too many meals. Very disappointing.
April 29, 2026
I only made it to page 17. I'm sorry to say that this book was so far from the standards set by the first books that I found it unreadable. Ian Rutledge was a favorite character, and I will miss him.
March 27, 2026
Sloppy editing made this latest Ian Rutledge mystery less enjoyable than it should have been. The story was great-more twisty than most of the others, and I was happy to have the glimmer of hope for Ian and Kate (finally!).
What took me out of the story was not the descriptions of what he was eating or the architecture, as others have complained. What bothered me most was the weird repetition of phrases like"frock coat" and "executive case" and endless explanations of how he had to turn on his ignition before he cranked the car. Yes, we get it, he has a car you have to crank.
Given the absurd repetition , I thought this was going to somehow play a part in the plot of the mystery, but it was just junk. Really no other way to put it. I can't understand why the editor didn't catch this--it would have been an easy fix.
What took me out of the story was not the descriptions of what he was eating or the architecture, as others have complained. What bothered me most was the weird repetition of phrases like"frock coat" and "executive case" and endless explanations of how he had to turn on his ignition before he cranked the car. Yes, we get it, he has a car you have to crank.
Given the absurd repetition , I thought this was going to somehow play a part in the plot of the mystery, but it was just junk. Really no other way to put it. I can't understand why the editor didn't catch this--it would have been an easy fix.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2026
There are not many crime series more beloved or complex than the Inspector Ian Rutledge recurring collection of novels from Charles Todd. The biggest change in the latest entry, A DAY OF JUDGMENT, is the fact that our favorite WWI veteran has now been promoted to the role of Chief Inspector.
It is July 1921, and the newly promoted Rutledge is assigned a difficult and high-profile murder case from his Scotland Yard superiour, Markham --- who has no fondness for Ian --- which sends him to the coast of Northumberland across the border from Scotland. It is in that territory that Chief Inspector Rutledge needs to look into the situation where a local man’s body washed ashore south of Lindisrfarne.
What makes the case so high profile, despite the small-town location, is that the area comes with a long history of religious involvement and Scotland Yard wants to ensure that the Church of England and their reputation are protected in this case. The opening chapter speaks directly to the religious superstition that consumes the area as we see a boatload of men who had just dumped a body overboard and then swore they saw what appeared to be short creatures wearing cowls on the shore, characters that look similar to the legendary St. Cuthbert Devils purported to haunt the area.
Rutledge never travels alone wherever he goes, especially on a case. The main plot element that consistently makes this series unique is the fact that Rutledge’s deep case of PTSD from WWI has resulted in a bout of constant schizophrenia where he is always in the company of Corporal Hamish MacLeod, whom he had executed with a firing squad for an act of treason. Rutledge has never been able to come to terms with the circumstances behind this act and the conversations he and his ghostly companion have are always quite telling.
The victim whom Rutledge is investigating was named Oswin Dunn, a man with few friends who kept mostly to himself. The doctor who examined Dunn’s body tells Rutledge that he did not drown and was a murder victim as evidenced by the blunt trauma to his skull. The rumor among the locals is that Dunn was a ‘Hun lover,’ something that was not easily forgiven in the face of the recent World War.
Adding to the complexity of this case is the fact that Dunn’s sister moved to Germany where she married a Hun, another clue as to why the Dunn’s were so universally disliked in the area. The investigation leads to the sinking of a boat named the HMS Ascot in 1918, a case where many men died. Dunn has allegedly been at this sinking and was rumored to have saved a German soldier who also washed up after the battle, a fact that fairly well sealed his fate in the area.
For some perspective, Rutledge speaks with a handful of religious leaders in the area as well as keeping his contact with the Church of England updated on the case. This is the only thing that keeps his own superiour Markham off of his back to let him do his job. The residents of all the area towns Rutledge travels to are highly suspicious of outsiders, especially those from Scotland Yard who threaten traditions and secrets that may sometimes be violent and murderous.
When Dunn’s only friend, a man named Berrisford, turns up with his throat cut not long after being questioned by Rutledge it becomes obvious that whoever is behind Dunn’s murder will stop at nothing to keep things secret at all costs. Rutledge is persistent and determined to find out the truth, even though this dangerous branch of an ancient sect of local mariners are working against him. A DAY OF JUDGMENT is taut and immensely satisfying with the complicated Ian Rutledge always a protagonist I enjoy spending time with.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
It is July 1921, and the newly promoted Rutledge is assigned a difficult and high-profile murder case from his Scotland Yard superiour, Markham --- who has no fondness for Ian --- which sends him to the coast of Northumberland across the border from Scotland. It is in that territory that Chief Inspector Rutledge needs to look into the situation where a local man’s body washed ashore south of Lindisrfarne.
What makes the case so high profile, despite the small-town location, is that the area comes with a long history of religious involvement and Scotland Yard wants to ensure that the Church of England and their reputation are protected in this case. The opening chapter speaks directly to the religious superstition that consumes the area as we see a boatload of men who had just dumped a body overboard and then swore they saw what appeared to be short creatures wearing cowls on the shore, characters that look similar to the legendary St. Cuthbert Devils purported to haunt the area.
Rutledge never travels alone wherever he goes, especially on a case. The main plot element that consistently makes this series unique is the fact that Rutledge’s deep case of PTSD from WWI has resulted in a bout of constant schizophrenia where he is always in the company of Corporal Hamish MacLeod, whom he had executed with a firing squad for an act of treason. Rutledge has never been able to come to terms with the circumstances behind this act and the conversations he and his ghostly companion have are always quite telling.
The victim whom Rutledge is investigating was named Oswin Dunn, a man with few friends who kept mostly to himself. The doctor who examined Dunn’s body tells Rutledge that he did not drown and was a murder victim as evidenced by the blunt trauma to his skull. The rumor among the locals is that Dunn was a ‘Hun lover,’ something that was not easily forgiven in the face of the recent World War.
Adding to the complexity of this case is the fact that Dunn’s sister moved to Germany where she married a Hun, another clue as to why the Dunn’s were so universally disliked in the area. The investigation leads to the sinking of a boat named the HMS Ascot in 1918, a case where many men died. Dunn has allegedly been at this sinking and was rumored to have saved a German soldier who also washed up after the battle, a fact that fairly well sealed his fate in the area.
For some perspective, Rutledge speaks with a handful of religious leaders in the area as well as keeping his contact with the Church of England updated on the case. This is the only thing that keeps his own superiour Markham off of his back to let him do his job. The residents of all the area towns Rutledge travels to are highly suspicious of outsiders, especially those from Scotland Yard who threaten traditions and secrets that may sometimes be violent and murderous.
When Dunn’s only friend, a man named Berrisford, turns up with his throat cut not long after being questioned by Rutledge it becomes obvious that whoever is behind Dunn’s murder will stop at nothing to keep things secret at all costs. Rutledge is persistent and determined to find out the truth, even though this dangerous branch of an ancient sect of local mariners are working against him. A DAY OF JUDGMENT is taut and immensely satisfying with the complicated Ian Rutledge always a protagonist I enjoy spending time with.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
April 16, 2026
Mr. Todd never disappoints in his Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries. Inspector Rutledge has been called away to investigate a murder on the coast of Northumberland in July, 1921.
Even though the First World War officially ended in November 1918, there are those who still suffer from the aftereffects.
A local man has been murdered who was known to have had German sympathies. While investigating that case, another man has been murdered. The two cases are related; or so suspects Inspector Rutledge.
Meanwhile Inspector Rutledge is still carrying the trauma of his own service at The Front. Rutledge's constant voice of the late Corporal Hamish Macleod is always present in Ian Rutledge's life.
Even though the First World War officially ended in November 1918, there are those who still suffer from the aftereffects.
A local man has been murdered who was known to have had German sympathies. While investigating that case, another man has been murdered. The two cases are related; or so suspects Inspector Rutledge.
Meanwhile Inspector Rutledge is still carrying the trauma of his own service at The Front. Rutledge's constant voice of the late Corporal Hamish Macleod is always present in Ian Rutledge's life.
March 22, 2026
"A Day of Judgment" is the twenty-ninth (counting one novella) book in the Inspector Rutledge series, written over the course of three decades. The author Charles Todd was actually a writing pair--a mother-son team of Charles Todd and his mother, Caroline. Unfortunately, Caroline died in 2021, and the novella "A Christmas Wish" and this new novel have been written solo by Charles.
I mention this for a reason, as all of the earlier Ian Rutledge stories, as well as the sixteen Bess Crawford stories, had been written by the duo. Now, son Charles is on his own, without his mother, Caroline, to use as his sounding board and collaborator. Here's an interesting look at the writing pair, as well as Charles's efforts to continue writing both series.
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/th...
I had high hopes for "A Day of Judgment," as I'd been waiting for what seemed like forever for it to be available. In some ways, I was disappointed; in other ways, I'm thrilled to be reading about Ian Rutledge again. It's a good story, although the pace of the story is different.
Although the story itself is a stand-alone novel, it is better taken as part of the long series of stories. Todd touches on the broader background story in this novel, but understanding who DCI Rutledge is and what has created the man he is today takes a lot of background information.
Newly promoted to Detective Chief Inspector, Rutledge is once again sent off to the hinterlands to help locals solve a particularly challenging crime. As is often the case, this crime is murder, and the location is the far northeast of England near Seahouses and Holy Island. A body has washed ashore, and some people assume, and others hope, that the very unpopular man drowned. The Church of England fears disruptions to the summer pilgrims who come to the area because of its importance to the Church's history. The Church and DCI Rutledge's superiors just want the problem to vanish.
Rutledge has the simultaneous challenges of solving the crime, as it proves to have been murder, and keeping the Church and his boss in London happy. Adding to Rutledge's difficulty is the remote seacoast location and the hostile locals who don't like a London copper in their midst.
What unfolds is a tale of jealousy and hatred dating back to The Great War. As Rutledge puts all of the pieces together, he uncovers a disappointing and dangerous truth, but you'll have to read the story to learn it. I enjoyed the story, as I have all of the Charles Todd books, and I'm looking forward to the next one, whether it's about DCI Ian Rutledge or Bess Crawford.
I mention this for a reason, as all of the earlier Ian Rutledge stories, as well as the sixteen Bess Crawford stories, had been written by the duo. Now, son Charles is on his own, without his mother, Caroline, to use as his sounding board and collaborator. Here's an interesting look at the writing pair, as well as Charles's efforts to continue writing both series.
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/th...
I had high hopes for "A Day of Judgment," as I'd been waiting for what seemed like forever for it to be available. In some ways, I was disappointed; in other ways, I'm thrilled to be reading about Ian Rutledge again. It's a good story, although the pace of the story is different.
Although the story itself is a stand-alone novel, it is better taken as part of the long series of stories. Todd touches on the broader background story in this novel, but understanding who DCI Rutledge is and what has created the man he is today takes a lot of background information.
Newly promoted to Detective Chief Inspector, Rutledge is once again sent off to the hinterlands to help locals solve a particularly challenging crime. As is often the case, this crime is murder, and the location is the far northeast of England near Seahouses and Holy Island. A body has washed ashore, and some people assume, and others hope, that the very unpopular man drowned. The Church of England fears disruptions to the summer pilgrims who come to the area because of its importance to the Church's history. The Church and DCI Rutledge's superiors just want the problem to vanish.
Rutledge has the simultaneous challenges of solving the crime, as it proves to have been murder, and keeping the Church and his boss in London happy. Adding to Rutledge's difficulty is the remote seacoast location and the hostile locals who don't like a London copper in their midst.
What unfolds is a tale of jealousy and hatred dating back to The Great War. As Rutledge puts all of the pieces together, he uncovers a disappointing and dangerous truth, but you'll have to read the story to learn it. I enjoyed the story, as I have all of the Charles Todd books, and I'm looking forward to the next one, whether it's about DCI Ian Rutledge or Bess Crawford.
May 1, 2026
It’s very clear that the main writer of these usually engaging, well researched, accurate, Ian Rutledge mysteries must have been the mother in the duo. The writing in this is atrocious. Repetitive use of the same word, throughout what I could stomach reading, grammatically inaccurate, reading Place descriptions read like they’d been cut and pasted out of a travel guide, it was missing the weight of the Hamish inner voice and turmoil he usually creates in Ian Rutledge.
Where, oh where was the editor in this process? Or did the author just decide to do it himself?
This was so bad, and so disappointing that I skipped to the end to get away from it. It is sadly the last I’ll be reading from this ‘author’. What an incredibly disappointing end to what has been such an enjoyable engaging series.
Where, oh where was the editor in this process? Or did the author just decide to do it himself?
This was so bad, and so disappointing that I skipped to the end to get away from it. It is sadly the last I’ll be reading from this ‘author’. What an incredibly disappointing end to what has been such an enjoyable engaging series.
March 24, 2026
I have not spent time with Ian Rutledge since book two of his series, and this book was such a nice way to get back into the tortured headspace of this quiet, sad Scotland Yard detective.
It's July 1921 in this 25th entry of this series, it's blazing hot. Rutledge has just been promoted, and his first new case takes him to the coast of Northumberland, just across the border from Scotland. It's the home of the founders of Christianity in England, and when a local man washes up on the beach, murdered, both the government and the Church of England are concerned that this death will tarnish the reputation of the Church and affect tourism to the sacred sites.
Rutledge arrives to an area where no one really wants him. He finds himself moving between two coastal fishing villages, both affected by home front battles and coastal bombardment by the German Navy during WWI. There is still a lot of anti-German sentiment in these towns.
Rutledge also finds a constabulary that has a wide area to patrol, not enough men to do it, and a consolidation underway of the police force, while local militias still wield a lot of power in the area. Rutledge knows he has to tread carefully as he begins to get to know the locals and ask questions. No one seems eager to answer them, there is anger towards a nosy outsider, and many secrets.
Rutledge still has Hamish chattering in his head, keeping him awake at nights, and affecting his moods. Rutledge begins noticing strange nighttime activities afoot, and after conversations with the vicar, and other locals, begins to piece together a picture of the dead man, and why he was murdered.
I listened to this and enjoyed Simon Vance's portrayal of Rutledge and Hamish. Rutledge is still suffering from his wartime experiences. The case is complicated, and I liked the measured pace of this novel, with the author giving us a sense of pride and anger amongst the locals, and what could have prompted someone to commit murder.
Rutledge keeps digging away, and his quiet, respectful manner toward everyone is welcome, and is what gets him results, which his awful boss clearly still resents him for.
I was happy to see Rutledge starting a new stage of his life, with some possible happiness coming in his next outing, one which I hope there will be.
Thank you to Netgalley and to HighBridge for this ARC in exchange for my review.
It's July 1921 in this 25th entry of this series, it's blazing hot. Rutledge has just been promoted, and his first new case takes him to the coast of Northumberland, just across the border from Scotland. It's the home of the founders of Christianity in England, and when a local man washes up on the beach, murdered, both the government and the Church of England are concerned that this death will tarnish the reputation of the Church and affect tourism to the sacred sites.
Rutledge arrives to an area where no one really wants him. He finds himself moving between two coastal fishing villages, both affected by home front battles and coastal bombardment by the German Navy during WWI. There is still a lot of anti-German sentiment in these towns.
Rutledge also finds a constabulary that has a wide area to patrol, not enough men to do it, and a consolidation underway of the police force, while local militias still wield a lot of power in the area. Rutledge knows he has to tread carefully as he begins to get to know the locals and ask questions. No one seems eager to answer them, there is anger towards a nosy outsider, and many secrets.
Rutledge still has Hamish chattering in his head, keeping him awake at nights, and affecting his moods. Rutledge begins noticing strange nighttime activities afoot, and after conversations with the vicar, and other locals, begins to piece together a picture of the dead man, and why he was murdered.
I listened to this and enjoyed Simon Vance's portrayal of Rutledge and Hamish. Rutledge is still suffering from his wartime experiences. The case is complicated, and I liked the measured pace of this novel, with the author giving us a sense of pride and anger amongst the locals, and what could have prompted someone to commit murder.
Rutledge keeps digging away, and his quiet, respectful manner toward everyone is welcome, and is what gets him results, which his awful boss clearly still resents him for.
I was happy to see Rutledge starting a new stage of his life, with some possible happiness coming in his next outing, one which I hope there will be.
Thank you to Netgalley and to HighBridge for this ARC in exchange for my review.
March 23, 2026
First Class Historical Police Procedural
A great way to understand the geography of the area in England just under the Scottish Border and to feel the presence of the Anglican Church in ordinary affairs.
The devil is in the details and this narrative never slows down.
A continuation of a very , very interesting part of fictional history, well told.
A great way to understand the geography of the area in England just under the Scottish Border and to feel the presence of the Anglican Church in ordinary affairs.
The devil is in the details and this narrative never slows down.
A continuation of a very , very interesting part of fictional history, well told.
March 17, 2026
Ian Rutledge is a newly installed Detective Inspector. He is glad to receive a promotion because it means his haunting by Hamish MacLeod has not interfered too much with his work for Scotland Yard; at least, his boss seems unaware. Rutledge travels north to Northumbria for a puzzling case involving a dead man who has washed ashore. The government is worried it might be a problem for the local religious site, the Abbey of Lindisfarne, the site of the founding of Christianity in England. Two fishing villages are involved, both bearing the scars of the war. Too many young men did not come home and the villagers spent the war worried about U-boats and invading Germans. Rutledge has to uncover who the deceased man was without antagonizing the locals too much. He was not a popular man; he spent most of his time afloat on a boat tracking the tides and currents for the maritime business. There is also the burden of a reorganization of the constabulary, which is wreaking havoc with the local bobbies. Who can Rutledge trust? Can he determine if the murdered man was actually a German sympathizer? Who would want him dead? Another well-plotted and interesting book from Todd. Always recommended.
February 18, 2026
An interesting historical fiction mystery. This book is part of the Inspector Ian Rutledge series but could be read as a standalone. Inspector Rutledge travels to the coast of Northumberland to investigate a murder. He is met with many obstacles as he tries to solve a case post war in communities that trust no one. Lots of twists and turns with a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you Mysterious Press for my ARC.
Thank you Mysterious Press for my ARC.
September 27, 2025
My second read in this beloved series kept me rapt and made me admire author Charles Todd even more. I love their Bess Crawford series and am new to the Ian Rutledge stories, but plan to go back and read them all. Recommended!
April 3, 2026
Ian Rutledge returns for his 25th book in A DAY OF JUDGMENT, still much is new for this iteration. It is July 1921 and Rutledge has been just promoted to Detective Chief Inspector for Scotland Yard. After horrendous service in the trenches during WWI, his demons remain but he also seems to be thinking of a future, even if it's only a glimmer of hope it is something that seemed impossible early in the series. "Charles Todd" was a mother/son partnership for years, but after the passing of Caroline Todd it is now a one-man operation.
The first solo effort appears to be the novella, A CHRISTMAS WITNESS. That effort was clunky. A DAY OF JUDGMENT is very good. There are a few tonal changes. Hamish seems angrier and meaner. Architectural description abounds and there is plently of detail on Rutledge's various meals, but that only adds to the sense of place that is so vital in these novels and the characters remain strongly defined, even Rutledge who continues to re-define himself. In this book there are even brief discussions between Rutledge and other veterans on the wartime experiences.
The plotline is good, too. Rutledge has been sent to Northumberland, on the North Sea coast near the border with Scotland. The body of a local man, something of a loner, has washed ashore and the evidence points to murder, not accidental drowning. The body washed ashore near Holy Island, a sacred religious spot and a haven for Brits on holiday. The Church heirarchy makes it clear to Scotland Yard that they want the case closed as quickly and quietly as possible. That is Rutledge's mission. The spector of WWI experiences remains strong, in this case the legacy of U-Boat attacks on coastal shipping.
The local population is suspicious of strangers poking into their business, though Rutledge does find a few friendly welcomes during his stay, especially from young ladies. The pace is steady, the writing is mostly smooth, and the story compelling. Best of all is the sense of time and place. Here's hoping this series remains strong for years to come.
The first solo effort appears to be the novella, A CHRISTMAS WITNESS. That effort was clunky. A DAY OF JUDGMENT is very good. There are a few tonal changes. Hamish seems angrier and meaner. Architectural description abounds and there is plently of detail on Rutledge's various meals, but that only adds to the sense of place that is so vital in these novels and the characters remain strongly defined, even Rutledge who continues to re-define himself. In this book there are even brief discussions between Rutledge and other veterans on the wartime experiences.
The plotline is good, too. Rutledge has been sent to Northumberland, on the North Sea coast near the border with Scotland. The body of a local man, something of a loner, has washed ashore and the evidence points to murder, not accidental drowning. The body washed ashore near Holy Island, a sacred religious spot and a haven for Brits on holiday. The Church heirarchy makes it clear to Scotland Yard that they want the case closed as quickly and quietly as possible. That is Rutledge's mission. The spector of WWI experiences remains strong, in this case the legacy of U-Boat attacks on coastal shipping.
The local population is suspicious of strangers poking into their business, though Rutledge does find a few friendly welcomes during his stay, especially from young ladies. The pace is steady, the writing is mostly smooth, and the story compelling. Best of all is the sense of time and place. Here's hoping this series remains strong for years to come.
May 4, 2026
I'm only giving this two stars for old times' sake and out of affection for Ian Rutledge. It really deserves only one star. I only made it to page 23 because it reminded me too much of the recent "A Christmas Witness", with all the attention paid to getting in and out of his automobile.
It's obvious that the lady who passed away was the heart and soul of this series, and her son provided the descriptive details on plants, architecture, operating a crank-powered Rolls, and how to hang up your frock coat.
I'm saying farewell to Ian Rutledge. I will miss him. I will follow his exploits via story summaries.
It's obvious that the lady who passed away was the heart and soul of this series, and her son provided the descriptive details on plants, architecture, operating a crank-powered Rolls, and how to hang up your frock coat.
I'm saying farewell to Ian Rutledge. I will miss him. I will follow his exploits via story summaries.
Read
April 21, 2026Charles Todd’s “A Day of Judgment,” narrated by Simon Vance, is the 25th installment in the Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries series. It can be read as a standalone. Simon Vance’s narration was exceptional. The story revolves around a mysterious death, and no one is telling the truth. Another good story.
Ian Rutledge, a character I adore, is the protagonist of this series, which is set during the post-World War I era. Charles Todd’s writing is captivating, and the mystery is well-crafted. I thoroughly enjoyed the book due to its intriguing twists and turns.
Thank you to Highbridge Audio via NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook.
Ian Rutledge, a character I adore, is the protagonist of this series, which is set during the post-World War I era. Charles Todd’s writing is captivating, and the mystery is well-crafted. I thoroughly enjoyed the book due to its intriguing twists and turns.
Thank you to Highbridge Audio via NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook.
April 2, 2026
After 100 pages of nothing happening to give a hint as to whodunit, I gave up. I have read every single one of the books in this series until this one. Apparently the late mother Caroline, who was co-author, was an important colleague.
April 2, 2026
I was very disappointed in this book. It's not the same tone as the previous books. It's much more simplistic. Not much of a plot. A lot of tea is consumed. I don't remember when Rutledge ate regular meals as in this book! He still does a lot of driving!!
March 27, 2026
Rutledge #25
Caroline's contribution is sorely missed. Always good to see what Rutledge is up to, but he's very flat here. The dialogue is stilted and unnatural, the book seems strangely unedited, and there are proofreading errors. This is just way, way off. I love this series, but this one is a disappointment.
Caroline's contribution is sorely missed. Always good to see what Rutledge is up to, but he's very flat here. The dialogue is stilted and unnatural, the book seems strangely unedited, and there are proofreading errors. This is just way, way off. I love this series, but this one is a disappointment.
March 24, 2026
This was the most repetitive book I have ever read. I lost count of how many times Rutledge got into the motor car and out of the motor car, went into the pub for [meal] and ate [meal], drove to a village and came back from a village, took off his frock coat and put on his frock coat. And if “motor car“ was a drinking game, I would have been loaded from the second chapter. I know these books are formulaic with little happening except Rutledge driving around the countryside talking to people, but this one was just too much repetition, WAY too much detail, and too little plot and action.
October 17, 2025
Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is back for his 24th outing in Charles Todd’s “A Day of Judgment”, another mystery set in post -WWI England.
We are in the midst of a heatwave in July, 1921. Rutledge, newly promoted but still disliked by his boss, is sent on a mission to Northumberland to investigate the murder of a local fisherman that was found washed up on the shore. He needs to solve the murder to assure the Church of England that the pilgrims visiting the “Holy Island” of Lindisfarne nearby, along with all of the tourists in the area, are safe and that the murder has nothing to do with the Church. It seems that the authorities are more concerned with reputation than actually finding the real culprit, putting Rutledge in a pressured no-win situation.
The scars from the war are still strong here. This coast was harassed by German U-boats during the war, with the locals dealing with the bodies washing up on the shore. It becomes clear that the victim was viewed as a “Kraut lover”, someone with German sympathies, scorned by the villagers, but was that the reason for his murder all of these years later? And is there a connection between the victim and the last sinking of a British vessel at the end of the war? Rutledge must navigate between two villages, both of them with secrets and a hatred of outsiders. A local constable and an overeager inspector seem to be his only two allies in pursuing the murder. And Rutledge also must struggle with his own demons from the war and his feelings about the Germans as he follows his leads. When someone who helped Rutledge is also violently killed, he must now go on the offensive against the town militia, prejudiced locals, and the indifferent officials to stop a killer before he can strike again.
Another fine outing from Charles Todd, although the local geographies, histories, and especially the food descriptions all took away from the pace and storytelling at times.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
We are in the midst of a heatwave in July, 1921. Rutledge, newly promoted but still disliked by his boss, is sent on a mission to Northumberland to investigate the murder of a local fisherman that was found washed up on the shore. He needs to solve the murder to assure the Church of England that the pilgrims visiting the “Holy Island” of Lindisfarne nearby, along with all of the tourists in the area, are safe and that the murder has nothing to do with the Church. It seems that the authorities are more concerned with reputation than actually finding the real culprit, putting Rutledge in a pressured no-win situation.
The scars from the war are still strong here. This coast was harassed by German U-boats during the war, with the locals dealing with the bodies washing up on the shore. It becomes clear that the victim was viewed as a “Kraut lover”, someone with German sympathies, scorned by the villagers, but was that the reason for his murder all of these years later? And is there a connection between the victim and the last sinking of a British vessel at the end of the war? Rutledge must navigate between two villages, both of them with secrets and a hatred of outsiders. A local constable and an overeager inspector seem to be his only two allies in pursuing the murder. And Rutledge also must struggle with his own demons from the war and his feelings about the Germans as he follows his leads. When someone who helped Rutledge is also violently killed, he must now go on the offensive against the town militia, prejudiced locals, and the indifferent officials to stop a killer before he can strike again.
Another fine outing from Charles Todd, although the local geographies, histories, and especially the food descriptions all took away from the pace and storytelling at times.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Any long running series waxes and wanes. This was a worthwhile read, but felt a bit off to me. The series premise is that (newly-promoted) Chief Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is sent out on a potentially touchy death in Northumbria that might bring the wrath of the Church. This thread is not fleshed out and the possible awkwardness is a dead end plot element.
Rutledge is Great War veteran with a lot of baggage. The voice of a man he had shot for refusing to carry out an order is constantly with him as a potent symbol of his guilt and shell shock. Hamish's voice is very present in this one, as the local murder has tie-ins to World War I and brings back Rutledge's nightmares.
The plot started out to be interesting but sort of petered out in the end. Some of the writing feels repetitive -- we are told and shown dozens of times that the locals don't appreciate the Yard's presence or strangers in their midst. The long narrative descriptions sometimes ramble a bit.
There are some interactions with the local clergy that are nicely drawn and reflective. And there's a bit of hope in the ending that Rutledge will someday be able to have normal relationships and move away from his war trauma. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Any long running series waxes and wanes. This was a worthwhile read, but felt a bit off to me. The series premise is that (newly-promoted) Chief Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard is sent out on a potentially touchy death in Northumbria that might bring the wrath of the Church. This thread is not fleshed out and the possible awkwardness is a dead end plot element.
Rutledge is Great War veteran with a lot of baggage. The voice of a man he had shot for refusing to carry out an order is constantly with him as a potent symbol of his guilt and shell shock. Hamish's voice is very present in this one, as the local murder has tie-ins to World War I and brings back Rutledge's nightmares.
The plot started out to be interesting but sort of petered out in the end. Some of the writing feels repetitive -- we are told and shown dozens of times that the locals don't appreciate the Yard's presence or strangers in their midst. The long narrative descriptions sometimes ramble a bit.
There are some interactions with the local clergy that are nicely drawn and reflective. And there's a bit of hope in the ending that Rutledge will someday be able to have normal relationships and move away from his war trauma. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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