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Inspector Ian Rutledge #18
No Shred of Evidence Lib/E: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery
In this absorbing new entry in the acclaimed New York Times bestselling series, Scotland Yard's Ian Rutledge is caught up in a twisted web of vengeance and murder.On the north coast of Cornwall, an apparent act of mercy is repaid by an arrest for murder. Four young women have been accused of the crime. A shocked father calls in a favor at the Home Office. Scotland Yard is asked to review the case.However, Inspector Ian Rutledge is not the first Inspector to reach the village. Following in the shoes of a dead man, he is told the case is all but closed. Even as it takes an unexpected personal turn, Rutledge will require all his skill to deal with the incensed families of the accused, the grieving parents of the victim, and local police eager to see these four women sent to the infamous Bodmin Gaol. Then why hasn't the killing stopped?With no shred of evidence to clear the accused, Rutledge must plunge deep into the darkest secrets of a wild, beautiful and dangerous place if he is to find a killer who may--or may not--hold the key to their fate.
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First published February 16, 2016
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About the author
Charles Todd
112 books3,494 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 634 reviews
March 16, 2016
For the last several months I have been reading through the large spate of psychological thrillers being published, all supposed to be the new Gone Girl or Girl on the train. Some are good, some not but they have all become jumbled in my head, one just blending in with the other, and I grew tired of them It was so nice to return to straight out detective procedural or historical novels. Need to catch up on some of my series, of, which this is one.
Two years after the war ended, Rutledge, who is emotionally scarred from the Battle at Somme, has returned to police work. He carries some excess baggage with him, the ghost or spirit if you will of a man from his battalion that he had to execute for disobeying a direct order. His name is Hamish and he is Rutledge's constant companion. I. This outing four young well bred women are accused of killing, drowning a young well of banker's son.
This period piece has such a great authentic atmosphere. Slower paced, detective work took time back in the days before the internet and social media, they had to question witnesses, sometimes several times, travel, which took longer and then question again. Looking for a thread to pull and than following it with the hopeful end result of putting them together to form a complete picture.
Rutledge is a likable character, Hamish adds something a little special and a little different to this series. Looking forward to the next case.
Two years after the war ended, Rutledge, who is emotionally scarred from the Battle at Somme, has returned to police work. He carries some excess baggage with him, the ghost or spirit if you will of a man from his battalion that he had to execute for disobeying a direct order. His name is Hamish and he is Rutledge's constant companion. I. This outing four young well bred women are accused of killing, drowning a young well of banker's son.
This period piece has such a great authentic atmosphere. Slower paced, detective work took time back in the days before the internet and social media, they had to question witnesses, sometimes several times, travel, which took longer and then question again. Looking for a thread to pull and than following it with the hopeful end result of putting them together to form a complete picture.
Rutledge is a likable character, Hamish adds something a little special and a little different to this series. Looking forward to the next case.
July 5, 2019
NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE is book 18 in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series. I have only previously read the first book in this series, but I had no problem getting into this book. There are some mentioning of events from previous books, but I don't think one needs to read previous books to keep up with what's going on in NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
February 23, 2016
I admit to being a bit in love with Inspector Ian Rutledge, as damaged and driven and guilt-ridden as he is. Don't know how he can seem so kind, caring & soft- hearted after what he endured. Plus, he's just so damned smart! Yes, yes, I know I'm going on about a fictional character but he seems real after reading 18 books with him as the main character. This is typical in that it involves many twists, turns, twisted love, local dense policeman & other usual village folk. Definitely a police procedural but always with a difference. Set as England recovers from the war with all the class differences still in place in rural England. If you enjoy good British police procedural yarns, the duo known as Charles Todd writes some doozies! There is so much back story, it's best to start at the beginning, though! Otherwise you'll miss a lot of references that add depth to the story!
January 11, 2018
Having read this entire series, this is the one I have enjoyed the least. But I could not give it a 2 star because Ian is developing and there are portions of this which were a progression to the overall psychological changes as the years "after" the Great War turn, one and then another, and then another. And now "the differences" from that "just punctured" psyche are beginning to evolve.
It was the plot and the placements this time that I thought much less interesting and probable (both) than the usual Ian Rutledge. For instance, way too many red herrings and redundant testimonies, which the reader knows are red herring or repeats for filler purposes, from the get-go. Like an unconscious victim becoming "audible" suddenly and saying a name. And you KNOW that it is NOT the name of the perpetrator, just because of when he says it. This novel became tedious for 100 pages in the middle exactly for those two reasons.
But what really was 2 star at core was the focal event of the 4 women trying to drown 1 man scenario as if that were a felony death sentence provable crime only from the word of another (ONE)man's differing and contrary to fact story of "what he saw" them do. Not knowing 1920 British law, I still believe that the entire thing(ordeal of those 4 women) could have been reversed with the money and highly skilled family lawyers within a couple of weeks, at least a month tops. There was no evidence and no definitive witness. And not even a motive worth considering for three of them.
Thank God for Great Uncle's dear Elephant Gun, is all I can add about this plot.
Three times during this read I wished Guido Brunetti would show up and rectify the misunderstanding. Take all the women to dinner, figure out which husband's (brother's or probable boyfriend's) PTSD or evil nature was impassioned and then have a good wine together while all the rest of them finish the evening by planning a vacation to Capri. It would have been so much more fun. Ian is way, way too rigid, quite beyond the emotive and mental war legacy to go with the flow of his job, IMHO. All this murdering, beatings, mayhem, burning down of cottages etc. isn't being done by 4 fashionable ladies with perfect hats to match. Come on, Guido would have know that without all the interviews and could have slept late at the same time before his morning cappuccino hit.
Lastly, Ian better get a more lucky and jolly girlfriend soon or he is going to become monkish. And a better criminal case with some stylish Art-Deco in it would not hurt either. Give him a weekend at Downton Abbey or Highclere Estate at least. No more vicarages or pig farms.
It was the plot and the placements this time that I thought much less interesting and probable (both) than the usual Ian Rutledge. For instance, way too many red herrings and redundant testimonies, which the reader knows are red herring or repeats for filler purposes, from the get-go. Like an unconscious victim becoming "audible" suddenly and saying a name. And you KNOW that it is NOT the name of the perpetrator, just because of when he says it. This novel became tedious for 100 pages in the middle exactly for those two reasons.
But what really was 2 star at core was the focal event of the 4 women trying to drown 1 man scenario as if that were a felony death sentence provable crime only from the word of another (ONE)man's differing and contrary to fact story of "what he saw" them do. Not knowing 1920 British law, I still believe that the entire thing(ordeal of those 4 women) could have been reversed with the money and highly skilled family lawyers within a couple of weeks, at least a month tops. There was no evidence and no definitive witness. And not even a motive worth considering for three of them.
Thank God for Great Uncle's dear Elephant Gun, is all I can add about this plot.
Three times during this read I wished Guido Brunetti would show up and rectify the misunderstanding. Take all the women to dinner, figure out which husband's (brother's or probable boyfriend's) PTSD or evil nature was impassioned and then have a good wine together while all the rest of them finish the evening by planning a vacation to Capri. It would have been so much more fun. Ian is way, way too rigid, quite beyond the emotive and mental war legacy to go with the flow of his job, IMHO. All this murdering, beatings, mayhem, burning down of cottages etc. isn't being done by 4 fashionable ladies with perfect hats to match. Come on, Guido would have know that without all the interviews and could have slept late at the same time before his morning cappuccino hit.
Lastly, Ian better get a more lucky and jolly girlfriend soon or he is going to become monkish. And a better criminal case with some stylish Art-Deco in it would not hurt either. Give him a weekend at Downton Abbey or Highclere Estate at least. No more vicarages or pig farms.
June 15, 2023
Inspector Ian Rutledge has returned to Scotland Yard after serving the UK Army during the great War. Although at the time they are unaware of PTSD, this is his struggle.
He is called in to a case in which 4 women from good, solid families have been accused of trying to kill a young man, whose small dinghy was sinking off shore. A farmer who was also a witness, claimed this is what he saw when he went out to try and rescue the man. Unfortunately, the man died from his mysterious head wound.
This isn't really a whodunit, per se. The Inspector needs to determine the intent to kill.
The cast of characters is interesting and illustrates the class-system in place in 1920s England, where presumption of guilt, and innocence, is almost a matter of evidence and social standing.
The pacing of the story feels deliberate. Not brisk, but thoughtful, drawing readers in.
Still, there was just something missing to make it a great story. 3.5 stars.
He is called in to a case in which 4 women from good, solid families have been accused of trying to kill a young man, whose small dinghy was sinking off shore. A farmer who was also a witness, claimed this is what he saw when he went out to try and rescue the man. Unfortunately, the man died from his mysterious head wound.
This isn't really a whodunit, per se. The Inspector needs to determine the intent to kill.
The cast of characters is interesting and illustrates the class-system in place in 1920s England, where presumption of guilt, and innocence, is almost a matter of evidence and social standing.
The pacing of the story feels deliberate. Not brisk, but thoughtful, drawing readers in.
Still, there was just something missing to make it a great story. 3.5 stars.
March 12, 2022
Four young women accused of murder, Cornish piskies, a friend from the past, an elusive young woman. All bits of threads Ian must solve—if at all possible.
April 3, 2016
Eighteenth in the Inspector Ian Rutledge historical mystery series and revolving around an inspector suffering from PTSD. This story takes place in Cornwall in the fall of 1920.
My Take
Todd jams us up in a hard twist right from the start. Four girls enjoying a last row on the river until they try to rescue a drowning man and encounter a lying witness.
I gotta say, from the start I did not like Victoria. What a selfish little snob! Her whole attitude about a man in trouble on the water was so cold. It was mean of Todd to leave us wondering for so long as to what really happened on that rowboat. She and Trevose would deserve each other.
I do have some quibbles. I don't understand what purpose was served by Todd going on about Ian's past cases and his past women. Why wouldn't the police have immediately had the boat raised? I'm not sure how Major Gordon is Kate's father if Kate is Jean's cousin and Jean is the major's daughter per events in A Fine Summer's Day , 17. I don't appreciate the "cousin" not trying to do something to stop what's stalking her what with the evidence he's leaving behind. And how is she supporting herself?
It's a different world then. A class system that restricted friendships. One that treated the upper classes quite differently from the rest. Easy to see, as technically the four girls are under arrest, but their parents wield enough clout that they arrange for the girls to be held in Grenville's custody under house arrest. The restrictions placed on women; thank god for women's lib.
Then again our world is no different today from then. The people of 1920 revile George for his appearance, after what he suffered, fighting for his country. We forget so quickly what our soldiers suffer to protect us. What is with people?
When you think that if everyone had simply told Rutledge the whole truth when he asked for it…how many lives would have been saved. With the trouble he's caused, and he has the gall to ask "What's an honest man to do?" As for Victoria's "confession". WTF? How could she actually think she could get away with lying? As for the Saunderses. Jesus. I understand the grief they're suffering, so why not do what you can to help the police??? Why paint lies?
There wasn't much of Hamish in this. Is Rutledge coming to terms with his guilt?
It's a series of nasty twists that have bound up this investigation. Red herrings. A misguided thirst for vengeance. Lies.
The Story
Inspector Barrington was the first Scotland Yard detective sent to Cornwall to investigate the murderous drowning of Harry Saunders. But that heart attack of the inspector's got in the way. Rutledge is the second string, sent with Markham's ill-wishes, to find it was a rescue that turns to murder for four young women. One is the woman with whom Rutledge is falling in love. Who faces prison.
Luckily their fathers are men with influence and manage to pull in Scotland Yard when the local constabulary prefer to believe the worst and want the case closed. Now.
Unluckily, the ladies' fathers are arrogant men who don't see why the rules should apply to them.
The Characters
Inspector Ian Rutledge is with Scotland Yard. Corporal Hamish MacLeod is the Scottish ghost haunting Ian.
Scotland Yard
Sergeant Gibson is a marvel with his information network. Chief Superintendent Markham is Ian's boss. Inspector Barrington is the first man sent to Padstow.
Heyl, Cornwall
Inspector Carstairs is investigating a murder in an alley.
Padstow, Cornwall
Constable Beddoes and Constable Pendennis (he was lied to) are based in Padstow.
Harry Saunders is the son of a banker and spent the war agitating for the Americans to step in and help. He loved sailing and had a small dinghy, the Sea Lion, for rowing out to his yacht. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have no excuse for their statements in spite of their grief. Walter Poltruan and Sandy Wade were Harry's friends.
Bradford Trevose, a farmer, saw the incident. Mrs. Bronwyn Penwith is his housekeeper and had been his mother's housekeeper before that. Paul Trevose was the brother who went away to be a footman.
David Toup is the vicar with secrets at St. Marina. Mrs. Par is his housekeeper. Mrs. Daniels is the woman who will nurse him. Mr. Daniels will spend the nights at the vicarage to protect them both. The vicar seems to have had a "cousin" visiting him last summer, Frances Bingham.
Mr. Penhale owns the Pilot, a pub in the village. Dr. Carrick is the local physician. Henry Kelsey owns the boat salvage yard. Frank Dunbar lets the cottages by the river. A Terlew lad found the beaten body; his family lives at Half Acre Farm. Joseph Hays owns the inn.
Padstow Place is…
…the home of the Grenvilles. Victoria is the daughter of the house. Stephen, Elaine's fiancé, is the brother and heir who died in the war. Mr. Grenville is the local magistrate. Mrs. Grenville has her own secrets that cause Trevose to hate the family more. The friends who are visiting include Kate Gordon, Elaine St. Ives is a local neighbor, and Sara Langley.
Major Gordon, who had been Jean's father in A Fine Summer's Day is now Kate's father. Corporal Dixon is his driver. George St. Ives is Elaine's brother returned from the war, badly damaged, and refuses to see anyone.
Fowey, Cornwall, is…
…home to the Fowey Hotel. Tolworthy is the manager. Maisy was the maid who was assigned Miss Haverford's room. Margaret Eleanor Avery Haverford is a very secretive woman and had been a guest.
Boscastle, Cornwall, is…
…near Wadebridge. The sisters, Ronnie and Patricia, are the sheltering friends. William is Alexandra Worth's ex-husband. Dr. Learner is the local physician.
Dr. Fleming was the psychiatrist Ian worked with, who told him he'd have to learn to live with the voice or go mad. Mr. and Mrs. Wingate live in London.
The Cover and Title
The cover is soft with its hazy background of the river and a sharp focus in the lower right corner, peeling back as it were, of stile and field.
The title is a mockery, for there are scraps, but not enough, no proof, No Shred of Evidence.
My Take
Todd jams us up in a hard twist right from the start. Four girls enjoying a last row on the river until they try to rescue a drowning man and encounter a lying witness.
I gotta say, from the start I did not like Victoria. What a selfish little snob! Her whole attitude about a man in trouble on the water was so cold. It was mean of Todd to leave us wondering for so long as to what really happened on that rowboat. She and Trevose would deserve each other.
I do have some quibbles. I don't understand what purpose was served by Todd going on about Ian's past cases and his past women. Why wouldn't the police have immediately had the boat raised? I'm not sure how Major Gordon is Kate's father if Kate is Jean's cousin and Jean is the major's daughter per events in A Fine Summer's Day , 17. I don't appreciate the "cousin" not trying to do something to stop what's stalking her what with the evidence he's leaving behind. And how is she supporting herself?
It's a different world then. A class system that restricted friendships. One that treated the upper classes quite differently from the rest. Easy to see, as technically the four girls are under arrest, but their parents wield enough clout that they arrange for the girls to be held in Grenville's custody under house arrest. The restrictions placed on women; thank god for women's lib.
Then again our world is no different today from then. The people of 1920 revile George for his appearance, after what he suffered, fighting for his country. We forget so quickly what our soldiers suffer to protect us. What is with people?
When you think that if everyone had simply told Rutledge the whole truth when he asked for it…how many lives would have been saved. With the trouble he's caused, and he has the gall to ask "What's an honest man to do?" As for Victoria's "confession". WTF? How could she actually think she could get away with lying? As for the Saunderses. Jesus. I understand the grief they're suffering, so why not do what you can to help the police??? Why paint lies?
There wasn't much of Hamish in this. Is Rutledge coming to terms with his guilt?
It's a series of nasty twists that have bound up this investigation. Red herrings. A misguided thirst for vengeance. Lies.
The Story
Inspector Barrington was the first Scotland Yard detective sent to Cornwall to investigate the murderous drowning of Harry Saunders. But that heart attack of the inspector's got in the way. Rutledge is the second string, sent with Markham's ill-wishes, to find it was a rescue that turns to murder for four young women. One is the woman with whom Rutledge is falling in love. Who faces prison.
Luckily their fathers are men with influence and manage to pull in Scotland Yard when the local constabulary prefer to believe the worst and want the case closed. Now.
Unluckily, the ladies' fathers are arrogant men who don't see why the rules should apply to them.
The Characters
Inspector Ian Rutledge is with Scotland Yard. Corporal Hamish MacLeod is the Scottish ghost haunting Ian.
Scotland Yard
Sergeant Gibson is a marvel with his information network. Chief Superintendent Markham is Ian's boss. Inspector Barrington is the first man sent to Padstow.
Heyl, Cornwall
Inspector Carstairs is investigating a murder in an alley.
Padstow, Cornwall
Constable Beddoes and Constable Pendennis (he was lied to) are based in Padstow.
Harry Saunders is the son of a banker and spent the war agitating for the Americans to step in and help. He loved sailing and had a small dinghy, the Sea Lion, for rowing out to his yacht. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have no excuse for their statements in spite of their grief. Walter Poltruan and Sandy Wade were Harry's friends.
Bradford Trevose, a farmer, saw the incident. Mrs. Bronwyn Penwith is his housekeeper and had been his mother's housekeeper before that. Paul Trevose was the brother who went away to be a footman.
David Toup is the vicar with secrets at St. Marina. Mrs. Par is his housekeeper. Mrs. Daniels is the woman who will nurse him. Mr. Daniels will spend the nights at the vicarage to protect them both. The vicar seems to have had a "cousin" visiting him last summer, Frances Bingham.
Mr. Penhale owns the Pilot, a pub in the village. Dr. Carrick is the local physician. Henry Kelsey owns the boat salvage yard. Frank Dunbar lets the cottages by the river. A Terlew lad found the beaten body; his family lives at Half Acre Farm. Joseph Hays owns the inn.
Padstow Place is…
…the home of the Grenvilles. Victoria is the daughter of the house. Stephen, Elaine's fiancé, is the brother and heir who died in the war. Mr. Grenville is the local magistrate. Mrs. Grenville has her own secrets that cause Trevose to hate the family more. The friends who are visiting include Kate Gordon, Elaine St. Ives is a local neighbor, and Sara Langley.
Major Gordon, who had been Jean's father in A Fine Summer's Day is now Kate's father. Corporal Dixon is his driver. George St. Ives is Elaine's brother returned from the war, badly damaged, and refuses to see anyone.
Fowey, Cornwall, is…
…home to the Fowey Hotel. Tolworthy is the manager. Maisy was the maid who was assigned Miss Haverford's room. Margaret Eleanor Avery Haverford is a very secretive woman and had been a guest.
Boscastle, Cornwall, is…
…near Wadebridge. The sisters, Ronnie and Patricia, are the sheltering friends. William is Alexandra Worth's ex-husband. Dr. Learner is the local physician.
Dr. Fleming was the psychiatrist Ian worked with, who told him he'd have to learn to live with the voice or go mad. Mr. and Mrs. Wingate live in London.
The Cover and Title
The cover is soft with its hazy background of the river and a sharp focus in the lower right corner, peeling back as it were, of stile and field.
The title is a mockery, for there are scraps, but not enough, no proof, No Shred of Evidence.
February 21, 2016
This is a wonderful place for new readers to the Inspector Rutledge series to begin their journey with Ian and the not-so-often present Hamish. The Charles Todd writing team did a thorough job of allowing new readers to understand the background for Rutledge, his service in World War I, his ex-fiancé Jean Gordon, and the specter of Hamish McLeod which haunts Ian day and night. I was glad to see Hamish playing a smaller role in the story because that meant that Rutledge had a chance to proceed with this investigation without being so overwhelmed by what he had suffered through during the war. Yes, it is still there, but the depression isn't so all-consuming this time and as a reader I can hope for better mental health for this character in the days to come.
Four young women were having an idle paddle on the river when they saw someone waving at them and trying to get their attention. One of the women wanted to ignore him because she thought he just wanted to flirt with them. When it became obvious he was in serious trouble the women tried to rescue him from the water. A witness on shore managed to swim to the boat, helped get the drowning man into the boat, but then accused all four women of trying to murder the man. When Rutledge arrives from London to investigate for Scotland Yard he finds that one of the women is Kate Gordon, the cousin of Jean Gordon the woman he was engaged to marry in1914. Rutledge had vowed never to return to Cornwall because of all the tragedy he associates with it. Now he's about to have to relive the past as well as deal with this case.
I loved the way the authors changed up the plotting of this case and moved it away from being the standard plot of a mystery novel. This one had tangles of story lines which kept intersecting and causing confusion as to what was happening in the case Rutledge had been sent down to investigate. Unknown to anyone involved in the death of the man in the boat, Harry Saunders, other factors were taking place in the background which took skillful handling by the authors to keep camouflaged while the general investigation was carried out. I also enjoyed watching the dilemma Rutledge was faced with in trying to separate out whom among the four women might have had intent to injure Harry Saunders. All kinds of social pressures were brought about because of the levels of society represented by those involved and in 1920 those societal levels still played a huge part in how suspects were dealt with, but the great war had gone a long way toward beginning to level those differences so Scotland Yard inspectors had a very narrow line to tread.
I thought this was an exciting novel to read from the standpoint of watching the Charles Todd team go in unexpected directions. It worked wonderfully for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Four young women were having an idle paddle on the river when they saw someone waving at them and trying to get their attention. One of the women wanted to ignore him because she thought he just wanted to flirt with them. When it became obvious he was in serious trouble the women tried to rescue him from the water. A witness on shore managed to swim to the boat, helped get the drowning man into the boat, but then accused all four women of trying to murder the man. When Rutledge arrives from London to investigate for Scotland Yard he finds that one of the women is Kate Gordon, the cousin of Jean Gordon the woman he was engaged to marry in1914. Rutledge had vowed never to return to Cornwall because of all the tragedy he associates with it. Now he's about to have to relive the past as well as deal with this case.
I loved the way the authors changed up the plotting of this case and moved it away from being the standard plot of a mystery novel. This one had tangles of story lines which kept intersecting and causing confusion as to what was happening in the case Rutledge had been sent down to investigate. Unknown to anyone involved in the death of the man in the boat, Harry Saunders, other factors were taking place in the background which took skillful handling by the authors to keep camouflaged while the general investigation was carried out. I also enjoyed watching the dilemma Rutledge was faced with in trying to separate out whom among the four women might have had intent to injure Harry Saunders. All kinds of social pressures were brought about because of the levels of society represented by those involved and in 1920 those societal levels still played a huge part in how suspects were dealt with, but the great war had gone a long way toward beginning to level those differences so Scotland Yard inspectors had a very narrow line to tread.
I thought this was an exciting novel to read from the standpoint of watching the Charles Todd team go in unexpected directions. It worked wonderfully for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 31, 2024
Sigh. I really, really wanted to give this three stars, but in all honesty I just can't.
One fine day, four young women go boating on the river. On the way home, they encounter a man whose boat is sinking, and of course, they try to rescue him. Or do they? In the end, the man is dead and the four friends are accused of murder. Inspector Ian Rutledge is called in to investigate only to find a shocking lack of evidence, and great resistance from everyone he talks to. There are blustering fathers, an evasive eyewitness, old grudges, unexplained night walkers, and a mysterious young lady who cannot be found. And more bodies.
The plot sounds good but the execution was clumsy. There were too many red herrings that ultimately became insignificant details, and the final resolution, which should have been more a major part than an after-thought, was rushed and too easy given all the initial misdirection. In the beginning the writing was choppy and tentative, though the pace and flow improved as the book progressed. Also, the timing of this book was unclear. Going by Ian's thinking and behavior, it was difficult to tell at first if it came in sequence with the rest of the series or was an insertion into the timeline.
There were mentions of Ian's past loves - Jean and Meredith - which gave an indication that there might be a happy future for him, which is a good thing. He didn't seem as troubled as he has in past books (although he did have a token thought of ending it all at the river, which seemed to me to be stuck in as an impulse - oh, look! here's a good place for a suicidal thought!) and Hamish made little appearance here.
This will be go on my keeper shelf, but mostly because I have all the others.
I received this uncorrected proof in a Goodreads giveaway.
One fine day, four young women go boating on the river. On the way home, they encounter a man whose boat is sinking, and of course, they try to rescue him. Or do they? In the end, the man is dead and the four friends are accused of murder. Inspector Ian Rutledge is called in to investigate only to find a shocking lack of evidence, and great resistance from everyone he talks to. There are blustering fathers, an evasive eyewitness, old grudges, unexplained night walkers, and a mysterious young lady who cannot be found. And more bodies.
The plot sounds good but the execution was clumsy. There were too many red herrings that ultimately became insignificant details, and the final resolution, which should have been more a major part than an after-thought, was rushed and too easy given all the initial misdirection. In the beginning the writing was choppy and tentative, though the pace and flow improved as the book progressed. Also, the timing of this book was unclear. Going by Ian's thinking and behavior, it was difficult to tell at first if it came in sequence with the rest of the series or was an insertion into the timeline.
There were mentions of Ian's past loves - Jean and Meredith - which gave an indication that there might be a happy future for him, which is a good thing. He didn't seem as troubled as he has in past books (although he did have a token thought of ending it all at the river, which seemed to me to be stuck in as an impulse - oh, look! here's a good place for a suicidal thought!) and Hamish made little appearance here.
This will be go on my keeper shelf, but mostly because I have all the others.
I received this uncorrected proof in a Goodreads giveaway.
February 14, 2016
I used to read a lot more mysteries than I do now, when I've gravitated more towards thrillers and psychological suspense. This book was a true mystery, and a little too sedate for my taste. It wasn't until two thirds of the way through this book that the story actually became interesting to me. I have not read anything else by this author, but this (the 18th book in the series) worked fine as a standalone. I suspect, however, that the author's fans will like it more than I did.
In this book, Inspector Ian Rutledge, who has recently returned to Scotland Yard after serving in the First World War, is sent to Cornwall to investigate an attempted murder. Rutledge works alone, except for an imaginary conscience/companion named Hamish. I gather that Hamish is a standard presence in other books in this series. I found it decidedly odd but not too intrusive. I guess fans of the series like it. I got no sense of who Rutledge is, or why he has been the focus of so many books.
Right from the start I thought that there were too many suspects and too many red herrings, which padded the book and led to a plodding story. In this case it was literally plodding, as Rutledge trudged from house to house interviewing the same people over and over again. Sometimes he only attempted to interview them, because if a suspect (or sometimes their father or a maid) told him they didn't want to talk to him, he just went away. It may be how real police work operates, but it doesn't make for exciting reading. The solution to the case came out of left field and didn't seem at all realistic to me, but there was an exciting, though unbelievable, scene near the end. Ultimately, I found this a pleasant read, but better for people who like their stories tame.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
In this book, Inspector Ian Rutledge, who has recently returned to Scotland Yard after serving in the First World War, is sent to Cornwall to investigate an attempted murder. Rutledge works alone, except for an imaginary conscience/companion named Hamish. I gather that Hamish is a standard presence in other books in this series. I found it decidedly odd but not too intrusive. I guess fans of the series like it. I got no sense of who Rutledge is, or why he has been the focus of so many books.
Right from the start I thought that there were too many suspects and too many red herrings, which padded the book and led to a plodding story. In this case it was literally plodding, as Rutledge trudged from house to house interviewing the same people over and over again. Sometimes he only attempted to interview them, because if a suspect (or sometimes their father or a maid) told him they didn't want to talk to him, he just went away. It may be how real police work operates, but it doesn't make for exciting reading. The solution to the case came out of left field and didn't seem at all realistic to me, but there was an exciting, though unbelievable, scene near the end. Ultimately, I found this a pleasant read, but better for people who like their stories tame.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
March 13, 2016
This is my first book by Charles Todd. With it being book 18 in the series, readers can read it as a standalone. Parts in the book did refer back in time but doesn't make a new reader lost. It has a nice mystery, but a bit slow for me.
March 5, 2016
This is a very nicely written, may I say "genteel" mystery, set in England just after WWI. This is the 1st I've read in this series (it is actually # 18 in this series), but it works fine as a stand-alone. The author's bio says "Charles Todd" is a mother-son writing team. I do not know how that works as far as writing is concerned, but they manage to portray a nice feeling of the manners and tone of that era. The Scotland Yard detective, Ian Rutledge, is a good hero, and he obviously has a back story that loyal readers of this series already know about. The mystery itself is nicely played out, and, although a little too sedate for my taste, was a pleasant read.
May 1, 2022
1920 Cornwall
Another satisfying mystery by this mother/son writing team. In No Shred of Evidence, four young women out for a relaxing afternoon on the water are accused of attempted murder. Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent by the Scotland Yard to figure out what happened.
Another satisfying mystery by this mother/son writing team. In No Shred of Evidence, four young women out for a relaxing afternoon on the water are accused of attempted murder. Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent by the Scotland Yard to figure out what happened.
March 14, 2016
The Ian Rutledge books make up a superior series. The impact of World War I on English society is always apparent within the individual books in the series. The challenge of hunting murderers in a pre-CSI world is always interesting. The description of Rutledge's personal challenges, deeply rooted in his wartime experience, are frequently moving. I look forward to each book eagerly. Having said all that, I have issues with "No Shred of Evidence" that won't lower its 4-star rating, but explain why it's no a 5-star book. The description of these issues must be preceded by a Spoiler Alert.
• The crime that Rutledge is sent to Cornwall to investigate sets up well. Four young women who are boating go to the rescue of another boater, a young man known to two of them, at least, whose boat appears to be sinking. When their efforts prove to be a physical challenge, a farmer dives into the river and swims to their assistance. The rescued boater is in a coma, however, and the farmer accuses the young women of attempted murder. Enter Rutledge. So far, so good.
•The author(s) argues from the beginning that the farmer's word counts for more than the collective testimony of the four young women, apparently because the accused would automatically lie if guilty. What happened to the assumption that the English system assumes innocence and requires the hard proof of guilt? Whatever the nature of rural life in England in the 1920s, however insular Cornwall might have been compared to London, the authorial assumption that eight hundred years of English law don't apply in rural Cornwall seems absurd. To make the point even more strongly, the four young women are from the privileged class, served in volunteer posts in the war, and one is the daughter of the largest landowner as well as the chief magistrate of the district. If anything, they would have gotten off without much of an inquest. Why does everyone assume that they are in line for hanging in the absence of eye-witness testimony to the contrary? Granted, the assumption makes Rutledge's efforts more fraught, but it seems an artificially contrived assumption.
•There are two overlapping (maybe, maybe not) crimes under consideration. One is a product of the farmer's charges and the recovered man's ultimate death. The other revolves about a mysterious young woman whose presence in the town seems the focus of a dangerous person whose identity, like hers, is not clear. This second crime nexus is introduced effectively and developed well enough until suddenly rushed to a melodramatic conclusion. There is a scene when Rutledge realizes that he is under observation by a malevolent presence that is quite effective, until Rutledge allows the stalker to move around the area without attempting to stalk him. (The stalker uses the boat that had sunk and been raised, and apparently repaired--unless it's the boat used by the women--and rows back and forth across the river. The boat isn't placed under observation (Rutledge could have used the local constable, a bit of a dunce, to do that, or staked it out himself.) And why doesn't anyone recognize the presence of the stalker as he moves around at night? Given that he is physically fit, unlike the other possible midnight walker, would make it easy to tell them apart. The use of a costume (once) seems pretty thin stuff as a distraction. And the many references to the Cornish belief in spirits that go bump in the night by people from the area doesn't begin to explain why people don't notice a stranger at night.
•The stalker could have been fleshed out better, and Rutledge could have stalked him. See "Watcher in the Shadows" or "Kill Claudio" for examples of what a master writer can do with that kind of situation.
•If I were Inspector Ian Rutledge, I wouldn't leave my revolver in a trunk under my bed in London, not when I spend my life tracking homicidal maniacs. He's had to use his service revolver in at least eight or nine other cases.
• The crime that Rutledge is sent to Cornwall to investigate sets up well. Four young women who are boating go to the rescue of another boater, a young man known to two of them, at least, whose boat appears to be sinking. When their efforts prove to be a physical challenge, a farmer dives into the river and swims to their assistance. The rescued boater is in a coma, however, and the farmer accuses the young women of attempted murder. Enter Rutledge. So far, so good.
•The author(s) argues from the beginning that the farmer's word counts for more than the collective testimony of the four young women, apparently because the accused would automatically lie if guilty. What happened to the assumption that the English system assumes innocence and requires the hard proof of guilt? Whatever the nature of rural life in England in the 1920s, however insular Cornwall might have been compared to London, the authorial assumption that eight hundred years of English law don't apply in rural Cornwall seems absurd. To make the point even more strongly, the four young women are from the privileged class, served in volunteer posts in the war, and one is the daughter of the largest landowner as well as the chief magistrate of the district. If anything, they would have gotten off without much of an inquest. Why does everyone assume that they are in line for hanging in the absence of eye-witness testimony to the contrary? Granted, the assumption makes Rutledge's efforts more fraught, but it seems an artificially contrived assumption.
•There are two overlapping (maybe, maybe not) crimes under consideration. One is a product of the farmer's charges and the recovered man's ultimate death. The other revolves about a mysterious young woman whose presence in the town seems the focus of a dangerous person whose identity, like hers, is not clear. This second crime nexus is introduced effectively and developed well enough until suddenly rushed to a melodramatic conclusion. There is a scene when Rutledge realizes that he is under observation by a malevolent presence that is quite effective, until Rutledge allows the stalker to move around the area without attempting to stalk him. (The stalker uses the boat that had sunk and been raised, and apparently repaired--unless it's the boat used by the women--and rows back and forth across the river. The boat isn't placed under observation (Rutledge could have used the local constable, a bit of a dunce, to do that, or staked it out himself.) And why doesn't anyone recognize the presence of the stalker as he moves around at night? Given that he is physically fit, unlike the other possible midnight walker, would make it easy to tell them apart. The use of a costume (once) seems pretty thin stuff as a distraction. And the many references to the Cornish belief in spirits that go bump in the night by people from the area doesn't begin to explain why people don't notice a stranger at night.
•The stalker could have been fleshed out better, and Rutledge could have stalked him. See "Watcher in the Shadows" or "Kill Claudio" for examples of what a master writer can do with that kind of situation.
•If I were Inspector Ian Rutledge, I wouldn't leave my revolver in a trunk under my bed in London, not when I spend my life tracking homicidal maniacs. He's had to use his service revolver in at least eight or nine other cases.
July 24, 2017
An amazing novel! Ian Rutledge is a wonderful man. Charles Todd is a wonderful writer. I bond with their characters. I love the scenery. I'd like to do a Todd tour of Ian's sites!
Todd keeps your interest high. Danger is present. I like that they've softened Hamish somewhat. Now I hope Ian catches up with Kate. He deserves to be happy!
It feels like my Kindle is empty without a Todd title (in spite of the 12 books I have on it now).
I just can't say how much I admire Ian and Charles Todd! Wunderbar!!
Todd keeps your interest high. Danger is present. I like that they've softened Hamish somewhat. Now I hope Ian catches up with Kate. He deserves to be happy!
It feels like my Kindle is empty without a Todd title (in spite of the 12 books I have on it now).
I just can't say how much I admire Ian and Charles Todd! Wunderbar!!
February 18, 2016
There’s very little peace for the Todd hero Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge but always a compelling story for readers. Rutledge is perspicacious but troubled by his experiences in the Great War. He suffers from shell shock and guilt due to the killing of a young Scot soldier, Hamish MacLeod, who refused an order. The voice of Hamish is with Rutledge to this day, speaking to him whether invited or not.
No Shred Of Evidence takes place in the Cornish countryside, which is beautifully described. During the autumn of 1920 in the town of Padstow Victoria Grenville is entertaining friends - a neighbor Elaine St. Ives and two other young women from London, one of whom is Kate Gordon, known to Rutledge because she is related to his former fiancee. It is a beautiful day and rowing on the River Camel seems like an excellent idea until they see Harry Saunders in a sinking boat. Neither of the women is an accomplished sailor and their attempts to save him would have come to naught had it not been for the help of a farmer, Bradford Trevose, who dove into the water and saved Saunders. Surprisingly Trevose swears to the police that the women were trying to murder Saunders.
The village is shocked by this accusation and the father of one of the women calls Scotland Yard to investigate, so an inspector is sent to Padstow. But soon after his arrival he is found dead of an apparent heart attack. Rutledge is dispatched to continue the investigation. He is, of course, surprised to find that one of the young women accused is Kate Gordon and distressed to find that the former inspector’s notes have vanished.
Pressure on Rutledge mounts as Saunders lies in a coma and his family demands justice. Yet the women continue to claim their innocence saying they were only trying to save the man. Why would Trevose accuse the women if it were not so? How can Rutledge rectify the conflicting testimonies? And then another violent crime occurs and Rutledge finds himself in grave danger.
One more absorbing mystery from the Todd team that also explores the effects of war not only on the men who served but also on the women whose loved ones never returned.
October 1, 2020
Decided to come back to this series, after an earlier break. 3.5 stars, but rounding up because I mostly liked it.
I mostly liked this one. The setting is interesting, as is central conceit of the mystery - four women try to save a drowning man, but are accused of attempted murder by a witness after he ends up dying. Rutledge has to get to the bottom of things. I liked that this didn't feel quite so much like the absolute, entire world has it in for Rutledge all the time. I liked that Hamish wasn't quite as prevalent, in favour of actual living characters. I would be interested in the introduction of Rutledge's former fiance's cousin, Kate Gordon, but I know not to invest in any way. At best she'll appear in two other books before a) also moving to another country, never to be heard of again, b) dying, or c) in some other way exiting stage left. Because Rutledge can have no friends or allies.
What I didn't like (and caused me to almost dock 2 stars as opposed to 1) is the resolution of the mystery.
But I did quite like it, except for the last three or so chapters.
I mostly liked this one. The setting is interesting, as is central conceit of the mystery - four women try to save a drowning man, but are accused of attempted murder by a witness after he ends up dying. Rutledge has to get to the bottom of things. I liked that this didn't feel quite so much like the absolute, entire world has it in for Rutledge all the time. I liked that Hamish wasn't quite as prevalent, in favour of actual living characters. I would be interested in the introduction of Rutledge's former fiance's cousin, Kate Gordon, but I know not to invest in any way. At best she'll appear in two other books before a) also moving to another country, never to be heard of again, b) dying, or c) in some other way exiting stage left. Because Rutledge can have no friends or allies.
What I didn't like (and caused me to almost dock 2 stars as opposed to 1) is the resolution of the mystery.
But I did quite like it, except for the last three or so chapters.
February 28, 2017
Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent to Cornwall to investigate charges against four young women who claim they were trying to rescue a drowning man. One witness however tells a different story- the women were trying to murder the man. With a scarcity of evidence , Rutledge is forced to delve into some long hidden grudges and secret motives. In the course of his investigation, Ian is forced to confront some old demons and relive memories of the horrors experienced during his service in WWI. A good solid British mystery.
June 14, 2016
Charles Todd is a mother/son team. They write two different series of British detective stories both set during and shortly after WWI. The main character in this book is Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge. He's back from the war and suffering PTSD. He manages to solve the murder of a young man who was supposedly killed by 4 young women. The characters are really good and the plot is good too. You can start anywhere in this series, but I'm glad I started at the beginning.
February 28, 2022
Four wealthy young ladies, including an acquaintance of Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge, try to rescue a young man whose boat is sinking in the middle of the river. Because no good deed goes unpunished, our heroines find themselves accused of his murder. Of course it’s Detective Rutledge, his motorcar, and the voices in his head to the rescue. The result is an absorbing 1920 police procedural featuring lovely scenery, helpful vicars, crabby landed gentry, and (as always) the lingering scars of WWI.
Fans of the series know what to expect. New readers can grab this one and not get lost. As always, the writing and scene setting is exceptional. It obscures this book’s great flaw — the idea that the incarceration of the four upper class ladies would actually happen on the basis of the word of a low class farmer.
Fans of the series know what to expect. New readers can grab this one and not get lost. As always, the writing and scene setting is exceptional. It obscures this book’s great flaw — the idea that the incarceration of the four upper class ladies would actually happen on the basis of the word of a low class farmer.
January 7, 2024
A great addition to the Inspector Rutledge series. He’s under a lot of pressure to solve a case involving four young daughters of the local higher ups. Very atmospheric about Cornwall. A long novel, plot takes time to unfold but it’s well worth reading.
July 14, 2022
Pretty good. I liked that someone from Rutledge’s old life made an appearance. The mystery was good-
February 26, 2016
Charles Todd is a pen name used by the American authors Caroline and Charles Todd. As Charles Todd, they have written eighteen books set in post-World War I England and featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge.
Rutledge is secretly suffering from shell shock (inter alia) from the Battle of the Somme, a horrific battle in which the British had 419,654 casualties, with 131,000 dead and an untold number victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (known as "shell shock" at the time of WWI). Inspector Rutledge’s shell shock has an interesting twist, however. He lives with the constant taunting ghostly presence of Hamish MacLeod, a young Scots soldier Rutledge was forced to execute for refusing an order. Rutledge still carries with him the guilt for that act, and thus MacLeod stays in his head, making commentary and asides about the cases on which Rutledge works. (Rutledge has often thought that, as appealing as it may seem to kill himself, it would mean killing MacLeod yet a second time, which would be unacceptable.)
In this story, which takes place in 1920, the inspector is called to Cornwall at the request of the locals for a Scotland Yard investigation. A man drowned, and four young women who were out boating have been accused of killing him.
To Rutledge’s surprise, he discovers that he knows one of the young women - Kate Gordon, who was the cousin of his pre-war fiancee Jean. Rutledge had released Jean from that bond after the war, when she saw the “shell of a man who had returned from France.” Rutledge is quite certain Kate, if not all the girls, are innocent, but as he finds, there is “not a shred of evidence” about the case.
Nevertheless, he perseveres, and eventually is able to figure out what happened that day on the water. Perhaps the more important question is, will there be any further developments between Rutledge and Kate? And if so, how will Hamish fit into the picture?
Discussion: This is an unusual detective procedural for several reasons. One is that, rather than the usual detective foibles, such as alcoholism, Rutledge has a unique condition – PTSD – that is manifested by the constant companionship of a ghost as his “partner.” The second is that this is clearly a historical procedural. The Rutledge stories are all set in post-World War I England, and the authors have taken great pains to portray the physical and emotional devastation wrought by that war. The mystery in the book, although not uninteresting, seems very secondary to that goal. In particular, the authors exercise skill and empathy in depicting the psychological effects of the fighting. Rutledge’s mental struggles are rather heartbreaking, and one finds oneself glad he has someone to understand him, even if it’s only a ghost.
Evaluation: This series provides an entertaining way to learn about the devastation wreaked on England and France from World War I. Although this is the eighteenth in the Inspector Rutledge series, I had no trouble picking up who was who and what was going on.
Rating: 3.5/5
Rutledge is secretly suffering from shell shock (inter alia) from the Battle of the Somme, a horrific battle in which the British had 419,654 casualties, with 131,000 dead and an untold number victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (known as "shell shock" at the time of WWI). Inspector Rutledge’s shell shock has an interesting twist, however. He lives with the constant taunting ghostly presence of Hamish MacLeod, a young Scots soldier Rutledge was forced to execute for refusing an order. Rutledge still carries with him the guilt for that act, and thus MacLeod stays in his head, making commentary and asides about the cases on which Rutledge works. (Rutledge has often thought that, as appealing as it may seem to kill himself, it would mean killing MacLeod yet a second time, which would be unacceptable.)
In this story, which takes place in 1920, the inspector is called to Cornwall at the request of the locals for a Scotland Yard investigation. A man drowned, and four young women who were out boating have been accused of killing him.
To Rutledge’s surprise, he discovers that he knows one of the young women - Kate Gordon, who was the cousin of his pre-war fiancee Jean. Rutledge had released Jean from that bond after the war, when she saw the “shell of a man who had returned from France.” Rutledge is quite certain Kate, if not all the girls, are innocent, but as he finds, there is “not a shred of evidence” about the case.
Nevertheless, he perseveres, and eventually is able to figure out what happened that day on the water. Perhaps the more important question is, will there be any further developments between Rutledge and Kate? And if so, how will Hamish fit into the picture?
Discussion: This is an unusual detective procedural for several reasons. One is that, rather than the usual detective foibles, such as alcoholism, Rutledge has a unique condition – PTSD – that is manifested by the constant companionship of a ghost as his “partner.” The second is that this is clearly a historical procedural. The Rutledge stories are all set in post-World War I England, and the authors have taken great pains to portray the physical and emotional devastation wrought by that war. The mystery in the book, although not uninteresting, seems very secondary to that goal. In particular, the authors exercise skill and empathy in depicting the psychological effects of the fighting. Rutledge’s mental struggles are rather heartbreaking, and one finds oneself glad he has someone to understand him, even if it’s only a ghost.
Evaluation: This series provides an entertaining way to learn about the devastation wreaked on England and France from World War I. Although this is the eighteenth in the Inspector Rutledge series, I had no trouble picking up who was who and what was going on.
Rating: 3.5/5
January 4, 2016
How can you solve an apparent murder without a shred of evidence and the only person who can say for sure what really happens remains in a coma? That is just the case that Inspector Ian Rutledge is called upon to attempt to solve when the original investigator on the case dies of a heart attack and taking all the notes on the case with him. He simply failed to transcribe them before his untimely death and now Rutledge needs to begin piecing the clues of what happened as if he was starting over again. But now time has elapsed and it will simply make the case load that much harder to solve. When four young women come to the aid of a man they know late at night who was going to drown when his boat began to sink, the women realize that he simply weighs too much in the water for them to bring on board without compromising their own safety of tipping over into the cold dark waters.
A man dives in and swims to help but when he is able to pull the man into the boat, he believes the women were attempting to kill him and not save him as they claim. The fact that there is blood on the oar of their boat and no sign on his doesn't look good for the women when they are immediately taken into custody when they are able to get the boat back to shore. Things get more complicated when Rutledge interviews one of the woman and realizes that she is the cousin of the woman he was going to marry. Conflict on interest or something simply to make the mystery all that more intriguing?
The one thing I have come to appreciate about Charles Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge series, is that if you are a fan of murder mysteries or a good Sherlock Holmes mystery, you will definitely want to pick this one up and begin the journey. Ian Rutledge is a marked man having survived the Great War and now works at Scotland Yard but not without his flaws. He suffers from PTSD and talks to a former soldier known as Hamish in his thoughts. It keeps the story line moving and as always carries the reader through to the end trying to solve the case before Rutledge does. Just because you have the premise of the story laid out before you, like any good mystery, not everything is as it appears and an investigation must take place to figure out just what is really going on and why.
I received No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest review of this novel. This is the 18th book in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series and have enjoyed every single one I have read. They remain a favorite because they are set historically in London's past and provide the reader a glimpse of not only a great mystery to solve but also some history along the way. For me, this one rates a 4 out of 5 in my opinion and look forward to many many more in the future.
A man dives in and swims to help but when he is able to pull the man into the boat, he believes the women were attempting to kill him and not save him as they claim. The fact that there is blood on the oar of their boat and no sign on his doesn't look good for the women when they are immediately taken into custody when they are able to get the boat back to shore. Things get more complicated when Rutledge interviews one of the woman and realizes that she is the cousin of the woman he was going to marry. Conflict on interest or something simply to make the mystery all that more intriguing?
The one thing I have come to appreciate about Charles Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge series, is that if you are a fan of murder mysteries or a good Sherlock Holmes mystery, you will definitely want to pick this one up and begin the journey. Ian Rutledge is a marked man having survived the Great War and now works at Scotland Yard but not without his flaws. He suffers from PTSD and talks to a former soldier known as Hamish in his thoughts. It keeps the story line moving and as always carries the reader through to the end trying to solve the case before Rutledge does. Just because you have the premise of the story laid out before you, like any good mystery, not everything is as it appears and an investigation must take place to figure out just what is really going on and why.
I received No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest review of this novel. This is the 18th book in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series and have enjoyed every single one I have read. They remain a favorite because they are set historically in London's past and provide the reader a glimpse of not only a great mystery to solve but also some history along the way. For me, this one rates a 4 out of 5 in my opinion and look forward to many many more in the future.
February 19, 2016
Ian Rutledge is still trying to find his way back to his comfort zone. His experiences in WWI have left him with what we might diagnose as PTSD in today's world. The war was bad enough but when he had to kill one of the men in his troop, Hamish MacLeod for refusing to a obey a direct order, it has left him in a very depressed mood. And especially since he thought Hamish might have been correct in not following the order to attack the Germans on this particular mission. Ian lives with Hamish's voice in his head
But now he is back in' the Yard' and his boss is going to send him South to resolve a death, where 4 young women are accused of murder. He is replacing an associate who had a heart attack and died while working on the case. The 4 women were rowing a boat when they saw a man calling for help as his boat sunk. They attempted the rescue but were unable to get the man into their boat. Two of the women attempted to pull the man into the boat, when one of the other women tried to bring an oar around for the man to hold onto. In the course of moving the oar it struck one of the other women and the man. A passerby, Trevose, came to their rescue, and pulled the man into their boat. And now the rescuer has accused the women of not attempting a rescue but of trying to kill the man. And it's going to be Rutledge's job to untangle the mystery.
The mother and son team that are Charles Todd have written another well defined mystery. This is not a cozy nor is it a mystery that races along but it is one with lots of clues and you can the help the author put it all together.
But now he is back in' the Yard' and his boss is going to send him South to resolve a death, where 4 young women are accused of murder. He is replacing an associate who had a heart attack and died while working on the case. The 4 women were rowing a boat when they saw a man calling for help as his boat sunk. They attempted the rescue but were unable to get the man into their boat. Two of the women attempted to pull the man into the boat, when one of the other women tried to bring an oar around for the man to hold onto. In the course of moving the oar it struck one of the other women and the man. A passerby, Trevose, came to their rescue, and pulled the man into their boat. And now the rescuer has accused the women of not attempting a rescue but of trying to kill the man. And it's going to be Rutledge's job to untangle the mystery.
The mother and son team that are Charles Todd have written another well defined mystery. This is not a cozy nor is it a mystery that races along but it is one with lots of clues and you can the help the author put it all together.
December 4, 2016
I enjoy these books by the mother/son writing team know as Charles Todd. They write about Bess Crawford, WWI Nurse, and Ian Rutledge WWI veteran who is an inspector with Scotland Yard. He is also suffering from PTSD and has an ongoing conversation with the voice of Hamish, one of his men he lost in the war and has yet to forgive himself for Hamish's death. Although in this story, Ian seems to be making some good progress towards putting his life back together and is hearing Hamish less often in his head.
The murder/mystery in this book is set again in Cornwall. Four affluent young ladies have been accused of trying to murder a young man, they say was drowning. Harry Saunders, the banker's son, is spotted by the young women floundering in the river as his boat seems to be sinking. They go to his aide and are accused by a local farmer who says 'he saw the whole thing' of trying to kill poor Harry. When Harry later dies, the ladies are accused of murder. The father of one of the accused asks for the Yard to come and investigate because these aren't the sort of girls one would suspect of murdering anyone.
The first inspector suffers a heart attack and dies and Ian Rutledge is then sent to see where the truth lies in this tangled tale. During the investigation we learn a bit more about Ian's past. One of the women is a cousin of his former fiance. The authors do a great job of weaving facts and red herrings together to keep the reader guessing until the end as to who is the killer.
These are well researched books and are most enjoyable; I always enjoy my time spent with Inspector Rutledge.
The murder/mystery in this book is set again in Cornwall. Four affluent young ladies have been accused of trying to murder a young man, they say was drowning. Harry Saunders, the banker's son, is spotted by the young women floundering in the river as his boat seems to be sinking. They go to his aide and are accused by a local farmer who says 'he saw the whole thing' of trying to kill poor Harry. When Harry later dies, the ladies are accused of murder. The father of one of the accused asks for the Yard to come and investigate because these aren't the sort of girls one would suspect of murdering anyone.
The first inspector suffers a heart attack and dies and Ian Rutledge is then sent to see where the truth lies in this tangled tale. During the investigation we learn a bit more about Ian's past. One of the women is a cousin of his former fiance. The authors do a great job of weaving facts and red herrings together to keep the reader guessing until the end as to who is the killer.
These are well researched books and are most enjoyable; I always enjoy my time spent with Inspector Rutledge.
February 18, 2016
I have all the previous 'Rutledge' novels and I was really looking forward to reading this one. I love the interaction between Ian and Hamish, and Ian's continuing struggle to retain his sanity.
However, I was disappointed with this novel. The story is dull as well as rather implausible (IMO).
And I began to get seriously irked with the same phrases and situations being dragged out again and again, - cranking the motorcar, the visits to the vicar, the drive to a nearby town to question someone else.
I don't know. Perhaps I am disillusioned with this novel because Hamish played such a minor role. or perhaps because the actual premise seemed so strained. Perhaps its time to give Ian Rutledge the happy ending he so rightly deserves. This just felt as if the authors had dug through their past novels, picked out some scenes and more interesting characters and piled them all together without much of a solid plot.
And there were too many questions left unanswered. I would have rated this 3 stars, but according to Goodreads that means 'liked it'. So 2 stars it is. :( Not a happy bunny here. I had real hopes for this novel.
Will I read the next Ian Rutledge novel?? At the moment I have no idea. I will however, review this rating when I have re-read the book. Who knows, I may (hopefully) enjoy 'No Shred of Evidence' more on a second read.
However, I was disappointed with this novel. The story is dull as well as rather implausible (IMO).
And I began to get seriously irked with the same phrases and situations being dragged out again and again, - cranking the motorcar, the visits to the vicar, the drive to a nearby town to question someone else.
I don't know. Perhaps I am disillusioned with this novel because Hamish played such a minor role. or perhaps because the actual premise seemed so strained. Perhaps its time to give Ian Rutledge the happy ending he so rightly deserves. This just felt as if the authors had dug through their past novels, picked out some scenes and more interesting characters and piled them all together without much of a solid plot.
And there were too many questions left unanswered. I would have rated this 3 stars, but according to Goodreads that means 'liked it'. So 2 stars it is. :( Not a happy bunny here. I had real hopes for this novel.
Will I read the next Ian Rutledge novel?? At the moment I have no idea. I will however, review this rating when I have re-read the book. Who knows, I may (hopefully) enjoy 'No Shred of Evidence' more on a second read.
February 15, 2016
Why should you read this book? I’m not sure. I suppose if you have read the previous 17 books in this series, you probably will be ready for number 18. If you are like me, and have never even heard of Inspector Ian Rutledge, you could give this book a shot, if you are a fan of mysteries that are set in Great Britain just after Word War I. Other than that, there really is no compelling reason to read No Shred of Evidence. The story just kind of meanders along, painting a picture of a time long ago, where everything moved more slowly, but some people still wanted to kill other people.
I didn’t really care about any of the characters in this book, so I wasn’t that curious about why anyone would want to kill any of them. The reasons were there and, I guess they were logical, but I found it hard to believe that everything had to be so mysterious. It just seemed strange that everyone had to lie, or tell their own version of the truth. Not very realistic.
I give No Shred of Evidence 3 Stars out of 5, because even though it was well written, it didn’t engage me. I didn’t feel a part of this story. Your experience may be different from mine.
I received a Digital Review Copy from the publisher
I didn’t really care about any of the characters in this book, so I wasn’t that curious about why anyone would want to kill any of them. The reasons were there and, I guess they were logical, but I found it hard to believe that everything had to be so mysterious. It just seemed strange that everyone had to lie, or tell their own version of the truth. Not very realistic.
I give No Shred of Evidence 3 Stars out of 5, because even though it was well written, it didn’t engage me. I didn’t feel a part of this story. Your experience may be different from mine.
I received a Digital Review Copy from the publisher
May 31, 2016
Rutledge is sent to Cornwall to investigate the death of a young man. It's alleged that 4 young women attempted to drown him, and Rutledge is stymied in his investigation by a complete lack of evidence. During the course of his investigation, Rutledge discovers the existence of a mysterious young woman who had spent time in the small village but has since left. She may be connected to the murder, but no one claims to know her. Rutledge also becomes re-acquainted with Kate Gordon, cousin of his former fiancee Jeanne, when he's shocked to discover she's one of the four woman accused of killing the young man.
Rutledge is much less troubled by his past, and by the voice of Hamish, and he seems much more able to cope with the stress of being reminded of his history. It seems like a natural development. It was also refreshing to have him supported by his new boss instead of having to deal with his former supervisor.
Rutledge is much less troubled by his past, and by the voice of Hamish, and he seems much more able to cope with the stress of being reminded of his history. It seems like a natural development. It was also refreshing to have him supported by his new boss instead of having to deal with his former supervisor.
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