The Black Ascot

As always with any long-lived series, picking up the next book involves expectation and excitement -- and a bit of a leap of faith. You hope and trust that the author(s) have managed to keep the characters vibrant and alive and are finding fresh ways to keep the overall arcs of their lives and interactions progressing in new and interesting ways, while keeping the main focus on some kind of mystery. The peril to be avoided at all costs is a main character who just re-emerges as precisely the same individual in book after book, never changing, never developing -- a dull and tedious version of Hercule Poirot. At least with Agatha Christie, she managed to place her detectives and their quirks in the midst of highly distinctive crimes. But show more I've encountered too many series where the author becomes lazy, relies on the popularity of his or her formula, with the result that midway through the book I look up and realize I simply can't distinguish book #15 from book #14 or book #16.

Happily, in spite of having a main character in Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge who has his own quirks (the ghost of a dead soldier, Hamish, who rides shotgun and talks to him while he's investigating and becomes his invisible sidekick), the Charles Todd novels are not palling on me. Part of the interest lies in the authors' (a mother-son duo) ability to delve into the atmosphere of post-WW1 England without being overly ponderous about it, and letting those social and political trends develop into intriguing plotlines. This time around, Rutledge is driving aimlessly through the country, trying to avoid spending time with those who will recognize his struggles with Hamish and battle with the after effects with shellshock, when he is on the spot to prevent a tragedy involving another damaged victim of the war years. In exchange, the man gives him some second-hand information: one of the country's most-wanted men, accused of murdering the widow of his late friend by tampering with the car of her new husband after the "Black Ascot" of 1910 (so-called because everyone attended in mourning for Edward VII) has been seen in the country. Could this be true? If so, why would he risk it and where has he been? Who has helped him to hide and -- if he is back -- has he decided to clear his name or commit further crimes?

Rutledge's superior, perhaps in hopes of getting this troublesome but skilled detective out of his way, gives him the apparently impossible task of finding the long-missing man (the Lord Lucan of the early 1920s??) But what will he find out along the way -- about himself, as well as the long-missing Alan Barrington? Just how ruthless is the man who committed that long-ago crime -- whoever he may be?

Once again, the authors bring us, slowly and delicately, a few more inches along Ian Rutledge's life path, while at the same time delivering a mystery that has a slow but steady buildup in suspense. I do wish that Todd was less prone to have his characters go barreling around the country in motorcars from point A to point (at times, the novels feel like a kind of Baedeker guide...) but overall that's a minor quibble about what is a solid addition to what remains a solid and rewarding series of historical mysteries. They aren't as in-depth as the two books penned by Rennie Airth and set in this era featuring John Madden, but are great to hunker down with on a cold winter weekend. Recommended. I received an advance e-galley from the publishers via Edelweiss; the opinions are purely my own... show less

The 1910 Ascot Race was different than other years. Society showed up as always but, this year, although women were still dressed in the finest fashions, the dresses, hats, and parasols were all black to mourn the death of Edward VII. After the race, as people headed home, a car crash resulted in the death of one woman and the severe injuries of her husband. When it is determined that the brakes were tampered with, Alan Barrington is found to be the perpetrator but before he can stand trial he disappears.

A decade later, when Inspector Ian Rutledge helps a distraught man find his family, the man thanks him by telling him that he knows someone who has seen Barrington recently in England. Rutledge doubts it but feels he must tell his show more Superior, thinking that will be the end of it. However, Barrington's disappearance all those years ago was seen as a black mark against the Yard and Rutledge is charged with finding out if the man is, indeed, in England. What seems like a waste of time quickly turns into one of the most complicated and dangerous cases he has ever been assigned to.

The Black Ascot, the 21st entry in the Ian Rutledge Mysteries series by the mother and son team of Charles Todd, is an intriguing historical mystery. Like most of the books in this series, it is more puzzle than thriller. Rutledge is an interesting, sympathetic, and complex character and the mystery kept me guessing right to the end. My one criticism was that there are what seem like dozens of different locations and characters and, at times, I found it hard to follow where he was, who he was talking to, and what their relevance was. Still, overall, I can honestly say this series has never disappointed me and I enjoyed this book quite a lot. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys well written historical mysteries with fascinating puzzles, a very likeable protagonist, and interesting settings. show less

Charles Todd is back with their newest book, The Black Ascot. Ten years ago, a murder took place during one of the biggest horse races in England at the time: the Black Ascot. It seems that a jealous man tampered with the car of the woman he loved and her husband. And so, on a straight and narrow road, on a bright sunny day, the life of Blanche Fletcher-Munro ended and her husband became crippled for life. Alan Barrington, the suspected murderer, went on the run before he could stand trial. After ten years, no one has seen or heard from Barrington. But Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge gets a tip from a grateful convict that Barrington is back in England. Searching for a ghost, Rutledge reopens the case to see if he can learn show more anything that might lead him to Barrington. As he digs deeper into the life of Barrington, he soon learns that all is not as it appears to be. And as he begins to learn more about the life of Blanche Fletcher-Monroe, he starts to question what actually happened and who is actually friend or foe. As he chases the ghost of Barrington through the streets of England, he begins to find holes in the original investigation. But when he gets close, disaster strikes. Rutledge wakes up in the hospital only to discover that he attempted suicide. But why? Did the ghost of Hamish (a soldier who mutinied) finally drive him over the edge? Why would he attempt suicide on his front porch in broad daylight? As Rutledge is forced to take a leave of absence from the Yard, he continues to quietly work on the Barrington case until finally things start to make sense. And as he gets closer to the killer, he finds that things are not always as they appear to be.
Charles Todd, a mother/son writing team, isn’t afraid to delve into the stigmas of post-WWI England. Ian Rutledge, a Scotland Yard Inspector, is hiding a secret: shell shock. He hears Hamish, a soldier he killed for mutiny, in his head. But shell shock isn’t something a Scotland Yard Inspector can have. And in The Black Ascot, we find another stigma for soldiers: attempted suicide. As Rutledge delves into people’s lives, he discovers brokenness and regret, love and courage, and how fragile each of us is. The Black Ascot is a winding tale of a cold case. Todd is masterful at weaving together a diverse cast of characters whose lives intertwine in places far beneath the surface. Rutledge must dig deep to discover who people truly are in a case that has always appeared to be open and shut. Take some time to journey around England with Ian Rutledge; you won’t be disappointed! show less

I pick up the Ian Rutledge books occasionally, and I've found them mostly good reading. The premise of a man who has come back from WWI with a man he shot during the war inside his head is interesting, and Hamish certainly adds comments and clues to Ian Rutledge's investigations. The Black Ascot is one of the best of the series, in my estimation. I didn't know who the bad guy was until the end, and I enjoyed the twists and turns the story took to get there.
Before the war, a man was accused of tampering with a car's brakes, causing the driver serious injury and killing that man's wife. The man disappeared before a trial, but the uproar in England was similar to the OJ trial here, selling lots of newspapers and causing embarrassment to show more Scotland Yard. Ian Rutledge takes up the case for a review after ten years and finds more than he bargained for. He's determined to find the man who got away and travels all over England in the hunt.
As I said, this is one of the best of a very good series. If you like historical mysteries, then I suggest you pick this one up. show less

This latest installment of the phenomenal Inspector Rutledge series was not the best. I enjoy being challenged by a mystery and don't mind being surprised by the outcome, but I don't appreciate reading a mystery that never really gives me any clues to work with. This book was a frustrating series of dead ends, meandering storylines, and ambiguous loyalties. Other than the regular characters, I was either apathetic towards or actively disliked just about everyone in the book, including the victim. (And Chief Superintendent Jameson? He's Got. To. Go.)

As for Ian himself, he's made a lot of progress with his personal problems and... well, something happens to him in this book that could have profound negative repercussions in the future. I show more found this plot point deeply unsettling and I hope the authors don't pursue it further books. Ian deserves better.

If you're a fan of the series, of course you have to read this one, but lower your expectations. It's not up to the usual standards, especially in comparison to the last few outstanding books. show less

In 1910, a fatal car crash took the life of a female passenger, Beatrice Fletcher-Munro. Her husband, Harold, who was at the wheel, was injured but survived. The police conclude that Alan Barrington, who had been in love with Munro and hated her husband, tampered with the automobile's brakes, but the suspect disappeared before he could be brought to trial. Eleven years pass. In 1921, after Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge lends a hand to an ex-convict, Eddie Wade, the man reciprocates by informing Ian that someone he knows spotted Barrington. Apparently, the fugitive is alive and well, but unwilling to turn himself into the authorities.

"The Black Ascot," by the husband and wife writing team of Charles Todd, is the twenty-first in show more this long-running series of historical mysteries in which Rutledge plays the central role. Ian is a veteran of the Great War who returned shell-shocked and needed therapeutic help to continue functioning. Ian is still plagued by horrific memories, and he frequently hears the voice of his deceased former corporal, Hamish MacLeod, who issues warnings and offers opinions. Rutledge has never married, but he has the love and support of his devoted sister, Frances, and can rely on his good friend, Melinda Crawford, a wealthy widow who is generous and well-connected.

Rutledge takes his motorcar hither and yon, seeking information from individuals who remember details about the principal figures in the Fletcher-Munro Case. During these interviews, new facts come to light. It is clear that the entire truth concerning this tragic and tangled affair has never been revealed. "The Black Ascot" is a complex tale of deceit, jealousy, and betrayal. Among the book's flaws are its chattiness, large and unwieldy cast of characters, and sluggish pace. Still, the authors hold our interest with their evocative descriptions of the English countryside, poignant references to the horrific emotional and physical injuries suffered by many veterans of World War I, and a condemnation of those who lie and cheat in order to avoid taking responsibility for their transgressions. show less

The Black Ascot by Charles Todd is the 21st book in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series. I had an ecopy of this book, but most of the book did I listen to (a very enjoyable workday) and I found the audiobook version pleasurable. Although to be honest, Simon Prebble is not my favorite narrator. He has a voice that I try to get used to, there is a gruffness that I just can't seem to truly enjoy. However, the story is good really good. So after a while, I forgot about the voice and let the story take over.

Now, I have not read more than six books in this series. It was through the Bess Crawford series (by the same author) that I discovered this series and I have to say that so far this is one of the best books in the Ian Rutledge series I show more have read. I love how Ian Rutledge (and Bess Crawford as well) have a tendency to solve even the most difficult cases. Even those cases that hardly seem like a case. Like the case in this book that seems like an open and shut case. But, is it really so? Slowly Rutledge starts to unravel a mystery only he can solve. Only he is tenacious enough and through small clues does he start to puzzle the case together...

And, I really don't want to spoil the book so I just want to say that it's a great ending!

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with the copy through Edelweiss for an honest review! show less