Title : A Fearsome Doubt
Author : Charles Todd
Narrators : Samuel Gillies
Genre : Mystery
Publisher : Recorded Books
Listening Length : 11 hours 37 minutes
Rating : 3/5
Narrator Rating : 4.5/5

Inspector Ian Rutledge helped make the case that got Ben Shaw convicted and hanged. His death has caused Shaw’s family much misery and when his widow reappears seven years later with what she says is fresh evidence that her Ben “didn’t do it”, Rutledge is torn. Along with reopening that case in Kent, Rutledge must also investigate a series of murders in Marling.

Rutledge goes back and forth between London, Kent and Marling meeting acquaintances and family along the way. He also comes across, or thinks he has seen a familiar from war times – someone long since dead. As the mysteries grow, Rutledge is beset with great self-doubt which he carries hidden within him, along with the voice of Hamish Macleod, a dead Scottish soldier.

This is my first Ian Rutledge mystery, and I liked it, though not for the usual reasons. Ian Rutledge as a character has heft, and Todd beautifully paces events in the book to keep things interesting. His characters are well-fleshed out, and his descriptions of clothes, locales and facial expressions is vivid. I was taken by surprise when I first heard Hamish McLeod’s “speak”, but quite like the author’s ploy of presenting Rutledge’s inner voice as such.

On the negative side – this mystery’s perp came out of the blue. The end when it came seemed unrealistic, so am not too enamored with the plot’s resolution. I do like the Inspector’s character and the writing enough that I will probably give another book of this series a chance.

The narration was fabulous and one of the reasons I will continue with the Rutledge series.