A Christmas Witness [Hardcover]

Inspector Ian Rutledge investigates a possible attempted murder in this seasonal mystery novella fromNew York Timesbestseller Charles Todd.

December 1921: Being single and a new Chief, Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard gets the short straw at Christmastime and is called upon by Chief Superintendent Markum to go to the Kentish home of a lord recovering from an attempt on his life. In bed with a concussion, the man is convinced someone is trying to kill him after he claims he was struck by the hoof of a running horse whose rider never stopped to check on him.

Struggling with his own demons from the war and misgivings about helping a man who, as a colonel, oversaw the suffering of those on the frontlines from afar, Rutledge undertakes an uneasy investigation. And as the winter holiday approaches, he becomes increasingly convinced that nothing is as it seems...Charles Toddis theNew York Timesbestselling author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, the Bess Crawford mysteries, and two stand-alone novels. Originally a mother-and-son writing team, Caroline passed away in August 2021. Charles lives in Florida."Mr. Todd’s narrative begins as a police-procedural but subtly transforms into a tale of personal redemption and a poignant Christmas story." You're going to love Todd. If there's ever been a more complex and compelling hero in crime fiction than Inspector Rutledge, I can't think of one. Todd's latest whodunit featuring Scotland Yarder Ian Rutledge finds the long-running series in top form. . . . Todd keeps readers off-balance throughout and poignantly explores his lead's emotional struggles. A lovingly evoked postwar idyll. Warm and comfortable, like a pair of familiar shoes. The story is well-organized, and Rutledge's internal struggles are compelling as always. A worthwhile and rewarding read.