Legacy of the Dead (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Charles Todd (Author)

Book Description

Series: Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries | Publication Date: May 29, 2001

The weathered remains found on a Scottish mountainside may be those of Eleanor Gray, but the imperious Lady Maude Gray, Eleanor's mother, will have to be handled delicately. This is not the only ground that Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard must tread carefully, for the case will soon lead him to Scotland, where many of Rutledge's ghosts rest uneasily. But it is an unexpected encounter that will hold the most peril.

For in Scotland Rutledge will find that the young mother accused of killing Eleanor Gray is a woman to whom he owes a terrible debt. And his harrowing journey to find the truth will lead him back through the fires of his past, into secrets that still have the power to kill.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The muddy, bloody horrors of WWI continue to haunt Insp. Ian Rutledge, back at work at Scotland Yard, but just barely. Still guilt-stricken over his wartime murder of Corp. Hamish MacLeod, who "cracked" during the Somme offensive of 1916, Rutledge hears Hamish's voice in his head as a steady, moralizing conversationalist. Now Rutledge has been dispatched to Scotland to identify the probable remains of Eleanor Gray, an aristocratic suffragette inexplicably estranged from her mother, the imperious Lady Maude. Local police theorize that Eleanor was murdered on the Highlands by beautiful, young Fiona MacDonald, who's been raising Eleanor's newborn son as her own. Unconvinced of a link between the two women, Rutledge visits Fiona in jail and immediately recognizes her as Hamish's beloved fianc?e. But Fiona won't exonerate herself, refusing to identify the boy's real parents. Following the Edgar-nominated A Test of Wills (1996), this fourth installment in the series focuses narrowly on the question: is there a link between Fiona and Eleanor? Since the answer is never in doubt, there's not much to absorb suspense addicts, as Rutledge slogs through Scotland trying to break the apparently deadlocked circumstantial case. The resolution, implicating too many peripheral characters, is particularly unsatisfying. But readers will continue to be captivated by Todd's portrait of the dangerously unraveling detective, and his equally incisive evocation of the grieving postwar world. Agent, Jane Chelius. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A sensitive approach, literate prose, and provocative situations mark Todd's latest addition to his Ian Rutledge series. Although recovered enough from World War I shell shock to function ably in his job with Scotland Yard, Ian still carries with him an internal voice of guilt named Hamish, a soldier he ordered shot for cowardice. When Ian investigates a possible murder in Scotland, the main suspect turns out to be the dead Hamish's intended, who seems destined for the gallows but will not betray a confidence. Very forceful emotional scenes ensue as Ian ferrets out the truth. A special treat for series and historical fans.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (May 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553583158
• ISBN-13: 978-0553583151
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Series

More About the Author

Charles and Caroline Todd are a mother-and-son writing team who live on the east coast of the United States. Caroline has a BA in English Literature and History, and a Masters in International Relations. Charles has a BA in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Business Management, and a culinary arts degree that means he can boil more than water. Caroline has been married (to the same man) for umpteen years, and Charles is divorced.

Charles and Caroline have a rich storytelling heritage. Both spent many evenings on the porch listening to their fathers and grandfathers reminisce. And a maternal grandmother told marvelous ghost stories. This tradition allows them to write with passion about events before their own time. And an uncle/great-uncle who served as a flyer in WWI aroused an early interest in the Great War.

Charles learned the rich history of Britain, including the legends of King Arthur, William Wallace, and other heroes, as a child. Books on Nelson and by Winston Churchill were always at hand. Their many trips to England gave them the opportunity to spend time in villages and the countryside, where there'a different viewpoint from that of the large cities. Their travels are at the heart of the series they began ten years ago.

Charles's love of history led him to a study of some of the wars that shape it: the American Civil War, WWI and WWII. He enjoys all things nautical, has an international collection of seashells, and has sailed most of his life. Golf is still a hobby that can be both friend and foe. And sports in general are enthusiasms. Charles had a career as a business consultant. This experience gave him an understanding of going to troubled places where no one was glad to see him arrive. This was excellent training for Rutledge's reception as he tries to find a killer in spite of local resistance.

Caroline has always been a great reader and enjoyed reading aloud, especially poetry that told a story. The Highwayman was one of her early favorites. Her wars are WWI, the Boer War, and the English Civil War, with a sneaking appreciation of the Wars of the Roses as well. When she's not writing, she's traveling the world, gardening, or painting in oils. Her background in international affairs backs up her interest in world events, and she's also a sports fan, an enthusiastic follower of her favorite teams in baseball and pro football. She loves the sea, but is a poor sailor. (Charles inherited his iron stomach from his father.) Still, she has never met a beach she didn't like.

Both Caroline and Charles share a love of animals, and family pets have always been rescues. There was once a lizard named Schnickelfritz. Don't ask.

Writing together is a challenge, and both enjoy giving the other a hard time. The famous quote is that in revenge, Charles crashes Caroline's computer, and Caroline crashes his parties. Will they survive to write more novels together? Stay tuned! Their father/husband is holding the bets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incomparable, December 10, 2000

By 

Charlotte Vale-Allen (CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Legacy of the Dead (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I recently learned in one of the trade magazines that Charles Todd is actually a mother-son writing team. No problem. From the outset, I've found this to be one of the most well-conceived, historically accurate series ever. The idea of a WW1 veteran tormented by the Scottish burring of comments and observations (inside his own head) of a solider he admired and respected, yet had to condemn to death on the battlefield shouldn't work. But it does. It's no small accomplishment; neither is the circuitous plotting and stunning characterizations-of even the most minor characters. Each book deals less with who-did-it and far more with why-did-s/he-do it; and the convoluted rationales of the central characters are never short of fascinating.

What I found particularly enjoyable about Legacy Of The Dead was the meticulous detailing of the search for Eleanor Gray, missing for three years; as well as the identity of the child in possession of the heroine, Fiona MacDonald, who is imprisoned on a charge of murdering the nameless skeletal remains of a woman (who might or might not be Eleanor Gray). This is sleuthing at its best. I've loved each book in this series, and this latest met my every expectation. I recommend the series wholeheartedly.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Legacy Of The Dead, October 19, 2000

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legacy of the Dead (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Fiona MacDonald came to live with her aunt in Duncarrick as a young war widow with a baby. At first, she is accepted by the villagers. But after her aunt's death, Fiona becomes the victim of a vicious smear campaign. Someone has been circulating annonymous letters, accusing her of wantoness. And soon, she is effectively shunned by nearly everyone in the community . Not content with the misery he or she has caused Fiona, her unseen enemy soon ups the stakes and accuses her of having committed murder in order to steal the baby for herself. Fiona is unable to refute the charges or to prove that the child living with her is her's. And when a few months later the police uncover the remains of a young woman, Fiona is arrested and charged with murder based on the circumstancial evidence.

Ian Rutledge is sent north to placate Lady Maude Gray. The police believe that the remains they found may be those of her missing daughter's, Eleanor, and that the child Fiona had been rearing could be Eleanor's baby. However Lady Maude is outraged at such a notion and refuses to help in the investigation. She is unwilling to believe that Eleanor is dead or that she could have borne a child out of wedlock. Rutledge has been sent in to soft soap her, and to see if he can gain her trust and cooperation. He has very little success with the harsh and proud lady.

And when Rutledge goes to Duncarrick to meet the woman who is at the center of all this mystery, he is stunned to find that he recognises Fiona as Hamish MacLeod's fiance. MacLeod is the young man he executed for refusing to fight, and whose ghost is currently haunting him. Rutledge feels that he must help Fiona, but he faces the distrust and anger of a community bent on punishing her for imagined misdeeds. He tries to get her to confide in him, but she refuses. Fiona is full of secrets that are not her's to divulge, and she seems to have chosen death over breaking faith with whomever she made the promises to. Rutledge realises that he must discover what happened to Eleanor Grey in order to save Fiona from the hangman's noose. But the harder he digs, the more evidence he seems to find that points to Fiona's guilt.

This seemingly simple plot posseses many intriguingly complex subplots -- whose child is Fiona raising? Whatever did become of Eleanor Grey? Why was no one interested or curious about what had become of her since 1916? And who is Fiona's deadly enemy and what is the cause of all this fury he or she feels towards her? Charles Todd spins quite an intricate web, that draws you in and keeps you guessing. And he paints a wonderfully vivid picture of a small Scottish community just after WW1: cold and narrow, dour and humourless, grounded in a Knox-like righteouness that has very little room for compassion and understanding. Todd also paints a vivid portrait of two brave and courageous women: Fiona and Eleanor. Fiona who puts her loyalty and frienship for another above her own well-being; and Eleanor who had the courage to leave her previleged life behind in order to do something worthwhile with her life.

A very intricate and interesting novel that is also rich in atmosphere. A wonderful read.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No wrap up!, May 18, 2010

By 

Mutz Mum (Rural Central Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legacy of the Dead (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I really thoroughly enjoyed the entire story, the characters, the progression. And then the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. Like the author ran out of paper at the end and didn't feel like going to the store to get more. Epilogue. I need an epilogue. I want to know how Lady Maude dealt with the truth. I want to know how Rutledge's uncle deals with it all. I want to know what happens to the kid. I want to know if Rutledge's boss took advantage of how it played out to torment Rutledge more. I really resent it when authors get hours of commitment from me (I listened to the audio version so I couldn't even peek ahead to see the ending) and then dump me.

It feels disrespectful of the characters, of the plot, of the story, of the reader - the author(s) leaves too many loose ends. Yeah, we know the key stuff like who killed whom and from where the boy came, and the bad guys are dealt with ok. But this book was rich with characters and story lines which engaged the reader, and to give no info on how those areas came together is beyond disappointing.

So I'd give the story 5 stars, and the ending minus 1 star.