Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
William Morrow (2017), 352 pages
Description
"Scotland Yard's Ian Rutledge finds himself caught in a twisted web of vengeance, old grievances, and secrets that lead back to World War I in the nineteenth installment of the acclaimed bestselling series. On the eve of the bloody Battle of the Somme, a group of English officers having a last drink before returning to the Front make a promise to each other: if they survive the battle ahead--and make it through the war--they will meet in Paris a year after the fighting ends. They will celebrate their good fortune by racing motorcars they beg, borrow, or own from Paris to Nice. In November 1919, the officers all meet as planned, and though their motorcars are not designed for racing, they set out for Nice. But a serious mishap mars the reunion. In the mountains just north of their destination, two vehicles are nearly run off the road, and one man is badly injured. No one knows--or will admit to knowing--which driver was at the wheel of the rogue motorcar. Back in England one year later, during a heavy rainstorm, a driver loses control on a twisting road and is killed in the crash. Was it an accident due to the hazardous conditions? Or premeditated murder? Is the crash connected in some way to the unfortunate events in the mountains above Nice the year before? The dead driver wasn't in France--although the motorcar he drove was. If it was foul play, was it a case of mistaken identity? Or was the dead man the intended victim after all? Investigating this perplexing case, Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge discovers that the truth is elusive--and that the villages on the South Downs, where the accident happened, are adept at keeping secrets, frustrating his search. Determined to remain in the shadows this faceless killer is willing to strike again to stop Rutledge from finding him. This time, the victim he chooses is a child, and it will take all of Rutledge's skill to stop him before an innocent young life is sacrificed"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member ritaer
Several unconnected deaths, one apparently an accident, bring Rutledge to a remote village on the chalk cliffs of eastern England. Hamish is still a voice in his head and he is still plagued by claustrophobia.
LibraryThing member Virginia51
This has been my favorite in this series for a while. I love how Ian and Hamish are blending together more. Ian is learning to live with what he did years ago. This story was fantastic also. The things that men do in a war and have to live with afterward. I received an ebook copy of this through
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eidelweiss for a fair and honest opinion that have given of my own free will. Show Less
LibraryThing member lamb521
Title: Racing the Devil (Inspector Ian Rutledge #18)
Author: Charles Todd
Pages: 345
Year: 2017
Publisher: William Morrow
My rating is 5 stars.
This story takes place in 1920 just two years after the end of WWI. It involves seven soldiers who, the evening before the Battle of the Somme, pledge to meet in
The local rector in a small village in England is killed in a car accident. The only mystery at first appears to be why he has borrowed the car involved in the accident without asking permission from the owner of the car. The owner is out of town when the car is borrowed and upon his return he learns of the accident. The local law enforcement thinks there is something fishy with the accident and requests Scotland Yard’s help. Inspector Rutledge is sent to the scene and soon discovers that the Rector was actually murdered and not killed in the car accident. The car he borrowed just happened to be owned by one of the five men who drove to Nice, France for a reunion with four of his fellow soldiers. Soon another man is found dead, but is his death related to the Rector’s death. There is no doubt this second man has been killed in the same way as the Rector, a broken neck, but he has no link to any of the five former soldiers. Who killed him and why? Yet, another mystery for Inspector Rutledge to solve.
I love it when Ian is hunting down answers to questions and clues! To me, that is when he is at his best. Although he was pretty good when confronting the culprit and putting him in his place too. I also enjoyed his encounters with the little girl, Jem, in this story. The reappearance of family friend Melinda Crawford is also a treat in each story in which she appears. I just really like how these mysteries are put together, how they are written and the flow of the writing style. For me, these are some of my favorite British mysteries. I like too how time progresses from book to book. I’m already looking forward to the next adventure Ian will encounter in book 19!
Author: Charles Todd
Pages: 345
Year: 2017
Publisher: William Morrow
My rating is 5 stars.
This story takes place in 1920 just two years after the end of WWI. It involves seven soldiers who, the evening before the Battle of the Somme, pledge to meet in
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Nice, France one year after the war has ended as a race. Two men die of wounds later in the war, but five men survive to make the journey to Nice. They each return home and try to begin living again; however, they are changed men.The local rector in a small village in England is killed in a car accident. The only mystery at first appears to be why he has borrowed the car involved in the accident without asking permission from the owner of the car. The owner is out of town when the car is borrowed and upon his return he learns of the accident. The local law enforcement thinks there is something fishy with the accident and requests Scotland Yard’s help. Inspector Rutledge is sent to the scene and soon discovers that the Rector was actually murdered and not killed in the car accident. The car he borrowed just happened to be owned by one of the five men who drove to Nice, France for a reunion with four of his fellow soldiers. Soon another man is found dead, but is his death related to the Rector’s death. There is no doubt this second man has been killed in the same way as the Rector, a broken neck, but he has no link to any of the five former soldiers. Who killed him and why? Yet, another mystery for Inspector Rutledge to solve.
I love it when Ian is hunting down answers to questions and clues! To me, that is when he is at his best. Although he was pretty good when confronting the culprit and putting him in his place too. I also enjoyed his encounters with the little girl, Jem, in this story. The reappearance of family friend Melinda Crawford is also a treat in each story in which she appears. I just really like how these mysteries are put together, how they are written and the flow of the writing style. For me, these are some of my favorite British mysteries. I like too how time progresses from book to book. I’m already looking forward to the next adventure Ian will encounter in book 19!
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LibraryThing member delphimo
Ian Rutledge races against the devil in a daring mystery set after WWI. Seven English soldiers vow to race from Paris to Nice a year after the war, if they survive the bloody battles. The war ends, and five men speedily engage in the adventurous journey, but soon disaster pursues the me. The mother
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and son team named Charles Todd beautifully lavish scenes of the English countryside and the hardships of the common folk. The small villages display the caliber of everyday life and the sense of community. Rich characters illustrate all levels of society, from the tenant farmer to the lord of the manor. Racing the Devil catches the despair and uncertainty of the men returning from war. Show Less
LibraryThing member BrianEWilliams
Great mystery story, set in rural England, 1920. Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Year is sent to Sussex to investigate a sudden death in a motorcar crash. What seems to be a single incident spirals into a series of mysterious motorcar crashes, some in France. The victims are connected through a
Atmospheric setting – post WW English countryside with people trying to get their lives back after the war. Class distinction still in place, but starting to dissolve.
Exciting and suspenseful conclusion.
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wartime experience and it looks as if someone is stalking them.Atmospheric setting – post WW English countryside with people trying to get their lives back after the war. Class distinction still in place, but starting to dissolve.
Exciting and suspenseful conclusion.
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LibraryThing member smik
Some reading friends and I were talking the other day about authors aging their detectives in "real time" or not. The Charles Todd duo (mother and son) have chosen not to age Inspector Rutledge for here we are at installment #19 and we are still in 1920 with memories of World War One still fresh
Little things like the story of Hamish McLeod are repeated from novel to novel, an attempt I think to ensure that a reader new to the series doesn't miss out on too much important background.
In many ways though Ian Rutledge feels like a "modern detective". Apart from the fact that getting from one place to another is pretty slow because mostly people are on foot or horseback (motorcars are still a rarety), and telephones virtually non-existent, Rutledge has relatively modern methods.
I wasn't totally clear by the end about all the links between the various plot lines. Perhaps I was just reading too fast in my attempt to get to the end of the book. It is a novel with a complex set of plot lines, and also lots of red herrings.
One interesting feature of this novel is that Rutledge contacts old friend Melinda Crawford, and so gets her daughter Bess Crawford (detective in the other Charles Todd series) to do some investigating for him. I have only read one title in the Bess Crawford series and this has sparked my interest to try another.
Overall, a satisfying read with just enough of a historical flavour.
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enough to impact of people's lives and actions. Many of the novels delve back into the past with incidents that took place during the war, and that now have impact post-war. There is a lot of information about the war and its economic and social impact on Britain, particularly on villages like the one where RACING THE DEVIL is set.Little things like the story of Hamish McLeod are repeated from novel to novel, an attempt I think to ensure that a reader new to the series doesn't miss out on too much important background.
In many ways though Ian Rutledge feels like a "modern detective". Apart from the fact that getting from one place to another is pretty slow because mostly people are on foot or horseback (motorcars are still a rarety), and telephones virtually non-existent, Rutledge has relatively modern methods.
I wasn't totally clear by the end about all the links between the various plot lines. Perhaps I was just reading too fast in my attempt to get to the end of the book. It is a novel with a complex set of plot lines, and also lots of red herrings.
One interesting feature of this novel is that Rutledge contacts old friend Melinda Crawford, and so gets her daughter Bess Crawford (detective in the other Charles Todd series) to do some investigating for him. I have only read one title in the Bess Crawford series and this has sparked my interest to try another.
Overall, a satisfying read with just enough of a historical flavour.
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LibraryThing member rosalita
The latest (#19!) in the Ian Rutledge mystery series, featuring a Scotland Yard inspector still haunted by his experiences in World War I. This one's set in November 1920, and Rutledge is sent to East Sussex to investigate the death of the local rector as the driver in a car crash on a twisty
I really enjoy the Rutledge characterization. He is sympathetic and easy to like, and his personal demons add richness to the overall structure rather than distracting from it. Recommended, but you should start the beginning.
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cliffside road. The odd thing is, the rector didn't own a car ...I really enjoy the Rutledge characterization. He is sympathetic and easy to like, and his personal demons add richness to the overall structure rather than distracting from it. Recommended, but you should start the beginning.
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LibraryThing member sleahey
Rutledge is sent to a tiny village to investigate the death of the popular rector in a suspicious auto accident. Other deaths occur, which seem to also be suspicious but any connection among them is allusive to the investigators. Rutledge continues to be haunted by his experience in World War I,
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but perhaps less so than in others in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Rutledge gets involved in investigating a traffic accident in which the dead driver, a local prior, is found to be driving a stolen car. Closer scrutiny suggests murder and we are off. Someone is killing a certain small group; but what else connects them as victims? officer returnees from WW1. With
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more victims under threat, Ian is motivated to move quickly. A little faster paced than others but another good read in this very good series. A good narration by Simon Preble also aided the pace. Show Less
LibraryThing member MM_Jones
One of the subplots in Racing the Devil is a tenant child whose older male relatives were killed in the war. A child is seldom featured in the Inspector Rutledge stories, but the character described makes you wish they were. Another crime filled outing in the Scotland Yard series.
LibraryThing member charlie68
Pretty good if formulaic Mystery with World War I and south east England as a backdrop.
LibraryThing member Vesper1931
In June 1916, on the eve of the Battle of the Somme, seven officers agree to meet one year after the end of the war in Paris to drive to Nice. But only five survive the war to meet in the Autumn of 1919. In November 1920 a car owned by one of the Officers - Captain Standish, is involved in a fatal
An enjoyable and well-written interesting mystery
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accident. Rutledge is sent to investigate.An enjoyable and well-written interesting mystery
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LibraryThing member Jacsun
As a fan of car racing and historical war stories, I thought this book would be an ideal match. I didn't realize it was part of a detective series. However, it seemed to be fine as a stand alone.
It starts during the dark days of World War I when seven officers from England are in a "bleak mood"
Five of the seven officers make it to Paris in 1919 still "cursing the Germans." They owned or borrowed motorcars and started on their route through some twisty roads.. Two of the drivers were chased off the course and one ended up injured. They had no idea who did this.
A year later, in England a village priest was found dead from a borrowed car that had crashed in a rain storm. It was driven by one the officers the year before in the race. It was determined by the local law enforcers that it was a murder. Scotland Yard's Inspector Ian Rutledge was called in to solve this. Without the assistance of today's technology, he had the painstaking job of looking for clues everywhere and talked to lots of people including a young girl that was posing as a boy. The reader got a true sense of the town characters and the surrounding areas.
I enjoyed this mystery and will look forward to other in this series. My thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGallery for allowing me to read this copy.
It starts during the dark days of World War I when seven officers from England are in a "bleak mood"
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chatting at a bar when they discover that they all love racing motorcars. They decide whoever survives the war will meet in Paris a year after it ends. They will race their cars from Paris to Nice with a bottle of champagne in hand for the one who arrives first.Five of the seven officers make it to Paris in 1919 still "cursing the Germans." They owned or borrowed motorcars and started on their route through some twisty roads.. Two of the drivers were chased off the course and one ended up injured. They had no idea who did this.
A year later, in England a village priest was found dead from a borrowed car that had crashed in a rain storm. It was driven by one the officers the year before in the race. It was determined by the local law enforcers that it was a murder. Scotland Yard's Inspector Ian Rutledge was called in to solve this. Without the assistance of today's technology, he had the painstaking job of looking for clues everywhere and talked to lots of people including a young girl that was posing as a boy. The reader got a true sense of the town characters and the surrounding areas.
I enjoyed this mystery and will look forward to other in this series. My thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGallery for allowing me to read this copy.
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LibraryThing member Jacsun
As a fan of car racing and historical war stories, I thought this book would be an ideal match. I didn't realize it was part of a detective series. However, it seemed to be fine as a stand alone.
It starts during the dark days of World War I when seven officers from England are in a "bleak mood"
Five of the seven officers make it to Paris in 1919 still "cursing the Germans." They owned or borrowed motorcars and started on their route through some twisty roads.. Two of the drivers were chased off the course and one ended up injured. They had no idea who did this.
A year later, in England a village priest was found dead from a borrowed car that had crashed in a rain storm. It was driven by one the officers the year before in the race. It was determined by the local law enforcers that it was a murder. Scotland Yard's Inspector Ian Rutledge was called in to solve this. Without the assistance of today's technology, he had the painstaking job of looking for clues everywhere and talked to lots of people including a young girl that was posing as a boy. The reader got a true sense of the town characters and the surrounding areas.
I enjoyed this mystery and will look forward to other in this series. My thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGallery for allowing me to read this copy.
It starts during the dark days of World War I when seven officers from England are in a "bleak mood"
Show More
chatting at a bar when they discover that they all love racing motorcars. They decide whoever survives the war will meet in Paris a year after it ends. They will race their cars from Paris to Nice with a bottle of champagne in hand for the one who arrives first.Five of the seven officers make it to Paris in 1919 still "cursing the Germans." They owned or borrowed motorcars and started on their route through some twisty roads.. Two of the drivers were chased off the course and one ended up injured. They had no idea who did this.
A year later, in England a village priest was found dead from a borrowed car that had crashed in a rain storm. It was driven by one the officers the year before in the race. It was determined by the local law enforcers that it was a murder. Scotland Yard's Inspector Ian Rutledge was called in to solve this. Without the assistance of today's technology, he had the painstaking job of looking for clues everywhere and talked to lots of people including a young girl that was posing as a boy. The reader got a true sense of the town characters and the surrounding areas.
I enjoyed this mystery and will look forward to other in this series. My thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGallery for allowing me to read this copy.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Kathy89
Story takes place after WWI and seven officers have agreed to meet in Paris with their cars and drive to Nice. Only 5 survived the war. One of the officers is in an accident on the twisty road to Nice covered in a thick fog and is hospitalized and loses his hand. His car is taken by the local
Interesting subplot with a sad 12 yr. girl trying to fill the shoes of her brothers killed in the war and her mother in those impoverished times.
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preacher and involved in an accident, killing him. Ian Rutledge is sent to investigate. One by one the others are being killed and Ian himself was attacked (mistaken identity?) while investigating. I really like Ian and Hamish (his conscience) helping him puzzle through the investigation.Interesting subplot with a sad 12 yr. girl trying to fill the shoes of her brothers killed in the war and her mother in those impoverished times.
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Awards
Macavity Award (Nominee — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2017-02-14
Physical description
352 p.; 6 inches
ISBN
0062386212 / 9780062386212