Inspector Ian Rutledge

Inspector Ian Rutledge is a fictional character in the Inspector Ian Rutledge Series of mystery/detective novels by Caroline and Charles Todd. To date the series comprises twenty-four novels and four short stories. The series revolves around the cases of Inspector Ian Rutledge, a veteran of the First World War who has returned to the police force (Scotland Yard) as a detective, but is battling with post-traumatic stress disorder. As a consequence he is haunted by the memory of a fellow soldier who is a constant voice in his head. He must hide this information from those around him in order to avoid the social stigma which accompanied psychological, mental, or emotional issues in the early 20th century.

History of Ian Rutledge

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Following the court martial of Corporal Hamish Macleod for failure to follow orders in the field, Macleod's commanding officer, Ian Rutledge, is forced to execute Macleod. Rutledge is then unexpectedly buried alive with the man's corpse when an artillery shell explodes in the camp. After being rescued, Rutledge discovers that it was an air pocket created by Hamish's corpse which kept him (and no one else) alive underground. He must live with his guilt, which is now personified by Hamish's consistent voice living in his head. The existence of Hamish's voice is a secret Rutledge must keep from everyone, especially his jealous Scotland Yard superior who wants to see him removed, all while solving murders. When Rutledge returns from the Western front in 1919 he is treated in a hospital for his various symptoms only to be left by his fiancée, Jean.[1]

Books

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Title Publication year Book year
A Test of Wills 1996 1919/6
Wings of Fire 1998 1919/7
Search the Dark 1998 1919/8
Legacy of the Dead 2000 1919/9
Watchers of Time 2001 1919/10
A Fearsome Doubt 2002 1919/11
A Cold Treachery 2005 1919/12
A Long Shadow 2006 1920/1
A False Mirror 2007 1920/3
A Pale Horse 2008 1920/4
A Matter of Justice 2009 1920/5
The Red Door 2010 1920/6
The Kidnapping 2010 1920
A Lonely Death 2011 1920/7
The Confession 2011 1920/8
Proof of Guilt 2013 1920/9
Hunting Shadows 2013 1920/8
A Fine Summer's Day 2015 1914/6
No Shred of Evidence 2016 1920/10
Racing the Devil 2017 1920/11
The Piper 2017 1914/3
The Gate Keeper 2018 1920/12
The Black Ascot 2019 1910/1920
A Divided Loyalty 2020 1921/2
A Fatal Lie 2021 1921
A Game of Fear 2022 1921

References

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  1. ^ "Charles Todd. Timeline.". Retrieved 5 July 2013.
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