Caroline and Charles Todd

Charles Todd is a pen name used by the American authors Caroline Todd and Charles Todd, who were mother and son. Caroline Todd was the pen name for Carolyn Watjen and Charles Todd is the pen name for her son David Watjen. ^[1] Caroline Todd died on August 28, 2021, at age 86 from complications of a lung infection. ^[1] Charles Todd lives in North Carolina.

The authors are best known for a series of novels, set in post World War I England. The books deal with the cases of Inspector Ian Rutledge, a veteran of the European campaigns who is attempting to pick up the pieces of his Scotland Yard career. However, he must keep his greatest burden a secret: suffering from shell shock, he lives with the constant, cynical, taunting voice of Hamish MacLeod, a young Scots soldier he was forced to execute on the battlefield for refusing an order and moments before a shell from their own artillery buried Rutledge's regiment alive. Only Rutledge survived because of a small air pocket between his face and Hamish MacLeod's body. ^[2]

They are also the authors of a series about Bess Crawford, a nurse serving in France during World War I.

Recognition

• A Test of Wills (1996) – was nominated for the John Creasey Award in the United Kingdom; other nominations are the Edgar Award, ^[3] an Anthony, ^[4] and the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association Dilys Award. ^[5] The work won the Barry Award ^[6] from the Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine. The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association named A Test of Wills one of the 100 favorite mysteries of the 20th Century, ^[7] and it received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
• Wings of Fire (1998) – received a nomination for the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association Dilys Award ^[5] and was shortlisted for first Ellis Peters Mystery Award in the United Kingdom
• Legacy of the Dead (2000) – received an Anthony Award nomination. ^[4]
• An Unmarked Grave (2012) – received an Agatha Award nomination for Best Historical Novel. ^[8]
• A Question of Honor (2013) – won the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel. ^[8]

Publications

Featuring Inspector Ian Rutledge

• A Test of Wills (1996) . ISBN   0-06-124284-5
• Wings of Fire (1998) . ISBN   0-312-96568-0
• Search the Dark (1999) . ISBN   0-312-97128-1
• Legacy of the Dead (2000) . ISBN   0-553-58315-8
• Watchers of Time (2001) . ISBN   0-553-58316-6
• A Fearsome Doubt (2002) . ISBN   0-553-58317-4
• A Cold Treachery (2005) . ISBN   0-553-58661-0
• A Long Shadow (2006) . ISBN   0-06-078673-6
• A False Mirror (2007) . ISBN   0-06-078673-6
• A Pale Horse (2008) . ISBN   0-06-123356-0
• A Matter of Justice (2009) . ISBN   0-06-123359-5
• The Red Door (2010) . ISBN   978-0-06-172616-3
• A Lonely Death (2011) . ISBN   978-0-06-172619-4
• The Confession (2012) . ISBN   978-0-06-201566-2
• Proof of Guilt (2013) . ISBN   978-0-06-201568-6
• Hunting Shadows (2014) . ISBN   978-0-06-223718-7
• A Fine Summer's Day (2015) . ISBN   978-0-06-223712-5
• No Shred of Evidence (2016) . ISBN   978-0-06-244022-8
• Racing the Devil (2017) . ISBN   978-0-06-238621-2
• The Piper (2017) . ISBN   978-0-06-267809-6
• The Gate Keeper (2018) . ISBN   978-0-06-267871-3
• The Black Ascot (2019) . ISBN   978-0-06-267874-4
• A Divided Loyalty (2020) . ISBN   978-0-06-290553-6
• A Fatal Lie (2021) . ISBN   978-0-06-290557-4
• A Game of Fear (2022) . ISBN   978-0-06-290559-8

Featuring Bess Crawford

• A Duty to the Dead (2009) . ISBN   978-0-06-179176-5
• An Impartial Witness (2010) . ISBN   978-0-06-179178-9
• A Bitter Truth (2011) . ISBN   978-0-06-201570-9
• An Unmarked Grave (2012) . ISBN   978-0-06-201572-3
• A Question of Honor (2013) . ISBN   978-0-06-223715-6
• An Unwilling Accomplice (2014) . ISBN   978-0-06-223720-0
• A Pattern of Lies (2015) . ISBN   978-0-06-238625-0
• The Shattered Tree (2016) . ISBN   978-0-06-238628-1
• A Casualty of War (2017) . ISBN   978-0-06-267879-9
• A Forgotten Place (2018) . ISBN   978-0-06-267883-6
• A Cruel Deception (2019) . ISBN   978-0-06-285983-9
• A Hanging at Dawn (2020) . ISBN   978-0-06-304856-0
• An Irish Hostage (2021) . ISBN   978-0-06-285985-3
• The Cliff's Edge (2023)

Stand-alone novels

• The Murder Stone (2003) . ISBN   0-553-80348-4
• The Walnut Tree (2012) . ISBN   978-0-06-223699-9

References

1. Risen, Clay (November 19, 2021). "Caroline Todd, Half of a Mystery-Writing Duo, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
2. Vanderhoof, Tricia (February 26, 2017). "Mondays with Authors: Charles Todd focuses on war and peace". My Central Jersey. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
3. "Best First Novel Edgar Award". Mystery Writers of America. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
4. "Anthony Award Nominees and Winners". Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
5. "Dilys Award". mysterybooksellers.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
6. "1997 Best first Novel Barry Award". Deadly Pleasures Magazine. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
7. "Booksellers' 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century". onmimystery.com. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
8. "Agatha Awards". Malice Domestic. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2014.

External links

• Charles Todd official webpage