Charles Todd books

Charles Todd is the pen name of a mother-and-son writing team known for historical mystery novels set during and after World War I, including the Inspector Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Death Do Us Part 2006 Buy
A Study in Sherlock 2011 Buy
Deadly Pleasures 2013 Buy
Crimespree Magazine #58 2015 Buy
Black Cat Weekly #50 2022 Buy
Bat Out of Hell 2025 Buy

Bess Crawford Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Girl on the Beach 2010 N/A
A Duty to the Dead 2009 Buy
An Impartial Witness 2010 Buy
A Bitter Truth 2011 Buy
The Walnut Tree: A Holiday Tale 2012 N/A
An Unmarked Grave 2012 Buy
A Question of Honor 2013 Buy
An Unwilling Accomplice 2014 Buy
The Maharani’s Pearls 2014 Buy
A Pattern of Lies 2015 Buy
The Shattered Tree 2016 Buy
A Casualty of War 2017 Buy
A Forgotten Place 2018 Buy
A Cruel Deception 2019 Buy
A Hanging at Dawn 2020 Buy
An Irish Hostage 2021 Buy
The Cliff’s Edge 2023 Buy

Inspector Ian Rutledge Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Piper 2017 Buy
A Guid Soldier 2015 N/A
A Test of Wills 1994 Buy
Wings of Fire 1998 Buy
Search the Dark 1999 Buy
Legacy of the Dead 2000 Buy
Watchers of Time 2001 Buy
A Fearsome Doubt 2002 Buy
A Cold Treachery 2005 Buy
A Long Shadow 2006 Buy
The Mammoth Book of Historical Crime Fiction 2011 N/A
A False Mirror 2007 Buy
A Pale Horse 2007 Buy
A Matter of Justice 2008 Buy
Odd Partners: An Anthology 2019 N/A
The Red Door 2009 Buy
The Kidnapping 2010 Buy
A Lonely Death 2011 Buy
The Confession 2011 Buy
Proof of Guilt 2013 Buy
Mystery Writers of America Presents The Mystery Box 2013 N/A
Hunting Shadows 2014 Buy
Cold Comfort 2013 Buy
A Fine Summer’s Day: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery 2015 N/A
No Shred of Evidence 2016 Buy
A Fine Summer’s Day 2015 Buy
Racing the Devil 2017 Buy
The Gatekeeper 2018 Buy
The Black Ascot 2019 Buy
A Divided Loyalty 2020 Buy
A Fatal Lie 2021 Buy
A Game of Fear 2022 Buy
A Christmas Witness 2025 Buy
A Day of Judgment 2026 Buy

Short Stories/Novellas

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Walnut Tree 2012 Buy
A Guid Soldier 2015 Buy

Short Story Collections

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Tales 2015 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Murder Stone 2003 Buy

Charles Todd is the pen name of Caroline and Charles Todd, a mother-and-son team who write historical mystery fiction. Their work is primarily set in England during and after World War I, and they have published more than 60 books across two major series. The Inspector Ian Rutledge series debuted in 1994, and the Bess Crawford series followed in 2009.

The Todds are known for their careful period detail and psychologically complex protagonists. Ian Rutledge is a Scotland Yard inspector haunted by shell shock from the trenches, while Bess Crawford is a battlefield nurse drawn into murder investigations. Both series have earned praise from critics and readers of historical mystery fiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Charles Todd written?

Charles Todd has written 61 books across six series.

What was Charles Todd's first book?

Charles Todd’s first book is A Test of Wills, published in 1994.

Who is behind the pen name Charles Todd?

Charles Todd is the pen name of Caroline and Charles Todd, a mother-and-son writing team from the United States. They have collaborated on all the books published under the name, beginning with A Test of Wills in 1994.

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