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 (born Carolyn Linene Teachey; November 13, 1934 — August 28, 2021) and Charles Todd is the pen name for her son David Watjen.[1] Caroline Todd died in August 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

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  • 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

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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

Stand-alone novels

References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "Anthony Award Nominees and Winners". Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Agatha Awards". Malice Domestic. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
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