Caroline and Charles Todd
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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[edit]
- 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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Vanderhoof, Tricia (February 26, 2017). "Mondays with Authors: Charles Todd focuses on war and peace". My Central Jersey. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "Best First Novel Edgar Award". Mystery Writers of America. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "Anthony Award Nominees and Winners". Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "Dilys Award". mysterybooksellers.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "1997 Best first Novel Barry Award". Deadly Pleasures Magazine. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "Booksellers' 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century". onmimystery.com. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "Agatha Awards". Malice Domestic. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
External links[edit]