At a Glance
Last Updated on September 25, 2021 Charles Todd is a pen name of an author duo: Caroline Todd and Charles Todd, mother and son.
Here are the Charles Todd books in order for the author team’s two historical mystery series, Inspector Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford Mysteries. The books are listed in chronological/reading order with the year of publication added in brackets.
New Charles Todd Books

An Irish Hostage (Bess Crawford Mysteries #1), 2021
Inspector Ian Rutledge Series
To read the books in proper chronological order, you might want to start with A Fine Summer’s Day as book #17, which was published in 2015, but takes place before Ian went to war. It was his last case before the war outbreak.
- Cold Comfort (Ian Rutledge 0.5), 2013
- A Guid Soldier (Ian Rutledge 0.6), 2015
- A Test of Wills (Ian Rutledge 1), 1994
- Wings of Fire (Ian Rutledge 2), 1998
- Search the Dark (Ian Rutledge 3), 1999
- Legacy of the Dead (Ian Rutledge 4), 2000
- Watchers of Time (Ian Rutledge 5), 2001
- A Fearsome Doubt (Ian Rutledge 6), 2002
- A Cold Treachery (Ian Rutledge 7), 2005
- A Long Shadow (Ian Rutledge 8), 2006
- A False Mirror (Ian Rutledge 9), 2007
- A Pale Horse (Ian Rutledge 10), 2007
- A Matter of Justice (Ian Rutledge 11), 2008
- The Red Door (Ian Rutledge 12), 2009
- The Kidnapping (Ian Rutledge 12.5), 2010
- A Lonely Death (Ian Rutledge 13), 2011
- The Confession (Ian Rutledge 14), 2012
- Proof of Guilt (Ian Rutledge 15), 2013
- Hunting Shadows (Ian Rutledge 16), 2014
- A Fine Summer’s Day (Ian Rutledge 17), 2015 – prequel to the series
- No Shred of Evidence (Ian Rutledge 18), 2016
- Racing the Devil (Ian Rutledge 19), 2017
- The Piper (Ian Rutledge short story), 2017
- The Gate Keeper (Ian Rutledge #20), 2018
- The Black Ascot (Ian Rutledge #21), 2019
- A Divided Loyalty (Ian Rutledge #22), 2020
- A Fatal Lie (Ian Rutledge #23), 2021
Bess Crawford Series
- The Maharani’s Pearls (Bess Crawford #0.5), 2014 (prequel featuring a young Bess Crawford)
- A Duty to the Dead (Bess Crawford #1), 2009
- An Impartial Witness (Bess Crawford #2), 2010
- A Bitter Truth (Bess Crawford #3), 2011
- An Unmarked Grave (Bess Crawford #4), 2012
- The Walnut Tree (Bess Crawford #4.5), 2012
- A Question of Honor (Bess Crawford #5), 2013
- An Unwilling Accomplice (Bess Crawford #6), 2014
- A Pattern of Lies (Bess Crawford #7), 2015
- The Shattered Tree (Bess Crawford #8), 2016
- A Casualty of War (Bess Crawford #9), 2017
- A Forgotten Place (Bess Crawford #10), 2018
- A Cruel Deception (Bess Crawford #11), 2019
- A Hanging at Dawn (Bess Crawford #11.5), 2020
- An Irish Hostage (Bess Crawford #12), 2021
Standalone Charles Todd Books
- The Murder Stone, 2003
- The Walnut Tree, 2012
About Charles Todd
Caroline Todd and Charles Todd are mother and son who have so far co-authored two historical mystery series, both evolving around WWI and two standalone novels.
Caroline has an undergraduate degree in History and English Literature, as well as a Masters in International Relations.
Charles has a background in business, communications, and management, with a BA in Communication Studies focusing on Business Management. He also has a degree in culinary arts. Charles has been working as a corporate troubleshooter for several years, and he keeps his day job separate from that of writing books.
Many readers are surprised to learn that Charles and Caroline are American writers since their two series focus on the history of England.
Charles is a Board member, Chairman of the Edgars Committee, as well as Secretary of the Mystery Writers of America.
The author team lives in Delaware and North Carolina.
Their best-known mystery series is Inspector Ian Rutledge, a series which was started way back in 1994. Reading the series in order is well worth especially for the fans of historical mysteries.
In 1919 Ian Rutledge has returned from WWI where he served as an officer at the front for five years. Now he is back and suffering from PTSD, which back in the day was called shell-shock. During the war he got a soldier executed because said soldier didn’t want to fight. This caused him major inner trauma, one which he is still trying to get over.
Now back at home, he has resumed his prior duties as a Scotland Yard inspector working to solve murders.
Currently, the series has 23 main books and several short stories. The latest book in the Ian Rutledge series is titled A Fatal Lie, published in 2021.
A second series co-authored by the mother and son team is Bess Crawford, featuring a British army nurse in WWI. Currently, this second series includes 12 books with the latest title An Irish Hostage published in 2021.
I love reading. Took it up as a hobby back in 1972 during the Agnes flood in Harrisburg Pa. This past May I was searching for a new author(to me) and found your works. I actually started reading the Ian Rutledge series from the beginning and am just now getting ready to read A Divided Loyalty. I have A Fatal Lie on order. I simply cannot put the books down. Sometimes I will sit for hours on end reading. I really enjoy your works. I truly do not want the Rutledge series to end but I’m sure it must but keep it going as long as possible.
Thank you for your words.
Ron Gruver
When I read A Divided Royalty Book 22, I was very happy for Ian who finally received a much and long overdue promotion to Chief Inspector. But why wasn’t this new position reflected in the next book, A Fatal Lie book 23??
Please publish more books … I can dying to know when Ian will marry, when he will finally be the Superintendent? When Hamish will finally leave him in permanent peace…when? When?!
Thank you for keeping me in such undying persistent suspense, I love your style … you kept me the reader guessing to no-end!!1. Loved every title read and hungering for more!!!
Ian and Bess need to have personal relationship going forward. Simon obviously cares for Bess, but is she stupid? I like that the books are clean and without sexual explicity. Just darn good reads.
I thought A Fine Summer’s Day foreshadowed A Test of Wills. It’s the Rutledge intro, I believe.
I would like to start your series on Inspector Ian Rutledge. Where should I start?
@Madeleine You should start with A Test of Wills.
Thank you for Inspector Rutledge!!
A grateful fan of your books. Especially now in this pandemic. My neighborhood library has many on audiobooks.
Simon Prebble, amazing!!
When is the next bess Crawford book coming out?
These books are great!! I have been reading them over the years, and just this past year read them in order. My library got in touch with me for the Newest one in Feb. I am now on the Bess Crawford series in order. I have read them previously and they are great also. Thank you!!!!! I live in Delaware also, in Sussex county. (I was born in DE.)