Charles Todd is the combined name of two wildly successful authors of mystery thrillers, mainly known for his series featuring Inspector Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford.
These are set during the First World War as well as its aftermath. These novels have captivated readers for decades.
The Ian Rutledge books follow the eponymous detective as he traces clues and solves mysteries.
The character is also a victim of ‘shell shock’ from fighting in the war (what is currently known as PTSD), which he struggles with all the way through the books, personified by a voice that he hears called Hamish.
The Bess Crawford books follow the eponymous nurse as she helps soldiers to recover during the war.
However, she soon gets embroiled in various mysteries and murders and becomes a sort of amateur detective herself.
Who Is Charles Todd?
Charles Todd is actually not one person, but two.
It is the pen name of the mother and son writing team Caroline and David Watjen, who themselves go by the pen names Caroline and Charles Todd.
Their novels about Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford have garnered acclaim and become international bestsellers.
They have written over 40 novels in total, as well as a few novellas and some short stories.
Caroline died in 2021, but books continue to be written by her son David. But which are their best books?
Well, I have done some searches and have uncovered them all.
I have listed them in the order they were written with a brief description of each, so you can see where you need to start.
Inspector Ian Rutledge Novels (In Chronological Order)
These are the novels that follow Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge, who suffers from shell shock and has to deal with Hamish, the belligerent voice of a soldier that Ian had to shoot during the war.
This is the first novel in the Ian Rutledge series, introducing us to the character as he has to face the demons of his past while he investigates the murder of a well-respected army colonel.
The novel really evokes time and place, with some dynamic and beautifully written prose.
Pros
The beginning of the Ian Rutledge novels
A wonderful sense of place
Great prose writing
Gripping and thrilling
Cons
Some readers have described this novel as predictable
Ian Rutledge now has to solve the murders of three members of the same family, one of those being the author of war poetry that helped save Rutledge himself from the brink of madness after the horrors of the war.
This is the second gripping chapter of the Ian Rutledge series, with the same evocative prose that drew so much praise for the first novel.
This has a few thousand great reviews on Amazon, so if you were a fan of the first book, then I would highly recommend you get stuck into the second.
When two children go missing, the finger is quickly pointed at a veteran plagued by the fact that his family was killed by a bomb during the war.
However, Ian Rutledge suspects that this is not the case and searches out the real culprit for this crime.
In his search for the two missing children, the plot gets thicker, involving more murders in Dorset and London, where privileged people exercise their power in the deepest and darkest parts of society.
This is one of the most gripping Rutledge novels yet.
Pros
A thrilling story
Set in the Devonshire countryside, which is well evoked
A far more complex mystery
Cons
Some readers have claimed the narrative is far too slow
This next novel follows Rutledge as he investigates the murder of a priest in the marshy Norfolk Broadlands.
It is a twisting and turning tale that leads him to uncover secrets that have been hidden by the local authorities.
What first appeared as a straightforward case has now turned into one of massive intrigue.
Soon Rutledge finds out that the person who murdered the priest has very little to do with the church, in a case that leads to one of the greatest maritime disasters in history – the sinking of the Titanic.
This is a rollercoaster chapter in the Ian Rutledge series as it expands to include many events in history.
Pros
This includes some of the most famous events in world history
This next novel turns the screw on Ian Rutledge as he has to face a decision that he made in his past – providing evidence that might have sent an innocent man to the gallows.
As he is forced to question everything that he thought was right, he also has to solve the mystery of two killers on the loose.
Meanwhile, the demons of his past show up and he is once again forced to confront the apparition of the Scottish soldier Hamish that he killed all those years ago.
Pros
Explores the relationship between Ian and Hamish
Reviewers have praised the continued strength of the series
Deconstructs Rutledge’s sense of decency
Cons
Some readers have said they don’t find this as believable as some of the other novels
Now we move on to another murder mystery, in fact, it is one of the worst murders that Rutledge has ever had to deal with.
The entire Elcott family has been murdered on their rural farm in Urskdale, however, the plot thickens when the police find out that one of the children has disappeared.
This is a great novel for anyone who enjoys a good thriller but likes it infused with a little bit of psychological detailing.
Once again, Rutledge must face his past so that he can save the missing boy and find the killer who uses the intense snow as a smokescreen.
Pros
The snowy surroundings really ratchet up the tension
An extremely intelligent murder mystery
Great for anyone who likes characters facing the elements
In the next novel, Ian Rutledge discovered some ammunition, very similar to the ammunition he himself used during WWI.
However, this is no accident, and he soon discovers more and more of these bullets, realizing that they are being put in places where he will find them.
As Ian’s past catches up with him once again, he is drawn to Northamptonshire, where he has to solve the case of a policeman who has been killed in a very arcane manner – shot with a bow and arrow in the middle of a wood.
Once again, Rutledge has to deal with his past and present to solve the mystery.
In ‘A False Mirror’, Rutledge is called to investigate the brutal beating of a man in Hampton Regis.
However, the specter of his time in the way only serves to haunt him yet again, as the man accused of the crime is a soldier that he served alongside and fundamentally didn’t trust.
Now he is charged with defending this man and finding out the real culprit.
However, things get dicey when the victim of the beating disappears, leaving no trace of his whereabouts.
Can Ian Rutledge find a ruthless killer before he claims more victims?
Pros
One of the more entertaining Ian Rutledge novels
Darker and more interesting than some of the other novels
Further exploration of Rutledge’s past
Cons
Again, this is another very dark novel that might be too grim for some readers
This next Ian Rutledge mystery begins with a body found on the side of a mountain wrapped in a shroud with a gas mask placed on his face.
Is this murder as it seems or has the man accused of the murder simply been framed by somebody else?
This novel requires Rutledge to draw on all of his powers as a detective, questioning the locals who live in the shadow of a giant pale horse carved into the mountainside.
How can they help Rutledge? Which ones are telling the truth and which ones are trying to hinder his investigation?
Pros
A riveting Rutledge novel that takes the reader to Berkshire
Involves an intriguing mix of the past and the present
Great character development
Cons
Might not be that engaging for people who want the really dark plotlines
This is another extremely atmospheric Ian Rutledge novel, this time dealing with the murder of a young woman that brings out ghosts from Rutledge’s past.
This was another New York Times bestselling novel and is probably one of the high watermarks of the series.
This is another novel that provides rich and three-dimensional inner lives of the key characters.
This trait marks out the Ian Rutledge novels as being completely different from other mystery and thriller novels.
Pros
A great collection of characters
Believable storyline
Further exploration of Ian Rutledge’s psyche
Cons
Some readers have complained that there are too many characters in this one
This is a short story that serves as a prequel to the Rutledge novels, following the detective as he serves in France as a soldier.
Even in the midst of battle, Rutledge gets involved in solving the attempted murder of one of the officers in his regimen by detonating explosives far too late.
Will Rutledge be able to get to the bottom of this in a raging war?
Pros
Great for die-hard fans of the series
Shows Rutledge in his war days
A shorter novel that makes for a great vacation read
Cons
Might not satisfy those who want a full-length Ian Rutledge mystery
This next story is one that takes place in Rutledge’s past when the world is on the brink of war.
Rutledge is ready to propose to the love of their life, meanwhile, a series of murders across the country speaks of a case that will lead him down an unexpected path.
Pros
A portrait of a younger Rutledge in love
A vivid description of Britain just before the Great War
A plot full of twists
Cons
Not for those readers who want a linear continuation of the Rutledge saga
This next Rutledge novel takes us right back to the end of the war in 1919 and a few officers challenge themselves to a race to celebrate surviving the war, during which a car crash occurs, and multiple people are injured.
A year later, when one of the officers is killed in a similar car crash, is it just an accident or the result of foul play?
Pros
This Rutledge novel takes place on the Continent
The hunt for a killer who cannot be stopped
A novel hailed as ‘complex’ and ‘heartbreaking’ by Hank Phillipi Ryan
Cons
Some readers have complained that there are too many characters in this story
This is another Bess Crawford novel that involves our amateur sleuth getting herself in a dangerous scenario when her duty puts her in the path of a serial killer.
This is more edge-of-your-seat writing from the duo that brought you Ian Rutledge.
Pros
Each character comes with a rich backstory
More complex narrative writing
Entertaining from start to finish
Cons
Some readers say that Bess doesn’t do a lot of detective work in this novel
This novel extends all the way back to Bess Crawford’s childhood in 1908 when an officer killed 5 men in the regiment that her father served.
Fast forward to 1918, and Bess is looking after the wounded on the battlefield when she hears that the murderous officer is still serving on the front lines.
Pros
A compelling tale with plenty of jeopardy
The most exciting installment of the Bess Crawford series yet
If you want a thriller with very defined characters with psychological elements to the plot, then I would certainly recommend that you sample Charles Todd’s Bess Crawford and Ian Rutledge series, both of which occupy the same period, but both are very different heroes.
These books move back and forth in the life of their characters, and they do not follow chronological order.
You can browse through them and find out which novels take place during which time and sort them accordingly, although this will require a lot of detective work of your own!
There is a reason why this series is considered by its readers and reviewers to be the best.
The writing is vivid and moves the plot along in a way that is exciting and intriguing.
There is something for both male and female crime fans in all of Charles Todd’s books.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Order Of Ian Rutledge Novels In The Chronology Of His Life?
If you want to follow the life of Ian Rutledge in the order of his life, here is the order you’ll need to read them:
A Fine Summer’s Day The Piper Cold Comfort A Test of Wills Wings of Fire Search the Dark Legacy of the Dead Watchers of Time A Fearsome Doubt A Cold Treachery A Long Shadow A False Mirror A Pale Horse A Matter of Justice The Red Door The Kidnapping A Lonely Death The Confession Proof of Guilt Hunting Shadows No Shred of Evidence Racing the Devil The Gatekeeper The Black Ascot A Divided Loyalty A Fatal Lie A Game of Fear
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
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