Reviews

Praise for The Red Door

“Todd returns with another mystery set in post-World War I England featuring Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge. This mother-and-son writing team cleverly weaves in social details and historical facts without slowing the story or the character development. It’s hard not to read about the psychological and physical wounds of war and the fear left by the great flu epidemic of 1918 without feeling a shiver for our own time. The period after the Great War is producing very strong mystery novels (Jacqueline Winspear, Barbara Cleverly), and Todd’s are among the best.”
——RT BookReviews, ★ ★ ★ ★½

Inspector Rutledge confronts a war-weary family in 1920.

Where is Walter Teller? An undiagnosed malady has sent him to the Belvedere Clinic. His wife Jenny, his sister Leticia, his brothers Edwin and Peter and their wives Amy and Susannah worry over him, then become alarmed when he disappears. Family members hare off in all directions to find him, reuniting when Scotland Yard sends Inspector Rutledge to help. Nobody seems eager to confide in Rutledge, who, accompanied by the hectoring ghost of Hamish, a soldier he executed during the Great War, wonders if the Tellers of Essex are related to recently murdered Florence Teller, a widow from Hobson. Her husband Peter never returned from the war. Are her Peter and the Essex Peter one and the same? Was she killed to cover up not only bigamy but illegitimacy? And is her death related to Walter’s illness? Peter, his leg gimpy from war wounds, falls downstairs and dies. Jenny, distraught at Peter’s possible perfidy, succumbs to laudanum poisoning. Walter returns, then vanishes again, only to be waylaid himself. While sorting through the family travails, Rutledge must confront a former suitor of Florence with family woes of his own, as well as a triple murderer who’s prowling Westminster Bridge determined to slay Rutledge.

Departing from Rutledge’s earlier cases (A Matter of Justice, 2008, etc.), the caprices of fatherhood take precedence over the iniquities of war this time, with a subdued Hamish and an emotionally reawakening Rutledge along for the ride.

(Author tour to Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco)”
—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Duty to the Dead

“Winning…Fans of independent women sleuths like Maisie Dobbs will welcome this new addition to their ranks.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Anyone who cares to loll in early-20th century English villages and mores and follow a plucky heroine as she confronts the stupidity of war will find solace in this old-fashioned mystery.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Todd employs all the elements of a satisfying cozy mystery, with an absorbing plot and a charismatic heroine that will leave the reader wanting more.”
—Library Journal

“This is a wonderful new mystery series that will let us see the horrors of World War I through the eyes of Bess Crawford, a battlefield nurse. A Duty to the Dead is a richly realistic depiction of both the era and people who lived through it. I was sorry when the book ended and am already looking forward to hearing from Bess again. Soon, please!”
—Margaret Maron, Edgar Award-winning author of Death’s Half Acre

Praise for A Matter of Justice

“In the stellar 11th Insp. Ian Rutledge mystery, Todd seamlessly combines a fair-play whodunit with a nuanced look into the heart of darkness in the human soul. …The inspector’s own inner struggles, stemming from his guilt over his morally questionable actions during WWI, make him a more human and complicated protagonist than most other series sleuths.”
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“…the author manages to slip in yet another antiwar message by tormenting Rutledge with the emotional repercussions of his own battle experiences.”
—Kirkus

Praise for A Pale Horse

“Another penetrating, emotionally lacerating antiwar fable from a master of the form.”
— Kirkus Reviews

“The exemplary 10th Inspector Ian Rutledge historical whodunit offers tight plotting and rich characterization amid understated but convincing evocations of post-WWI England.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Award-winner Todd…is brilliant at creating atmosphere and unforgettable characters. Fans of historicals by Rennie Airth and Anne Perry will snap this up.”
—Library Journal

“Todd continues to render a refreshingly original historical series that combines Agatha Christie’s classical detection with P.D. James’ psychological acuity.”
—Booklist (starred review)

Reader Reviews from HarperCollins Publishers First Look Program:

“The gritty, stand alone, step by step reasoning style of Rutledge’s character made this mystery a must read.”
—Ronna (Potomac, MD)

“…a chilling read, but one I thoroughly enjoyed. Todd is a gifted writer who crafts a mystery as terrifying and smart as any I’ve ever read.”
—Judy (Owensboro, KY)

“…a first rate historical mystery.”
—Maureen (Freehold, NJ)

“…a “cracking good” psychological mystery.”
—Bruce (New York, NY)

“What can you say about Ian Rutledge? He is one of the more intriguing characters in the mystery genre these days. … Another wonderful addition to the series—thumbs up!”
—Susan (Atlanta, GA)

Praise for A False Mirror

“Clues that would do Agatha Christie proud inexorably lead to the denouement….Compelling evidence that inside every warrior who returns from the front, there’s a nightmare waiting to break out.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Deft characterization…Todd…seamlessly melds a fair-play whodunit with psychological suspense in the tradition of P. D. James’s best.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Touches of both Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie in this character-driven mystery, which builds smoothly but not simply to a climax that is likely to be a genuine surprise.”
—Booklist

“The revelation of the culprit comes as a surprise owing to multiple suspects with potential motives, but it is Rutledge’s tortured soul that will intrigue and engage readers most.”
—Library Journal

“A roller-coaster ride of suspense and intrigue.”
—Romantic Times (Top Pick, 4 1/2 stars)

“Todd … keeps the atmospheric A False Mirror full of suspense, surprises and sympathetic characters.”
—Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

“The Inspector Rutledge series is one of the best psychological mystery series in print. It is fast-paced and the plotting and characters are well-developed. The revelantion of the guilty person comes as a complete surprise.”
—Daily American (Somerset, PA)

“A False Mirror is certain not only to thrill fans of British mysteries and such authors as Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes, and Jacqueline Winspear, but will also satisfy anyone looking for a truly engrossing and transporting read.”
—McCormick Messenger (SC)

“A remarkable series… . The sad and shocking resolution only confirms Todd’s theses that war destroys minds and souls as well as bodies, and that the suffering never ends—not even for the so-called winners.”
—New York Times Book Review

“The overall mystery is well done … melancholy, atmospheric.”
—Christian Science Monitor

“This series never disappoints.”
—Charlotte Observer

“A superbly crafted tale…a complex and engrossing study of the nature of seeing and being seen that anyone who enjoys tight plotting and deep characterization will enjoy.”
—armchairinterviews.com

“A solid puzzle….This whole series could prove habit-forming.”
—Wilmington Star News (NC)

“The mother-and-son team have created a remarkable character and placed him in memorable locations and situations.”
—The State (Columbia, SC)

“The novel’s meticulously described settings…prepare us subtly, but not entirely, for a brutal and shocking ending that will keep you ruminating a long time.”
—Raleigh News & Observer

“There is no better depiction of the effects of the war on the people of England than this series.…magnificent.”
—Mystery News

“Todd writes with grace…and assurance. The portrayal of a bleak, sad, postwar England is spot on, and the mystery itself is cleverly and fairly concocted….Affecting.”
—Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Magnificant series.”
—Mystery News

“A vivid evocation of the post-World War I era in England.”
—Winston-Salem Journal

Praise for A Long Shadow

“Todd’s plotting and characterization are, as usual, first-rate, and the tormented motivations behind the novel’s dark acts are presented with a sensitivity and refinement reminiscent of the best P.D. James.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Todd’s series has the feel of the classic whodunits of such Golden Age masters as Christie and Sayers. Its ever-thickening plot is sure to pleas serious puzzlers who thrill to a large cast of wary villagers spinning complex webs of rumor and deception…a traditional mystery buff’s delight.”
—Booklist

“Excels at intricate relationships among characters….Another winning story.”
—Library Journal

“Riveting historical mystery.”
—Romantic Times

“Incisive as ever.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Charles Todd continues the expert plotting and keen insight into the human psyche that has been a hallmark of this series….A superior look at a country and one former soldier recovering from war’s devastation…seamless in its storytelling and enthralling in its plotting.”
—Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

“A daunting portrait of a town that keeps its thoughts, its troubles and most of all its secrets to itself.”
— New York Times Book Review

“[A] remarkable series….Keeps readers on the edge right up to the stunning end.”
—Detroit Free Press

“Book by book, the mother/son team who writes as Charles Todd continue to delve deeper and deeper into the national psyche of Britain during the unsettled years following World War I….[An] elegantly devised series.”
—New York Times Book Review

“Atmosphere aplenty.”
—Charlotte Observer

“Evocative.”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer

“No mystery series I can think of captures the sadness and loss that swept over England after World War I with the heartbreaking force of Charles Todd’s books about Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge.”
—Chicago Tribune

“I admire not just the book’s pace but also its seriousness, its darkness….The authors also do a nice job of capturing the era.”
—Washington Post

“Riveting all the way through…the climax is a jaw-dropping triumph of terror…A truly stunning book, one sure to become a classic of the genre.”
—Scene of the Crime newsletter

“The plot and the atmosphere draw the reader in from the first page. Todd doesn’t let up for a minute piling clue upon clue and motive upon motive.”
—Mystery Scene

“Like P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Charles Todd writes novels that transcend genre. They are well-plotted mysteries, taut with psychological suspense. They are also fine literature, with fully developed characters and evocative descriptions. Above all, these stories peer deeply into human nature.”
—Winston-Salem Journal

“An absorbing plot with twists and turns…gripping…Well-drawn characters and scenes, wry local humor, and plot details steep the mystery in English country life.”
—School Library Journal

“The mystery with its cast of local English characters, and the intricate plot is like the classic whodunits of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. Readers who like serious, challenging puzzles will enjoy A Long Shadow.”
—Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News (Stuart, Florida)

“Somber, moving, and utterly spellbinding…evocative….Rutledge’s ongoing courageous refusal to surrender to the dark forces buffeting him on all sides is a shining example of resolve, nerve, and decency, and makes haunted Ian Rutledge impossible to drive out of one’s mind.”
— Strand magazine

Praise for A Test of Wills

“Remarkable.”
—Chicago Tribune

“Todd has written a first novel that speaks out, urgently and compassionately, for a long-dead generation and a world he never knew… . A meticulously wrought puzzle.”
—New York Times Book Review

“Remarkable…Todd, an American, seems to have perfect pitch in his ability to capture the tenor and nuances of English country life.”
—Kansas City Star

“Most ‘Golden Age’ detective novelists wrote as if the First World War hadn’t happened. In A Test of Wills Charles Todd gives us a Golden Age crime story in its proper historical setting. This is an intelligent, controlled, and well-organized first novel, rich with promise of a bright future. I look forward to the next.”
—Reginald Hill, author of Death Comes for the Fat Man

“Psychologically sophisticated, tautly written and craftily plotted…It should prove a pleasure to follow this series.”
—San Jose Mercury News

“War-wounded Britain in 1919 is beautifully conveyed in an intricately plotted mystery. With this remarkable debut, Charles Todd breaks new ground in the historical crime novel.”
—Peter Lovesey, author of The Circle

“Strong, elegant prose; detailed surroundings; and sound plotting characterize this debut… . Highly recommended.”
—Library Journal

“The debut of Charles Todd’s Inspector Ian Rutledge is an auspicious one. In a novel full of complex and believable characters, perhaps the most complex of all is the Great War itself, which backlights this mystery with its monumental horrors.”
—Gaylord Dold, author of The Last Man in Berlin

“The emotional and physical carnage in World War I is used to remarkable effect.”
—Chicago Tribune

“A first novel that speaks out, urgently and compassionately, for a long-dead generation… . A meticulously wrought puzzle and a harrowing psychological drama.”
—New York Times Book Review

“Todd depicts the outer and inner worlds of his characters with authority and sympathy as he closes in on his surprising—and convincing—conclusion.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“With his tortured detective Ian Rutledge and the ghost who inhabits his mind … Charles Todd has swiftly become one of the most respected writers in the mystery genre.”
—Denver Post

“Strong, elegant prose; detailed surroundings; and sound plotting characterize this debut… . Highly recommended.”
—Library Journal

“More than an ordinary whodunit, this literate thriller raises disturbing issues of war and peace.”
—San Diego Union Tribune

Praise for A Cold Treachery

“Todd surpasses just about anyone writing historical mysteries today.”
—Detroit Free Press

“Gripping… . The setting takes on an eerie life of its own.”
—Library Journal

“Todd’s ear for dialogue is superb, and he effortlessly conjures up the harsh life of a simple farm community through his vivid characters… . Rutledge’s struggle with his own demons serves as a moving counterpoint to the searing pain of other characters trapped by circumstances or emotions beyond their control.”
—Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Murder Stone

Family upheaval intensified by wartime tragedy.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Fans of Todd’s ‘Ian Rutledge’ series (A Fearsome Doubt) will enjoy this book’s many twists and turns, angst-ridden characters, and evocative historical setting.”
—Library Journal

Praise for A Fearsome Doubt

“An atmosphere thick with melancholy and longing, one that showcases sympathetic characters brilliantly.” —Washington Post Book World

“Among the best in the historical mystery series. They are intelligent and intense. If you like mysteries, you’ll enjoy any in the Ian Rutledge series.”
—Daily American, Somerset, PA

“Todd skillfully interweaves an acute psychological portrait with a compelling puzzle. Intelligent and intense.”
—Booklist

“A great mystery as well as a haunting human drama.”
—Midwest Book Review

Praise for Watchers of Time

“An authentic British mystery… . Todd continues to provide a superior look at a people and a country trying to recover from the devastation of war. Watchers of Time so thoroughly immerses the reader in 1919 England that it’s startling to realize that the authors are American.”
—Sun-Sentinel, Best Mysteries of 2001

“If anyone can turn a simple village mystery into a brooding Greek tragedy, it’s Charles Todd. Todd handles … grave issues with great compassion for his morally bewildered characters, who have had enough of guilt and retribution and long only for peace.”
—New York Times Book Review

“One of the best historical series being written today… . In the grand tradition of English murder mysteries … emotional connections makeWatchers of Time a compelling mystery rich with depth and shading.”
—Washington Post Book World

“A tragic conspiracy of greed and betrayal. A compelling unique story.”
—Chicago Tribune

Praise for Legacy of the Dead

“Todd’s Ian Rutledge mysteries are among the most intelligent and affecting being written these days.”
—Washington Post Book World

“Readers will continue to be captivated by Todd’s portrait of the dangerously unraveling detective, and his equally incisive evocation of the grieving postwar world.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Immensely intriguing… . A fine, unique and moving mystery.”
—Booklist

“A most impressive effort.”
—Chicago Tribune

“Powerful.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Search the Dark

“The third compelling Ian Rutledge mystery takes the sensitive and appealing Scotland Yard inspector, a former WWI officer, to the countryside of Dorset… . [A] fine period mystery.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Todd’s finely crafted postwar atmosphere, his superb exploration of human motives, his deftly sketched supporting cast, and a challenging plot are rewardingly combined here as he compassionately probes the dark scars left by nearly unbearable psychological wounds. But the best thing about Search the Dark is Ian Rutledge. Gentle when he can be, relentless when he must be, tormented he cannot help but be, Todd’s Ian Rutledge is as fine a piece of literary work as appears today.”
—Strand magazine

“A well-crafted historical.”
—Library Journal

Praise for Wings of Fire

“A remarkable village mystery… . Drive-by characters of great psychological complexity… . [Todd wraps] his challenging plot, complex characters and subtle psychological insights in thick layers of atmosphere.”
—New York Times Book Review

“A strong mystery, filled with fine characterizations, a superb eye for Cornwall and post-World War I attitudes, and a wise and wily explanation of how some of us deal with guilt.”
—Boston Globe

“A brilliant return… . Memorable characters, subtle plot twists, the evocative seaside setting and descriptions of architecture, the moors and the sea fully reward the attention this novel commands.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Todd writes exceptionally about a time when people found not just meaning but healing in poetry, when intuition was viewed as a kind of ’second sight,’ and when everyone was stamped by war—not just the legless men, but also the women who lost their loves and so their futures.”
—San Jose Mercury News

“Todd’s writing is graceful and evocative of a bygone time and place.”
—Miami Herald