How to read Charles Todd’s books in order

It’s not unusual for authors to use pen names for their books. However, what is strange is when two writers are hiding behind one pseudonym. This is the case with Charles Todd, which is the pen name of Carolyn and David Watjen. They were mother and son who wrote two popular book series, one about Inspector Rutledge and the other about a World War I nurse Bess Crawford. The books share over 40 titles between them, making them lengthy reads. Moreover, it might get confusing which entry goes where in the timelines of the series. But there’s no need to despair. In the following, we’ll provide you with a chronological list of both series so that you can read them in perfect order without missing any details.

An introduction to Charles Todd’s literary world

As mentioned, Charles Todd and Caroline Todd are the pen names of American writers David and Carolyn Watjen. They were mother and son, as Carolyn passed away in 2021 at the age of 86. Their most popular works include books about Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge and World War I nurse Bess Crawford mysteries. Critics agree that Todds’ literary world is very much like the one found in Agatha Christie’s books. Nevertheless, it stands on its own two feet and offers exciting stories, some in line with Christie’s very best.

Book series by Charles Todd

Inspector Ian Rutledge series

The Ian Rutledge mysteries are set in the time period between two World Wars. The main character is an inspector at Scotland Yard with a disturbing past. Namely, during WWI, he served in Europe, where he went through horrific events that gave him shell shock, which is now known as PTSD. Living with a disorder and working a tough job, he has to keep his cool before anyone notices that there’s something wrong with him. Throughout the books, he keeps hearing a cynical voice of a young Scottish soldier he executed for disobeying orders.

Bess Crawford series

On the other hand, Charles and Caroline Todd wrote the Bess Crawford series. This is another historical mystery series that revolves around the life and work of Bess Crawford, a British nurse who serves in France during the Great War. Bess is a courageous woman, putting her life at risk for the sake of the wounded at all times. Nevertheless, she is a curious person too. This often leads her to solve mysteries both in France and back in Britain, which often put her in dangerous situations.

In order should I read Charles Todd's books?

Due to Caroline and Charles Todd writing over 40 books in both series, it might get a bit confusing about which title to start with first. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled all entries in both series in order and linked them to their respectable audiobook versions on Speechify. We’ll also mention Charles Todd’s standalone books that don’t fit into either novel series.

Inspector Ian Rutledge books publication order

1. A Test of Wills (1994)
2. Wings of Fire (1998)
3. Search the Dark (1999)
4. Legacy of the Dead (2000)
5. Watchers of Time (2001)
6. A Fearsome Doubt (2002)
7. A Cold Treachery (2005)
8. A Long Shadow (2006)
9. A False Mirror (2007)
10. A Pale Horse (2007)
11. A Matter of Justice (2008)
12. The Red Door (2009)
13. The Kidnapping (2010)
14. A Lonely Death (2011)
15. The Confession (2011)
16. Proof of Guilt (2013)
17. Cold Comfort (2013)
18. Hunting Shadows (2014)
19. A Fine Summer's Day (2015)
20. No Shred of Evidence (2016)
21. Racing the Devil (2017)
22. The Piper (2017)
23. The Gatekeeper (2018)
24. The Black Ascot (2019)
25. A Divided Loyalty (2020)
26. A Fatal Lie (2021)
27. A Game of Fear (2022)

Bess Crawford books publication order

1. A Duty to the Dead (2009)
2. An Impartial Witness (2010)
3. A Bitter Truth (2011)
4. An Unmarked Grave (2012)
5. A Question of Honor (2013)
6. An Unwilling Accomplice (2014)
7. The Maharani's Pearls (2014)
8. A Pattern of Lies (2015)
9. The Shattered Tree (2016)
10. A Casualty of War (2017)
11. A Forgotten Place (2018)
12. A Cruel Deception (2019)
13. A Hanging at Dawn (2020)
14. An Irish Hostage (2021)
15. The Cliff's Edge (2023)

Standalone novels

1. The Murder Stone (2003)

Publication order of short stories

1. The Walnut Tree (2012)

Short story collections

1. Tales (2015)

Listen to the audiobook collection of Charles Todd books on Speechify

As is the case with many great authors, Caroline and Charles Todd’s books are available in audiobook format. You can find most of their books in both the Inspector Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series here on Speechify. With over 70,000 audiobooks in its collection, Speechify offers one of the most versatile libraries when it comes to audiobooks. From Charles Todd’s books to Agatha Christie and other great mystery writers, there’s something for everyone. Nevertheless, it’s not just the extensive catalog of audiobooks that makes Speechify the best place to listen to novels. You can listen to your first book of choice for free. Yep, without having to spend a single dollar, you can enjoy any book in the collection and see how Speechify Audiobooks suit you. But that’s not all. Speechify is available across multiple platforms, so you can enjoy a premium listening experience anytime, anywhere.

FAQ

Is there an Inspector Ian Rutledge TV series?

There’s currently no TV adaptation of Inspector Rutledge novels, but IMDb says that a show is in production. The question is whether the development has been canceled or on hold.

Is Charles Todd married?

Charles Todd is the pen name of David Watjen and his mother Caroline. Thus, Charles Todd isn’t married.

What is Charles Todd's nationality?

The writing team behind the name Charles Todd, David and Caroline Watjen, are American.

Is there a Bess Crawford TV series?

Just like Inspector Rutledge, Bess Crawford’s novels haven’t yet been adapted into TV shows.