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Ask the Author: Charles Todd

“Dear Contributors:

I welcome any questions or insights you may wish to share.

I answer all questions every Thursday if not before.

All the Best,
Charles Todd” Charles Todd

Answered Questions (124)

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who are the characters in Day of Judgement?
Charles Todd There are many charaqcters. Here is a general list:

Character names:
Aiden Wilkinson, constable
Alfie Henderson, barman at Caster Arms
Bess Crawford, nurse, Melinda’s niece
Bowles, chief superintendent
Branton Dixon, coxswain at lifeboat station
Charles Berrisford, neighbor of Oswin Dunn
Charlie Turnbill, church gardener
Charlotte, server at Caster Arms
Connor (qu.) Brown, owner of Caster Arms
Connor Thompson, administrative officer, diocesan offices
David Treavor, Rutledge’s godfather
Edward Scott, vicar in North Sunderland
Edward Simpson, Inspector Taylor’s supervisor
Fiona, Hamish’s love
Fleming, doctor
Frances, Rutledge’s sister
Franklin Harker, York china shop proprietor
Freddie Miller, mechanic
Fullarton James, historical figure, chief constable
George Ormsby, clergy
Gibson, sergeant
Mrs. Gordon, mother of Kate Gordon
Grace Darling, historical figure, tried to save wrecked sailors
Grace Douglas, proprietor of Ship Inn
Mrs. Hall, inn proprietor
Hamish MacLeod, corporal, killed by Rutledge
Harry Robeson, constable in Waren Mill
Hellmuth von Derring, German Navy lieutenant
Herman Krüger, Isla’s husband, German
Ian Rutledge, chief inspector
Isla Dunn, Oswin’s sister
Jack Carr, constable
James Bradleigh, coroner
Jean, Rutledge’s former fiancée
John Clark, vicar in Beadston
John Hammill, managing editor for The Alnwick Mercury
Kate Gordon, cousin of Jean
Layla Gray, staff at Bamburgh Castle Inn
Leo Hall, steam tug captain
Logan Taylor, inspector
Markum, chief superintendent
Margaret, assists at St. John the Evangelist church (diocesan offices)
Matthews, chief inspector
Melinda Crawford, family friend
Meredith Channing, deceased, buried in France
Molly, server at Ship Inn
Oswald Elliott, inspector at Berwick
Oswin Dunn, victim
Richard (qu.), barman at Ship Inn
Ridley Anderson, foreman at the kilns, brother-in-law of William Davison
Shanta, Melinda Crawford’s housekeeper
Sophie (qu.), vicar’s wife
Sophie Marsh, shopkeeper
Thomas Bell, farmer
Tommy, helper at pub/inn
Watson, police superintendent in Newcastle
William Davison, fisherman
William Turner, doctor
Wilson (qu.), barman at Ship Inn
Young, sergeant in Newcastle

All the Best,
Charles
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I have been reading some Ian Rutledge books that I may have missed and just finished reading Legacy of the Dead and Watchers of Time. Do we ever find out what happens to Fiona and young Ian and David Trevor?
Charles Todd Fiona and Ian go on to live happily ever after. David Treavor lives on in the series, mentioned in A Day of Judgement and more to come.

All the Best,

Charles
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Charles Todd Dear Mary Jo:

Many things were left incomplete in A Cliffs Edge. I finished the manuscript for the new Bess Mystery and turned it into my publisher on August 1, 2025. Do be aware that in the time period things take time and move slowly.. I look forward to hearing what you think of the new Bess Crawford Myystery. Stau tuned on Facebook and other social media for updates and announcements about the release date.

All the Best,
Charles
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I am wondering if you have ever been approached for making a TV series based on the inspector Rutledge series? Or if you have ever given it any thought on what actor would play him. I asked AI that question. At times it comes up with weird suggestions (Benedict Cumberbatch?) and sometimes it just tells me what the actor would have to be capable of playing (especially regarding Hamish).
Charles Todd Dear Maqrgie:

We (my agent and I) continue to work with a production team looking for an outlet for Rutledge. Ian Cumberbatch is a brilliant idea. Sadly it takes time and I am hoping to have more news soon. Stay tuned!

All the Best,
Charles
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Charles Todd Dear Molly:

You hit the nail on the head. Being a Christmas story made it necessary for Rutledge's softer side to become apparent. I dp plan to keep the Colonel in mind as the series continues. His apprearance may not be for a few books and when it is proper for him to appear. I am delighted you and your husband enjoy these stories, They are stories which goes back to my grandfather who was a story teller from many years ago.

All the Best,
Charles
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Do you have any plans to resolve the romantic tension between Bess Crawford and Simon Brandon? I hope so as the series is crying out for resolution…and from what I’ve been reading, your readership is also crying out for resolution, as am I. Surely, there is room for a husband and wife investigation team to spring from their relationship.
Charles Todd Dear Paula:

On August 1, 2025 I sent the publisher the latest Bess Crawford mystery novel manuscript. It will be released after A Day of Judgement (An Inspector Rutledge mystery novel on March 10, 2026. Do remember that relationships in that era took longer to develop than in more modern times. While there are several husband and wife investigating teams, they have some ground to cover first. I hope you will be pleasently surprised with the new Bess. Stay tuned for updates.

Aqll the Best,

Charles
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Hello, I just received my copy of A Christmas Witness and I am so looking forward to reading it!! The Ian Rutledge mysteries were one of my mom's and my favorite English mystery series and enjoyed sharing the books. Unfortunately, my mom passed away last year, so I won't be able to discuss it with her. But it really brings back fond memories of our discussions of Ian and our hopes that there will be more?
Charles Todd Dear Donna:

Sadly Caroline passed in 2021. It has taken this long to settle the estate. Martch 10, 2026 A Day of Judgement (A IRutledge Myatery Novel) will be released and is available for pre order now. I just turned in the manuscript for the next Bess Crawford mystery novel on August 1, 2025 aqnd it will come out after A Day of Judgement. I am currently half way through writing the next Rutledge Mystery Novel. Althoug it was difficult writing with out Caroline (My Mother) it has been cathardic as well. I hope you enjoy these books. Stau tuned!

All the Best,
Chalres
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I'm reading A Fine Summer's Day on my Kobo eReader. There is a map in the beginning, but my eReader does not expand maps or pictures. I see you have had maps, but I can't find them now. GitHub will not show your map. Will you post a link to your map(s)?
Charles Todd Dear Brigid:

I am sad to tell you, that site was a Harper Collins Map. about two years ago they took it down and never replaced it. I apologize for the inconvenience. You are welcome to ask me about locations. While we change the town/village name the area is very similar. I recommend Google Maps or the Collins Spiral Bounf Map of Great Britian. The 2026 version is out now. Beware the county names have changed. In the era the books are set the counties were different from today. You can easily down load a map of the historical counties of England.

Please remember, I am here to help if you need more information. The www.char;estodd.com site had loads of information for each book.

All the Best,
Charles
charles@charlestodd.com
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I am interested in Ian's love of O. A. Manning's poetry. Wikipedia shows O.A. Manning to have been a real writer and poet, though too young to have published anything for Ian to have carried with him into battle. I found an interview acknowledging that the poetry 'quoted' in the novels was written by Charles Todd, but will you share the story of your choosing Manning as the beloved author/poet? Thanks!
Charles Todd Dear Jeanie:

O. A. Manning was old enough to have poetryy that Rutledge carried with him during the war. If you read Wings of Fire the second Rutledge Novel, you will understand the reference. Olivia Manning is a character who was dead when Rutledge investigated. He was supprised to learn she was a woman (like George Sand many years earlier. If you read Wings of Fire and have any questions please let me know. Through out the series Rutledge will remember a quote from O. A. Manning and it is included in that book (e.g. The Gate Keeper).

All the Best,

Charles
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Charles Todd Dear Viccy:

Thank you,. It is a hard balance with what readers will understand and what is proper. I have tried to continue that process in the new titles that are coming shortly. A Christmas Witness ia Rutledge Christmas Novella will be released October 21, 2025 and a full mystery novel A Day of Judgement is scheduled for release on February 17. 2026.Both are available for preorder at your local independent bookseller and other outlets. I just submitted the manukscript for the new Bess. It keeps me busy and away from "troyuble",

All the Best,

Charles
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Have you written under your own name or have you always used a pen name? And why?
Charles Todd Dear David:

Thank you for asking. Charles Todd(R) is a registered trademark with the US Trademark and Oatient Office for literary works. We chose Charles because Charles and Caroline are from the same latin root and Todd is an old family name. All of my writing is done as Charles Todd. First because our real last name is very hard to pronounce and even more difficult to remember.

Finally, I like to come home and be just that guy who lives in the neighborhood. When I do appearences it is both rewarding and tiring. It is nice to be nobody at home.

All the Best,
Charles
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I like to learn about the novel’s locations & will Google Map them to see where in England we are & distances traveled between towns. The locations are either real (Padstow - No Shred of Evidence) or created (Heyl) that sound similar to existing names (Hayle?), but the real named town can be nowhere near the novel’s setting. How do you choose location names, especially the fictional names modelled after a real name?
Charles Todd Dear Claire:

We usually use a real town and then take liscenses with the town to fit our use. The other issue is that we know and have visted. As a result out of courtesy to the people we know, we change the name. The county is always correct, using the county name as it was in that time period.

I hope that answers your question,

All the Best,
Charles
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Will you be putting any of the Ian Rutledge or Bess Crawford short stories on Audible?
Charles Todd Dear Georgeann:

I cannot speak for Audibe specifically but I am aware of aduio versions of several short stories, Beiis Crawford is in the short story for the Bouchercon 25 Anthology which will be released in September of this year at Bouchercon. Rutledge returns in A CHristmas Witness that will be released on Octiber 21, 2025 and is available in audio format. Rutledge is in a short story titled Haev a Drink on Me in the AC/DE Back in Black Antholovy, it was released in July of 2024 and is in audio format . A Day of Judgement a Ian Rutledge Mystery Novel will be released on February 17, 2026 and is available in audio format.

All of the upcoming titles are available for pre order now. I hope this helps.

All the Best,
Charles
Charles
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Why does Rutledge not use fingerprints as evidence? I know the Met was using them but this doesn’t happen. Is it because Rutledge doesn’t have a DS for his out of London investigations? Thanks, Nona G.
Charles Todd Dear Nona:

Finger prints and their history can be found in Wikipedia at this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerp... It is a starting point for your research,

While in use in Rutledge's day they were primarily used in metropolitan areas, There was no central databast or computerized searches. All the finger print analysis and comparison was done by hand. Primarily it was used for known persons who had a fingerprint file. The use of fingerprints was not helpful for finding persons who did not have an arrest or other records.

As for DS involvment, manpower at places such as Scotland Yard were impacted by the war, and there were very few DS to assign to every Inspector or Chief Inspector, When it came to cases outside London, the High Constable for each county were the ones who filed a request with Scotland Yard to investigate a crime when their expertise was needed. However Sergent Gibson is a valuable resource for Rutledge.

I hope I answered your questions.

All the Best,
Charles Todd
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thank you for sharing her with us! (?) )
Charles Todd Dear Clerico?:

I am not sure who you are refering to here? I apologize for the delay.

All the Best,

Charles
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thank you for sharing her with us! (?) )
Charles Todd Dear Clerico?:

I am not sure who you are refering to here? I apologize for the delay.

All the Best,

Charles
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did rutledge go to sandhurst for officer training in ww1?
Charles Todd Dear Hannah:

No, Rutledge did not attend Sandhurst. He attended Oxford. I apologize for the delay!

All the Best,
Charles
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did rutledge go to sandhurst for officer training in ww1?
Charles Todd Dear Hannah:

No, Rutledge did not attend Sandhurst. He attended Oxford. I apologize for the delay!

All the Best,
Charles
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Charles Todd Dear Lilly:

Wow, that took me a long time to find. As far as I can say, it was first mentioned in the Black Ascot and then in greater detail in A Divided Loyalty. I apologize for the delay. I hope this helps.

All the Best,
Charles
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would you ever consider a prequel about rutledges first ever case? i think it would be fascinating
Charles Todd Dear Hannah:

In a way we did a prequil for the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI in A Fine Summers Day. It was hard for us to write knowing what the war would do to Rutledge.

All the Best,
Charles
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