Charles Todd's Blog
August 7, 2025
Update: A Christmas Witness and A Day of Judgement
Dear Readers and Fans:
As many of you know, A Christmas Witness an Ian Rutledge Christmas Novella will be released on October 21, 2025 and A Day of Judgement is scheduled for release on February 17, 2026. Both are available for preorder from your local independant bookseller and other outlets.
The good news is the manuscript for the new Bess Crawford Mystery was submitted this week to the wonderful people at Mysterious Press. I sincerelyy hope that will be released as soon as it is approved and goes to press.
I do hope to see many of you at Bouchercon 2025 in New Orleans! Blood on the Bayu will be a great conference and I have a Bess Crawford short story in the Anthologgy; Case Closed. All of the authors will be signing copies after the Opening Cerimonies at the WWII museum. If you have not visited the museum, make a day of your visit. It is definitely worth your time!
This year is very heart warming for me. I will be a Special Guest of Honor and am to be interviewed by the renowned reviewer Steven Steinbach on Saturday. I look forward to that event, I have known Steve for many years, and I have paid him not to ask certain questions!!!
Please come join me and all of aauthors and fans in New Orlens for this years Bouchercon.
You can register at this link:
https://www.bouchercon2025.com/regist...
All the Best,
Charles
As many of you know, A Christmas Witness an Ian Rutledge Christmas Novella will be released on October 21, 2025 and A Day of Judgement is scheduled for release on February 17, 2026. Both are available for preorder from your local independant bookseller and other outlets.
The good news is the manuscript for the new Bess Crawford Mystery was submitted this week to the wonderful people at Mysterious Press. I sincerelyy hope that will be released as soon as it is approved and goes to press.
I do hope to see many of you at Bouchercon 2025 in New Orleans! Blood on the Bayu will be a great conference and I have a Bess Crawford short story in the Anthologgy; Case Closed. All of the authors will be signing copies after the Opening Cerimonies at the WWII museum. If you have not visited the museum, make a day of your visit. It is definitely worth your time!
This year is very heart warming for me. I will be a Special Guest of Honor and am to be interviewed by the renowned reviewer Steven Steinbach on Saturday. I look forward to that event, I have known Steve for many years, and I have paid him not to ask certain questions!!!
Please come join me and all of aauthors and fans in New Orlens for this years Bouchercon.
You can register at this link:
https://www.bouchercon2025.com/regist...
All the Best,
Charles
June 7, 2025
A Christmas Witness and A Day of Judgement
Dear Readers and Fans:
Wonderful news, Ian Rutledge is back and available for pre order now. Please visit your local Independent Book Seller or Online Booksale’s.
A Christmas Witness is a Christmas Novella that will be released on October 21, 2025.
Inspector Ian Rutledge investigates a possible attempted murder in this seasonal mystery novella from New York Times bestseller Charles Todd.
December 1921: Being single and a new Chief, Inspector Rutledge gets the short straw and is called upon by Chief Superintendent Markum to go to the Kentish home of a lord who is recovering from an attempt on his life. In bed with a concussion, the man is convinced someone is trying to kill him after he claims he was struck by the hoof of a running horse whose rider never stopped to check on him.
When he gets there, Rutledge learns that Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and the lord were both young cavalry officers and graduated from Sandhurst together. As Rutledge’s investigation gets underway, he uncovers even more similarities between his life and that of the man he’s sent to protect, all of which grows eerily poignant as the Christmas holiday approaches…
A Day of Judgement will be released on February 17, 2026.
Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard travels to England’s windswept coastline to investigate a murder in a place where, several years after the end of WWI, the memory of the war still runs strong . . .
July, 1921: England is suffering a heatwave and the coast of Northumberland, just across the border from Scotland, is filled with holiday-makers bird watching and enjoying the beaches. Pilgrims also come to visit the home of Saints Cuthbert and Aiden—the founders of Christianity in England—located on the “Holy Island” of Lindisfarne, accessible by a causeway at low tide.
When the murdered body of a local man washes ashore just south of Lindisfarne, the government and the Church of England are concerned about protecting both the reputation of the Church and the sacred sites that are a destination for hundreds of pilgrims at this time of year. With his ability to move in the highest social and political circles, Rutledge is sent by Scotland Yard to solve this crime and dispel any association with the Church.
Upon arrival, Rutledge finds himself pulled between two coastal fishing villages, scarred by home front battles and coastal bombardment from the German Navy, where animosity towards Germany still runs high even years after the war. This, combined with a constabulary in the process of being consolidated to form a countywide police force, with local militias still wielding a great deal of power, means Rutledge must tread with care.
Facing a puzzling case and a cast of locals that don’t take kindly to outsiders, the newly promoted Rutledge meets one of the most challenging cases of his career. To solve it, he’ll also have to confront his own demons left over from his time in the war.
Bess Crawford returns and will be released after A Day of Judgement!
I look forward to seeing readers and fans at the American Library Association speaking on June 28, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. in Philadelphia, PA and at Bouchercon in New Orleans as a Special Guest of Honor. September 3-5, 2025.
All the Best,
Charles Todd
Wonderful news, Ian Rutledge is back and available for pre order now. Please visit your local Independent Book Seller or Online Booksale’s.
A Christmas Witness is a Christmas Novella that will be released on October 21, 2025.
Inspector Ian Rutledge investigates a possible attempted murder in this seasonal mystery novella from New York Times bestseller Charles Todd.
December 1921: Being single and a new Chief, Inspector Rutledge gets the short straw and is called upon by Chief Superintendent Markum to go to the Kentish home of a lord who is recovering from an attempt on his life. In bed with a concussion, the man is convinced someone is trying to kill him after he claims he was struck by the hoof of a running horse whose rider never stopped to check on him.
When he gets there, Rutledge learns that Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and the lord were both young cavalry officers and graduated from Sandhurst together. As Rutledge’s investigation gets underway, he uncovers even more similarities between his life and that of the man he’s sent to protect, all of which grows eerily poignant as the Christmas holiday approaches…
A Day of Judgement will be released on February 17, 2026.
Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard travels to England’s windswept coastline to investigate a murder in a place where, several years after the end of WWI, the memory of the war still runs strong . . .
July, 1921: England is suffering a heatwave and the coast of Northumberland, just across the border from Scotland, is filled with holiday-makers bird watching and enjoying the beaches. Pilgrims also come to visit the home of Saints Cuthbert and Aiden—the founders of Christianity in England—located on the “Holy Island” of Lindisfarne, accessible by a causeway at low tide.
When the murdered body of a local man washes ashore just south of Lindisfarne, the government and the Church of England are concerned about protecting both the reputation of the Church and the sacred sites that are a destination for hundreds of pilgrims at this time of year. With his ability to move in the highest social and political circles, Rutledge is sent by Scotland Yard to solve this crime and dispel any association with the Church.
Upon arrival, Rutledge finds himself pulled between two coastal fishing villages, scarred by home front battles and coastal bombardment from the German Navy, where animosity towards Germany still runs high even years after the war. This, combined with a constabulary in the process of being consolidated to form a countywide police force, with local militias still wielding a great deal of power, means Rutledge must tread with care.
Facing a puzzling case and a cast of locals that don’t take kindly to outsiders, the newly promoted Rutledge meets one of the most challenging cases of his career. To solve it, he’ll also have to confront his own demons left over from his time in the war.
Bess Crawford returns and will be released after A Day of Judgement!
I look forward to seeing readers and fans at the American Library Association speaking on June 28, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. in Philadelphia, PA and at Bouchercon in New Orleans as a Special Guest of Honor. September 3-5, 2025.
All the Best,
Charles Todd
March 24, 2024
Good News
Dear Readers and Fans:
Last week we finally received approval from the Executor of Caroline Todd’s Estate to proceed with the sale of the next Rutledge Mystery. Once all the paperwork is processed, we can begin to sell the completed manuscript for Rutledge #25!
I appreciate everyone's patience through this extensive process. I never expected this process to take so long. As soon as there is a sale of the manuscript, I will be posting updates on Facebook, Twitter and on this blog.
Bess Crawford has not been forgotten. I had a set back in January with the passing of mmy sister. Thankfully, I am back at work on the Bess Mystery #14. I hope to havee it ready for sale this spring or early summer.
I cannot thank each and every one of you for your patience and support during this difficult time.
All the Very Best,
Charles Todd
Last week we finally received approval from the Executor of Caroline Todd’s Estate to proceed with the sale of the next Rutledge Mystery. Once all the paperwork is processed, we can begin to sell the completed manuscript for Rutledge #25!
I appreciate everyone's patience through this extensive process. I never expected this process to take so long. As soon as there is a sale of the manuscript, I will be posting updates on Facebook, Twitter and on this blog.
Bess Crawford has not been forgotten. I had a set back in January with the passing of mmy sister. Thankfully, I am back at work on the Bess Mystery #14. I hope to havee it ready for sale this spring or early summer.
I cannot thank each and every one of you for your patience and support during this difficult time.
All the Very Best,
Charles Todd
August 24, 2023
Latest Rutledge Update
Dear Readers and Fans:
Just an update about the next Rutledge Mystery. The 25th in the series is in complete manuscript form and is being reviewed by publishers. My agent who has represented Charles Todd for many years is doing a wonderful job. The upcoming holiday is a bit of a delay as everyone is going on vacations and other Labor Day festivities.
I hope to have good news by October first. I appreciate everyone's patience. As the first Rutledge mystery since Caroline's passing this manuscript is getting extra and understandable scrutiny.
I hope each and every one of you has a safe and Happy Labor Day! Please remember those often-forgotten people whose labor we often take for granted!
All the Best,
Charles
Just an update about the next Rutledge Mystery. The 25th in the series is in complete manuscript form and is being reviewed by publishers. My agent who has represented Charles Todd for many years is doing a wonderful job. The upcoming holiday is a bit of a delay as everyone is going on vacations and other Labor Day festivities.
I hope to have good news by October first. I appreciate everyone's patience. As the first Rutledge mystery since Caroline's passing this manuscript is getting extra and understandable scrutiny.
I hope each and every one of you has a safe and Happy Labor Day! Please remember those often-forgotten people whose labor we often take for granted!
All the Best,
Charles
July 8, 2023
Manuscript Update
I have finished the manuscript for the next Inspector Rutledge Mystery and my agent plans to send it to the publisher after Labor Day. Currently I am working on the next Bess Crawford Mystery. Please stay tuned for more news!
All the Best,
Charles
All the Best,
Charles
