Ask the Author: Charles Todd
Answered Questions (117)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Charles Todd
Dear Clerico?:
I am not sure who you are refering to here? I apologize for the delay.
All the Best,
Charles
I am not sure who you are refering to here? I apologize for the delay.
All the Best,
Charles
Charles Todd
Dear Clerico?:
I am not sure who you are refering to here? I apologize for the delay.
All the Best,
Charles
I am not sure who you are refering to here? I apologize for the delay.
All the Best,
Charles
Charles Todd
Dear Hannah:
No, Rutledge did not attend Sandhurst. He attended Oxford. I apologize for the delay!
All the Best,
Charles
No, Rutledge did not attend Sandhurst. He attended Oxford. I apologize for the delay!
All the Best,
Charles
Charles Todd
Dear Hannah:
No, Rutledge did not attend Sandhurst. He attended Oxford. I apologize for the delay!
All the Best,
Charles
No, Rutledge did not attend Sandhurst. He attended Oxford. I apologize for the delay!
All the Best,
Charles
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
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
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
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
Charles Todd
Dear Clearice:
In the spring of 2026 the Rutledge novel A Day of Jusgement will be released. That will be followed with a Bess mystery novel. I apologize for the delay due to the estate being settled, I too am eager for a Bess and I am wo mystery especially after The Cliff's Edge I signed a four book contract with Mysterious Press in December if 2024, I hope the next Bess will be soon. I am working on the Bess MS as hard as I can to haqve it ready in time for release.
All the Best,
Charles
In the spring of 2026 the Rutledge novel A Day of Jusgement will be released. That will be followed with a Bess mystery novel. I apologize for the delay due to the estate being settled, I too am eager for a Bess and I am wo mystery especially after The Cliff's Edge I signed a four book contract with Mysterious Press in December if 2024, I hope the next Bess will be soon. I am working on the Bess MS as hard as I can to haqve it ready in time for release.
All the Best,
Charles
Charles Todd
Dear Hannah:
Someone in his position has to get married frist. Adopt you? There is a thought.
All the Best,
Charles
Someone in his position has to get married frist. Adopt you? There is a thought.
All the Best,
Charles
Charles Todd
Dear Hannah:
Honestly, no. To the best of my knowlege we have never mentioned a first name for Sergeant Gibson.
Al the Best,
Charles
Honestly, no. To the best of my knowlege we have never mentioned a first name for Sergeant Gibson.
Al the Best,
Charles
Charles Todd
Dear Hannah:
That is a great question. Frankly, I have never considered it.
All the Best,
Chalres
That is a great question. Frankly, I have never considered it.
All the Best,
Chalres
Charles Todd
Dear Hannah:
In The Gate Keeper, Rutledge is at the scene right after a murder has taken place. Because, he was out for a drive after his sister's wedding, he does not have his Identification with him showing he is a Scotland Yard Inspector. As a result, he is considered a witness and potential suspect by the local constabulary inspector assigned to the case.
I hope this helps.
The RUtledge Christmas Novella "A Christmas Witness"will be released October 21, 2025 and a full Rutledge Mystery in the Spring of 2026. " A Day of Judgement"
All the Best,
Charles
In The Gate Keeper, Rutledge is at the scene right after a murder has taken place. Because, he was out for a drive after his sister's wedding, he does not have his Identification with him showing he is a Scotland Yard Inspector. As a result, he is considered a witness and potential suspect by the local constabulary inspector assigned to the case.
I hope this helps.
The RUtledge Christmas Novella "A Christmas Witness"will be released October 21, 2025 and a full Rutledge Mystery in the Spring of 2026. " A Day of Judgement"
All the Best,
Charles
Charles Todd
Dear Osnat:
In December I digned a four book contract with Mysteruius Press. This Fall Ian Rutledge returns in a Christmas Novella titles A Christmas Witness. In the spring of '25 Rutledge #25 will be released followed by Bess Crawfiord and then Rutledge #26. I am excited to hear whar the readers think!
All the Best,
Charles
In December I digned a four book contract with Mysteruius Press. This Fall Ian Rutledge returns in a Christmas Novella titles A Christmas Witness. In the spring of '25 Rutledge #25 will be released followed by Bess Crawfiord and then Rutledge #26. I am excited to hear whar the readers think!
All the Best,
Charles
Charles Todd
Dear Dale:
In December I digned a four book contract with Mysteruius Press. This Fall Ian Rutledge returns in a Christmas Novella titles A Christmas Witness. In the spring of '25 Rutledge #25 will be released followed by Bess Crawfiord and then Rutledge #26. I am excited to hear whar the readers think!
All the Best,
Charles
In December I digned a four book contract with Mysteruius Press. This Fall Ian Rutledge returns in a Christmas Novella titles A Christmas Witness. In the spring of '25 Rutledge #25 will be released followed by Bess Crawfiord and then Rutledge #26. I am excited to hear whar the readers think!
All the Best,
Charles
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