Search the Dark [Import] [Paperback]

Charles Todd (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; New Ed edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747263019
• ISBN-13: 978-0747263012
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,338,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles and Caroline Todd are a mother-and-son writing team who live on the east coast of the United States. Caroline has a BA in English Literature and History, and a Masters in International Relations. Charles has a BA in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Business Management, and a culinary arts degree that means he can boil more than water. Caroline has been married (to the same man) for umpteen years, and Charles is divorced.

Charles and Caroline have a rich storytelling heritage. Both spent many evenings on the porch listening to their fathers and grandfathers reminisce. And a maternal grandmother told marvelous ghost stories. This tradition allows them to write with passion about events before their own time. And an uncle/great-uncle who served as a flyer in WWI aroused an early interest in the Great War.

Charles learned the rich history of Britain, including the legends of King Arthur, William Wallace, and other heroes, as a child. Books on Nelson and by Winston Churchill were always at hand. Their many trips to England gave them the opportunity to spend time in villages and the countryside, where there'a different viewpoint from that of the large cities. Their travels are at the heart of the series they began ten years ago.

Charles's love of history led him to a study of some of the wars that shape it: the American Civil War, WWI and WWII. He enjoys all things nautical, has an international collection of seashells, and has sailed most of his life. Golf is still a hobby that can be both friend and foe. And sports in general are enthusiasms. Charles had a career as a business consultant. This experience gave him an understanding of going to troubled places where no one was glad to see him arrive. This was excellent training for Rutledge's reception as he tries to find a killer in spite of local resistance.

Caroline has always been a great reader and enjoyed reading aloud, especially poetry that told a story. The Highwayman was one of her early favorites. Her wars are WWI, the Boer War, and the English Civil War, with a sneaking appreciation of the Wars of the Roses as well. When she's not writing, she's traveling the world, gardening, or painting in oils. Her background in international affairs backs up her interest in world events, and she's also a sports fan, an enthusiastic follower of her favorite teams in baseball and pro football. She loves the sea, but is a poor sailor. (Charles inherited his iron stomach from his father.) Still, she has never met a beach she didn't like.

Both Caroline and Charles share a love of animals, and family pets have always been rescues. There was once a lizard named Schnickelfritz. Don't ask.

Writing together is a challenge, and both enjoy giving the other a hard time. The famous quote is that in revenge, Charles crashes Caroline's computer, and Caroline crashes his parties. Will they survive to write more novels together? Stay tuned! Their father/husband is holding the bets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Addition to an Excellent Series, April 1, 2002

By 

P. Bigelow (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Search the Dark (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

in this third outing, Ian Rutledge, and his conscience Hamish, are sent to Dorset to investigate a murder of a woman and the disappearance of her two children. He follows each clue only to find more questions and additional clues.

This is British procedural writing at it's best. Todd has not suffered from second or third book syndrome. His writing is precise and concise - each word chosen with care. Rutledge contunues to be a tortured soul who is a compassionate and intelligent investigator. Todd's ending surprised me, but that just makes for good reading.

If you enjoy procedurals, make sure you read this series. If you've wanted to try a procedural, but didn't know where to begin, begin with this one - all others will pale by comparison.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sum Total of Charles Todd, June 12, 2000

By 

Laurie Fletcher "Laurie Fletcher" (Casper, Wyoming, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Search the Dark (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved Search the Dark, but even more, I love the long-term relationship that Charles Todd is building with his readers. I see that others are getting weary of the disembodied (literally) voice of Hamish. Not I. I think he is one of the most original inventions in recent literature and after the first few incredulous chapters, I began to accept him and wove him right into my sense of reality. Charles Todd has chosen a very dark and difficult time in world history, World War I, which is more romanticized but much less understood than the wars since. I appreciate his attention to detail and look forward very much to the next installment.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Keep with this one if you like the series, November 27, 2007

By 

Paul S "Paul" (Portland OR area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Search the Dark (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I wouldn't recommend this as an individual novel, for there are far better mysteries, not to mention books in this series by Todd. However, if you are reading the series in full, you should keep trudging through this one for the rewarding last quarter of the book.

It's really, really slow moving and dull for more than half the book, and has been noted in other reviews, comes up with a good ending that is surprising and entertaining. So I was glad I stuck with it. As I continue to work through this series, I hope I find this book is an abberation in pace.