While continuing to work at the advertising company during the day, MacLeod began writing mystery fiction, eventually publishing over 30 novels. Many of her books are set in
New England, including a series featuring university professor Peter Shandy, and another about
Beacon Hill couple Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn. Other mysteries, set in Canada, were published under the
pen name Alisa Craig.
MacLeod tailored her books to fit into the
cozy mystery genre, i.e. avoiding too much violence, gore, or sex while featuring a humorous and literate-yet-light style, likable
protagonists, and eccentric casts of
secondary characters.[2]
Her work sold over one million copies in the United States as well as Canada and Japan. MacLeod was co-founder of the American Crime Writers League and served as president.[1] She received a
Nero Award for The Corpse in Oozak's Pond in 1987,[3] which was also nominated for an
Edgar Award.[4]
MacLeod began writing at 6 a.m. each day, continued through the morning, then used the afternoon for
rewrites.[1] She only started new books on Sundays. Although described as a "true lady" and often seen with hat and white gloves, while writing she would stay dressed in a bathrobe to avoid the temptation of leaving the house for an errand.[1]
Grab Bag (1987) (short stories; including two featuring Bittersohn & Kelling, and one with Peter Shandy)
It Was an Awful Shame and Other Stories (2002) (short stories; a
reprint of Grab Bag including three additional stories, one featuring Bittersohn & Kelling)
Correspondence
Charlotte MacLeod Remembered: Letters from Charlotte (collection)[5]