Professor Charles (Charley) Coote is a regular character in the Johnny Dixon series of books and is an old friend of Professor Roderick Childermass.

Coote first appears in the final scenes of The Curse of the Blue Figurine to fill in the gaps to Johnny and Professor Childermass about their recent encounter. An expert of local history, folklore and magic, Coote is often regulated to each adventure's conclusion, popping in to explain motives or answer questions. In later novels, however, Childermass often confides in his advisor friend early on, making phone calls or quick trips up to Durham, New Hampshire to discuss developments or pound out a theory or two. His invitations to join Professor Childermass, Johnny and Fergie usually are declined by his admission of scaring easily and "bad legs," though he finally gives and joins the trio in the field, so to speak, for the climax of The Chessmen of Doom.

In the Bellairs/Strickland collaboration, The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie (1994), Coote becomes the main focus when he innocently accepts a miniature drum wanted by a voodoo cult. Johnny, Fergie and Professor Childermass must turn their attention to saving the life of Coote and stopping the work of the Midnight Blood priest.

Character

Coote's profession is similar to that of Bellairs' friend, Donald Wilcox (1938-1991), as both were instructors of history at the University of New Hampshire. Coote is also described as pedantic and frequently wearing horn-rimmed glasses, much like the other character Wilcox inspired, Snodrog, of The Pedant and the Shuffly fame.

Naming

At first glance, Bellairs possibly picked the name as it is a word that could be used to describe a foolish person. If not that he may have come across the name from his reading of history – there exists a Sir Charles Coote (d. 1642) and his better known son (c.1610-61) – or from his interest in music – Turlough Carolan (1670-1738), an Irish singer and composer, wrote a ballad in honor of the Coote Baronets. Also, the character Charley Coote is mentioned only once in Henry James' story, The Bench of Desolation (1909).