A Cruel Deception

Many readers may have expected Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series to end when World War I ended, but this writing team has continued Bess's adventures in order to create a portrait that illuminates the cost of war on human lives—the lingering pain and horror that no armistice or peace treaty can assuage. Bess has continued her nursing, working with severely wounded soldiers, but in A Cruel Deception, she finds herself thinking about what else she might want to do with her life. She also finds herself thinking about Simon Brandon who seems to be on holiday in Scotland-- and a mysterious woman might be involved. I imagine that I'm not the only fan of this series who's wanted Bess to start thinking more seriously about Simon. Who knows? show more We may be getting our wish.

Another thing that Charles Todd deals with so well in this series is how Bess has gotten used to living her own life and making her own decisions without deferring to her family. This is something many women in this time period found themselves doing for the first time, and they liked it.

This series often deals with various issues wounded soldiers had to face, and in A Cruel Deception, it's the anguish of mental trauma, that most difficult affliction for most people to understand or to even begin to deal with. Here, what we now call PTSD is treated with sensitivity and understanding as Bess tries to find out why someone is attacking both Minton and herself, as well as learning what happened to Minton that makes him want to destroy himself. It's another tale well told, and I'm looking forward to the next time I meet Bess. show less

The Todds continue to mine their mother lode of WW1 angst with another good Bess Crawford story. Helping a colleague, Bess goes to France to locate her missing son a surviving officer from The Great War. Part nurse and part detective, she needs both skillsets to sort them out; resulting in an interesting, if violent, ending.

Bess Crawford is sent to Paris by Matron to find her son, Lawrence, and report back to her regarding his whereabouts and condition. As a wounded army captain, he had volunteered to take part in the peace talks but is now missing. Bess takes on the challenge and finds him staying with a friend, a young woman whose family he had helped during the war. But he is suffering from a severe laudanum addiction and makes it clear that he resents both Bess' and his mother's interference. Bess decides not to report back but to stay and try to help despite his disinterest in any aid she can give. She begins to realize that there is more happening than just an addiction especially after a murder attempt is made on him. Not only that but she keeps show more running into the same man when she is out and, although he seems friendly, she suspects that the danger is spreading and Lawrence isn't the only one being threatened.

I've been a fan of Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge series for a while but A Cruel Deception is the first of their Bess Crawford mysteries I have read. Like the other series, this is set in WWI era and it is just as engrossing. Bess is a nurse who had worked on the frontlines and makes for a very strong protagonist. Also like the Ian Rutledge series, it is more about the investigation than the action which is limited and tends to take place off the page. I did feel the villain seemed a bit contrived but, overall, I quite enjoyed this book and wouldn't hesitate to read others in the series.

Thanks to Edelweiss+ and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review show less

I really wanted more from this book, although I'm honestly not sure what I was expected since I got it from the bargain bin at the grocery store.

Bess Crawford is a nurse (& nun) who is sent to France in search of the Matron's son, Lawrence. The vast majority of the book is spent dealing with said son while he is drunk or otherwise under the influence. Along the way, we meet a laundry list of characters who at least make this story amusing.

For starters, Bess, though mostly sweet to her patients, is... not exactly what you'd expect from a nun/nurse. She comes across as arrogant at times and quick to anger, all traits that are supposed to be non-existant in her order. When she's not being overbearing, she's not a bad character, but she can show more be a bit annoying most of the time.

Overall, I feel like too much of the story is spent on Lawrence's issues withe Laudanum and/or alcohol and the last little bit is just thrown together. While, yes, it all fits together and works, I feel like it's a bit of a cop out and so much more could have been done if the story were more evenly divided. There are also characters that have been thrown in to make the reader feel suspicious, but overall aren't really that important, and, if I'm being completely honest, aren't convincing suspects. Even the guy who is actually at the heart of everything isn't convincing, and is just sort of thrown in last minute to wrap everything up in a nice bow. It's too neat and tidy. show less

A Cruel Deception
3 Stars

Bess is asked by Matron Minton to look into the disappearance of her son serving with the British peace delegation in Paris in the aftermath of WW1.

Unfortunately, this latest installment in the Bess Crawford mysteries simply did not resonate. The mystery surrounding Lawrence Minton's disappearance fails to fulfill its potential mainly due to the fact that Lawrence is a selfish, self-absorbed and ungrateful man and it is exceedingly difficult to sympathize with his plight.

Another problematic element is the pacing of the narrative, which plods along as Bess attempts to uncover the reasons for Lawrence's PTSD. Alongside the actual clues (which are few and far between), there is an excessive amount of internal show more musings about the countryside, the post-war shortages and the people Bess encounters.

The explanation for the attacks on Lawrence is disappointing as the culprit isn't actually a character in the story until the last couple of chapters, and the motive is rather far-fetched.

Finally, the authors really need to get a move on with Bess's love life. It is obvious to everyone (except perhaps Bess and maybe Simon) that the two are meant for each other. Simon's absence from this installment was keenly felt.

The next installment has yet to be announced, but I look forward to listening to the excellent Rosalyn Landor when it is published. show less

A terrific diversion! A very quick read, good mystery, a real page turner. I had a great time reading this latest Bess Crawford mystery. Not as dark as the last one. To me, much more fun. I enjoy following this series in order. A wonderful suggestion for those who love Maisie Dobbs. Neither of these authors can write as fast as we can read. I'm grateful for the craftsmanship they bring to their work. So relaxing to read a book that completely captures one's attention and takes you off to another world.

Have no fear, although the war is over, Bess Crawford is still a member of Queen Alexandra's nursing corps and still solving mysteries. In this entry in the series, she is asked to locate the Matron's missing son in Paris. (Matron is the head of the nursing corps.) She finds that he has undergone a personality change seemingly overnight. Finding the reason for his troubles and the person behind it all takes a lot of detective work, assisted by a doctor friend of the young man's family and culminating in a frightening scene where Bess must use all her skills to save herself and her charge. Recommended.