• A Duty to the Dead

  • A Bess Crawford Mystery
  • By: Charles Todd
  • Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
  • Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,865 ratings)

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A Duty to the Dead  By  cover art

A Duty to the Dead

By: Charles Todd
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
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Publisher's summary

The daughter of a distinguished soldier, Bess Crawford follows in his patriotic footsteps, volunteering to serve her country as a nurse during the Great War. In 1916 she promises Lieutenant Arthur Graham that she will carry his dying request to a brother.

When Bess arrives at the Graham house in Kent, Jonathan Graham listens to his brother's last wishes with surprising indifference. Neither his mother nor his brother Timothy seems to think it has any significance. Unsettled by this, Bess is about to take her leave when sudden tragedy envelops her.

She quickly discovers that fulfilling this duty to the dead has thrust her into a maelstrom of intrigue and murder that will endanger her own life and test her courage as not even war has.

©2009 Charles Todd (P)2009 BBC Audio

Critic reviews

"Todd employs all the elements of a satisfying cozy mystery, with an absorbing plot and a charismatic heroine that will leave the reader wanting more." ( Library Journal)
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What listeners say about A Duty to the Dead

Average customer ratings
Overall
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Loved it!

This is a great book for anyone who loves a good mystery, a spunky heroine and/or historical fiction about England during WWI.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Historical Fiction At It’s Best!!!!

I listen to 2-3 audio books a week, this one stood out as being one of the best in a long time. Intriguing plot from the beginning. Excellent narration. Completely captivating main character. Painstaking attention to detail from the time period but never getting bogged down. Story moved at a good pace. Absolutely loved it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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LOVED THIS MYSTERY!!!

I enjoyed this story. Loved the period and the characters. The narrator did a good job of bringing life to each and every one of the family involved. It held my attention throughout.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Sound

The audio is problematic. High frequencies make listening on headphones uncomfortable.


I slowed the speed to 85 percent and passed it through a high frequency limiting equalizer before I could listen comfortably.

JWH

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good listen 🙂

Very systematic writer...narrator didn't skip a beat...I felt author was familiar with subject and history Great!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good Not Great

What made the experience of listening to A Duty to the Dead the most enjoyable?

The time period this story took place was very interesting to me.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was a good ending, but about 3/4 into the book I could see what was going to happen.

Which character – as performed by Rosalyn Landor – was your favorite?

Bess Crawford, I thought she was a very strong woman, especially for the time period she lived.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I found myself taking breaks.

Any additional comments?

I was excited to find a new series to read. This book was good, but not good enough to keep me wanting to purchase the rest of the series.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Another Great Book from the Todds!

Loved it! Excellent narration. Couldn't stop listening to Bess Crawford. One must get this novel.

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Very talented narrator

Loved listening to this, great story, great narrator, I would like to listen to more like this.

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A duty to the dead

This is a wonderful story, full of vivid descriptions of gardens, people, and the countryside. I have a hard copy of this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version. Congratulations on another great story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well throughout plot.

WWI setting, dying request and nurse’s fulfillment of patient’s request. Lots of twist and turns.

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