A Cruel Deception

Bess Crawford Mysteries, Book 11

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

In the aftermath of World War I, nurse Bess Crawford attempts to save a troubled former soldier from a mysterious killer in this 11th book in the beloved Bess Crawford mystery series from New York Times best-selling author Charles Todd.

The Armistice of November 1918 ended the fighting, but the Great War will not be over until a peace treaty is drawn up and signed by all parties. Representatives from the Allies are gathering in Paris, and already ominous signs of disagreement have appeared.

Sister Bess Crawford, who has been working with the severely wounded in England in the war’s wake, is asked to carry out a personal mission in Paris for a Matron at the London headquarters of The Queen Alexandra’s.

Bess is facing decisions about her own future, even as she searches for the man she is charged with helping. When she does locate Lawrence Minton, she finds a bitter and disturbed officer who has walked away from his duties at the Peace Conference and is well on his way toward an addiction to opiates. When she confronts him with the dangers of using laudanum, he tells her that he doesn’t care if he lives or dies, as long as he can find oblivion. But what has changed him? What is it that haunts him? He can’t confide in Bess - because the truth is so deeply buried in his mind that he can only relive it in nightmares. The officers who had shared a house with him in Paris profess to know nothing - still, Bess is reluctant to trust them even when they offer her their help. But where to begin on her own?

What is driving this man to a despair so profound it can only end with death? The war? Something that happened in Paris? To prevent a tragedy, she must get at the truth as quickly as possible - which means putting herself between Lieutenant Minton and whatever is destroying him. Or is it whoever?

©2019 Charles Todd (P)2019 HarperAudio

Another Great Story

Loved every minute of it. My only regret is that I've read them all and have to wait for the next one. I love that Bess is finally realizing her feelings for Captain Brandon. I can't wait to see how it unfolds.

Good

Another great addition to this fabulous series. The author is amazing coming up with the storylines.

Ok time to get Bess and Simon together!

Did not disappoint.

Enjoying Bess after the war. She is still the same focused carrying person eventhough the world has changed around her. I expect in the future things will get more dangerous as the cloak of her uniform will no longer protect her. Looking forward to the next edition.

Love this series...

Love this series as well as the Inspector Ian Rutledge series. These are complex characters who one really cares about, and there is wonderful period detail. I devour each book as soon as it's available, and then must wait impatiently for the next one. Note to authors: please, please, may we have a little romance in Bess' life (the war is over!). There are a few tantalizing hints here, but our favorite heartthrob is "somewhere in Scotland" and we haven't heard from him very much in the last couple of books.

Another Pleasing Bess Crawford Story

I always like the World war I context and its intrinsic sadness gives another typical Bess story. Slightly implausible ending and as usual Bess is too good to be true. But I enjoyed it.

Loved it

Loved it. No struggle to listen or finish. And the continued tension toward a Bess-imon was wonderful. I know others would have liked it to happen already, but all these books happen over such a short period of time that the perceived slow dawning is fitting and right.

Wonderful narration

Bess Crawford books become vividly alive because of the narration. But this story was disappointing because it was far too fantastical. Had I been reading instead of listening, I wouldn't have finished it.

Return to form!

This is an excellent Bess Crawford installment. It had all of the interesting personal dilemma that I had longed for in the previous novel of Bess weighing her post-war options. The Simon strain of plot was also well done and rather humorous! The mystery itself is secondary to the exploration of mental illness and injury, which is true to form for the more battle ridden books in this serious. I totally enjoyed it, despite some minor hiccups in character development. Lawrence veers too far on the side of insufferable to be a sympathetic character and while that’s probably realistic, it leaves holes in the story where Bess’s motivation to protect and restore him seems far fetched. Marina is so downtrodden as to be tragic or pathetic rather than compassionate or interesting; much more could have been made of that role. It also felt odd that matron would be unaware of the lengths Bess had gone to and unappreciative, especially as she knows Bess’s father. Overall, this is a return to form and one of the best in the series. It’s consistently funny, well paced, and well researched. Landor is a better performer in this installment as well. She doesn’t master a New Mexico accent (strange 1940s pseudo-American cinematic accent on display here) but Jackson isn’t nearly as annoying as her portrayal of Berkeley; in fact, he’s charming. I was glad to see a sensible and intelligent French person finally portrayed in the doctor’s wife and relieved to avoid the Javert-esque snooty and dismissive French police characters in favor of more varied representations here. I’m now caught up and impatiently await the next installment in Bess Crawford’s adventures.

One of the best

I enjoyed this book. I have always liked the Charles Todd novels but every now and then, one falls a little short. My last Bess Crawford was not the be of my favorites, but this one redeemed the series.

Rosalyn Landor is a marvelous narrator. I enjoy listening to her and she brings the characters to life. I like to picture them in my imagination based on the story and the voices.

Love the whole series !

I love the Bess Crawford series. I thought this one had some very modern post war Therese with veterans. I sure hope the series continues!