A Cruel Deception

A Bess Crawford Mystery

By: Charles Todd

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

In the aftermath of World War I, nurse Bess Crawford attempts to save a troubled former soldier from a mysterious killer in this eleventh book in the beloved Bess Crawford mystery series from New York Times bestselling 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?

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.