The Cliff's Edge - Charles Todd

The Cliff's Edge is the latest (#13) in Charles Todd's wonderful Bess Crawford mystery series. 

Sitting down with a Bess Crawford book is like catching up with old friends. For it's the characters that bring me back time and time again, but also for the wonderfully crafted mysteries. 

With the end of the Great War, Bess has 'retired' from active service as a battlefield nurse. But her skills as a nurse are still in demand. In the Cliff's Edge, Bess has done her cousin Melinda a favor by agreeing to call on one of her friends, after she has an operation. That kindness grows exponentially and Bess is entreated to travel to a remote village and see to an injured man from the manor house. 

There's a bit of a nod to Agatha Christie here - a remote setting, a limited number of suspects, all whom have been asked by the local constabulary to not leave the house until a culprit is determined. And - an amateur detective who has solved more that one mystery in her time. 

 

I love how the  both investigations (Bess's and the police) unfold. This historical period must conform to the mores, manners and expectations of the time and setting. (1919)  Clues are gleaned from conversations, interviews, observations, intellectual prowess and more. Todd keeps the reader guessing along with Bess by leaving a number of red herrings and lies on the way to the final reveal of whodunit.

The Cliff's Edge kept me company on a cold rainy day with more than one pot of tea. Comfort reading at it's best. 

Sadly, with the death of Caroline Todd, it's also the last collaboration from the writing duo of mother Caroline and her son Charles. I do hope the series continues. The ending of The Cliff's Edge is satisfying. But, the final pages of the book open the door for another mystery.... 

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Cliff's Edge.

The Moth and the Mountain - Ed Caesar

The best stories in life are those that are true... The Moth and the Mountain: A True Story of Love, War and Everest by Ed Caesar is one of those tales...

"An extraordinary true story about one man’s attempt to salve the wounds of war and save his own soul through an audacious adventure." In the 1930's, World War I British vet, Maurice Wilson decides he is going to "fly a plane from England to Everest, crash-land on its lower slopes, then become the first person to reach its summit - all utterly alone."

But there is much, much more to Wilson's story. Caesar does an amazing job, piecing together his life, not just the Everest idea. I was fascinated by Wilson, who seemed determined to squeeze out every last moment of living each and every day. That's not to say every day was butterflies and sunshine. There are definitely wounds to his psyche. But Wilson's determination and his strength of mind and body was simply phenomenal. As was his ability to figure out a way to get around the obstacles put in his path, without ever doubting he could.

Caesar explores all of Wilson's - from his home and family, to the war, his wanderings, his marriages and more. Much of this is gleaned from letters and journals of Wilson's that have survived. I liked Caesar's writing style and presentation. Wilson became a person and not just a subject. I'll be looking at some of Caesar's other published items. 

I chose to listen to The Moth and the Mountain. The reader was James Langton and he did a great job. He has a British accent which was perfect for both the subject and the writer of this book. His voice was clear and easy to understand. He interpreted the book well, conveying the emotion, action and more with his reading. He has a very expressive voice. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I become much more immersed in a book when I listen to it. The Moth and the Mountain was a fabulous listen - the story of a man who truly lived life. Hear for yourself - listen to an excerpt of The Moth and the Mountain.

A Pattern of Lies - Charles Todd

Charles Todd returns with the latest (#7) in the Bess Crawford series - A Pattern of Lies.

Bess is a Sister with England's Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. She has served her country since the beginning of the war in both France and England. It's 1918 and the hope is that the War will soon be over.

A chance encounter on a leave plunges Bess into another mystery. (For in addition to being a stellar nurse, she's just as adept at solving mysteries) Mark Ashton, an officer and former patient invites Bess to his family home to visit with his mother. The family owns the Ashton Powder Mill in Kent - the scene of a horrific tragedy that killed over a hundred men. Ruled an accident by the Army, the villagers think differently. Bess is stunned by the hostility shown to the family. As the rancor - and the danger - rises, Bess agrees to see if she can help. There's a possible witness to the event that can clear patriarch Phillip Ashton's name - he's a tankman in France.

Oh, I just love this series! I think it's the slow, meticulous building of clues, the measured connecting together of pieces of information, observations and snippets of conversation. It's such a change from my usual fast paced murder and mayhem mysteries. The thoughtful, careful pacing of the book lets the reader settle in to relax, enjoy and travel back in time. Todd does a fantastic job of bringing the war and the time period to life. Descriptions of time and place generate vivid mental images. I really enjoy the glimpses into the war nurses' everyday lives. A sense of honour, duty, and loyalty is infused in the character and the plot, again underscoring the time period.
 
I like Bess - she's strong minded, strong willed, clever, caring and tenacious. Familiar supporting characters return - Bess's father, Colonel Sahib (I have such a strong mental image of this British officer who served in India with the Gurkha's), Simon and Sergeant Lassiter, a cheeky Australian officer who seems quite fond of Bess. There is attraction between Bess and the two men - I often speculate which one will be her choice. (The Aussie would be mine!)

As the war is drawing to an end, I wonder where Todd will take this series in peacetime. This reader will be eagerly awaiting the next book! Read an excerpt of A Pattern of Lies. Fans of Maisie Dobbs would absolutely enjoy this series as well.

Charles Todd is the author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, the Bess Crawford mysteries, and two stand-alone novels. A mother and son writing team, they live in Delaware and North Carolina. Visit their website at Charlestodd.com and like CharlesToddNovels on Facebook. See what others on the TLC book tour thought. Full schedule can be found here.

Proof of Guilt - Charles Todd

Yes, mysteries are one of my favourite genres. But, I only recently started reading Charles Todd's books - I have become quite fond of the Bess Crawford novels. This newest book, Proof of Guilt, is the latest (#15)entry in the Inspector Rutledge series.

Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard is called in to investigate a body apparently hit and dragged by a car in a well to do neighbourhood. There is no identification on the victim, only a watch. But that watch yields enough clues to determine that the dead man isn't the owner. The rightful owner is the head of a world renowned winery - and he's gone missing.

Rutledge is plunged into a complicated myriad of suspects, additional missing persons, and more bodies. Things are complicated by his new Acting Chief Superintendent who is determined to 'solve' the case from his desk and seems to thwart many of Rutledge's investigative avenues.

WWI has ended, but the effects of that conflict still affect the present. Ian Rutledge is carrying around the guilt of a having to shoot a fellow soldier for dereliction of duty during the war. But that soldier hasn't left - Rutledge hears the voice of dead Hamish often - giving him further food for thought in his investigations or warning him of danger.

" As he turned toward London, Hamish was there, just behind his shoulder, as he always was. Just as they had watched the enemy, night after night at the Front. But now the young Scot was not the trusted corporal intent on keeping men alive and fighting as efficiently as possible. Now he was the voice of guilt and turmoil, the vivid reminder that Rutledge himself was not yet whole."

I've really come to enjoy reading this time period lately - especially in the mystery vein. What I quite enjoy are the social niceties that must be observed, the tone, the sense of duty and loyalty that are as much a part of the story as the crime. And the crime, although horrific, is never blatantly described in full gory detail. Instead, investigation in undertaken in interviews, inquiries and possible conjectures until the pieces finally fall in place and Rutledge has his 'proof of guilt'.

I enjoyed Proof of Guilt, but I did find the number of possibilities and characters a bit overwhelming. Late addition clues seemed a tad too precipitous in cases. There was an bit of business not dealt with in the final chapter that I would have liked to seen tied up. All in all, a good read, but I think I prefer Bess's stories.  Read an excerpt of Proof of Guilt.

Simon Prebble is the narrator for the audio version of this title. He has a wonderfully rich, resonant voice that is quite pleasant and easy to listen to. His pacing matches the time period of the books and Rutledge's thinking as well. Prebble is another of my favourite voice actors. Listen to an excerpt of Proof of Guilt.

Charles and Caroline Todd are a mother and son writing team who live on the east coast of the United States. You can find them on Facebook.

See what others on the TLC book tour thought. Full schedule can be found here.

The Walnut Tree - Charles Todd

Fans of the mother/son writing team known as Charles Todd will want to add this 'holiday tale' to their Christmas reading list.

I have only recently discovered Todd's WWI novels featuring Bess Crawford - a British World War I army nurse - but quickly became a fan of the series. Todd again explores WWI with a new character.

Lady Elspeth Douglas of Scotland is in France, visiting her fiancee, when war breaks out in 1914. She finds herself stranded, but decides to make herself useful, helping out with the wounded. It is on the battlefield that she comes across old friend Captain Peter Gilchrist. Lady Douglas decides to do her part for the war effort and become a nursing sister - known only as Elspeth Douglas. (Bess makes a cameo as a flatmate.)

Todd weaves a wonderfully rich, atmospheric story of love lost and found, duty, honour, loyalty, and the mores of the time period.

I chose to listen to The Walnut Tree and really enjoyed the reader - Fiona Hardingham. She employs a very proper British accent to narrate that conjures up the time period perfectly. Her Scottish accent for Elspeth was excellent and never faltered. I had a quite definite picture of Elspeth painted in my mind, much of it gleaned from Hardingham's interpretation. Other characters were easily differentiated as she has a quite a versatile voice.

Those looking for a mystery similar to Bess's books won't find it here. (But Elspeth is just as strong minded as Bess!) Instead it's a lovely little historical (and romantic) holiday tale, perfect for a night's read by the tree. Fans of Anne Perry's Christmas tales will enjoy The Walnut Tree.

Listen to an excerpt of The Walnut Tree.   Read an excerpt of The Walnut Tree.

You can find Charles Todd on Facebook.