What do you think?
Rate this book
Bess Crawford #1
A Duty To The Dead
Dedicated to helping the many wounded during the Great War, Bess Crawford receives a desperate request from a dying lieutenant while serving as a nurse aboard a hospital ship. "Tell my brother Jonathan that I lied," the young man says. "I did it for Mother's sake. But it has to be set right."
Back home in England, Bess receives an unexpected response from the dead soldier's family, for neither Jonathan Graham‚ his mother‚ nor his younger brother admit to understanding what the message means.
But the Grahams are harboring a grim secret, and Bess must, somehow, get to the bottom of it. It is her sacred duty to the dead, no matter how painful, or dangerous, that obligation might be.
Back home in England, Bess receives an unexpected response from the dead soldier's family, for neither Jonathan Graham‚ his mother‚ nor his younger brother admit to understanding what the message means.
But the Grahams are harboring a grim secret, and Bess must, somehow, get to the bottom of it. It is her sacred duty to the dead, no matter how painful, or dangerous, that obligation might be.
329 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2009
1607 people are currently reading
14824 people want to read
About the author
Charles Todd
112 books3,496 followersCharles Todd was the pen name used by the mother-and-son writing team, Caroline Todd and Charles Todd. Now, Charles writes the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford Series. Charles Todd ha spublished three standalone mystery novels and many short stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,026 reviews
November 12, 2024
As I get older I often find that what matters most to me about a book is not whether the plot is air tight and the mystery totally plausible, but whether or not the author creates characters you can admire and care about.
On that level, A DUTY TO THE DEAD is a classic.
Bess Crawford is a beautiful, upper class English girl who volunteers to be a nurse in World War One. The daughter of an officer and very proud of her military background, Bess is fearless and calm in the terrifying shipwreck scene that begins the novel. The descriptions of the mine explosion and the frantic escape from the sinking Britannic are truly explosive, written with so much terrifying realism that it all seems to be happening in slow motion. A nightmare, yet totally real. Bess comes across as cool and resolute, yet deeply caring and utterly irresistible.
Having established a totally admirable and fascinating heroine, the authors (Charles Todd is really a mother and son team writing together) introduce an even more amazing hero. Peregrine Graham is a madman who has just escaped from an asylum after fifteen years of brutal imprisonment. As a young boy he horribly murdered a pretty young servant girl -- or did he? By turns savage, brooding, and vulnerable, Peregrine Graham is a romance reader's dream. Let all my Kleypas people know: this boy could give Nick Gentry or Derek Craven a run for his money. He might even be able to go a round or two with Jamie Fraser himself!
Unfortunately, this is not a romance novel. This is a cozy English mystery. And even though Bess and Peregrine have an almost sizzling physical chemistry from the word go, the mystery itself is muddled, confusing, and often unintentionally funny.
"Come on, Peregrine! Keep that bag over your head so no one will recognize you! It's very important that we walk down the street in plain view, and interview every elderly villager who still remembers THAT NIGHT! Look, there's old Eleanor Rigby. Let's ask her what she remembers! 'Bless you, my child, I remember it all like it was yesterday. I was picking up the rice in the church where a wedding had been, and I heard a scream. But then I heard someone say, 'blame the idiot. blame the idiot!' And that's all I remember, my dears. But look, there's Father McKenzie. He's always darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there. Perhaps he remembers more about THAT NIGHT."
It's hard to believe that everyone in the village has photographic memory and total recall. And a lot of the Graham family history is hard to swallow too. There are too many Graham brothers, and you can't tell one from the other most of the time.
"Now, Peregrine, while you were playing with your knife, someone must have drugged you and stolen it for just long enough to hack poor Lily to death! Now was it Harpo, the silent one? Or was it Chico, the Italian one? Or was it Groucho, the funny one? We've got to find out who it was before they send you back to the asylum! What do you mean, there ain't no sanity clause?"
If you love a haunting atmosphere, a strong heroine, and a brooding hero, then this book is really a wonderful experience. But if you're looking for a mystery that is believable and detective work that is totally realistic, then A Duty To The Dead is only an average read.
On that level, A DUTY TO THE DEAD is a classic.
Bess Crawford is a beautiful, upper class English girl who volunteers to be a nurse in World War One. The daughter of an officer and very proud of her military background, Bess is fearless and calm in the terrifying shipwreck scene that begins the novel. The descriptions of the mine explosion and the frantic escape from the sinking Britannic are truly explosive, written with so much terrifying realism that it all seems to be happening in slow motion. A nightmare, yet totally real. Bess comes across as cool and resolute, yet deeply caring and utterly irresistible.
Having established a totally admirable and fascinating heroine, the authors (Charles Todd is really a mother and son team writing together) introduce an even more amazing hero. Peregrine Graham is a madman who has just escaped from an asylum after fifteen years of brutal imprisonment. As a young boy he horribly murdered a pretty young servant girl -- or did he? By turns savage, brooding, and vulnerable, Peregrine Graham is a romance reader's dream. Let all my Kleypas people know: this boy could give Nick Gentry or Derek Craven a run for his money. He might even be able to go a round or two with Jamie Fraser himself!
Unfortunately, this is not a romance novel. This is a cozy English mystery. And even though Bess and Peregrine have an almost sizzling physical chemistry from the word go, the mystery itself is muddled, confusing, and often unintentionally funny.
"Come on, Peregrine! Keep that bag over your head so no one will recognize you! It's very important that we walk down the street in plain view, and interview every elderly villager who still remembers THAT NIGHT! Look, there's old Eleanor Rigby. Let's ask her what she remembers! 'Bless you, my child, I remember it all like it was yesterday. I was picking up the rice in the church where a wedding had been, and I heard a scream. But then I heard someone say, 'blame the idiot. blame the idiot!' And that's all I remember, my dears. But look, there's Father McKenzie. He's always darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there. Perhaps he remembers more about THAT NIGHT."
It's hard to believe that everyone in the village has photographic memory and total recall. And a lot of the Graham family history is hard to swallow too. There are too many Graham brothers, and you can't tell one from the other most of the time.
"Now, Peregrine, while you were playing with your knife, someone must have drugged you and stolen it for just long enough to hack poor Lily to death! Now was it Harpo, the silent one? Or was it Chico, the Italian one? Or was it Groucho, the funny one? We've got to find out who it was before they send you back to the asylum! What do you mean, there ain't no sanity clause?"
If you love a haunting atmosphere, a strong heroine, and a brooding hero, then this book is really a wonderful experience. But if you're looking for a mystery that is believable and detective work that is totally realistic, then A Duty To The Dead is only an average read.
June 19, 2015
"War is a bloody waste of good men, and that will break your heart when nothing else does."
Bess Crawford is serving as a nurse during WWI on the Britannic, a hospital ship that travels between the fronts collecting injured and fallen soldiers, and carrying them to safer hospitals on ground or to their watery graves. On board, Bess meets Arthur Graham, a charismatic soldier whose wound turns septic overnight, and his last words to Bess are for her to carry a message home to his brother in Kent.
The message itself is somewhat bizarre, and when Bess finds herself back on English soil, she sets about contacting Arthur's family. What strikes her as odd is how the family pretend not to know what the request means, and a series of other events soon set Bess in search for the truth. The Graham's have some serious skeletons in the closet.
Owlhurst, the little village where Arthur's family lives , is quaint but a somber pall has settled over it and much of the country. In the throes of war, there are many fresh graves and war widows. The streets are full of wounded soldiers, many of whom are suffering shell shock. I loved how Todd created a believable historical account around the mystery, and not vice versa. This period of time fascinates me to no end, and there are few mystery writers using it as a backdrop. Food and clothing rationing, women ambling to do their part to support their soldiers, families losing sometimes all the men in their family-this was the reality of that time period. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, An Impartial Witness.
Bess Crawford is serving as a nurse during WWI on the Britannic, a hospital ship that travels between the fronts collecting injured and fallen soldiers, and carrying them to safer hospitals on ground or to their watery graves. On board, Bess meets Arthur Graham, a charismatic soldier whose wound turns septic overnight, and his last words to Bess are for her to carry a message home to his brother in Kent.
The message itself is somewhat bizarre, and when Bess finds herself back on English soil, she sets about contacting Arthur's family. What strikes her as odd is how the family pretend not to know what the request means, and a series of other events soon set Bess in search for the truth. The Graham's have some serious skeletons in the closet.
Owlhurst, the little village where Arthur's family lives , is quaint but a somber pall has settled over it and much of the country. In the throes of war, there are many fresh graves and war widows. The streets are full of wounded soldiers, many of whom are suffering shell shock. I loved how Todd created a believable historical account around the mystery, and not vice versa. This period of time fascinates me to no end, and there are few mystery writers using it as a backdrop. Food and clothing rationing, women ambling to do their part to support their soldiers, families losing sometimes all the men in their family-this was the reality of that time period. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, An Impartial Witness.
December 1, 2015
I have long been a fan of Charles Todd's "Inspector Ian Rutledge" series. This is the first of a new "Bess Crawford" series and it is a delight. Bess is a WWI army nurse, in this case home on leave bringing an enigmatic message to the family of a man she was with when he died. She delivers the message but is not sure it has the effect the dying man intended, so she stays and sticks her nose where it most assuredly does not belong. Her perseverance and passion for justice lead her ever deeper into a complex and increasingly unattractive family situation. A very enjoyable read.
March 1, 2013
An absolutely enthralling psychological whodunit. The atmosphere is hauntingly England. I felt as if I were there, in the mist and gloom of wartime London and Kent. This is a book not easily put down, not forgotten once it's over.
Bess is one heck of a heroine. If this had been an urban fantasy, I'd easily have seen her on a par with Patty Briggs's Mercy Thompson. She's not indestructible but she's like a dog with a bone - not giving up and going away when she should have. I loved her!
There's really no easy way to relate the plot without giving away any of the enjoyment. I thought I had it figured out a few times only to be taken in a new direction. Very hard to put down! I'd give this 6 stars if I could, just for that alone.
Bess is one heck of a heroine. If this had been an urban fantasy, I'd easily have seen her on a par with Patty Briggs's Mercy Thompson. She's not indestructible but she's like a dog with a bone - not giving up and going away when she should have. I loved her!
There's really no easy way to relate the plot without giving away any of the enjoyment. I thought I had it figured out a few times only to be taken in a new direction. Very hard to put down! I'd give this 6 stars if I could, just for that alone.
March 24, 2018
I have previously read book seven in the series; A Pattern of Lies a little while ago and I just absolutely loved that book. And, of course, I wanted to read the series from the beginning and lucky me; I own the first book as an eBook.
Bess Crawford works as a nurse during WW1 and is home now after being onboard a hospital ship that sunk. She survived with a broken arm and since she can't work decides to travel to Kent to visit the mother and sibling of a dying soldier last word; "Tell Jonathan that I lied. I did it for Mother's sake. But it has to be set right." But the strange thing is that neither the mother nor the brothers admit knowing what the message is about. But then Bess learns that there is another brother, incarcerated in a lunatic asylum…
I think this series is starting to be one of my favorites. Now I have only read two books, but I feel that the WW1 milieu and the characters are truly well-done. Bess Crawford is not an amateur sleuth, she is a nurse and the mystery she happens to stumble on isn't something she had planned to solve. She just happens to be the one that starts it all, the one that sets everything in motion. And, that is one thing I really love about this book, Bess feels like a solid character with her feet steady on the ground. There is no romance luring left and right on the book. No sweetheart. I mean I'm not against romance in books, but mostly I want it to have a smaller place in the story.
I found the first book in the series quite good. The mystery of the message and the brother everyone is trying to forget was really good and I was gripped by the whole story.
I think one of the reasons I find this series so appealing is that it does remind me of Laurie. R. King's series about Mary Russell. I stated the same thing in A Pattern of Lies and I feel it still. I believe if you like of Laurie. R. King's series about Mary Russell you will like this series too.
Bess Crawford works as a nurse during WW1 and is home now after being onboard a hospital ship that sunk. She survived with a broken arm and since she can't work decides to travel to Kent to visit the mother and sibling of a dying soldier last word; "Tell Jonathan that I lied. I did it for Mother's sake. But it has to be set right." But the strange thing is that neither the mother nor the brothers admit knowing what the message is about. But then Bess learns that there is another brother, incarcerated in a lunatic asylum…
I think this series is starting to be one of my favorites. Now I have only read two books, but I feel that the WW1 milieu and the characters are truly well-done. Bess Crawford is not an amateur sleuth, she is a nurse and the mystery she happens to stumble on isn't something she had planned to solve. She just happens to be the one that starts it all, the one that sets everything in motion. And, that is one thing I really love about this book, Bess feels like a solid character with her feet steady on the ground. There is no romance luring left and right on the book. No sweetheart. I mean I'm not against romance in books, but mostly I want it to have a smaller place in the story.
I found the first book in the series quite good. The mystery of the message and the brother everyone is trying to forget was really good and I was gripped by the whole story.
I think one of the reasons I find this series so appealing is that it does remind me of Laurie. R. King's series about Mary Russell. I stated the same thing in A Pattern of Lies and I feel it still. I believe if you like of Laurie. R. King's series about Mary Russell you will like this series too.
May 2, 2018
I would have probably called this a fairly slow-paced book before I realized that, though it felt like I couldn't have made it very far, I had already nearly made it halfway through! It's a paradox: slow, yet fast. Makes no sense & I really don't know how to explain it, but I like it. And the pace does seem to pick up as the story goes along.
All in all, I really liked this book! The characters, setting, and storyline were all interesting. While I did predict part of the ending, some of it was still quite a surprise to me. I'll admit I was saddened/disappointed by part of it, but not so much that it took away from the story or anything.
The narrator (Rosalyn Landor-- who also read Death Comes to Pemberley, which I really enjoyed) is one of the best I've listened to. She has an easy voice to listen to. Listening to this book was almost like watching a BBC mystery film. ;)
Warning: This is not Christian fiction so, while there isn't anything of a sexual nature, there is bad language throughout the book.
All in all, I really liked this book! The characters, setting, and storyline were all interesting. While I did predict part of the ending, some of it was still quite a surprise to me. I'll admit I was saddened/disappointed by part of it, but not so much that it took away from the story or anything.
The narrator (Rosalyn Landor-- who also read Death Comes to Pemberley, which I really enjoyed) is one of the best I've listened to. She has an easy voice to listen to. Listening to this book was almost like watching a BBC mystery film. ;)
Warning: This is not Christian fiction so, while there isn't anything of a sexual nature, there is bad language throughout the book.
March 2, 2016
I read this because I had heard that fans of Maisie Dobbs often also liked Bess Crawford. Unfortunately, most everything I like about Maisie was absent here. First, the language didn't convince me that we were 1) in a different time and 2) in a different place. (I had the same complaint about the Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society whatever book.) Each of those should lend its own tenor to people's speech, the terminology used, the objects referred to, etc. Didn't happen. (Maybe because the two writers are Americans?) Also, in Maisie there's always a lot of description--of what people are wearing, what rooms look like, etc. There was very little here, which would also have helped set the context. I also got very little sense of Bess's personality, except for what you could infer from her actions, whereas something I appreciate about Maisie is her own struggles and growth laid alongside the mysteries. In short, I didn't feel connected to or drawn in to the book, and only finished it because I wanted to know how the mystery turned out.
December 11, 2016
This was a bear to get into. For some unknown reason, it just didn't catch my attention. I did read it through but it took all night. England 1916, World War I is raging, Bess Crawford is serving as a nurse on the ill fated Britannia when she meets Lt. Arthur Graham, she become attached to hm against her better judgement, He entrusts her with a cryptic secret just before he suddenly dies in her care. Her guilt overwhelms her and as the ship is torpedoed, she is injured, and vows to deliver the message to his brother back home. After she recovers from those injuries, she ventures out to their estate, only to discover that Arthur's brother has no clue what the message means.
Bess decides to do her own investigation into this family secret she is about to discover a murder long ago, and lies upon lies, that seem to point to the guilty person. Bess is not convinced, and she presses on, but at what consequence to the family name?
Bess decides to do her own investigation into this family secret she is about to discover a murder long ago, and lies upon lies, that seem to point to the guilty person. Bess is not convinced, and she presses on, but at what consequence to the family name?
December 25, 2011
I put this on the vaginal mystery shelf because even though there is no real romance here, I think people who enjoy romance/mystery will like it.
This is set in World War I, which I know VERY LITTLE about, so I found it extra fascinating. The most exciting part of the book actually is the first few chapters. However, the rest of the book was pretty engrossing and was a really nicely crafted mystery with a goodie-two-shoes but likeable lead. Basically, in order to fulfill the dying wish of a patient she was caring for, she uncovers some dirty secrets in a small English town. Nothing revolutionary, but the setting and plotting were quite enjoyable.
I am currently reading the second one and enjoying it as well!
This is set in World War I, which I know VERY LITTLE about, so I found it extra fascinating. The most exciting part of the book actually is the first few chapters. However, the rest of the book was pretty engrossing and was a really nicely crafted mystery with a goodie-two-shoes but likeable lead. Basically, in order to fulfill the dying wish of a patient she was caring for, she uncovers some dirty secrets in a small English town. Nothing revolutionary, but the setting and plotting were quite enjoyable.
I am currently reading the second one and enjoying it as well!
December 28, 2014
Excellent mystery set during WWI. Bess Crawford is a nurse who is sent home on medical leave when she suffers a broken arm after her medical ship, the Britannic, is sunk by the Germans. It's been a while since she's been back in England and she has a duty to fulfill. One of her patients, Arthur Graham, had a final wish before succumbing to this injuries. He asked that Bess pass on a message to his brother Jonathan at their family home in Kent. So with time on her hands, Bess sets off for Kent to fulfill her duty to the dead.
Nice mystery, great atmosphere, and I loved Bess and her tenacity and sense of duty. Will definitely be looking at the next one of these!
Nice mystery, great atmosphere, and I loved Bess and her tenacity and sense of duty. Will definitely be looking at the next one of these!
March 5, 2016
The second Charles Todd book I've read, and the first,literally, book of Bess Crawford series. It is a cozy mystery. I have been reading them recently. Didn't know of the term "cozy mystery" for a long time. And I didn't suspect that, e.g, Agatha Christie's books were in that category. Christie is the ultimate cozy mystery writer.
What I've come to expect of these type of novels is a lack of typically long winded showdowns. In contemporary mysteries, there is no impossible to reach solution. There's just the matter of the truth to be discovered. There's no bombastic monologue by the murderer, well there's not in either Charles Todd mystery that I've read. I'm not saying it would be better to have a twist at the end. But it does mean that in "A Duty To The Dead". the journey is more handsome than the destination.
Bess Crawford is the youngest heroine in any adult mystery novel. She is a nurse, which makes her mature beyond her years. She sees pain on a daily basis, she sees hopes rise to ecstasy and fall to despair, all in a single day. Her- and my- journey to solve the conundrum of Peregrine Graham's life and punishment is an engaging story, and the style makes for a pleasant reading. The town of Kent is the main location for all the hints, depictions and mood setters that the authors serve us. Near the end of this book, however, the authors might have hurried on, being less lyrical in an attempt to prioritize the plot, which is okay, but it's something you do notice, as a reader. As we progress, the broken arm that Bess suffered in the very beginning(the book does start off with a bang)heals in conjecture with the unraveling of a quite nice tale...just like many characters in movies, like Michael Corleone. Here the metaphor for healing is strong, maybe I'm missing something...maybe a more clever and astute reader has it pegged. I don't really know.
What I've come to expect of these type of novels is a lack of typically long winded showdowns. In contemporary mysteries, there is no impossible to reach solution. There's just the matter of the truth to be discovered. There's no bombastic monologue by the murderer, well there's not in either Charles Todd mystery that I've read. I'm not saying it would be better to have a twist at the end. But it does mean that in "A Duty To The Dead". the journey is more handsome than the destination.
Bess Crawford is the youngest heroine in any adult mystery novel. She is a nurse, which makes her mature beyond her years. She sees pain on a daily basis, she sees hopes rise to ecstasy and fall to despair, all in a single day. Her- and my- journey to solve the conundrum of Peregrine Graham's life and punishment is an engaging story, and the style makes for a pleasant reading. The town of Kent is the main location for all the hints, depictions and mood setters that the authors serve us. Near the end of this book, however, the authors might have hurried on, being less lyrical in an attempt to prioritize the plot, which is okay, but it's something you do notice, as a reader. As we progress, the broken arm that Bess suffered in the very beginning(the book does start off with a bang)heals in conjecture with the unraveling of a quite nice tale...just like many characters in movies, like Michael Corleone. Here the metaphor for healing is strong, maybe I'm missing something...maybe a more clever and astute reader has it pegged. I don't really know.
Read
July 17, 2018The mystery element was decent but not exceptional and I wasn't satisfied with how it resolved, so I probably wouldn't recommend the book for its plot, but I loved the thoughtfulness with which the story, and with which Bess, wrestled with the theme (as stated by the title) and with trying to do well by people whose voices are marginalized (by death, by PTSD, by mental illness, by family dynamics).
I was disappointed in a trope used by the book. Spoilers for the ending:
I was disappointed in a trope used by the book. Spoilers for the ending:
September 2, 2020
I’m a latecomer to this series, but I plan to make up time and continue it pretty quickly. It’s evocative of the time and place and features characters distinctive enough to follow and a well-paced story. There’s more here than I expected.
February 7, 2022
I’ve decided to read my way through Bess Crawford after reading The Irish Question and the very enjoyable novella, Hanging at Dawn. Characters I met previously turn up here. There’s the very solid Simon Brandon who looks out for Bess. Although Bess does well on her own, and Nurse Flynn at the beginning of this title. It’s 1916. Coming back to England from the war front, Bess has a message to pass onto the family of a patient. Darkness surrounds the Grahams. There’s an historical murder and a brother cruelly incarcerated in an asylum. Having only read the twelfth in the series prior to this. I’d say this was an interesting beginning and I’m looking forward to further developments.
February 10, 2017
First Sentence: At sea…the morning sun is lovely and warm.
Bess Crawford is an independent, upper-middle-call British gentlewoman who takes after her father. She became a nurse and travelled to the battlefields of France. On her way back to England aboard the Britannic, the ship strikes a mine and sinks. Bess suffers a badly broken arm but becomes fond of Lt. Arthur Graham who, right before dying, extracts a promise from her to deliver a message to his brother in England. Keeping that promise embroils her in a family surrounded by tragedy and secrets.
It is always interesting when an author you love begins a new series. Sometimes it works; sometimes not. In this case, it definitely worked.
Bess is a great new character. She is representative of many woman of her class; smart, independent; strong and with a belief that woman can be as capable as men. She has seen the results of war and knows the impact it has on the men who fight. It is also typical of the time that Bess is constantly asked whether she was in love with each young many of her acquaintance as people can’t otherwise understand the courses of action she takes.
Todd provides a very strong sense of time and place with just a hint of a gothic feel. At the same time they make strong statements about the impact of war and the lack of understanding of those who stay at home. Their writing is very effective and can go straight to the emotions and the heart.
There were a couple small false steps. The story was a little slow getting started and Bess’ reaction to the sinking of the ship seemed a bit too detached. There were a few portents—a writing element I really dislike—and a characters who had been locked in an asylum since being a young boy was much to intelligent and street-smart to be quite believable.
I very much enjoyed Bess and hope to see ore of both her and her father, whom I very much liked. I look forward to more books in this series.
A DUTY TO THE DEAD (Hist Mys-Elizabeth (Bess) Crawford –England-WWI/1916)- G+
Todd, Charles – 1st in series
William Morrow, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780061933844
Bess Crawford is an independent, upper-middle-call British gentlewoman who takes after her father. She became a nurse and travelled to the battlefields of France. On her way back to England aboard the Britannic, the ship strikes a mine and sinks. Bess suffers a badly broken arm but becomes fond of Lt. Arthur Graham who, right before dying, extracts a promise from her to deliver a message to his brother in England. Keeping that promise embroils her in a family surrounded by tragedy and secrets.
It is always interesting when an author you love begins a new series. Sometimes it works; sometimes not. In this case, it definitely worked.
Bess is a great new character. She is representative of many woman of her class; smart, independent; strong and with a belief that woman can be as capable as men. She has seen the results of war and knows the impact it has on the men who fight. It is also typical of the time that Bess is constantly asked whether she was in love with each young many of her acquaintance as people can’t otherwise understand the courses of action she takes.
Todd provides a very strong sense of time and place with just a hint of a gothic feel. At the same time they make strong statements about the impact of war and the lack of understanding of those who stay at home. Their writing is very effective and can go straight to the emotions and the heart.
There were a couple small false steps. The story was a little slow getting started and Bess’ reaction to the sinking of the ship seemed a bit too detached. There were a few portents—a writing element I really dislike—and a characters who had been locked in an asylum since being a young boy was much to intelligent and street-smart to be quite believable.
I very much enjoyed Bess and hope to see ore of both her and her father, whom I very much liked. I look forward to more books in this series.
A DUTY TO THE DEAD (Hist Mys-Elizabeth (Bess) Crawford –England-WWI/1916)- G+
Todd, Charles – 1st in series
William Morrow, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780061933844
July 1, 2023
This was a very good beginning to what I hope to be a very good series. The red herrings, the family drama, the psychological distress - all very good. I like your toughness, Bess Crawford, and I especially like that you call your father Colonel Sahib. We need to get to know Simon Brandon also. Twelve more books to go…
And this was my read for Janelle. I hope she would have been pleased. 🥹
And this was my read for Janelle. I hope she would have been pleased. 🥹
April 10, 2021
DNF. Got about a third of the way through before giving up. There was just no Todd magic here.
Coming from Ian Rutledge books I expected something along those lines, but what I found was a First Person Nancy Drew that moved very slowly. It made me wonder if only one of the authors contributed.
I didn't find the First Person worked well and I missed the descriptions of places and people that the Rutledge books provided. I also missed having a main character who had depth. Bess is nothing if not shiny and saint-like. Sadly, there also was a lack of keen observations.
I might try the next book with the hopes that A DUTY TO THE DEAD sucked because it was the first book in the series.
I'm certainly glad I didn't spend money.
June 19, 2025
This is a well written murder mystery set during WWI, within the setting of the wounded, the shell shocked, and the medical staff trying to help them. Interestingly, this series is written by a mother/son duo, but the writing is seamless. I will probably read another in this series.
May 30, 2017
Currently listening...
Very well done British mystery, very much in the old school style a la Agatha Christie and Patricia Wentworth with a solid but slow buildup to the reveal. Rosalyn Landor's narration is well done as well particularly with general and female voices. Her male voices are a little stilted.
With almost 1200 reviews I don't know why I am bothering, but here we go...
Bess, a nurse in WWI, is compelled to relay a message from Arthur, her charming, dying patient, to his brother. Not only is the message enigmatic, but the family is as well. Bess ends up unraveling the genesis of Arthur's message and how it relates to his brothers as well as his Peregrine, Arthur's eldest brother, a half-brother from the father's first marriage, and how and why Peregrine ended up in a mental asylum for a murder he committed at 14.
Very old school, British mystery in that the reader is a third of the way into the book before substantial clues and secrets are revealed. I really enjoyed, but did. not love it.
I have two problems: One is that Bess is near Mother Teresa in terms of compliance to the tenets of her profession. To say she has the patience of a saint is more than a compliment to saints. Once, maybe twice, she gets irritated and behaves like a human. She's a well rounded and enjoyable heroine, but a tad too perfect. Two, is that in terms of justice and retribution the end is swept under the rug with minimal fuss and explanation.
Please do not read my rant/spoiler if you have not read the book.
Very well done British mystery, very much in the old school style a la Agatha Christie and Patricia Wentworth with a solid but slow buildup to the reveal. Rosalyn Landor's narration is well done as well particularly with general and female voices. Her male voices are a little stilted.
With almost 1200 reviews I don't know why I am bothering, but here we go...
Bess, a nurse in WWI, is compelled to relay a message from Arthur, her charming, dying patient, to his brother. Not only is the message enigmatic, but the family is as well. Bess ends up unraveling the genesis of Arthur's message and how it relates to his brothers as well as his Peregrine, Arthur's eldest brother, a half-brother from the father's first marriage, and how and why Peregrine ended up in a mental asylum for a murder he committed at 14.
Very old school, British mystery in that the reader is a third of the way into the book before substantial clues and secrets are revealed. I really enjoyed, but did. not love it.
I have two problems: One is that Bess is near Mother Teresa in terms of compliance to the tenets of her profession. To say she has the patience of a saint is more than a compliment to saints. Once, maybe twice, she gets irritated and behaves like a human. She's a well rounded and enjoyable heroine, but a tad too perfect. Two, is that in terms of justice and retribution the end is swept under the rug with minimal fuss and explanation.
Please do not read my rant/spoiler if you have not read the book.
May 23, 2016
A Duty to the Dead
4 Stars
On leave after being injured during the sinking of the hospital ship Britannic, nurse Bess Crawford takes the opportunity to fulfill the dying wish of a young soldier under her care. Traveling to Kent, she encounters the Graham family and their many secrets including the existence of unwanted sibling incarcerated in a lunatic asylum. As Bess delves deeper into the meaning of Arthur Graham’s message, she uncovers an horrific crime and a travesty of justice that may have far reaching consequences for her personally.
Compelling characters and an interesting mystery albeit a little drawn out at the end.
The setting of Britain during the Great War is absorbing, especially the descriptions of English “stiff upper lip” and the varied reactions to the traumas suffered by the returning soldiers whether physical or mental. There are moments where it is necessary to remember the time period and not judge people’s harshness and cruelty according to 21st century moral and social principles.
The mystery builds slowly but surely as Bess uncovers one clue after another. While the evidence of is glaringly obvious, the identity of the villain remains in question almost till the end. The climax is exciting although the resolution could have been written more compactly. Moreover, it is disappointing that .
Bess is a spirited and engaging heroine. The only questionable aspect of her personality is her intense affection for Arthur Graham, which has little if any basis in reality, and tends to skew her judgement.
All in all, an entertaining listen and my first book narrated by Rosalyn Landor whose performance was excellent.
4 Stars
On leave after being injured during the sinking of the hospital ship Britannic, nurse Bess Crawford takes the opportunity to fulfill the dying wish of a young soldier under her care. Traveling to Kent, she encounters the Graham family and their many secrets including the existence of unwanted sibling incarcerated in a lunatic asylum. As Bess delves deeper into the meaning of Arthur Graham’s message, she uncovers an horrific crime and a travesty of justice that may have far reaching consequences for her personally.
Compelling characters and an interesting mystery albeit a little drawn out at the end.
The setting of Britain during the Great War is absorbing, especially the descriptions of English “stiff upper lip” and the varied reactions to the traumas suffered by the returning soldiers whether physical or mental. There are moments where it is necessary to remember the time period and not judge people’s harshness and cruelty according to 21st century moral and social principles.
The mystery builds slowly but surely as Bess uncovers one clue after another. While the evidence of is glaringly obvious, the identity of the villain remains in question almost till the end. The climax is exciting although the resolution could have been written more compactly. Moreover, it is disappointing that .
Bess is a spirited and engaging heroine. The only questionable aspect of her personality is her intense affection for Arthur Graham, which has little if any basis in reality, and tends to skew her judgement.
All in all, an entertaining listen and my first book narrated by Rosalyn Landor whose performance was excellent.
February 19, 2011
An incredibly silly, illogical, and yet pleasurable book in which a WW I nurse solves a mystery. Jacqueline Winspear's WW I nurse Maisie Dobbs is much deeper, and her stories are much better thought out, but you want to keep reading "A Duty to the Dead" even though the events described make no sense. Our heroine is half in love with a dying soldier who proposes to her and asks her to deliver a message to his brother, Jonathan Graham. On the basis of no facts, she assumes the cryptic message must be about a girlfriend back home, the only one he really loves. She is always jumping to implausible conclusions like that. For example, although she knows that most of the Graham family would like nothing more than to see Peregrine Graham dead, when she sees them receiving a message and getting very upset about it, she assumes they are upset because Peregrine is dead. Huh?
Moreover, the coincidences are beyond ridiculous. Every time she has a question in her mind about something--say, what X said to Y on a certain date--the very next person she meets turns out to have been present when X said the something to Y.
I should be ashamed of myself for keeping my nose in this Nancy Drew for Adults (maybe just "this Nancy Drew"), but I enjoyed the whole thing. It was a comfortable, old-timey murder mystery, the kind one enjoyed as a child, with a predictable and unrealistic ending. One does need to be wary, though, when an author (Charles Todd) turns out to be a two-person team. You know that nothing literary ever came out of a two-person team, especially if the team consists of a mother and son.
Moreover, the coincidences are beyond ridiculous. Every time she has a question in her mind about something--say, what X said to Y on a certain date--the very next person she meets turns out to have been present when X said the something to Y.
I should be ashamed of myself for keeping my nose in this Nancy Drew for Adults (maybe just "this Nancy Drew"), but I enjoyed the whole thing. It was a comfortable, old-timey murder mystery, the kind one enjoyed as a child, with a predictable and unrealistic ending. One does need to be wary, though, when an author (Charles Todd) turns out to be a two-person team. You know that nothing literary ever came out of a two-person team, especially if the team consists of a mother and son.
February 1, 2015
Another 5 star read! Another new author to love! I felt the atmosphere in this one. The setting (as far as time period) was well drawn and believable. Bess was a real character who has enough spunk to be both likeable and true to her time frame. She kept after the mystery until by sheer force of will discovered the secrets being tightly held. Peregrine was by far my favorite character though. He was intricate, layered and mysterious. I thought his ending was appropriate, and it made me cheer. I felt the secondary characters and their motivations were amazingly detailed. There was a depth to all of the characters in the book.
I have already placed the next book in Bess's adventures on hold at the library. I can't wait to read the next one!
I have already placed the next book in Bess's adventures on hold at the library. I can't wait to read the next one!
Read
June 1, 2020This general market mystery kept me engaged from the first page to the last. The premise is completely intriguing, and the characters kept me guessing as to their true motivations right up until the end (which was a mix of tragedy and happy). I'll be reading more Bess Crawford when I'm in the mood for a WW1-era mystery!
November 27, 2023
A solid start to a new-to-me mystery series that I will definitely want to continue with. There is a lot in this that reminded me of the Maisie Dobbs books!
July 11, 2011
This is the first in the Bess Crawford mystery series (written by the author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery series). The Rutledge series takes place just after WWI, this one is during the war. Bess is an English nurse at the front. A dying soldier makes her promise to take a message home to his family. After she is injured when her hospital ship is torpedoed she finally has a chance to deliver the message. The message opens up a long kept secret that could free a man from prison and destroy a family. Bess is dogged in pursuit of the truth. This series will also reveal the ugliness of the war as it affects the lives of soldiers and those around them. Bess is a strong and compassionate character that the reader will want to know better. I am ready for #2.
February 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this and wasn’t expecting to be overly interested as it was set during WWI, not a period of history I’ve ever been inspired by. But it was very interesting and an absorbing mystery. I will definitely be continuing the series.
March 27, 2019
Found my new mystery series!
February 17, 2022
The mystery at the heart of this tale is relatively good and although you might figure it out before the big reveal, you probably wouldn't get all the surrounding smaller mysteries resolved in advance. However, there are large sections of the narrative that bog down in frantic activity with no forward motion, a lot of angsty navel gazing from the protagonist, and some occurrences that stretch credulity too much. The description at the beginning of the Britannic sinking is gripping and the setting grabbed me. However, the period setting (Britain during WWI) wasn't used to much effect for the remainder of the novel. Ultimately, the big fail for me is that I didn't like Bess Crawford much. In spite of having traveled the world with her family, served as a military nurse and witnessed warfare first hand, and survived the sinking of the Britannic, she is still terribly uptight and rather priggish. Much of her struggle through the novel is her naivety and lack of understanding of human nature. She keeps wanting to put people into little preconceived boxes which stops her from seeing the big picture until the big picture lands on top of her. She has a good heart, but not much common sense, and she takes herself way too seriously. She's just not fun to spend time with.
I listened to this book for free as part of my Audible membership. Rosalyn Landor is not bad as the narrator, but Beth is supposed to be early 20's and Landor sounds 20 years older. That may be part of the reason I felt like Beth was so clueless - Beth isn't nearly as worldly-wise as Landor makes her voice sound.
This was a decent story for free, but I won't be spending any more time with or credits on stuffy Bess Crawford.
I listened to this book for free as part of my Audible membership. Rosalyn Landor is not bad as the narrator, but Beth is supposed to be early 20's and Landor sounds 20 years older. That may be part of the reason I felt like Beth was so clueless - Beth isn't nearly as worldly-wise as Landor makes her voice sound.
This was a decent story for free, but I won't be spending any more time with or credits on stuffy Bess Crawford.
February 12, 2013
Occasionally, I enjoy a good stroll down the mystery aisle at my local library to look for authors whose books I might want to try. Charles Todd's first in the Bess Crawford series did not disappoint my latest cover gamble. Like Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs, Todd's Crawford is a strong woman solving mysteries in a different time, in this case World War I in Britain. I'm not sure when the historical mystery genre was first created, but I hope it's here to stay. Giving us a taste of history, the book begins with the sudden sinking of the Britannic, the vessel on which Crawford served as a nurse for the British forces. Finally home on leave and with a broken arm, Crawford finds it impossible to put off the promise she made to one Arthur Graham, a cherished patient who lost his life, to deliver a cryptic message to his family. When the family seems indifferent to Arthur's message, Crawford takes matters in her own hands and becomes dangerously entwined in a family secret that over a decade of lies have tried to bury.
Todd's characters are enjoyable, suitably drawn to fit the time period and all its customs and culture. What will keep readers looking for the next in the series are its protagonist and her supporting cast--particularly her father, Colonel Sahib, the voice in her head, and his right-hand-man, Simon Brandon, whom I look very forward to knowing better in the next series novel. (Perhaps he will become a love interest?) If you enjoy a jaunt in Great War history and enjoy a carefully untangled mystery, this book is a great escape for a vacation or to fill the many wee hours nursing a newborn babe...
Todd's characters are enjoyable, suitably drawn to fit the time period and all its customs and culture. What will keep readers looking for the next in the series are its protagonist and her supporting cast--particularly her father, Colonel Sahib, the voice in her head, and his right-hand-man, Simon Brandon, whom I look very forward to knowing better in the next series novel. (Perhaps he will become a love interest?) If you enjoy a jaunt in Great War history and enjoy a carefully untangled mystery, this book is a great escape for a vacation or to fill the many wee hours nursing a newborn babe...
October 28, 2013
This book hooked me from the first chapter. Bess is on a mostly empty nursing ship when it strikes a mine in the Mediterranean. The ship goes down, and her ensuing convalescence forces her back to England--and into a mystery regarding the promise to a dead patient. I read through the full book in two days. I enjoyed it for the most part, but several aspects did bother me.
Bess is a good detective in many ways, but she also does some things that are frustratingly dumb. She lets a convicted murderer threaten her to silence and then stay alone with her female roommate. (The fact that the murderer is obviously not a murderer isn't the point--the man's been kept in an asylum for year and has definitely been warped by the experience.) Her arm injury is a major point at the beginning of the book but about halfway, it seems to be forgotten. Not that much time has passed. The ending also felt somewhat convoluted--perhaps too many characters to muddle things.
In other words, I started out thinking, "Wow, this book as amazing," but my enthusiasm dimmed somewhat by the end. I loved the setting and the World War I backdrop; I loved many of the side characters, such as her father. I already own the fourth book in the series--I actually acquired it first and had to seek out this first book--so I think I'll get books 2 and 3, just to see how it flows. In any case, they should be fast reads.
Bess is a good detective in many ways, but she also does some things that are frustratingly dumb. She lets a convicted murderer threaten her to silence and then stay alone with her female roommate. (The fact that the murderer is obviously not a murderer isn't the point--the man's been kept in an asylum for year and has definitely been warped by the experience.) Her arm injury is a major point at the beginning of the book but about halfway, it seems to be forgotten. Not that much time has passed. The ending also felt somewhat convoluted--perhaps too many characters to muddle things.
In other words, I started out thinking, "Wow, this book as amazing," but my enthusiasm dimmed somewhat by the end. I loved the setting and the World War I backdrop; I loved many of the side characters, such as her father. I already own the fourth book in the series--I actually acquired it first and had to seek out this first book--so I think I'll get books 2 and 3, just to see how it flows. In any case, they should be fast reads.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,026 reviews