An Unmarked Grave - (Bess Crawford Mysteries) by Charles Todd (Paperback)

About the Book

The critically acclaimed, "New York Times"-bestselling author of the Ian Rutledge mystery series, Todd once again spotlights World War I nurse Bess Crawford in a gripping, powerful, and evocative masterwork that unfolds during the deadly Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918.

Book Synopsis

"A wonderful new mystery series that will let us see the horrors of World War I through the eyes of Bess Crawford, battlefield nurse."
--Margaret Maron

"Readers who can't get enough of Jacqueline Winspear's novels, or Hester Latterly, who saw action in the Crimean War in a series of novels by Anne Perry, are bound to be caught up in the adventures of Bess Crawford."
--New York Times Book Review

The critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of the Ian Rutledge mystery series, Charles Todd once again spotlights World War I nurse Bess Crawford in An Unmarked Grave. Gripping, powerful, and evocative, this superb mystery masterwork unfolds during the deadly Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918, as Bess discovers the body of a murdered British officer among the many dead and sets out to unmask a craven killer.

From the Back Cover

Even deadlier than the bloody engagements on the battle-scarred fields of France, the Spanish influenza epidemic in the spring of 1918 is bringing hundreds of new patients to World War I battlefield nurse Bess Crawford. But war and disease are not the only killers to strike with cold and brutal efficiency.

Concealed among the countless dead waiting for burial is the body of an officer whose end was not hastened by a German bullet or an airborne virus. This soldier was murdered, and his death touches Bess deeply, for he was a family friend who once served in her father's regiment.

Falling ill herself before she can report the heinous crime, Bess recovers too late to consult with the only other witness, who, by all official accounts, has since hanged himself. Bess refuses to let a killer escape justice, though her persistence turns an assassin's attention in her direction. Or is she already his next target?

Review Quotes

"Highly recommended--well-rounded, believable characters, a multi-layered plot solidly based on human nature, all authentically set in the England of 1917, make A Bitter Truth an outstanding and riveting read." - Stephanie Laurens, New York Times bestselling author
"Outstanding." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A Bitter Truth
"Outstanding" - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Find some cures for the post-Downton Abbey blues ... Charles Todd has been producing a series of highly praised detective novels set in the years immediately after World War I." - Tulsa World Scene
"Engaging...highly recommended for fans of wartime mysteries, plucky women sleuths like Maisie Dobbs, and the DOWNTON ABBEY television series." - Library Journal
"A wonderful new mystery series that will let us see the horrors of World War I through the eyes of Bess Crawford, a battlefield nurse." - Margaret Maron
"Bess Crawford is a strong and likable character." - Washington Times
"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
'Todd has a sharp eye for scene and character, and he surrounds his leading lady with a lively cast." - Washington Times
"One of the best the Todds have ever written." - Star News Online
"Charles Todd has demonstrated mastery over this period of history" - New York Journal of Books
"Vivid period mystery series." - New York Times Book Review on AN UNMARKED GRAVE
"Melded with superbly imagined characters and memorably moving writing, Todd's latest is another triumph, rendered with grace. And with each installment, Bess' stature as a heroine to cherish soars." - Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Todd's novels are known for compelling plotting with a thoughtful whodunit aspect, rich characterization, evocative prose and haunting atmosphere." - Richmond Times-Dispatch