A forgotten place: a Bess Crawford mystery

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Though the Great War has ended, Bess Crawford finds herself caught in deadly circumstances on a remote Welsh headland in this tenth entry from the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author.

The fighting has ended, the Armistice signed, but the war has left wounds that are still agonizingly raw. Battlefield Nurse Bess Crawford has been assigned to a clinic for amputees, and the Welsh patients worry her. She does her best to help them, but it’s clear that they have nothing to go home to, in a valley where only the fit can work in the coal pits. When they are released, she fears that peace will do what war couldn’t—take their lives.

Their officer, Captain Williams, writes to describe their despair, and his own at trying to save his men. Bess feels compelled to look into their situation, but the Army and the clinic can do nothing. Requesting leave, she quietly travels to Wales, and that bleak coal mining village, but she is too late.

Captain Williams’ sister tells Bess he has left the valley. Bess is afraid he intends to kill himself. She follows him to an isolated, storm-battered peninsula—a harsh and forgotten place where secrets and death go hand in hand. Deserted by her frightened driver, Bess is stranded among strangers suspicious of outsiders. She quickly discovers these villagers are hiding something, and she’s learned too much to be allowed to leave. What’s more, no one in England knows where she is.

Why is there no Constable out here? And who is the mysterious Ellen? Captain Williams and his brother’s widow are her only allies, and Bess must take care not to put them at risk as she tries to find answers. But there is a murderer here who is driven to kill again and again. And the next person in his sights is Simon Brandon, searching for Bess and unaware of his danger. . . .

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ISBN
9780062678829
9780062678850
9780062864987

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Also in this Series

  • A duty to the dead (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 1) Cover
  • An impartial witness (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 2) Cover
  • A bitter truth (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 3) Cover
  • An unmarked grave (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 4) Cover
  • A question of honor (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 5) Cover
  • An unwilling accomplice (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 6) Cover
  • A pattern of lies (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 7) Cover
  • The shattered tree (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 8) Cover
  • A casualty of war: a Bess Crawford mystery (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 9) Cover
  • A forgotten place: a Bess Crawford mystery (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 10) Cover
  • A cruel deception (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 11) Cover
  • An Irish hostage (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 12) Cover
  • The cliff's edge (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume 13) Cover
  • A Hanging at Dawn (Bess Crawford mysteries Volume ) Cover

Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Bess Crawford and Maisie Dobbs were nurses in World War I. Maisie became a detective after the war, and Bess solves mysteries during it. Both series vividly portray Great Britain and feature strong, interesting characters, complex, gradually unfolding plots, and self-sufficient women. -- Katherine Johnson
While Bess Crawford solves intricately plotted mysteries during World War I, and Kate Shackleton in the interwar years, both strong and independent women are intimately involved with the war's emotional and societal toll in England. These atmospheric and thoroughly researched series are compelling. -- Melissa Gray
In these complex and emotionally compelling series, Bess Crawford and Verity Kent are strong, honorable women determined to do right even as they learn to navigate the psychic weight of WWI and how it is changing their roles in life. -- Jane Jorgenson
The Lord Peter Wimsey and Bess Crawford mysteries are private detective stories set in Britain between the wars. Harriet Vane is a prominent female character in the Lord Peter books, and both series feature intellectual, intricate plots and interesting secondary characters. -- Katherine Johnson
Phryne Fisher is a wealthy flapper in Australia, while Bess Crawford is a nurse in England, but the interesting characters, well drawn past World War I settings, clever plots, and sense of adventure are very similar. Phryne is more adventurous, especially in romantic relationships. -- Katherine Johnson
These series have the appeal factors atmospheric, and they have the theme "wartime crime"; the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "world war i" and "world war i home front."
These series have the appeal factors cinematic and atmospheric, and they have the theme "wartime crime"; the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "world war i" and "military police."
These series have the appeal factors atmospheric and strong sense of place, and they have the theme "wartime crime"; the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "world war i," "hardcastle, ernest (fictitious character)," and "world war i home front."
These series have the appeal factors suspenseful and atmospheric, and they have the theme "wartime crime"; the genres "historical mysteries" and "mysteries"; and the subject "boyle, billy (fictitious character)."

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors leisurely paced and atmospheric, and they have the genre "historical mysteries"; the subject "secrets"; and characters that are "complex characters."
These books have the appeal factors leisurely paced, atmospheric, and evocative, and they have the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "suspicion," "secrets," and "violence."
NoveList recommends "Maisie Dobbs novels" for fans of "Bess Crawford mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Verity Kent novels" for fans of "Bess Crawford mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors gritty and leisurely paced, and they have the subjects "suspicion," "secrets," and "small town life."
These books have the appeal factors gritty, leisurely paced, and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "suspicion," "secrets," and "violence."
These books have the appeal factors menacing, gritty, and leisurely paced, and they have the subjects "nurses," "secrets," and "violence"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
Dying in the wool - Brody, Frances
NoveList recommends "Kate Shackleton mysteries" for fans of "Bess Crawford mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors leisurely paced, atmospheric, and evocative, and they have the subjects "nurses," "suspicion," and "secrets."
These books have the appeal factors leisurely paced, atmospheric, and intricately plotted, and they have the subjects "nurses," "suspicion," and "secrets"; and include the identity "physically disabled."
NoveList recommends "Phryne Fisher mysteries" for fans of "Bess Crawford mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries" for fans of "Bess Crawford mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Dorothy L. Sayers, author of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, wrote following World War I, when Todd's mysteries are set. Her creative development of character, clever puzzle mysteries, and vivid descriptions of settings around Britain will appeal to Todd's readers, especially those who enjoy the societal issues raised in Sayers's works. -- Katherine Johnson
Both of these authors share the ability to create a sense of place and time period from just a few details. Their languidly-paced mysteries focus on both the story and the complex characters that they create. -- Krista Biggs
Though Stephen Booth writes contemporary police procedurals and Charles Todd produces two series -- about a loner CID detective (Ian Rutledge) and a World War I nurse (Bess Crawford) -- both provide insightful psychological portraits of their characters within detailed English settings. Their plots feature painstaking development and gripping action. -- Katherine Johnson
Ngaio Marsh wrote mysteries during the Golden Age of mystery stories, when Todd's stories are set; Todd's creative development of character, clever puzzle mysteries, and vivid descriptions of settings around Britain will appeal to Marsh's modern fans. -- Katherine Johnson
Charles Todd and Laurie R. King write character-driven historical mysteries set primarily in the World War I and post-war era. Carefully researched details contribute to a strong sense of place in both authors' work, although Todd's stories have a darker tone and elements of psychological suspense. -- Krista Biggs
Fans of thoroughly researched historical mysteries with well crafted character development, clever plots, and vividly detailed, accurate period settings may enjoy both Candace Robb and Charles Todd. Robb sets her mysteries in the 14th century, while Todd's take place in the period following World War I. -- Katherine Johnson
Though Scottish author Josephine Tey lived and wrote in the years following World War I, while Charles Todd's mysteries are well researched historical novels, they share similarly well-developed characters, intricate, leisurely psychological puzzles, and vivid descriptions, while keeping explicit violence mostly off-stage. -- Katherine Johnson
These authors' works have the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "world war i veterans," "english history," and "british history."
These authors' works have the appeal factors angst-filled, and they have the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "world war i veterans," "english history," and "british history."
These authors' works have the subjects "world war i veterans," "rutledge, ian (fictitious character)," and "english history."
These authors' works have the genre "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "world war i veterans," "police," and "murder."
These authors' works have the appeal factors moving, and they have the genres "historical mysteries" and "victorian mysteries"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "police," and "murder."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

The Great War has ended. The Armistice has been signed. But the suffering continues, as soldiers come home physically and mentally scarred. Battlefield nurse Bess Crawford is working in a clinic for recuperating amputees, where she becomes involved in the efforts of the captain of a group of Welsh soldiers who is desperate to keep his men from falling into depression and suicide. After the soldiers are sent home, the captain writes to Bess, telling her that the situation has grown worse. Regular readers of this satisfyingly rich historical mystery series (this is the tenth) know that Bess Crawford is simply unable to turn away from someone who needs her help. So she travels to Wales, where she soon finds herself stranded in a remote village where the residents seem to be keeping dark secrets, and where a killer lurks. The novel has a distinctly gothic feel to it: remote locale, harsh landscape, stormy weather, mysterious villagers and the sense that something truly evil is hiding, perhaps in plain sight. Followers of the Crawford series will find much to like here.--David Pitt Copyright 2018 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

WWI has finally ended in Mary Higgins Clark Award-winner Todd's memorable 10th mystery featuring British nurse Bess Crawford (after 2017's A Casualty of War). Despite the conclusion of the fighting, Bess still has plenty of soldiers to tend to at a hospital in France-in particular, a group of Welsh soldiers, whose serious injuries make their future employment doubtful. When she's reassigned to a clinic back in England, Bess is reunited with the Welshmen, only to find several of them suicidal. Following their discharge, their leader, Capt. Hugh Williams, writes to inform her that one of the privates took his own life, and to ask for help to avert future suicides. She uses some leave to seek Williams out, ending up in a desolate and isolated town on the Welsh coast, where he's suspected of his own brother's murder. His warning that it's not safe for Bess to remain there proves prescient. The atmosphere of the claustrophobic community Bess is trapped in is palpable as Todd (the mother-and-son writing team of Caroline and Charles Todd) expertly ratchets up the suspense. Agent: Lisa Gallagher, DeFiore & Co. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

Bess Crawford's tenth adventure has her once again doing her best to rehabilitate injured soldiers. This time she's nursing a group of suicidally depressed men from a remote Welsh mining village. She decides to use her precious leave to follow them home, hoping to intervene and convince their captain to put on a brave face for his men. Once she's tracked down the captain, Bess gets stranded and can only hope the ever-faithful Simon Brandon will discover where she is and rescue her. And maybe he'll help figure out why people are disappearing and what momentous secret the villagers are hiding. VERDICT A typical entry in this World War I mystery series, filled with period detail but rather light on character development. Readers may become impatient with Bess's impulsive behavior, as her compassion so often gets her into trouble. [See Prepub Alert, 3/12/18.]-Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib. © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kirkus Book Review

Nursing sister Bess Crawford's errand of mercy to a seemingly innocuous village in the Gower Peninsula of South Wales turns slowly into a waking nightmare.A year after the Great War has ended, Bess (A Casualty of War, 2017, etc.) is still working with veterans who lost limbs after being wounded on the front when she's called away from Gloucestershire by an entreaty from Capt. Hugh Williams, who's recovered sufficiently from his depression after the amputation of a leg to become thoroughly alarmed that he and the men formerly under his command are at a high risk for suicide. Taking advantage of some vacation time, Bess follows Hugh's trail to Swansea, then to the village of Caudle, where Rachel, his brother Tom's farm widow, has taken him in. Trouble starts almost the moment Bess arrives. The driver who's brought her to the village vanishes mysteriously the first night she's there, leaving her with no obvious way to leave. As she does her best to strengthen Hugh's own resolve to live amid his sorrows, a slow wave of violence washes over the village. Even though Hugh insists he fell down, someone's clearly attacked him. Then Oliver Martin, who arrived in the company of Ellen Marshall, a well-to-do Cardiff woman who's returned to Caudle, where she used to summer with her grandfather, is beaten more thoroughly, and Edward Stephenson is found clubbed to death on the strand. What's even more disturbing to Bess is her dawning sense that the villagers have united to keep a secret so dreadful that they can't afford to let her leave to share her suspicions with any outsiders. Will the intervention of Sgt. Maj. Simon Brandon, her father's old batman, be sufficient to rescue Bess from the worst vacation ever?Todd patiently, decorously evokes a sense of suffocating unease before the inevitably anticlimactic conclusion. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Booklist Reviews

The Great War has ended. The Armistice has been signed. But the suffering continues, as soldiers come home physically and mentally scarred. Battlefield nurse Bess Crawford is working in a clinic for recuperating amputees, where she becomes involved in the efforts of the captain of a group of Welsh soldiers who is desperate to keep his men from falling into depression and suicide. After the soldiers are sent home, the captain writes to Bess, telling her that the situation has grown worse. Regular readers of this satisfyingly rich historical mystery series (this is the tenth) know that Bess Crawford is simply unable to turn away from someone who needs her help. So she travels to Wales, where she soon finds herself stranded in a remote village where the residents seem to be keeping dark secrets, and where a killer lurks. The novel has a distinctly gothic feel to it: remote locale, harsh landscape, stormy weather, mysterious villagers—and the sense that something truly evil is hiding, perhaps in plain sight. Followers of the Crawford series will find much to like here.  Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.
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Library Journal Reviews

The fighting has ended, but the Great War is not over for soldiers or battlefield nurses such as Bess Crawford. The Welsh amputees she's been tending won't be able to work in the coal mines back home, and she's worried enough to follow them to their village after receiving a despairing letter from their captain. But the captain has vanished, and trying to locate him lands Bess among hostile strangers. With a 75,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal.
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Library Journal Reviews

Bess Crawford's tenth adventure has her once again doing her best to rehabilitate injured soldiers. This time she's nursing a group of suicidally depressed men from a remote Welsh mining village. She decides to use her precious leave to follow them home, hoping to intervene and convince their captain to put on a brave face for his men. Once she's tracked down the captain, Bess gets stranded and can only hope the ever-faithful Simon Brandon will discover where she is and rescue her. And maybe he'll help figure out why people are disappearing and what momentous secret the villagers are hiding. VERDICT A typical entry in this World War I mystery series, filled with period detail but rather light on character development. Readers may become impatient with Bess's impulsive behavior, as her compassion so often gets her into trouble. [See Prepub Alert, 3/12/18.]—Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

WWI has finally ended in Mary Higgins Clark Award–winner Todd's memorable 10th mystery featuring British nurse Bess Crawford (after 2017's A Casualty of War). Despite the conclusion of the fighting, Bess still has plenty of soldiers to tend to at a hospital in France—in particular, a group of Welsh soldiers, whose serious injuries make their future employment doubtful. When she's reassigned to a clinic back in England, Bess is reunited with the Welshmen, only to find several of them suicidal. Following their discharge, their leader, Capt. Hugh Williams, writes to inform her that one of the privates took his own life, and to ask for help to avert future suicides. She uses some leave to seek Williams out, ending up in a desolate and isolated town on the Welsh coast, where he's suspected of his own brother's murder. His warning that it's not safe for Bess to remain there proves prescient. The atmosphere of the claustrophobic community Bess is trapped in is palpable as Todd (the mother-and-son writing team of Caroline and Charles Todd) expertly ratchets up the suspense. Agent: Lisa Gallagher, DeFiore & Co. (Sept.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly.

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly.
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