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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Fifth in the Bess Crawford historical mystery series revolving around a young nursing sister with a tremendous sense of honor and compassion. It takes place in 1918 in the trenches and field stations of World War I in France, the English countryside, and memories of 1908 India.
My Take
This was so dissatisfying in so many ways. Depressingly sad for all the deaths, the wrongful accusations, the way the children were treated, the adults not believing them. It does make you wonder how many times this type of situation occurred... Terribly confusing in all the Petersfield people involved and how they related to the first tragedy. (You might like to keep track of the characters (below) as it does get confusing when it comes to the inhabitants of Petersfield.) Rather unbelievable with all the trips Bess kept being assigned to accompany the wounded home across the Channel; it did very conveniently give her so many opportunities to explore, poke, and prod at the past.
The extras tossed in were annoying and simply served to elongate the story. I’m thinking specifically of Janet and Rob Burke. What was the point?
It’s the Standishes’ tragedy for which the prologue provides the historical, factual, and psychological setting for this tragic mystery. It’s depressing in all its coincidences and the horrible effects on so many people.
I do like that Bess works so hard to be fair. I wish Todd had been as fair with us. That or I was singularly obtuse in picking up clues. This particular story was an odd combination of the obvious (good and bad) and the confusing with the latter possibly meant to keep the mystery intact. Todd was very good at keeping the tension alive as to the truth about the two sets of murders.
We do get some back history on Simon… That young man does intrigue me; I keep hoping he and Bess hook up. In the 1918-sense, of course.
I do appreciate the efforts the Todd goes to in helping me to see the forward stations and the trials of the medical personnel and the wounded. Intellectually, I understand how cold, tired, and hungry everyone is, but I could wish that Todd made me feel it more.
The mention of Kipling’s house, Bateman’s, brought back my own memories of the months I lived in Burwash in East Sussex. I had the best time in the village, the people were so warm and welcoming.
Anyone have any idea why the German trenches were so neat and tidy while the English ones were a disaster?
What’s the problem with Dr. Cunningham?
Not one of my favorites in this series...
The Story
A possible sighting of a dead man who has impugned the honor of the regiment sets Bess off on one of her detecting sprees with a reluctantly encouraging Simon.
The Characters
Sister Bess Crawford is an honorable and compassionate woman with the honor of the regiment always in her mind as the daughter of Colonel Sahib, Richard Crawford. She took up nursing and now serves in the trenches of World War I. She also serves, personally, as a private detective---Bess just can’t leave a mystery alone. Iris is the family maid. Melinda Crawford is some sort of relative who was widowed early in life. Rudyard Kipling, yes, the author, is a friend of Melinda’s with contacts in India. And what a sad childhood, he had...
Regimental Sergeant-Major Simon Brandon is practically family. And definitely a partner in detection with Bess and diving into secret missions with the colonel.
Lieutenant Thomas Wade is determined on justice. For himself and others. Georgina was his baby sister; Robert was an older brother. Mr. and Mrs. Wade, the parents, were murdered in India.
Back in 1908...
William and Mary Standish had sent their daughters, Rosemary and Alice, back to England for schooling with Captain and Mrs. Middleton.
Harvey Caswell, a rector, his wife, Isabella, and their daughter, Gwedolyn, all died on the same day at their house, The Willows, just outside Petersfield. Miss Phyllis Grant was the unhappy governess. Mabel Gooding was the nursery maid so good at caring for the children. Mr. Melvin was the drunken tutor.
Some of the children included...
George Mayfield died from a fall; Joshua Bingham was the runaway; the limping Sandy Hughes; and, Hazel Sheridan who is now Lady Campbell. Barney Lowell is now [1918] the sexton and owns the local nursery.
Today, in 1918...
Reverend Gates, a military chaplain, inherited the house through his uncle who had inherited it when the Caswells were murdered. Miss Seavers, a cousin, is currently the housekeeper at the Willows. Corporal Walter Caswell is one of the sappers. Dr. Collins is the doctor in the village.
Mrs. Hennessey is the landlady of the boarding house in London where Bess stays, when she’s there. Dr. Gaines is in charge of Longleigh House, a clinic in Medford Longleigh. Princess Mary is active in cheering up the soldiers. Marianne Thorndyke knows all the gossip. Mr. Gessler is the retired photographer in Winchester who lived with his daughter.
Fellow nursing sisters include:
Sisters Burke (her married brother, Rob, has problems at home with his now-pregnant wife, Janet---it’s not his), Hadley, Morgan, Molly Fullerton whose family lives down the road from Petersfield, Emery is celebrating her birthday, Lee, MacLeod, Bennett, and Higgins.
Teddy Belmont is a conscientious objector who drives the ambulance. Dr. Cunningham is having difficulty adjusting to battlefield medical operations. Subedar Shanti Gupta of Agra is an Indian Sergeant who can only speak Hindi at the end. Sergeant Larimore, the Australian soldier, pops up protectively. Claudette Miniere is struggling in Rouen to support herself and her sick aunt.
The Cover
The cover is a curiosity with its Indian-inspired print border on the left and Bess in her pale grey suit with lace insets as she stares back over the shimmering blue waters at an Indian palace. It’s a pretty combination of blues and orange, although the red of the author’s name is a bit jarring.
The title is what it’s all about, A Question of Honor. Only there are so many types of honor in question here.
My Take
This was so dissatisfying in so many ways. Depressingly sad for all the deaths, the wrongful accusations, the way the children were treated, the adults not believing them. It does make you wonder how many times this type of situation occurred... Terribly confusing in all the Petersfield people involved and how they related to the first tragedy. (You might like to keep track of the characters (below) as it does get confusing when it comes to the inhabitants of Petersfield.) Rather unbelievable with all the trips Bess kept being assigned to accompany the wounded home across the Channel; it did very conveniently give her so many opportunities to explore, poke, and prod at the past.
The extras tossed in were annoying and simply served to elongate the story. I’m thinking specifically of Janet and Rob Burke. What was the point?
It’s the Standishes’ tragedy for which the prologue provides the historical, factual, and psychological setting for this tragic mystery. It’s depressing in all its coincidences and the horrible effects on so many people.
I do like that Bess works so hard to be fair. I wish Todd had been as fair with us. That or I was singularly obtuse in picking up clues. This particular story was an odd combination of the obvious (good and bad) and the confusing with the latter possibly meant to keep the mystery intact. Todd was very good at keeping the tension alive as to the truth about the two sets of murders.
We do get some back history on Simon… That young man does intrigue me; I keep hoping he and Bess hook up. In the 1918-sense, of course.
I do appreciate the efforts the Todd goes to in helping me to see the forward stations and the trials of the medical personnel and the wounded. Intellectually, I understand how cold, tired, and hungry everyone is, but I could wish that Todd made me feel it more.
The mention of Kipling’s house, Bateman’s, brought back my own memories of the months I lived in Burwash in East Sussex. I had the best time in the village, the people were so warm and welcoming.
Anyone have any idea why the German trenches were so neat and tidy while the English ones were a disaster?
What’s the problem with Dr. Cunningham?
Not one of my favorites in this series...
The Story
A possible sighting of a dead man who has impugned the honor of the regiment sets Bess off on one of her detecting sprees with a reluctantly encouraging Simon.
The Characters
Sister Bess Crawford is an honorable and compassionate woman with the honor of the regiment always in her mind as the daughter of Colonel Sahib, Richard Crawford. She took up nursing and now serves in the trenches of World War I. She also serves, personally, as a private detective---Bess just can’t leave a mystery alone. Iris is the family maid. Melinda Crawford is some sort of relative who was widowed early in life. Rudyard Kipling, yes, the author, is a friend of Melinda’s with contacts in India. And what a sad childhood, he had...
Regimental Sergeant-Major Simon Brandon is practically family. And definitely a partner in detection with Bess and diving into secret missions with the colonel.
Lieutenant Thomas Wade is determined on justice. For himself and others. Georgina was his baby sister; Robert was an older brother. Mr. and Mrs. Wade, the parents, were murdered in India.
Back in 1908...
William and Mary Standish had sent their daughters, Rosemary and Alice, back to England for schooling with Captain and Mrs. Middleton.
Harvey Caswell, a rector, his wife, Isabella, and their daughter, Gwedolyn, all died on the same day at their house, The Willows, just outside Petersfield. Miss Phyllis Grant was the unhappy governess. Mabel Gooding was the nursery maid so good at caring for the children. Mr. Melvin was the drunken tutor.
Some of the children included...
George Mayfield died from a fall; Joshua Bingham was the runaway; the limping Sandy Hughes; and, Hazel Sheridan who is now Lady Campbell. Barney Lowell is now [1918] the sexton and owns the local nursery.
Today, in 1918...
Reverend Gates, a military chaplain, inherited the house through his uncle who had inherited it when the Caswells were murdered. Miss Seavers, a cousin, is currently the housekeeper at the Willows. Corporal Walter Caswell is one of the sappers. Dr. Collins is the doctor in the village.
Mrs. Hennessey is the landlady of the boarding house in London where Bess stays, when she’s there. Dr. Gaines is in charge of Longleigh House, a clinic in Medford Longleigh. Princess Mary is active in cheering up the soldiers. Marianne Thorndyke knows all the gossip. Mr. Gessler is the retired photographer in Winchester who lived with his daughter.
Fellow nursing sisters include:
Sisters Burke (her married brother, Rob, has problems at home with his now-pregnant wife, Janet---it’s not his), Hadley, Morgan, Molly Fullerton whose family lives down the road from Petersfield, Emery is celebrating her birthday, Lee, MacLeod, Bennett, and Higgins.
Teddy Belmont is a conscientious objector who drives the ambulance. Dr. Cunningham is having difficulty adjusting to battlefield medical operations. Subedar Shanti Gupta of Agra is an Indian Sergeant who can only speak Hindi at the end. Sergeant Larimore, the Australian soldier, pops up protectively. Claudette Miniere is struggling in Rouen to support herself and her sick aunt.
The Cover
The cover is a curiosity with its Indian-inspired print border on the left and Bess in her pale grey suit with lace insets as she stares back over the shimmering blue waters at an Indian palace. It’s a pretty combination of blues and orange, although the red of the author’s name is a bit jarring.
The title is what it’s all about, A Question of Honor. Only there are so many types of honor in question here.
valefimbres's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
The fifth installment of the Bess Crawford series starts with a flashback to Bess' time in India 10 years prior. A soldier in her father's regiment disappears under questionable circumstances and calls the regiment's honor into question when it is revealed he may have had a hand in five murders, including those of his parents. Fast-forward 10 years when Bess finds herself in the midst of an influenza epidemic with rumors of a possible Armistice. There are rumors that the soldier who disgraced her father's regiment in India is still alive and fighting on the front lines in France. It's not long before Bess crosses paths with the man and questions about what really happened in India and his motivations quickly surface. Bess is unsure whether she can trust him and struggles mightily about how to handle this sensitive situation. Bess works with the ever-faithful Simon and her family (primarily her mother and cousin Melinda whose friend (and famous author) Rudyard Kipling makes an appearance and reveals a dark secret of his own) to resolve the mystery, which is linked not only to India but also a small English village. I recently had a chance to attend a book signing and hear Charles Todd talk about this book and how the idea for this plot came to be, which made the book even more enjoyable to read. I was happy to hear that a sixth book in this series is planned for next year and am eager to find out what happens to Bess next!
woomom's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 I usually really like Charles Todd mysteries. They usually keep my attention and are always clean. While this one was clean, I found myself struggling through most of it. I didn't care for many of the characters and didn't feel like I got to know them well enough. And there were SO many names, that half the time I couldn't keep up with who was who. Also, the story line was pretty unbelievable. So many coincidences and happenstances felt very contrived. I wanted to see Bess's character grow more or learn more about her, but this one fell flat.
Popsugar 2016- a murder mystery
Popsugar 2016- a murder mystery
elysahenegar's review against another edition
4.0
This was definitely my favorite of the Bess Crawford series so far! My favorite thing about these books is Bess Crawford! She's a strong, smart female protagonist who holds her own. This particular story was particularly riveting for me and hard to put down! FYI - - It's not necessary to read this series in order to enjoy them. Happy reading, everyone!
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
A Question of Honor
4 Stars
WWI nurse, Bess Crawford, becomes involved in a decade old murder investigation when, moments before his death, an Indian Subedar informs her that he has seen a killer from the past. During her childhood in India, an officer from her father's regiment was accused of murdering five people, but disappeared before he could be brought to trial. This incident left a profound mark on the Colonel and his men for whom honor and duty are paramount. Now Bess has an opportunity to look into the case and discovers that all is not as it seems and perhaps the officer is innocent after all.
Despite the numerous coincidences that move the plot forward and enable Bess to solve the case, this is still a significant improvement on the previous book. The mystery is interesting with well-fleshed out suspects, a logical motive and an appropriate perpetrator.
The information on the fostering of English children born in India is very compelling and demonstrates that little about human nature has changed over time. Moreover, the descriptions of the conditions in the trenches and the injuries sustained by the soldiers add an excellent sense of realism to the narrative and immerse the reader into the wartime situation.
The one minor issue with the book is that the romance between Bess and Simon is taking too long to get going. It is time to shape up or ship out!
4 Stars
WWI nurse, Bess Crawford, becomes involved in a decade old murder investigation when, moments before his death, an Indian Subedar informs her that he has seen a killer from the past. During her childhood in India, an officer from her father's regiment was accused of murdering five people, but disappeared before he could be brought to trial. This incident left a profound mark on the Colonel and his men for whom honor and duty are paramount. Now Bess has an opportunity to look into the case and discovers that all is not as it seems and perhaps the officer is innocent after all.
Despite the numerous coincidences that move the plot forward and enable Bess to solve the case, this is still a significant improvement on the previous book. The mystery is interesting with well-fleshed out suspects, a logical motive and an appropriate perpetrator.
The information on the fostering of English children born in India is very compelling and demonstrates that little about human nature has changed over time. Moreover, the descriptions of the conditions in the trenches and the injuries sustained by the soldiers add an excellent sense of realism to the narrative and immerse the reader into the wartime situation.
The one minor issue with the book is that the romance between Bess and Simon is taking too long to get going. It is time to shape up or ship out!
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
2.0
Sort of colonial.
Also, Bess and Simon's love lives (or lack thereof?) are confusing me.
Also, Bess and Simon's love lives (or lack thereof?) are confusing me.