A Bitter Truth (Bess Crawford, #3)

Aug 20, 2012 Judith Starkston rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, mystery, strong-women

Charles Todd’s A Bitter Truth interweaves the vices of war with the failings of families into a psychologically and historically compelling mystery set in England in 1917. Bess Crawford, an intelligent and fearless nurse working on the front lines in France, comes home on leave to discover a frightened young woman with a bruised face hiding on the doorstep of her London flat. Unable by nature to leave the mysterious stranger out in the cold winter night, Bess convinces her to take shelter inside...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

2.5 stars

This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

I’m one of those for whom work never really seems to end: I roam distractedly on the weekends, often coming into the office to kill an hour or two; I spent an embarrassing amount of my honeymoon attending to edits and various bookish bits and pieces. I even read whilst walking to work. But for all that, I’m rather glad that the crossover between my work and personal lives is so very banal.

You see, for Bess Crawford, the int...more 2.5 stars

This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

I’m one of those for whom work never really seems to end: I roam distractedly on the weekends, often coming into the office to kill an hour or two; I spent an embarrassing amount of my honeymoon attending to edits and various bookish bits and pieces. I even read whilst walking to work. But for all that, I’m rather glad that the crossover between my work and personal lives is so very banal.

You see, for Bess Crawford, the intersection of the two is a good deal more fraught. Where I come home from my airconditioned office to find a letterbox filled with books, Bess returns from working as a nurse on the front lines of WWII France to find herself facing a badly beaten woman whose home life seems to hold no few secrets. And given that this is the third in the Bess Crawford series, one can only imagine that these sorts of meetings aren’t especially unusual.

The woman in question is Lydia Ellis, who has fled her country estate after her husband has taken his fists to her. But being entirely reliant on her husband and his family, Lydia has little choice but to return home, although she submits to doing so after Bess agrees to come with her and stay as a guest at the family property. Bess’s arrival is greeted with reticence by Lydia’s family, but her presence presumably keeps Lydia’s husband, Roger, on his best behaviour; Lydia admits to Bess that the beating is due to Lydia’s having mentioned Juliana, Roger’s late sister. But whatever qualms Bess has about spending time with an abusive husband, never mind her merrily accompanying Lydia back into a possibly dangerous situation, are promptly overshadowed by a family quarrel that ends with the brutal murder of a good family friend.

The local police are promptly called in, and their questioning of the house’s residents results in Bess becoming privy to all manner of conflicting statements and new information about the family: there are extramarital affairs; possible illegitimate children; and long-held family guilt just to name a few. Indeed, it seems that everyone has his or her reasons for stooping to murder. But our murderer appears quite intent on making a hobby of this killing business, and the body count quickly rises, muddling the investigation and resulting in fingers being pointed arbitrarily here and there with nothing but circumstantial evidence to go on.

Meanwhile, Bess returns to her hospital work in France, where she spends her free time searching for an orphaned girl who bears an uncanny resemblance to Roger Ellis, and who just may be the key to identifying the murderer.

It’s an intriguing set-up, and the gloomy, gothic tone certainly help to draw in the reader. The writing is brooding and dark, and the grim, soulless setting of Vixen Hill, the Ellis estate, is a menacing, looming creation that contributes a good deal to the overall feel of the book, and is essential in helping to provide the characterisation of the wealthy but waning Ellis family. Unfortunately, though the estate helps set the moody whodunnit style of the book, it perhaps overwhelms at times: the Ellis family members are largely interchangeable, and given the plethora of different names used to refer to each family member, it can be difficult to figure out who’s who.

Still, without the creepy setting I suspect that I would have been less emotionally invested in the book as a whole: Bess is not an easy character to warm to, and I felt distanced from her throughout. To be honest, the only point where I felt at all connected with her were the scenes where she interacts with the wounded Australian soldier Larimore, a larrikin-esque chap who has a thing for impersonating kookaburras.

I’m not sure whether this is intentional, and that Bess, uncomplaining and dutiful as she is, is designed to be someone who is used as a mirror for the other characters, whose personalities become more pronounced against Bess’s more moderate one. Lydia, for example, seems impossibly demanding, thinking nothing at all of imposing on Bess to her own ends, while Roger’s self-loathing and potential for violence is highlighted against Bess’s mildness. But although I can understand why Bess is so readily pulled into these situations, there are scenes where she actively begins sleuthing about and breaking laws that seem to be out of character for her. What about the moral issues, for example, involved in kidnapping a child, even if it is to return her to a man who is likely her father?

While things progress along in a sort of mystery of manners for the most part–for a book set in WWII, everything seems very prim and safe–there are a few things that appear first as niggles, but then gradually evolve into more out and out objections. There’s the endless back and forth between train stations, houses, and countries, some of which, surely, could be dealt with with a mere phone call or two. There’s the fact that after her initial discomfort, Bess seems quite companionable with the wife-beating Roger. There’s the character of Simon whose place I wasn’t entirely able to fathom: he appears to be some sort of father figure/possible romantic interest who apparently first appeared in the first two book in the series, but in this one simply pops up every now and then to act as a chauffeur. Until, of course, he pops up to unmask the murderer’s identity by providing a key piece of information at the very end of the book that has until then been kept entirely from the reader. Given that this book feels very much in the cozy mystery vein, and that the reader expects to be attempting to solve the mystery along with the heroine, it feels like a cheat to be given this completely unrelated piece of evidence in the last forty or so pages of the book.

Though I had my reservations, I was quite enjoying A Bitter Truth until this last turn of events, at which point I felt as though the entire book had been one very large red herring: it was disappointing to see the book conclude in such a manner. (less)

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Jul 05, 2012 E.L. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads-and-rereads

Another brilliantly written offering from Charles Todd. Once again Bess finds herself mixed up in a tangle of love, hatred, lies, and murder. With Simon Brandon as a more-than-able sidekick, and a new (possible) love interest introduced in the form of the charming Australian Larimore, Bess forges her way through the darkness with her usual forthright manner, clarity of vision, and compassionate practicality.

The supporting characters weren't all as likable this time around. I found myself wanting...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Thracer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book does little to answer The Question of Simon. When introduced in the first book, I assumed he must be gay. Why else would a nice guy, still young enough to fight (I'd guess in his 40s), still be single and opt to live in a small cottage by himself? I mean, it's war time, an eligible man who doesn't have to go fight would have women following him around. Then, as I read the books, I thought possibly he was in love with Bess (he goes wherever she goes in England). Or maybe it's her mother...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Gloria Feit rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This Bess Crawford mystery, set during World War I, finds her on a short leave from the front, intending to spend the Christmas holidays with her parents. When she arrives at her apartment in London, she finds a young woman huddled on her doorstep, cold, hungry and distraught. In sympathy, Bess takes her up to her room and learns that she has run away from her husband and home because he has abused her, and her disfigured face is proof.

From this improbable beginning, Bess becomes involved in a...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery

A Bitter Truth is an engrossing story with interesting characters who develop more fully with each addition to the Bess Crawford series. The series, which began in 2009 with A Duty to the Dead, is written by a mother and son team under the name Charles Todd. I don’t usually like co-written books, but I really enjoy this series. The narrator, an intelligent and likeable English battlefield nurse during the Great War, is compelling, and the historical information is told in a subtle and effective...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Jehret rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Awesome story!! I was hooked from the first page to the last. So far anything that Charles Todd writes is a riveting read.
Bess Crawford gets off the train and heads for her apartment in London for a much needed rest from her duties as a nursing sister aiding the wounded troops in France of WWI. As she approaches her building she find a woman, injured and distraught in need of help. Bess of course can't resist
and she invites this lady who says her name is Lydia up stairs.

From that point on the p...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-just-waiting-for-the-next-b, my-uk-etc-thing

A long time fan of Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge series, I have also savored the newer Beth Crawford series. Set in the midst of WWI, this "nursing sister," compassionate and practical, finds herelf again dealing with human behavior in the English countryside as diabolical as the war front in which she serves across the English Channel. Todd's characters are finely drawn, reflecting the traditions that have marked the English class system and the terrible war shattering every facet of English life...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Andrew Macrae rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bess Crawford is an English army nurse traveling home to spend Christmas with her family in a brief respite from 1917 war-torn Europe. At least that was the plan before she encountered Lydia Ellis, a woman with a badly bruised face fleeing her husband.
This is the third novel featuring WWI British army nurse Bess Crawford and in it, the author weaves a complex tapestry of murder and betrayal out of an almost dizzying assortment of disparate threads. “A Bitter Truth” features a large cast of chara...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, historical-fiction, supense-thriller-fiction

Life is about to change for battlefield nurse, Betty Crawford on a dark and blustery night in London. When the police are searching for a deserter, Betty heads home to her flat alone. Yet on the stoop of her doorway is a woman, hiding and wearing a thin coat, trying to find temporary shelter from the storm. When Betty offers her a cup of tea and a respite from the weather for a few minutes, she sees that the woman's face bears a battered and bruise hand print along with endless tears down her fa...more Life is about to change for battlefield nurse, Betty Crawford on a dark and blustery night in London. When the police are searching for a deserter, Betty heads home to her flat alone. Yet on the stoop of her doorway is a woman, hiding and wearing a thin coat, trying to find temporary shelter from the storm. When Betty offers her a cup of tea and a respite from the weather for a few minutes, she sees that the woman's face bears a battered and bruise hand print along with endless tears down her face.

Fearing the worst but don't wanting to frighten the poor woman, she learns that she is running from her husband, Roger Ellis. Not prone to violence against his wife, Bess learns that the woman's name is Lydia and offers her a place to stay. Lydia fears the worst could happen the longer she stays away and asks Betty to accompany her home to Vixen Hill.

There Betty will meet the Ellis family of three generations of widows and meet the spirit of Julianna, who died a young girl and one whom the family can't seem to forget. Betty is talked into staying a few days to help care for Lydia and help her deal with issues involving her husband's jealousy. During her stay, the family is planning a memorial service to lay the headstone of one of the sons that was killed in the war. Only on the eve of the memorial service, one of the house guests George Hughes confides a deep family secret to Betty when neither of them can sleep. When the house awakens in the morning, George is soon discovered murdered and someone in the house is the prime suspect.

I received the novel A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd compliments of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. It feels like a historical version of the game, Clue, as Bess Crawford attempts to solve the mystery surrounding the Ellis family secret and the murder of George Hughes. Set in London during the middle of World War 1, the mystery continues to grow as more and more people turn up missing or murdered as well. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and is perfect for you crime solving sleuth fans!(less)

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Sep 12, 2011 Larraine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fans of Charles Todd know that the "author" is actually a mother/son team. They have two series set in England. Their original series featuring Inspector Rutledge, a war-haunted veteran, is set in post WWI England. "The Bitter Truth" is the third in their "Bess Crawford" series that features a young woman who is a "nursing sister" working in France during WWI. On her way home from the front for her Christmas break, Bess finds that Simon, a retired sgt who lives with and acts as an aide to her mo...more Fans of Charles Todd know that the "author" is actually a mother/son team. They have two series set in England. Their original series featuring Inspector Rutledge, a war-haunted veteran, is set in post WWI England. "The Bitter Truth" is the third in their "Bess Crawford" series that features a young woman who is a "nursing sister" working in France during WWI. On her way home from the front for her Christmas break, Bess finds that Simon, a retired sgt who lives with and acts as an aide to her mother and father, is not at the station to pick her up. (Her father is Col. Crawford, retired, but works actively with the war department.)

She had sent a telegram ahead, but realizes that in time of war private telegrams don't get the priority that war dept telegrams do. So, she goes to the rooming house where she shares a small apartment with other nursing sisters. As she is entering the building, she sees a young woman shivering in the cold, biting wind. She is not dressed for the weather, plus she has a huge bruise on one side of her face. It is obvious from her speech and clothing that she comes from the upper classes. Bess convinces her to come in out of the cold. It takes some coaxing, but Bess is able to learn her name and circumstances. She agrees to spend the night in the other bedroom of the apartment.

The next day, Lydia asks Bess to accompany her back to her home in a bleak area in the English countryside. There's a bit of a stretch of the imagination when Bess is welcomed as a guest. Lydia introduces her as a friend, something everyone in the household accepts. Good manners? It is a different time, and there are no more trains that day. It doesn't take long before a murder is committed, and, at least for a while, Bess is a prime suspect. This author has become a personal favorite of mine for a number of reasons. Foremost is the writing which has a literary quality that is hard to find. In addition, the attention to detail is really impressive. Finally, Bess is an appealing character in that she is a strong, independent woman who is also feminine and charming while still being forthright and interesting.

I found the Inspector Rutledge series late. So it was gratifying to start reading this series at its inception. The reader learns a lot about WWI. In his novel, the Americans have just got into the war, which makes it 1916. There is hope that the stalemate will finally be broken. This is such an interesting and satisfying series and the Charles Todd mother/son team is an author right at the top of my list.
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Sep 09, 2011 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the third Bess Crawford mystery, Bess has returned home from France. She has been serving as a battlefield nurse during World War I, but is back in London for Christmas. Bess is looking forward to seeing her family, but finds a young woman huddled in the doorway of her flat. When Bess sees that the woman is cold and bruised, she invites her in. The woman, Lydia Ellis, says her husband Roger hit her for the first time, but that most of her injuries are actually from a fall. Bess believes Lydia...more In the third Bess Crawford mystery, Bess has returned home from France. She has been serving as a battlefield nurse during World War I, but is back in London for Christmas. Bess is looking forward to seeing her family, but finds a young woman huddled in the doorway of her flat. When Bess sees that the woman is cold and bruised, she invites her in. The woman, Lydia Ellis, says her husband Roger hit her for the first time, but that most of her injuries are actually from a fall. Bess believes Lydia and doesn’t think she is making up a story to protect her husband. Bess agrees to accompany Lydia to her home in Sussex for moral support and to make sure Lydia is recovering from her injuries. While in Lydia’s home, George, a friend of her husband’s family, is murdered and everyone in the household falls under suspicion. Could George have been murdered because he claimed Roger fathered a child in France or are Lydia and the rest of the family hiding other secrets worth killing for?

Charles Todd is actually a pen name for a mother and son writing team. The result of their collaboration is a well-written and fast-paced historical novel. It is extremely suspenseful, and I found myself very involved in the plight of Bess, Lydia, and the other characters. Bess is an intelligent, independent woman who is curious almost to the point of nosiness. However, she has only good intentions toward others and wants to help anyone who is in need. Although she gets talked into accompanying Lydia to her home when she would rather be with her own family, she doesn’t hesitate to stand up for what she feels is right, even if it makes her unpopular or puts her in danger. When Lydia needs help, a family friend named Simon is there for her. I could not quite figure out how Simon fits in with the family, though. Simon seems like a brother to Bess, and there are no romantic feelings between the two. I have not read the prior books in this series, so I feel I was missing some needed background information to fully understand their relationship.

Lydia and her husband Roger have a complicated marriage, and Bess ends up right in the middle of their marital problems as well as other family matters. Of all of the members of Roger’s household, I like his mother the best. While she is only a supporting character, I like that she is strong, but honest and kind, and seems to have both her son and her daughter-in-law’s best interests at heart.

A new character is introduced in this book, Australian office Sergeant Larimore. He is amusing, kind, and causes complications for Bess, but also provides assistance to her in her quest for the truth regarding George’s drunken proclamation that Roger had fathered a child. I hope Larimore, who is a breath of fresh air in the otherwise very serious book, returns in future installments of the series. Unlike Simon, Larimore does have the potential to be a love interest for Bess.

The true motive for the murder doesn’t come out until the book is almost over. The ending gets a little confusing and the solution seems to come out of nowhere. However, the rest of the book is so well-written and the historical details so fascinating, that I am able to overlook that flaw. If you like Anne Perry’s William Monk series, you will enjoy reading about Bess Crawford’s adventures in war-torn Europe.

This review was originally written for the "Season for Romance" E-Zine. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

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Sep 07, 2011 LJ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1900s_early, england, france, historical, mystery, traditional_mystery, writing_pair, ww1_1914-18

First Sentence: A cold rain had followed me from France to England, and an even colder wind greeted me as we pulled into the railway station in London.

Returning from the battlefields of France to England for Christmas leave, WWI nurse Bess Crawford encounters a desperate woman, rain-drenched and bruised in her building’s entry. Offering her shelter, Bess slowly learns the woman, Lydia Ellis, had been struck by her husband during an argument. Lydia begs Bess to return to the family’s house in Sus...more First Sentence: A cold rain had followed me from France to England, and an even colder wind greeted me as we pulled into the railway station in London.

Returning from the battlefields of France to England for Christmas leave, WWI nurse Bess Crawford encounters a desperate woman, rain-drenched and bruised in her building’s entry. Offering her shelter, Bess slowly learns the woman, Lydia Ellis, had been struck by her husband during an argument. Lydia begs Bess to return to the family’s house in Sussex with her and, fearing Lydia may have a concussion. Bess agrees, entering a home filled with tension and, ultimately, murder with Bess being an initial suspect.

The mother and son team of Charles Todd write some of the most evocative descriptions creating a wonderfully strong sense of time and place. The alternating settings of London, and English country house and the stark reality, cruelty and death of war are deftly handled. Even more, they deal with the front and the wounded in a manner which is strongly impactful, yet not overly graphic.

The dialogue is so well done; it is atmospheric…”The forest is—I don’t know—not haunted, but most certainly, it broods.” with a well-placed sense of irony and occasional wry humor. The language doesn’t work hard at reflecting the period, but the sense of it is still there, particularly with the use of the old collective noun “a crocodile of children.”

Bess is a character who has grown on me with each successive book. She is a dedicated nurse, but the authors have restrained her from coming across as prissy. The relationship with Simon, her father’s ex-Sergeant Major and now assistant, is one handled with proper decorum and appropriateness to the period, but one rather hopes to see grow as the series progresses. Lydia, the wife in trouble, is very well constructed as a character who is difficult to like, but one who elicits one’s sympathy.

There were a couple weaknesses to the book. It did become tiresome that some of the characters were continuously referred to by their full names and, although I suppose necessary for the plot, I did have a problem with on significant decision made by Bess to not tell the police about a piece of evidence. Both of these are minor points, however, when weighed against the book’s strengths.

“A Bitter Truth” is the best, so far, of the three books in the Bess Crawford series. How lucky are we readers to have two such good series from Charles Todd.

A BITTER TRUTH (Hist Mys-Bess Crawford-England/France-1917/WWI) – VG
Todd, Charles – 3rd in series
Wm. Morrow, 2011, Unc. Proof – HC ISBN:
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Sep 05, 2011 Patricia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bess Crawford is a nurse currently stationed in France. When she is granted leave to return to England for the Christmas holidays she welcomes the break from the war zone and looks forward to visiting her family. Bess shares an apartment with some other nurses and it is not uncommon for her to have the place to herself since her roommates all have assignments. Upon arriving at her apartment building, Bess finds a young woman huddled in the doorway. The woman is well dressed and appears to be bru...more Bess Crawford is a nurse currently stationed in France. When she is granted leave to return to England for the Christmas holidays she welcomes the break from the war zone and looks forward to visiting her family. Bess shares an apartment with some other nurses and it is not uncommon for her to have the place to herself since her roommates all have assignments. Upon arriving at her apartment building, Bess finds a young woman huddled in the doorway. The woman is well dressed and appears to be bruised as well as suffering from the cold. Her clothing is not designed to keep her warm. Bess convinces the woman to take refuge in her apartment.

The young woman finally confides in Bess that her name is Lydia Ellis and she resides in Sussex. She had quarreled with her husband, Captain Roger Ellis, and Captain Ellis had struck her. Eventually after hearing bits and pieces of Lydia’s story Bess convinced her to return to her home in Sussex and attempt to work out her problems. Lydia’s husband was home on compassionate leave due to the illness of his brother Alan. Alan had recently passed away.

Lydia begged Bess to return to Sussex with her to Vixen Hill the Ellis family home. Bess agrees although Simon Brandon was not thrilled with the idea. Simon is a long time family friend who had served with Bess’ father and is very protective of Bess. On arrival at Vixen Hill, Bess finds that plans are underway for a memorial service for Alan and family members are gathering. Bess learns of the tragic death of Roger’s young sister years ago, a death from which none of the family seems to have completely recovered.

Soon there is another death to be investigated when a friend of the family who was staying at Vixen Hill is found murdered. Bess is drawn into the investigation and soon learns more about the family than she ever wanted to know. Lydia has heard rumors that her husband had a child with a woman in France and that the child is the image of his dead sister. Lydia begs Bess to look for the child when she returns to France.

Bess makes no promises but when she returns to France, she does make inquiries. Bess confides in a soldier from Australia who takes up the search for the child. In war torn France there are hundreds of orphans and many of the Sisters carrying for them have to move from place to place due to the war.

The story jumps back and forth between the war front and England and there is no lack of excitement on either front. This is a good addition to the Bess Crawford mysteries and there is more than one puzzle to solve.
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Sep 03, 2011 Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A stranger on your doorstep with bruises, a stranger you let into your home, and a stranger who became your friend and brought trouble when you arrived at your new friend's home. Could you make friends that quickly and feel comfortable enough to go to their home?

Bess thought it was possible, and when she arrived at Lydia's home she immediately knew there was something strange about Lydia and her entire family. This became even more apparent when a family member was murdered and Bess became one o...more A stranger on your doorstep with bruises, a stranger you let into your home, and a stranger who became your friend and brought trouble when you arrived at your new friend's home. Could you make friends that quickly and feel comfortable enough to go to their home?

Bess thought it was possible, and when she arrived at Lydia's home she immediately knew there was something strange about Lydia and her entire family. This became even more apparent when a family member was murdered and Bess became one of the suspects in the investigation. How did a well-bred girl get herself into such a mess....being nice definitely didn't pay off in this case.

The case involved Mr. Hughes who drank too much that evening and blurted out a family secret in front of unknowing family and a few town guests. Could that have been the reason Mr. Hughes was murdered. Who would revert to murder to keep something quiet? Everyone in the household was questioned, and being the last one to speak to Mr. Hughes before his death, was incriminating for Bess.

When the police thought they found the murderer, everyone was free to leave. Bess left but not without having to promise Lydia she would find someone for her. Bess hesitated but knew the person in question may be the root of the reason for the murder so she promised to look in France. Bess's nursing career kept her busy, but she managed to "try" to search. This search was the key to many secrets.

The story took place in the early 1900's with scenes from makeshift hospitals in France and the house where the family lived...Vixen Hill. The home, the town, and the family life of that era were well described...the lack of phone communication was frightening...also the "motorcar" that had to be cranked to get it started.

The book was slow at first, but once the murder took place, the interest picked up. The murder and some of the story's characters were somewhat bizarre, but interesting.

I can honestly say the book wasn't bad but it did get too much with the patient care and such. I have never read a Bess Crawford mystery by Charles Todd, but have read the Inspector Rutledge ones. It won’t disappoint you, but finding out who committed the crime will surprise you and how the police operated in the 1900's will keep your attention.
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Aug 23, 2011 Charla Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, historical-fiction, world-war-i

The setting for this story is during World War I in London, England. The heroine is Bess Crawford, a battlefield nurse. During one of the coldest winters London has seen in a very long time, Bess encounters an emotional lady with a black eye on her doorstep. By nature, Bess cannot turn her away. But , litttle does Bess know about the trouble she was inviting into her life. By befriending this lady, Bess' life became very complicated. This one good deed takes Bess to a remote, spooky town where s...more The setting for this story is during World War I in London, England. The heroine is Bess Crawford, a battlefield nurse. During one of the coldest winters London has seen in a very long time, Bess encounters an emotional lady with a black eye on her doorstep. By nature, Bess cannot turn her away. But , litttle does Bess know about the trouble she was inviting into her life. By befriending this lady, Bess' life became very complicated. This one good deed takes Bess to a remote, spooky town where she gets tangled up in several murders.

Lydia, the lady that Bess had helped has a wealthy husband named Roger. Lydia and Roger live in a huge house with his family. It turns out that the black eye Lydia has, came from her wealthy husband and the reason she was on Bess' door step is because she was running from him. Lydia convinces Bess to go back home with her because she thinks if she tells Roger that she was with a friend, that maybe Roger will not be as angry as if she had just ran away from him. So, Bess ends up with this complicated family in a spooky town, in a scary house. It becomes even more scary when a family friend is murdered near the house and Bess and Roger's Mother finds the dead man. The family is already trying to get over the loss of two family members, so this death adds to their grief. When it seems they are beginning to accept the death of the family friend, there is another death. This time it is the family Doctor and he is found on their property.

Bess is caught up in this families problems and even becomes a suspect in the murders. To clear herself and find the murderer, Bess has to go to France. All of this is happening at the same time that the War is raging. In France, a beautiful orphan child is rescued from a fire by one of Bess' patients. This child becomes a very important part of the murder mystery.

This is a wonerful mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. I had no idea who the bad guy was until the end, which is the way a good mystery shoud be.

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May 14, 2013 Cora rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery

This is a good solid book in a good solid series. I enjoyed it while I was reading it but I can never get quite as worked up about Bess Crawford and her life as I get about some other mystery protagonists', possibly because her personal life is pretty sparsely written about and kind of simply outlined rather than detailed. I would be happy to see that change, I would like to care more about Bess, she's very interesting.
I read an interview with the mother half of the mother/son team that is Char...more

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Sep 29, 2011 Roberta rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This mystery, one of the many I've read by Charles Todd, is part of his new series which "stars" Bess Crawford, a nursing sister in the first World War. This is the second book in which Todd and his mother are listed as collaborators even though her name does not appear on the book cover. I found the pace of the story very uneven-- fascinating at the beginning with descriptions of Lydia's home where the moor and forest are bleak in winter and at the end where the discovery of the actual murderer...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

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Mar 03, 2013 Jennifer Mccann rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So installment 3. Pretty good. A solid 4.

A few things I didn't like: 1) Lydia. Spoiled and making demands of Bess to stay or do things. Jesus woman, just say no. 2) Simon finds a connection between the dead that no one knew of creating motive for another character- how about a wee bit if foreshadowing? Otherwise it looks contrived for a different ending than the illogical mess that came before. 3) Give Bess a love life, a wee bit of romance in her life. Don't make her so flat and only driven by...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Victoria rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Right up front I should say that this is the first in the series I have read, well, listened to. I got this book from Audible when on sale for $5.00. At the very beginning I started out quite liking the book and was excited that I may have found a mystery series to read as I am always looking for good mysteries. Then the lack of moral character in Bess started bothering me a bit - she seemed to have no problem with lying. It wasn't that she did lie that bothered me but that it didn't seem to be...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amature-detective, family-relationships, free-book-for-honest-review, historical, mystery, own-it, read-in-2011, reviewed, series, wwi

"A Bitter Truth" is an engrossing depiction of the life of a battlefield nurse in WWI and an upper class family in rural England. We observe the interactions of this family as they attempt to deal with a particularly embarrassing situation.

Bess Crawford is a nurse who returns to England on leave from her duties in the battlefields of France. She is surprised to find a well dressed woman huddled in her doorway. When Bess sees that the woman, Lucy Ellis, has a bruise on her face, Bess's compassion...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Larry Rogers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Charles Todd is the pen name of an American mother and son writing team, author of a dozen really good Ian Rutherford mysteries. Like the Rutherford books, which take place just after the First World War, the Bess Armstrong books ("A Bitter Truth' is the 3rd) are marked by the wqar. Armstrong, the daughter of an army colonel, is a nurse who serves in France. (The first book opens when she is on the "Britannic" as it is torpedoed.) Because she is inquisitive and made of very tough stuff, she beco...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's around Christmas time in 1917, the tide of World War I is about to shift as England gains a new combatant fighting on their side....the United States is about to join the fray. Bess Crawford , an English nurse is back in London,on leave from the front. As she takes the bus home to her apartment, the bus stops and the passengers watch as the police search the area near where the bus has stopped. Bess suspects that they are looking for a deserter but soon the bus resumes it's passage to Bess...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Katherine rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

At the outset it is necessary to say that I have not read the first two Bess Crawford Mysteries so Bess' background and her relationship to Simon, who seems to appear anytime Bess is in dire straits, is not familiar to me. As a result I found the relationship confusing. But, even it I understood that aspect of the story, I would be hard-pressed to believe the whole basis of the book. That a war-time nursing sister would take in an abused woman in the middle of the night in London was a stretch f...more

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May 15, 2012 Taylor Hoffman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd is book number three in the Bess Crawford mystery series. A Bitter Truth begins when Bess Crawford returns to England from the battlefields of France, relived to experience a much needed leave of absence from the front lines. She intends to stop off at her shared apartment and then take a train to the English countryside to celebrate Christmas with her parents. As she approaches the doorway to her apartment, however, she encounters a shivering noble woman huddled u...more A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd is book number three in the Bess Crawford mystery series. A Bitter Truth begins when Bess Crawford returns to England from the battlefields of France, relived to experience a much needed leave of absence from the front lines. She intends to stop off at her shared apartment and then take a train to the English countryside to celebrate Christmas with her parents. As she approaches the doorway to her apartment, however, she encounters a shivering noble woman huddled up by her door wearing nothing but a light jacket in the dead of winter and sporting a terrible looking black eye.

Though trepedatious about letting a stranger into her home, Bess decides to invite the woman to stay for the night. At first, the strange woman refuses to explain her black eye and sudden flight to London whilst alone, but as the hours pass Bess discovers that the woman, part of a wealthy land owning family from the is fleeing her husband, who struck her during a fight. But a domestic dispute isn’t the family’s only problem. While traveling with the stranger back to the estate home, Bess becomes a suspect and must figure out the identity of the murderer while traveling too and from France during war time.

This is the first Bess Crawford Murder Mystery I have read and I was quite happy with it. I enjoy murder mysteries but don’t like books that require me to chart out who is who. Happily, at one point near the middle of the book did I become slightly lost about the clues and people involved and I quickly regained my ground. This book appealed to me for several reasons. First, the setting was well-researched. The author used phrases from the WWI era, real battleground cities and towns in the U.K. and France and the tone of the characters reflected that of a gentlemanly class in England circa 1914. The characters were believable and complex and the ending was satisfying.

If you enjoy the time period reflected in the popular PBS series Downton Abby and enjoy a quick read with a good mysterious plot, then you will likely enjoy A Bitter Truth. I would like to pre-order the newest book of the series, An Unmakred Grave, to be released June 5th.

Genre: Historical Fiction/Crime
Overall Rating: 4
Character development: 4
Plot: 4
Fluidity: 3
Originality: 3(less)

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Sep 12, 2011 Bridget rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads

The third installment in the Bess Crawford mysteries is no disappointment. In this book, Bess comes home for holiday leave from the front lines of World War I France, to find a woman hiding out, crying and shivering in the doorway to the boardinghouse where Bess shares a flat with a couple of other women. After she convinces the woman to come inside, she sees that she has a severely bruised eye. The woman reports that her husband, also home on leave, hit her during an argument, and she has run a...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Ray Palen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The mother/son team that writes under the pen name --- Charles Todd --- have already created the terrific Inspector Ian Rutledge series. Now, A BITTER TRUTH marks the third entry in their latest series --- the Bess Crawford mysteries.

Bess is a British battlefield nurse who witnesses first-hand the horrors of WWI. Additionally, she finds herself constantly at the center of various deadly mysteries. A BITTER TRUTH finds Bess befriending a young woman named Lydia who appears to have been battered b...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, historical-fiction, mysteries, war

As usual, I enjoyed Rosalyn Landor's excellent narration of this audiobook. She is a talented narrator who is able to really give distinct voices to each character she reads. I enjoy listening to the audiobooks that she narrates.

What I like about the Bess Crawford mysteries is that they are set against the backdrop of WWI, and they do not shy away from exploring the personal consequences of war. A Bitter Truth was no exception--it looked at how marriages can be damaged by war, how war can change...more As usual, I enjoyed Rosalyn Landor's excellent narration of this audiobook. She is a talented narrator who is able to really give distinct voices to each character she reads. I enjoy listening to the audiobooks that she narrates.

What I like about the Bess Crawford mysteries is that they are set against the backdrop of WWI, and they do not shy away from exploring the personal consequences of war. A Bitter Truth was no exception--it looked at how marriages can be damaged by war, how war can change spouses and families, and how sometimes good men do things in war that they would have never done if they hadn't been cast into battle. This aspect of these stories is very well done, it's moving, and it's thought-provoking. Frankly, it's this aspect of the books in this series that keep me coming back (well, that and Landor's narration).

I have to admit, though, that I really didn't care for the mystery part of A Bitter Truth. The denouement was clunky and didn't seem to have anything to do with the rest of the story. To me it felt like it just came out of left field.

There were other problems with the story too. I found Bess to be particularly annoying in this book. I like the nursing sister, and I get that she is supposed to be a caring, selfless individual, but she lets herself be taken advantage of, abused, and used to an extent that I simply cannot find believable. The woman needs to get a different kind of backbone (no doubt she's brave), one that enables her to tell people who take advantage of her kindness to shove off. I mean, she's on the front lines in France, nursing wounded soldiers, she gets leave and spends all of her leave helping others out with their problems rather than spending some time tending to herself. This character is straying out of "selfless" territory and into "doormat" territory, and I wish she'd stop that. I'd like to see Bess devote some time to herself once in awhile.

In addition, this story was much longer and more meandering than it needed to be. The same ground was covered over and over, and so many characters were introduced that I lost track of all the minor ones. This wouldn't normally be too big of an issue, but (view spoiler).

I will keep coming back for the books in this series, because I do like the exploration of the effects of war that these stories cover. I mostly like the main character (enough, anyway, to want her to take care of herself, too), and I like Rosalyn Landor's narration. After being less than thrilled with the mysteries in the last two books in the series, though, I think that at this point I'm reading less for the mystery and more for a personal look at the scars of war.

(less)

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May 29, 2012 Claire rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

I've enjoyed the two previous Bess Crawford mysteries by the writing team known as Charles Todd, and I've also read the first few of Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries. As mysteries go, this book was both good and frustrating. I enjoy reading mysteries for two reasons: the puzzle aspect (who, how, and why) and for the characters. Without spoiling the ending too much, this puzzle was impossible to solve, Todd simply didn't provide enough clues throughout the story. I think this book would be...more

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A Bitter Truth (Bess Crawford #3)

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