I did have it marked as to read for quite some time, but then held off when I heard there would be a read-a-long done like what was done for the Maisie Dobbs series. If you have read more in this time period, what other books do you recommend? Some of the questions I’ve answered above…I did not know the questions that would be asked for the following discussion, but my answers below perhaps provide more detail.ġ) Was this the first book that you read by Charles Todd, or, the first book set in this time period? I first encountered WWI-era-England with Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series, and then, of course with the tv sensation Downton Abbey. Here are the questions – and my answers – for the discussion taking place on Book Club Girl’s site. But, don’t get me wrong, Bess wasn’t about to walk away from uncovering the deep family secrets the Grahams were keeping! The other personalities weren’t going to stand in the way of her perseverance.įor another take, here is what BookFan had to say about A Duty to the Dead here.

I’m hoping that she grows as the series continues.

But still, Bess’ character is not as well developed, you don’t get a strong sense of her personality and background really, especially as this is our first introduction to Bess. I didn’t think Bess had as much “pluck” as Maise, but as I continued to read, the the mystery & intrigue Bess becomes midst among intensifies and I was drawn right in. In the beginning I fear I compared too much to my beloved Maisie, trying to find flaws in Bess, if you would say. Unable to leave without first solving this mystery, Bess’ will and her previous thoughts of the dashing Arthur will be greatly tested. After meeting the Graham family she quickly discovers that fulfilling Arthur’s promise comes with much apprehension and danger and results in uncovering clues about a murder 14 years prior. Bess is wounded which delays the delivery and the longer it takes to deliver the message the more it starts to take on darker meanings. In, A Duty to the Dead, Bess makes a promise to dying soldier Lieutenant Arthur Graham to deliver a cryptic message to his brother, Jonathon. Now, to stem our grief over the loss of weekly episodes of Downton Abbey, Book Club Girl decided to schedule another read-a-long, this time with Bess Crawford.

I first learned of the Maisie Dobbs series from following the Book Club Girl’s site where she did a read-along. Also, after reading the Maisie Dobbs series, finding another WWI nurse turned sleuth was an appealing thought. The Bess Crawford series has been something that I’ve wished to read for quite some time now.

Charles todd a duty to the dead