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halfcentreader's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the adventure and plan on reading more by this author. ( I love that I am going to be seeing some of the same locations mentioned here)
bookcraft's review against another edition
4.0
This book gets one of the highest compliments I pay to books: I was hours late getting to sleep last night because I didn't want to stop listening.
Bess Crawford is a compelling protagonist. She's a clever, brave, driven young woman, wounded while working as a nurse during World War I, who stumbles onto a mystery and feels duty bound to find out the truth. She's neither irritatingly perfect nor frustratingly dumb, and she doesn't fall in love at the drop of a hat — all of which mean that I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books in the series.
Bess Crawford is a compelling protagonist. She's a clever, brave, driven young woman, wounded while working as a nurse during World War I, who stumbles onto a mystery and feels duty bound to find out the truth. She's neither irritatingly perfect nor frustratingly dumb, and she doesn't fall in love at the drop of a hat — all of which mean that I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books in the series.
govmarley's review against another edition
3.0
New series for me, and it's off to a great start. Really liked it.
Bess Crawford is a wartime nurse who makes a promise to a young dying soldier to deliver a message to his brother. When she does she finds herself wrapped up in a mystery from the past. The mystery is smartly plotted and even though I guessed at a few twists and turns, it was still really enjoyable.
I like Bess. She's a strong, confident character but not an insufferable Mary Sue. I like her father, and I like Simon. It has the bonus of being a historical mystery, which is my two favorites mixed together. And a series to boot! I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Bess Crawford is a wartime nurse who makes a promise to a young dying soldier to deliver a message to his brother. When she does she finds herself wrapped up in a mystery from the past. The mystery is smartly plotted and even though I guessed at a few twists and turns, it was still really enjoyable.
I like Bess. She's a strong, confident character but not an insufferable Mary Sue. I like her father, and I like Simon. It has the bonus of being a historical mystery, which is my two favorites mixed together. And a series to boot! I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
princessleia4life's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing! I couldn't stop reading as I had to find out what happened next. Which brother did it? Is Peregine innocent or mad?
dmwhipp's review against another edition
4.0
A WWI mystery with wonderful characters. I was reminded at time of Agatha Christie and thoroughly enjoyed this. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
Very atmospheric mystery set in WWI England - Elizabeth Crawford is a nurse serving on the Britannic when it is hit by a mine and sinks. She survives with a broken arm and is sent home to recuperate. There, she decides to finally fulfill her deathbed promise to Arthur Graham, a lieutenant she nursed. While at the Graham house, she starts to become involved with the family and realizes that their Deep, Dark Secret (that the oldest, Peregrine, murdered woman when he was 14 and is now in an asylum) might be just that little bit more.
When she returns to London, it appears that Peregrine has escaped and followed her. Together, they set out learn the truth behind the murder and his nightmares (ok, at first she's not all that eager to help but a pistol does go a long way to persuade someone!). What's interesting is not the actual sleuthing but the evocation of that era and of what "shell shock" is (and how it can be manufactured in innocent people).
I particularly liked how Bess' feelings for Arthur change over the course of the book, and yet the expected ending doesn't occur. That little twist lifted the book for me from a 3 to a 4.
When she returns to London, it appears that Peregrine has escaped and followed her. Together, they set out learn the truth behind the murder and his nightmares (ok, at first she's not all that eager to help but a pistol does go a long way to persuade someone!). What's interesting is not the actual sleuthing but the evocation of that era and of what "shell shock" is (and how it can be manufactured in innocent people).
I particularly liked how Bess' feelings for Arthur change over the course of the book, and yet the expected ending doesn't occur. That little twist lifted the book for me from a 3 to a 4.
lgiegerich's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the Inspector Rutledge novels, but still pretty decent.
jhadler's review against another edition
5.0
Well-paced, with a page-turning plot and likeable main character.
ms_aprilvincent's review against another edition
4.0
People are terrible.
War ruins things.
There's so much to think about written within these pages, but it all boils down to these two themes.
War ruins things.
There's so much to think about written within these pages, but it all boils down to these two themes.