A Pattern of Lies (Bess Crawford Series #7)

by Charles Todd

Overview

In 1916, at the height of the war, an explosion at Ashton Powder Mill, an armament factory in Kent, killed more than a hundred men. Two years later, the tragic event that was originally ruled an accident by the Army is under investigation for murder, and all fingers point to the factory's owner, Philip Ashton. When Bess Crawford, a friend of the Ashton family, comes to visit, she finds herself swept up in the vicious legal proceedings. It soon becomes clear to Bess that someone is out for the Ashtons' blood and is intent on concealing the true nature of the events that lead to the tragic explosion. Bess finds herself on a harrowing journey to the front lines of battle in France to find the only known witness of the explosion and uncover the truth. In the face of grave danger, Bess must rely on wits and courage to save her own life, as well as that of an innocent man.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062393104
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/18/2015
Series:	Bess Crawford Series , #7
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	512
Sales rank:	772,302
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Charles Todd is the author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, the Bess Crawford mysteries, and two stand-alone novels. A mother and son writing team, they live in Delaware and North Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

As always, the Todds deftly juggle clues and red herrings, leading Bess and readers on a brisk chase. . . . Their intimate knowledge of rural England and the Great War period inject Bess’ first-person account with a hefty dose of verisimilitude.” — Wilmington Star News

“The seventh book in an excellent series featuring Bess Crawford.” — Contra Costa Times

“Bess’ seventh case. . . does its strong, determined heroine credit.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

As always, the Todds deftly juggle clues and red herrings, leading Bess and readers on a brisk chase. . . . Their intimate knowledge of rural England and the Great War period inject Bess’ first-person account with a hefty dose of verisimilitude.

Wilmington Star News

The seventh book in an excellent series featuring Bess Crawford.

Contra Costa Times

Rosalyn Landor is a sublime choice to narrate this seventh Bess Crawford mystery, based on a true event. It's 1918, the closing days of WWI, when Sister Bess Crawford, a nurse, meets the Ashton family. Two years earlier, the Ashton Gunpowder Mill exploded, killing 100 employees; the locals who blame them for the disaster want revenge. Landor captures each character to perfection, including his or her social or military status and emotional range. Landor's best portrayals are the warm, intelligent, determined Crawford herself and her willing assistant, Sergeant Lassiter, a “Kookaburra”-whistling Australian. Listeners will enjoy hearing Crawford use her many contacts to arrive at the truth while also getting a very personal look at the horror of the war. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2016 - AudioFile