Goodreads Rating: 3.72
My rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 262
Reviewed By: Nicole
As a historian, I love certain aspects of history and one of those is the impact of plagues on history. When I got the chance to review this book, I was really excited because the Spanish Influenza is the plague of our time period. Its the closest one we've got and that is what really drew me into the book. And even though this book had little to do with the plague, I still enjoyed it.
Goodreads Synopses:
World War I nurse and amateur sleuth Bess Crawford matches wits with a devious killer in this exciting and suspenseful adventure from New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd
In the spring of 1918, the Spanish flu epidemic spreads, killing millions of soldiers and civilians across the globe. Overwhelmed by the constant flow of wounded soldiers coming from the French front, battlefield nurse Bess Crawford must now contend with hundreds of influenza patients as well.
However, war and disease are not the only killers to strike. Bess discovers, concealed among the dead waiting for burial, the body of an officer who has been murdered. Though she is devoted to all her patients, this soldier's death touches her deeply. Not only did the man serve in her father's former regiment, he was also a family friend.
Before she can report the terrible news, Bess falls ill, the latest victim of the flu. By the time she recovers, the murdered officer has been buried, and the only other person who saw the body has hanged himself. Or did he?
Working her father's connections in the military, Bess begins to piece together what little evidence she can find to unmask the elusive killer and see justice served. But she must be as vigilant as she is tenacious. With a determined killer on her heels, each move Bess makes could be her last.
You know how when you watch a movie trailer, you know the entire plot of the movie from those three minutes? And you know how sometimes that can happen with book synopses? It didn't happen with this book. Honestly, the synopses covers the first 3 chapters at best, and I kinda loved that because I had no idea what to expect from this book.
In the spring of 1918, the Spanish flu epidemic spreads, killing millions of soldiers and civilians across the globe. Overwhelmed by the constant flow of wounded soldiers coming from the French front, battlefield nurse Bess Crawford must now contend with hundreds of influenza patients as well.
However, war and disease are not the only killers to strike. Bess discovers, concealed among the dead waiting for burial, the body of an officer who has been murdered. Though she is devoted to all her patients, this soldier's death touches her deeply. Not only did the man serve in her father's former regiment, he was also a family friend.
Before she can report the terrible news, Bess falls ill, the latest victim of the flu. By the time she recovers, the murdered officer has been buried, and the only other person who saw the body has hanged himself. Or did he?
Working her father's connections in the military, Bess begins to piece together what little evidence she can find to unmask the elusive killer and see justice served. But she must be as vigilant as she is tenacious. With a determined killer on her heels, each move Bess makes could be her last.
You know how when you watch a movie trailer, you know the entire plot of the movie from those three minutes? And you know how sometimes that can happen with book synopses? It didn't happen with this book. Honestly, the synopses covers the first 3 chapters at best, and I kinda loved that because I had no idea what to expect from this book.
As far as historical time periods go, I do love the Tudors, but the World War One/World War Two era is also a favorite of mine. I also liked that it combined my a lot of my favorites: accurate historical fiction, plagues, mystery and action. I liked that Bess was on practically on the battlefield during several scenes, including one where she saw the gas coming for them, and she rushed to put on her mask and cover her skin.
If you noticed at the top, this book is part of a series and is in fact the fourth book in her adventures. I was a little confused at some points because certain people or facts weren't explained, probably because they were explained in earlier installments. Nothing really hindered the understanding of the story, it was mostly little things that were pre-established that I already missed.
The plot was pretty intense with lots of action and some romance which I liked. I feel like most books will contain some kind of romantic undercurrent, and while this one did, it was a lot more subtle than other books are about it. Bess wasn't asking for any kind of romantic come ons, and there hardly were any. I did like that the men in this book were gentlemen - men need to go back to this chivalry and being a gentleman.
Even though this book wasn't really about the Spanish Influenza, I didn't feel cheated at all. I still loved the plot of this book because it followed a headstrong woman who ordinarily would have been shoved out of the equation, but she didn't let herself be bullied and I loved it. I think even though I've read book 4, I'll go back and read them from the beginning again.
I want to thank TLC Tours for giving me the chance to be a part of this adventure!
Even though this book wasn't really about the Spanish Influenza, I didn't feel cheated at all. I still loved the plot of this book because it followed a headstrong woman who ordinarily would have been shoved out of the equation, but she didn't let herself be bullied and I loved it. I think even though I've read book 4, I'll go back and read them from the beginning again.
I want to thank TLC Tours for giving me the chance to be a part of this adventure!
I'm so glad that you enjoyed this enough to want to go back and read the rest of the series!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour. I'm featuring your review on TLC's Facebook page today.
I have only read the first book in this series but look forward to catching up at some point.
ReplyDeleteIf you are ready for a good legal thriller, I recommend Everywhere That Mary Went.