headless and in black and white? they're bringing forth the big guns here.November seems to us to be a good month for reading mysteries. Or maybe it's just a good month to read A Duty to the Dead, the debut novel in Charles Todd's new mystery series.
For the most part, we really enjoyed this novel. Set in England in 1916, the World War I setting appealed to our historical bent and Todd's new heroine, Bess Crawford, is truly the perfect protagonist: independent without being pushy, brave without being a hero.
A nurse home on medical leave in World War I England, Bess sets out to find the family of a dead soldier who entrusted her with delivering them a final cryptic message on his death bed.
Upon arrival at the family's estate, Bess finds herself embroiled in a dangerous mystery involving family secrets, lies and treachery.
What we liked about Bess were her motivations. Many mysteries come up with stock, boring reasons to keep the protagonist hanging around to sort things out, but Todd is original and remains true to the characters throughout.
We did find the dialogue becoming a bit tangled towards the end, as the characters themselves discussed every possible (and some not-so-possible) solutions to the mystery at hand, which we assume was a tactic aimed at keeping the reader guessing, although it merely gave us a slight headache.
But we simply popped a couple of Tylenol and pushed on, given that we were vested in the fate of stoic, charming Bess.
hey, whatever it takes, right?For those of you who aren't familiar with this bestselling author, Charles Todd is actually two people: a mother and son writing team, Caroline and Charles Todd.
How cool is that?
A Reader's Respite would be thrilled if we could just teach our son to write his name so he could get his butt into preschool, let alone write a novel with us. Sheesh.
Of course we're offering this one up...who loves ya baby? This is a great chance to read a great mystery and get in on the start of what is to be a whole new series. Just leave us a comment if you're interested (international entrants always welcome) and check back here on November 18th to see if you won.
It's that easy.
I don't think I've read many WWI era books so this sounds interesting to me. Your son needs to know how to write his name to get into pre-school? That makes no sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI love historical mysteries! I also love mysteries with female lead. This sounds like a good book. :)
ReplyDeleteI love mysteries and I have plenty of tylenol! Since it is set in WW1 Hubby will love it too. He loves anything to do with war and mysteries so we would be a two for one deal!!! Thanks for the great books and great giveaways.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
I'd love to check this out. I love WWI era books but it seems like it's overshadowed a lot by WWII books. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOoh, please enter me for this one. Oh, and good luck with the whole preschool thing. I hear admissions can be pretty cutthroat these days :)
ReplyDeleteYours is the second review I read of this book and it sounds really good to me! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteYou know anything war related is my kinda book, so please enter my name into the fray. I would read it only for the reason that a mother and son wrote it! It seems cool in theory, but in reality I would probably end up having a screaming fit on a daily basis. As for the confusion, I always liken myself to hiking up my skirts and wading through. It seems to work out in the end that way.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Sandy - just the fact that a mother and son together wrote it is intriguing enough. And inspirational: if I wrote a book with a child of mine, I could call the author Rhapsody in Birth. And I wouldn't even have to check to see if it would be a unique name, except perhaps in the mental asylum! So please enter me, rhapsodyinbooks, a.k.a. rhapsodyinbirth:
ReplyDeletenbmars AT yahoo DOT com
Count me in! This sounds like my kind of mystery.
ReplyDeleteWhat worked for me to get the kid to learn to write was a mini whiteboard. It was enough fun for him that you could work on the writing but it still seemed like a game.
This sounds like a very good book. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel with the name writing. My son is in pre-school and they are working on their letters and he can do it, but he always tells the teacher he can't - it's too hard. Oh well - he'll get it one day.
I like mysteries; I enjoy checking out new series; and I love WWI era novels. Sounds like my kinda book. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletelcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
Would I like to win a book? You betcha!
ReplyDeleteFiona :)
I love Charles Todd's other mysteries and am very excited to read this new series. it reminds me of the Maisie Dobbs series which is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book, and hey, you have an award to pick up here: http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2009/11/one-lovely-blog-award.html
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this one. There is something about the fall weather that lends itself to mysteries and creepy stories.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed Charles Todd's other mystery series....I had no idea that there was a new one! Sounds really good, please enter me!
ReplyDeleteCarey
I am definitely interested.. This sounds like an amazing book Please enter me
ReplyDeletetanyainjville@yahoo.com
Is there a rule like that! Poor thing.. needs to go to school to learn to write his name :)
ReplyDeleteAnd that's sounds good.. enter me for this one too!
By the way I got an eBook of Rebecca! Finally! But as it is an eBook, it is going to take some time!
I've just finished A Test of Wills which was an intense whodunnit filled with a lot of suppressed emotions, especially since WWI had just finished and people were just finding their way back to their previous lives. I was seriously impressed with the novel and am looking forward to reading more from the Charles Todd writing team!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds great! Please enter me.
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested!! This sounds like a good one =)
ReplyDeleteluckistarr4 AT gmail DOT com
Oh, I like it.. Can you count me in, please?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy a good suspense or
ReplyDeletemystery book. I would love to win
this book.
i follow by email.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
Hi
ReplyDeleteI would be interested in this book. I have not read much in the WWII era...Thanks
Please enter me!
ReplyDeletej.brol@yahoo.com
I thought school was where they learned to write their name?!?!
ReplyDeleteI love Charles Todd's other books, so I can't imagine not liking this one! Please toss my name into the hat. Debbie A
Never read any of this duo, but I wouldn't mind trying it out! ;)
ReplyDeletepetuniasays AT gmail DOT com
I'm interested..
ReplyDeletekaren k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(Dot)com
I love all kinds of mysteries. I've never read anything by Charles Todd and would love to start with this one. I think it's really nice that a mother and son are writing books together.
ReplyDeletemittens0831 at aol dot com
I don't have a snappy comeback, but I would love to have this book.
ReplyDeleteJulie in Upstate New York
Count me in. I'd love to read something produced by a writing team.
ReplyDeleteI dont know whether I am too late here but if I am not please count me in.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds intriguing as I havent read many books set in the WW1 era.