Rated of 5
by Juliet F. (clarendon hills, IL) Meh.
I have read most of Charles Todd's books, and I generally enjoy them. However, I think that this installment of the Bess Crawford series is the last that I'll read. This book is a lot like the others, at least in terms of its plot structure, pace, and themes. However, I was left unplussed. It felt formulaic and dull. I am ready for some more character development, but this stalls out in this story. The historical detail and perspective is nice, but I would not recommend this book. There are too many great books out there to waste time on this.
Rated of 5
by Grace W. (Corona del Mar, CA) A War on Many Fronts
Unmarked Grave is the fourth in the Bess Crawford mystery series, yet requires no prior knowledge of the earlier books to make for a thoroughly engaging and entertaining read. Bess Crawford is a plucky and highly capable nursing sister assigned to the field hospital and aid stations in France during World War I. She is no shrinking violet in post-Victorian age of war-torn England. Unmarked Grave takes place in 1918, when the horrors and the deprivations of the war are well felt both on the battlefields and on the home front of England. Charles Todd’s depictions of war, notably the chemical gassing and field hospitals triage, are highly effective and appropriately set the stage for the mystery. The storyline is quite suspenseful and makes for a very fast-paced read.
Rated of 5
by Lori (Wayland, MA) An Unmarked Grave-another great read
I thoroughly enjoyed this 4th book in the Bess Crawford series. I received the book as part of the First Impressions program, reading it immediately after the previous book, A Bitter Truth, which was great too. I raced through both books. Although I like Charles Todd’s Ian Rutledge books as well, this series isn’t as dark and has a faster pace. This book has an interesting murder scenario, great character development and I found it interesting to learn about the flu epidemic during WWI. I would highly recommend this book and the series (which should be read in order) to readers who enjoy Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs books. These books all provide a great sense of what life was like during this time period.
Rated of 5
by Gwen C. (Clearfield, PA) An Unmarked Grave
Instantly gripping! Initially set in a World War I battlefield hospital, the reader is immediately plunged into the Spanish Influenza and war wounds as seen through a nurse's (Sister Bess Crawford) eyes, then quickly led into murder.
As I was unfamiliar with this series, I was a bit confused at first that Colonel Sahib and Colonel Crawford were one and the same. I also wished for more descriptions of physical appearances of main characters. No doubt all that was well established in earlier books.
An Unmarked Grave has a fast moving plot. The final resolution is unexpected but satisfying. The book is well researched and really lets you feel the frustrations with communication and transportation that were a part of World War I. I intend to read the first four in the series...and future Bess Crawford mysteries, too.
Rated of 5
by Nona F. (Evanston, IL) Best of the series to date
From its first pages, Charles Todd’s latest installment in the Bess Crawford series, An Unmarked Grave, is a compelling and suspenseful “stay up all night even if I have to get up in two hours” read. A real page-turner, this is one of the tighter plot structures in the series despite an eyebrow-raising coincidental but fateful meeting three-quarters of the way through the novel. I also felt that the identity of the murderer came out of left field and was something of a let-down in an otherwise exciting denouement. The authors’ description of Bess falling victim to the devastating flu epidemic is very effective, as is their way of showing how hospitals, families, and villages were affected. As always, character depiction and development is strong, and Bess’s relationships with her family as well as with some characters who are new to the series continue to develop. Definitely the strongest entry in this series to date.
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of 5
by Juliet F. (clarendon hills, IL) 
of 5
by Grace W. (Corona del Mar, CA) 
of 5
by Gwen C. (Clearfield, PA) 
