Thirteenth in the well-loved Bess Crawford series, The Cliff’s Edge is set in 1919 postwar England. WWI overshadows the lives of these characters, especially Bess, a battlefield nurse, as England attempts to return to a forever-lost normalcy. While staying at her parents’ home, Bess’s cousin asks her to go to Yorkshire to nurse a family friend after surgery. Bess’s chance encounter with a recovering soldier on the train to Yorkshire demonstrates Todd’s skillful interweaving of the lasting effects of the war and his new characters: “I couldn’t see his eyes, for bandages covered them, only the lower part of his face, high cheekbones and a strong jaw, and he had a walking stick by his side to help him find his way. Shrapnel in the eyes? I’d seen it often.” At news of a serious accident involving her patient’s godson, Bess decamps to another household only to find accusations of murder. Is this a case of unfortunate accident or old jealousies turning deadly? The primary suspect is now in Bess’s care, and she’d like to believe he’s innocent. Old hatreds from the past are at work, both from before the war and during. Then the body count rises, and Bess finds her own life in danger.

For long-time series readers, The Cliff’s Edge delivers another expert mystery. Todd develops the character of each suspect and victim with a depth and intrigue that glues readers to the page, and layers in the plot with a delightful richness. The portrayal of life in an isolated village and its simmering tensions is a particular strength of this mystery. The ongoing romantic elements of Bess’s life entwine here just enough to keep the series’ issues cooking.

With World War One over, Bess Crawford and many others are adjusting to life after the carnage and loss of those years. Former Army nursing sister Bess Crawford is asked by a close family friend if she would travel to Yorkshire to help a Dowager Duchess recuperate from surgery. Once the surgery and recovery have gone well, Lady Beatrice, asks Bess to travel further into Yorkshire to help a family in need. This is where the genius of Charles Todd comes into play; the family members, most at odds with each other, are trapped by circumstance after the death of one and the injury of another. Teasing out the truth from the recalcitrant and feuding family members, as well as navigating the currents of unrest in the village, are what Todd and Bess do so well. A strong mystery in an evocative setting. Highly recommended!

A Murder in Yorkshire
Bess Crawford was a nurse during World War I. She served in forward aid stations and survived the sinking of the hospital ship Britannic. The war is over. Discharged from her duties in Queen Alexandra’s Nursing Service, she is at loose ends at her parents’ home in Somerset. A letter from her cousin Melinda asks Bess to go to Yorkshire to nurse Lady Beatrice, an acquaintance of Melinda’s.

“The Cliff’s Edge,” a mystery by Charles Todd, follows the result of Bess accepting the request. Lady Beatrice’s surgery goes well, but then there are complications, but not with Lady Beatrice.

While recovering, Lady Beatrice gets a message. Gordon Neville, her godson, was injured in a fall near his home. He lives in a remote estate in isolated Scarfdale. Lady Beatrice still cannot travel. Worried about Gordon’s health, he asks Beth to check on him. Since Lady Beatrice is well enough to manage without Bess and the message implies Gordon’s injuries were severe, Bess goes.

Upon arrival, Bess discovers Gordon was injured in a fall over a cliff. A second man, Frederick Caldwell, was killed in the fall. Worse, Gordon is suspected of killing Caldwell. Caldwell stole Gordon’s fiancé immediately prior to World War I. A gentry-hating police inspector is investigating. His antipathy towards the Nevilles leads him to put the worst interpretation on everything associated with them.

Moreover the Nevilles, especially Gordon, are resented in Scarfdale. It raised a local battalion during the War, which was led by Gordon. Although he survived the war, the unit took heavy casualties during the Battle of the Somme. The families of the men killed blame Gordon. Outside his immediate family, he has few defenders. Then more people end up dead. Everyone’s suspicion of Gordon grows stronger.

Her knowledge of war injuries leads Beth to realize everything is not what it appears. Beth begins investigating, trying to separate the realities from the accusations. This puts her in peril, as the perpetrator attempts to remove her from the scene.

Her investigation finally turns up the truth, but not before revealing family skeletons and secrets. One unexpectedly involves Beth.

Charles Todd is the pen name for a mother-son team of mystery writers. Carolyn Watjen, the mother, died shortly before publication of “The Cliff’s Edge.” It is not the best book in the series, but may be the last. If you like the series, it is worth reading.

“The Cliff’s Edge,” by Charles Todd, William Morrow, 2023, 320 pages, $30.00 (Hardcover), $14.99 (Ebook)
This review was written by Mark Lardas, who writes at Ricochet as Seawriter. Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City, TX. His website is marklardas.com.

Bess Crawford is back in the 13th in this series. Bess was a Nursing Sister during World War I.

This episode opens in the summer of 1919, when Bess journeys to assist strong-minded, elderly Lady Beatrice after gallbladder surgery.

After news of a serious injury to Beatrice's grandnephew Gordon, Bess heads to isolated Scarfdale to help and, as always, is quickly embroiled in a murder investigation.

Along the way come revelations about her own family and a very close friend's back story.

The mother and son team writing as Charles Todd debuted to immediate critical acclaim with A Test of Wills in 1996. They would go on to write more than two dozen (and counting) books in that series featuring Ian Rutledge. However, in 2009, they were not content with just one series and to the delight of their many fans, they launched the Bess Crawford series with A Duty to the Dead. This new series would better allow the author(s) to address the female point-of-view regarding not just the War itself but also its effect on society, family life, and career opportunity. Like Ian Rutledge, Bess Crawford continues to amass more fans with each new book in the series and now, the thirteenth novel featuring our beloved World War I nurse debuts. The Cliff’s Edge proves that a long-running series, when handled by the talented hands of true storytellers, can continue without even the slightest dip in quality.

The Cliff’s Edge finds Bess Crawford off on travels once again. The war has ended, and Bess is still trying to figure out her role now that her services are no longer needed on the front lines. When cousin Melinda’s friend needs assistance recovering from a surgery, Bess agrees to travel to Yorkshire to help out. However, she is not there long before Lady Beatrice gets word that her favorite godson has been in a terrible accident—a fall that also resulted in the death of another man. Unable to be by the family’s side, Lady Beatrice enlists both her companion, Lillian Taylor, and Bess to travel in her stead.

Onsite in remote Scarfdale, Bess sees some inconsistencies in the story of the fall. But when the police begin to accuse Gordon Neville (Lady Beatrice’s godson) of murder, Bess is less confident in their rationale and uses her qualifications as a nurse to keep the injured man out of jail. When a second fall from the cliff results in another unexpected victim, Bess is required to use all her skills to ferret out the truth concerning a feud between two families, many members of whom are currently residing with her under the same roof.

While some fans of the series may miss many of the secondary characters within Bess’s orbit, they will quickly delight in watching Bess work an investigation on her own terms. The character development of the various members of the Neville and Caldwell families goes well beyond the surface, allowing for a resolution that has some real emotional weight. The village around Scarfdale is vividly brought to life and Bess Crawford’s interactions with the townsfolk help to give depth to the plot without adding unnecessary confusion.

Loyal fans of the Bess Crawford books are likely wondering about Simon. They will just have to trust the author here because revelations from this case are sure to have a dramatic effect on that relationship and if the surprising and gripping stinger at the end of The Cliff’s Edge is any indication, that will need to be dealt with sooner rather than later. Book number fourteen in this series may bring about the long-awaited resolution for the beloved—and complicated—coupling between Bess and Simon, albeit perhaps not in the way that has been expected.

Sadly, her beloved family and the entire crime fiction community mourn the loss of Caroline Todd who passed away in August of 2021, but under the guidance and care of her son and co-writer, Charles, both Bess Crawford and Ian Rutledge will continue to enthrall readers for years to come.

The Cliff’s Edge by Charles Todd. This duo can always be relied upon to deliver a good read. Nurse Bess Crawford is at home and at loose ends now that the war is over. On the outs with Simon, she is spending time with her mother, but she needs something to do. When the missive arrives from her cousin, Melinda, to travel to York and convince an elderly friend of Melinda’s that a nurse would hold her in good stead as she recovers from gall bladder surgery, she and her mother determine to visit another old friend, as well. At the last minute her mother is unable to join her and so she travels alone, only to discover that Lady Beatrice expects her to stay and won’t take no for an answer. Bess travels to visit her friend while Lady Beatrice is having the surgery and returns to a patient who is not interested in resting, but knows she must. A telegram arrives from the brother of her godson, urging Lady Beatrice to attend them immediately. Since she can’t go she sends Bess and her companion, Lillian. What awaits the pair is one man dead and the godson severely injured. Bess sets about caring for the patient and gets involved in the mystery of what happened that day.

Bess Crawford is an excellent character who has been honed over numerous books. She is not one to sit still and is always curious. She is well-written and well-developed and a credit to her gender. She has a life to lead, difficult for many now that the war is over. She has many of the same types of dreams the soldiers are having. It is a difficult situation but at least she has all her limbs and no visible scars, more than can be said for many. This is really a very convoluted mystery with several different perpetrators for several crimes. Add to that a police inspector who seems to hold a grudge against the wealthy and has a sour personality to boot and there are the makings of a good story. Of course, the mystery is solved in the end, at least partially by Bess. The ad hoc characters, especially Lady Beatrice are well-written and entertaining. It was a delightfully engaging read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Cliff’s Edge by William Morrow, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #WilliamMorrow #CharlesTodd #TheCliffsEdge

THE CLIFF’S EDGE by Charles Todd

Ah, Bess, just when I think you’ve discovered all the surprise twists, there’s more, so satisfying! This book has everything, secrets from the past, jealousy, menacing figures in the dark, a vindictive Inspector, and of course, a mysterious fall from a cliff (not a spoiler, it’s in the title). A short visit to Yorkshire to encourage a friend of the family to accept nursing care results in “Sister Crawford” being tasked with that care, and then to be sent onward to Scarfdale to help see to a godson after an accident. Helping is in Bess’s nature and her nurse’s training means she can do so much good, but sometimes perhaps it’s just a bit too much. Amazing, strong, smart woman, and she helps others be stronger also.
This book is 13th in the series (unlucky for some) but written to be read alone if one chooses to — just don’t plan on getting much else done; it’s that compelling a book, and worth it.

The Great War has finally come to an end, but that doesn’t mean Bess Crawford’s days of fighting crime are finished. In The Cliff’s Edge, the thirteenth volume in the Bess Crawford series, Bess travels to Yorkshire to sit beside a family friend as she recovers from surgery, only to stumble upon an intriguing and dangerous mystery.

This saga is sequential in nature, with each book building upon the last. This volume, especially, which references a pivotal secondary character who has appeared in the majority of the previous books, will make more sense if the reader is familiar with that character’s background.

Since returning from Ireland, Bess and Simon have been estranged. Bess isn’t exactly sure what has caused the estrangement or why such close friends can’t simply talk about the matter, but the issue weighs heavily upon her mind. When she receives a request to be a nurse for Lady Beatrice, an older woman who will need home care after surgery, Bess demures. Lady Beatrice is a friend of a close relative, not an acquaintance of Bess herself, and Bess gave up nursing after the war ended. Besides, she isn’t sure that leaving while things are unresolved with Simon is the best move to make. However, when her mother sweetens the deal by agreeing to come along and combining it with a visit to another friend in the area, Bess is talked into going.

As Robert Burns said, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. That’s the case here when Bess’s mum suddenly finds herself unable to go on the trip, leaving Bess to travel alone to the remote village where Lady Beatrice lives. She finds herself getting along very well with the charming septuagenarian and everything is going along swimmingly when the second disruption to Bess’s plans occurs. Lady Beatrice receives a telegram saying that her beloved godson Gordon has been injured and asking her to come to the isolated sheep farm upon which he lives. Since the older woman can’t travel due to her recent surgery, she sends Bess in her stead, hoping Bess can be of help. Once Bess arrives at the Neville family’s estate, she realizes things are not quite as simple as the telegram led them to believe. There has indeed been an accident, and Gordon is indeed injured and in need of nursing care. But it isn’t just that. The friend who was with him when the incident happened was killed, and the events around the death are mysterious enough that the police are making things quite difficult for the family. Bess has always been a full-service nurse, not just tending to her patient’s physical problems but helping them tackle all their other difficulties as well. Determined to aid Gordon in clearing his name, she begins subtly sleuthing, trying to determine just what happened when two men left the house – and only one returned alive.

Bess soon finds herself in the crosshairs between two warring families whose pasts have exploded into the present. Little does she know that at the true heart of all this is someone she cares about, whose own murky past is inexplicably intertwined with all that is happening.

As always, I have to praise the superb historical setting of these novels. I have seen few novels that capture so perfectly the little details which separate the early nineteen hundreds from life in the twenty-first century. Here, Bess is in the countryside where there are no phones, you have to drive to a larger town to send a telegram, gas lamps are still being used in even the finest homes, and everyone is practicing austerity due to the war years. Heavy in the hearts of folks like Bess are the soldiers who have returned to difficult situations. Whether it is being unable to hold their previous positions due to injuries or simply coming back to farms that their families were unable to maintain without them, these men are facing hard struggles after fighting for a country that no longer seems to care about them.

The novel shows the class struggle that underlies some of these problems. Gordon’s family live in relative wealth while many in the village struggle to survive. There is a growing resentment toward that dichotomy that was enhanced when the two sons of the manor came home whole and healthy, and many men of the village didn’t make it home at all. The author does a great job of capturing how the upper classes would have seen this whole issue, but a small flaw in the story is that they haven’t done as good a job capturing the other side. I got the sense that we should simply know what the villagers were feeling and understand it, but it would have been nice to have had their points more directly expressed and addressed in the text.

Especially since this unseen struggle underlies the mystery. That portion of the story is excellent by the way. It has a locked room aspect since the police require everyone to stay in the house until the inquiry is over and that foreboding, chilling sense that the characters may well be trapped with a murderer is perfectly handled. I just loved the atmosphere, which so excellently conveyes the stress everyone is under and the eerie aura of bewilderment and fear as folks wonder just who among them is capable of killing.

Bess, for her part, seems to be in a state of bemusement. She is not sure what her place in the world is now that she is no longer a working nurse. She is used to being active and useful, but careers for ladies like herself aren’t exactly in plentiful supply. Bess does have the option to marry but none of the men who have proposed appeal to her. This leads to my second quibble: we have been playing a game of will they/won’t they with Simon and Bess for twelve books now. She’s been slow in coming to an awareness of whom she loves, and he hasn’t exactly been helpful by saying nothing of his own feelings. In the last novel, we took a baby step forward, but in this one, we move backward, with the two characters not even interacting. The end does make it clear we have reached a point where they will be forced to act, so I suppose readers will have to continue to hope for an eventual resolution.

The Cliff’s Edge ends on a cliffhanger, a fact that will frustrate and fascinate fans. I closed the book feeling like we are very much at the point where something big is about to occur, and I was sorry not to be able to continue to the next volume right away. Regardless, this is an excellent mystery, a wonderful addition to a terrific series that has retained its quality throughout its run. I strongly recommend it to fans of the saga and would encourage those who haven’t read the books but enjoy historical mysteries to give the Bess Crawford series a try.

The Cliff's Edge is the 13th book in the Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd, a mother/son writing duo consisting of Caroline Todd and Charles Todd. (Sadly, Caroline Todd has passed away.) This being me, which book of the series did I start on? Well, this one, of course! Luckily this particular mystery stood alone, though there was a revelation at the end that is connected with the previous books. However, it didn't cause me any confusion missing the prior ones. I'm glad, however, that I have started collecting previous books to read from this series.

In the aftermath of The Great War, former battlefield nurse Bess Crawford is restless and concerned about her relationship with her dearest friend, Simon Brandon. When her cousin Melinda requests that she travel to Yorkshire to help a friend of hers recover from gallbladder surgery, Bess is convinced to go. While there, however, there is news of a terrible accident and her patient requests that she go to isolated Scarfdale and the Neville family to see if she can help. One man has been killed and another has been horribly injured. The police are investigating and Bess is drawn into the middle of two families who were once close and are now at odds; all must remain in the same house until the inquest into the accident is over. When another tragedy occurs and the police are about to make an arrest, Bess tries to figure out the true story behind the deaths. Little does she know that an unrelated story about another murder will set Bess's world on edge...

I'm glad I started purchasing previous books and audiobooks in the series, because I really enjoyed entering Bess Crawford's world. Being a former battlefield nurse during the World War I, Bess was used to dealing with death, trauma and the injured; so when Melinda requests that she help her friend in Yorkshire, Bess decided it would be good to go and get away from her thoughts of her friendship with Simon, which seems to have been broken. She was not expecting to hare off to isolated Scarfdale to be put into the center of the investigation of a suspicious death! But when Lady Beatrice, her patient, requests that she go, well, the woman is not one to whom you say no. Her godson Gordon Neville was horribly injured and since she couldn't yet travel, she knew Bess had to be there. Gordon was hurt in a fall, and in the same fall Frederick Caldwell, a longtime family friend, received injuries that led to his death. Gordon quickly became suspected of murder. (It didn't help that Frederick's wife was Gordon's love first!). When a second tragedy occurred, Gordon was once again implicated in the death. And then Bess herself became a target! Bess was a very likable, intriguing character. She lived quite an adventurous, exciting and dangerous life for one so young. I really enjoyed learning about her experiences as a battlefield nurse. Supporting characters were entertaining, particularly Gordon, , Mark Caldwell (Frederick's brother), Lady Beatrice and her companion Lillian. The first half of the book seemed a bit slow to me, but once it really picked up the pace I didn't want to put it down. Red herrings were thrown about, making me change my mind back and forth as to the identity of the killer. The ending left Bess on a bit of a personal cliffhanger, making me even more determined to read more of this fascinating series!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Cliff's Edge is the latest (#13) in Charles Todd's wonderful Bess Crawford mystery series.

Sitting down with a Bess Crawford book is like catching up with old friends. For it's the characters that bring me back time and time again, but also for the wonderfully crafted mysteries.

With the end of the Great War, Bess has 'retired' from active service as a battlefield nurse. But her skills as a nurse are still in demand. In the Cliff's Edge, Bess has done her cousin Melinda a favor by agreeing to call on one of her friends, after she has an operation. That kindness grows exponentially and Bess is entreated to travel to a remote village and see to an injured man from the manor house.

There's a bit of a nod to Agatha Christie here - a remote setting, a limited number of suspects, all whom have been asked by the local constabulary to not leave the house until a culprit is determined. And - an amateur detective who has solved more that one mystery in her time.

I love how the both investigations (Bess's and the police) unfold. This historical period must conform to the mores, manners and expectations of the time and setting. (1919) Clues are gleaned from conversations, interviews, observations, intellectual prowess and more. Todd keeps the reader guessing along with Bess by leaving a number of red herrings and lies on the way to the final reveal of whodunit.

The Cliff's Edge kept me company on a cold rainy day with more than one pot of tea. Comfort reading at it's best.

Sadly, with the death of Caroline Todd, it's also the last collaboration from the writing duo of mother Caroline and her son Charles. I do hope the series continues. The ending of The Cliff's Edge is satisfying. But, the final pages of the book open the door for another mystery....

I'm a huge fan of Charles Todd, so was thrilled to read the authors' latest in the Bess Crawford series.

It's Bess' 13th adventure and we find her back home in England after years as a nurse on the WWI French battlefront.

Reading it was bittersweet, as it is the last novel the mother-son team of Charles Todd wrote together about Bess. Carolyn, the mother, died in August 2021, weeks after the team had sent a completed version to the publisher. We still feel her sure hand, along with Charles', even as we grieve her loss with the legion of Todd fans.

For this reason, I've especially wanted to love THE CLIFF'S EDGE, hoping that we'd also get movement in the relationship between Bess and family friend Simon. For me, their connection is the heart of series, the reason I've kept reading it all these years.

Yes, I still find Bess' compassionate nature compelling, as she agrees to provide care for a cousin's friend in Yorkshire. And as always when Bess offers help, she finds herself amid conflict and forced to solve the mystery at hand. In past episodes, Simon has always shown up to support her. Alas, not this time.

His absence cut me to the quick, and a twist revealing questions about his past made me long for book #14.

I WILL devour it, hoping the story will, at last, bring Bess and Simon together. I fear if that doesn't happen, the series will lose its hold over me and my heart will be broken. I can wait no longer.

3.5 stars- I enjoyed this mystery set in post WW1 England. Bess Crawford is a nurse who served in World War One. She knows her stuff and isn't the squeamish damsel that many men assumed women to be in this era. This comes in handy when she finds herself in a manor house with multiple murders happening in the home and on the grounds. I found this story entertaining and it did keep me wondering. I wouldn't say it is a must read, but if you have been reading the series and enjoyed it, then you will like this one as well. The character of Bess is strong and compelling. I like her.

“The Cliff's Edge,” by Charles Todd, William Morrow, 320 pages, Feb. 14, 2023.

In the aftermath of World War I, former battlefield nursing sister Bess Crawford agrees to travel to Yorkshire to help a friend of her cousin Melinda through surgery. 

The surgeon insists that Lady Beatrice must have a home health nurse because she has a heart condition. She is the Dowager Countess de vere Linton. But circumstances change suddenly when news of an accident reaches them. Lady Beatrice’s grandnephew, Gordon Neville, was injured.

She asks Bess to go to Scarfdale and the Neville family who had gathered for their mother’s birthday. Lillian Taylor, Lady Beatrice’s companion, accompanies Bess. When they arrive, Gordon tells them that there is a dead man upstairs and that he killed him.

Gordon then says he and Frederick Caldwell, a long-time friend, were looking for missing sheep, when he started to fall down a cliff. Caldwell tried to stop his fall, but they both went down the hillside. Frederick was still alive when they brought him to the house, but he died.

The local constable sends for a more experienced investigator. Inspector Wade arrives. He believes it was murder. Mark Caldwell, Frederick’s brother, tells Bess that Gordon killed Frederick for revenge because Grace, Frederick’s wife, jilted Gordon. Then the police order everyone to remain in the same house until the inquest is completed.

Bess’s investigation uncovers a complex web of secrets. Charles Todd writes complex characters and excellent plots. This is the 13th in the series. Todd also writes the Ian Rutledge series. I read both of series and I highly recommend them.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

The Great War has finally come to an end, but that doesn’t mean Bess Crawford’s days of fighting crime are finished. In The Cliff’s Edge, the thirteenth volume in the Bess Crawford series, Bess travels to Yorkshire to sit beside a family friend as she recovers from surgery, only to stumble upon an intriguing and dangerous mystery.

This saga is sequential in nature, with each book building upon the last. This volume, especially, which references a pivotal secondary character who has appeared in the majority of the previous books, will make more sense if the reader is familiar with that character’s background.

Since returning from Ireland, Bess and Simon have been estranged. Bess isn’t exactly sure what has caused the estrangement or why such close friends can’t simply talk about the matter, but the issue weighs heavily upon her mind. When she receives a request to be a nurse for Lady Beatrice, an older woman who will need home care after surgery, Bess demures. Lady Beatrice is a friend of a close relative, not an acquaintance of Bess herself, and Bess gave up nursing after the war ended. Besides, she isn’t sure that leaving while things are unresolved with Simon is the best move to make. However, when her mother sweetens the deal by agreeing to come along and combining it with a visit to another friend in the area, Bess is talked into going.

As Robert Burns said, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. That’s the case here when Bess’s mum suddenly finds herself unable to go on the trip, leaving Bess to travel alone to the remote village where Lady Beatrice lives. She finds herself getting along very well with the charming septuagenarian and everything is going along swimmingly when the second disruption to Bess’s plans occurs. Lady Beatrice receives a telegram saying that her beloved godson Gordon has been injured and asking her to come to the isolated sheep farm upon which he lives. Since the older woman can’t travel due to her recent surgery, she sends Bess in her stead, hoping Bess can be of help. Once Bess arrives at the Neville family’s estate, she realizes things are not quite as simple as the telegram led them to believe. There has indeed been an accident, and Gordon is indeed injured and in need of nursing care. But it isn’t just that. The friend who was with him when the incident happened was killed, and the events around the death are mysterious enough that the police are making things quite difficult for the family. Bess has always been a full-service nurse, not just tending to her patient’s physical problems but helping them tackle all their other difficulties as well. Determined to aid Gordon in clearing his name, she begins subtly sleuthing, trying to determine just what happened when two men left the house - and only one returned alive.

Bess soon finds herself in the crosshairs between two warring families whose pasts have exploded into the present. Little does she know that at the true heart of all this is someone she cares about, whose own murky past is inexplicably intertwined with all that is happening.

As always, I have to praise the superb historical setting of these novels. I have seen few novels that capture so perfectly the little details which separate the early nineteen hundreds from life in the twenty-first century. Here, Bess is in the countryside where there are no phones, you have to drive to a larger town to send a telegram, gas lamps are still being used in even the finest homes, and everyone is practicing austerity due to the war years. Heavy in the hearts of folks like Bess are the soldiers who have returned to difficult situations. Whether it is being unable to hold their previous positions due to injuries or simply coming back to farms that their families were unable to maintain without them, these men are facing hard struggles after fighting for a country that no longer seems to care about them.

The novel shows the class struggle that underlies some of these problems. Gordon’s family live in relative wealth while many in the village struggle to survive. There is a growing resentment toward that dichotomy that was enhanced when the two sons of the manor came home whole and healthy, and many men of the village didn’t make it home at all. The author does a great job of capturing how the upper classes would have seen this whole issue, but a small flaw in the story is that they haven’t done as good a job capturing the other side. I got the sense that we should simply know what the villagers were feeling and understand it, but it would have been nice to have had their points more directly expressed and addressed in the text.

Especially since this unseen struggle underlies the mystery. That portion of the story is excellent by the way. It has a locked room aspect since the police require everyone to stay in the house until the inquiry is over and that foreboding, chilling sense that the characters may well be trapped with a murderer is perfectly handled. I just loved the atmosphere, which so excellently conveyes the stress everyone is under and the eerie aura of bewilderment and fear as folks wonder just who among them is capable of killing.

Bess, for her part, seems to be in a state of bemusement. She is not sure what her place in the world is now that she is no longer a working nurse. She is used to being active and useful, but careers for ladies like herself aren’t exactly in plentiful supply. Bess does have the option to marry but none of the men who have proposed appeal to her. This leads to my second quibble: we have been playing a game of will they/won’t they with Simon and Bess for twelve books now. She’s been slow in coming to an awareness of whom she loves, and he hasn’t exactly been helpful by saying nothing of his own feelings. In the last novel, we took a baby step forward, but in this one, we move backward, with the two characters not even interacting. The end does make it clear we have reached a point where they will be forced to act, so I suppose readers will have to continue to hope for an eventual resolution.

The Cliff’s Edge ends on a cliffhanger, a fact that will frustrate and fascinate fans. I closed the book feeling like we are very much at the point where something big is about to occur, and I was sorry not to be able to continue to the next volume right away. Regardless, this is an excellent mystery, a wonderful addition to a terrific series that has retained its quality throughout its run. I strongly recommend it to fans of the saga and would encourage those who haven’t read the books but enjoy historical mysteries to give the Bess Crawford series a try.

The Cliff’s Edge is the latest in Todd’s Bess Crawford series. WWI, on whose battlefields Bess did masterful nursing service, has ended and soldiers have returned to their prewar lives., Sent to help Lady Beatrice prepare for and recover from gall bladder surgery, Bess is soon sent to tend to Gordon Neville, Lady Beatrice’s godson. Gordon had been badly injured in a mysterious fall that left his old friend and winner of the romantic rivalry for Grace, now Frederick’s widow, dead. If this sounds complicated, well it’s just the start of a story that features twists and turns but too many coincidences to be credible. Todd does an excellent job of creating the atmosphere of the isolated setting, but falls short in developing many of his characters, who appear to be mere stereotypes of their stations in life. Bess’s long relationship with Simon remains offstage for the most part and is still unresolved by the end of the book, although readers learn of a major coincidence that was one too many for me. I have enjoyed this series previously, but hope that its next entry is much improved.

Bess is embroiled in a mystery that eventually will come close to home

Bess Crawford’s home from Ireland. 1919, a year after the war is over. A letter arrives from cousin Melinda asking her to check out the employer/companion of an acquaintance from her South African days whose about to have surgery. Lady Beatrice is about her mother’s age older and a force to be reckoned with. She basically decides Bess will stay to help her with her recovery.
Whilst there a message comes that the Lady Beatrice’s godson, Gordon Neville, has been in an accident.
Lady Beatrice is unable travel so she sends her companion, Lillian Taylor, and Bess into the wilds of Yorkshire to help.
What they find is Gordon injured, having fallen from a small, yet rugged rise, the Knob, whilst looking for stray sheep. Another man is dead and Gordon is accused of murder. When they get to the Hall they find a particularly obnoxious policeman, Inspector Wade, trying to cart Gordon off to prison. The Doctor and Bess are worried the wound will turn septic and refuse to let him go.
What follows is a dangerous dance of snarling men (and a dog), devious meetings, unreal expectations and the past rushing up to envelop them all.
The title says it all for those forced to stay together in a house where a murderer might be.
Add to that that half the men of the village of Scarfdale went to war with Gordon. Few came home. There’s anger.
Believable characters in a village decimated by the number of men they’ve lost.
And at the end Bess is left balancing on a metaphorical cliff’s edge as Simon’s past rushes up to meet him.

A Willian Morrow ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

3.5 stars

The latest entry in the Bess Crawford historical mystery series featuring a former WWI nurse. I am a big fan of both Charles Todd series. They are atmospheric and intricately plotted, sometimes unbelievably so.

Bess is summoned by her close friend Melinda to help wrangle a dowager duchess into having and resting after a surgery. But nothing in Todd's books is ever straightforward. No sooner has Bess gotten the strong-willed woman settled after her surgery then (through an implausible plot mechanism) she is sent, along with a lady's companion, to yet another household on an emergency summons.

She discovers a household of inter-related sons, mothers, brothers and in-laws. One of the sons of the house lies severely injured from a fall out in the countryside which killed his companion, who also is part of the household party. But there is some question as to whether his death was a result of the fall or murder. The son falls under suspicion and Bess investigates while tending his wounds and trying to keep the local hostile inspector at bay.

The story gets very complicated after that. Spurned lovers, wartime grievances, and even a decades old secret from another continent have a role to play. Todd's plots get an A for complexity but sometimes a C for clarity and plausibility. But the narrative keeps rolling at a good pace and finishes with several stunning surprises. Note: Bess's odd relationship with Simon, who served under her father in the war, has been unresolved forever and this book doesn't solve that but rather introduces another strange twist to be worked out later. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"The Cliff's Edge" is a mystery novel that takes place in post-World War I England and follows the adventures of Bess Crawford, a former battlefield nurse. Bess is drawn into a dangerous feud between two families when she travels to the isolated Scarfdale to assist with a medical procedure for a friend of her cousin Melinda. However, things quickly spiral out of control and Bess finds herself in the middle of a dangerous situation as she tries to uncover the truth behind the deaths and maintain order amidst the rising tensions.

The novel is well-written with a carefully crafted plot and a small cast of well-developed characters. The mystery is expertly constructed and kept the reader engaged with subtle hints and foreshadowing. Bess is depicted as a strong and empathetic character, who rises to the occasion and handles the heavy emotions that come with her involvement in the conflict between the two families. The themes of the book delve into complex relationships, guilt, blame, and the emotions that arise from them, adding depth and nuance to the story.

"The Cliff's Edge" is a standout installment in the series and is more effective compared to previous novels. The story is filled with murder, attempted murder, assault, and a shocker that involves a popular character. The pace of the romantic subplot may be a matter of personal preference, but it does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. The family dynamics and discussions add a new level of complexity to the novel and contrast the moments of high emotion. "The Cliff's Edge" is a must-read for fans of the mystery genre.

First and foremost by deepest condolences at the loss of the matriach Carolyn's passing in '21. It was heartbreaking to hear upon the completion of this duo team's novel for publication.
Charles Todd has a legion of fans and in the 13th series of Bess Crawford it will not change.
The writing is so strong that I couldn't put this darn thing down and I'm easily distracted. I honestly wasn't able to flip the pages quick enough on Kindle (better on my aging eyes than Netgalley) and so I was enamored from the start.
My last reading was, "A Divided Loyalty" from the Ian Rutledge series, as I didn't read during '21 for a much needed reviewer break.https://thesecretbooksleuth.blogspot.com/2020/02/book-review-divided-loyalty-by-charles.html
For me, Nurse Bess is such a strong yet sweet and sensitive character that it's hard not to fall in love with her empathetic yet nurturing ways. She takes on quite a bit in each story but she manages to pull through and grasp the heavy weighted emotions that always surround her activities.
Bess agrees in this novel to travel to help cousin Melinda during surgery.
However, nothing goes as planned in love and war. She finds herself in a crossroads between two families- Neville's and Caldwell's.
Both of these families bring judgement, accusations, deaths, and theories that are as wild as they're complexing.
Much guilt and blame is being tossed around as quickly as the characters falls and sudden slips but then again who shall we believe is responsible?
Who would kill Frederick Caldwell while hunting for sheep with Gordon Neville?
Protective issues, familial issues, and romantic issues all rise to the surface both literally and figuratively.
Relationships begin to become questioned by the proper authorities with everyone pointing fingers. Is all this emotion nothing more than a mere lover's quarrel?
The enjoyment with the engagement situation was quite unique and the family digressions and discussions seem to shadow such outbursts.
There's plenty to excite the palate from murder, to attempted murder, to assault, and the shocker in the end surrounding a popular character.
I've read other reviews that were concerned about love lost or lack of such between certain characters but for me I'm fine with the pace of it all. Heck, I'll wait should anything come about with Bess no matter who might be involved.
Thank you to Charles and Carolyn for providing so many readers pure joy and excitement over the years. This is not the end as Charles Todd will be just fine to carry the legacy.
I can't wait to see what's next in this wonderful Bess Crawford series.
I'm beyond chuffed to have received this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

“I had no idea a simple gall bladder could lead to murder.” Then you have not met Bess Crawford! It is always good to see Bess again, and this book is no exception. And as always, through a series of unlikely coincidences and, frankly, requests that any sane person would readily refuse, Bess finds herself at the center of multiple mysteries, seemingly in constant danger, among many unlikeable people, and in a place where even the weather and landscape are sinister. The plot has many twist, turns, and layers, and as usual, sinister occurrences from the deep past resurface in unexpected ways. Bess seems more separated from her family than in past books, but a new acquaintance—Lady Beatrice—ably fills the void. It also seem that Bess may be ready to move beyond her WWI role as nurse, so if the series continues, as the final pages suggest it will, it will be interesting to see how she finds herself at the center of future mysteries without that point of entry.