A Casualty of War by Charles Todd

First Sentence:  Lieutenant Morrison died as dawn broke on the Friday morning, a casualty of war.

      
Field nurse Bess Crawford treats Captain Travis, a patient disoriented from a head wound.  He believes Lt. James Travis, a distant cousin and Englishman, deliberately shot him.  Released, he is brought back, wounded a second time and still insisting on the same story.  Upon Bess’ return to England, she finds the captain strapped to a hospital bed and being treated for a brain injury.  Bess enlists the help of Sgt. Major Simon Brandon to unravel Travis’ story and find the truth.

      
From the very start, Todd touches one’s emotions.  Although it’s coming to the end of the war, it is still very active and provides an interesting perspective on events and even the attitudes by some regarding providing medical treatment to captured German soldiers.

      
At first, one may believe one knows where the story is going.  As it progresses, things do change and a twist makes things all the more interesting.  As they say, the plot thickens even more.

      
Bess is such a strong character.  Her nature is well-explained, as is her dedication. One can’t help being attracted to Sgt. Major Simon Brandon.  He is steady, supportive, and never dismisses or talks down to Bess.  With the war ending, will we finally see something happen between the two of them?

      
The story does read a bit like a melodrama at times.  However, it turns out there is a very clever, and well-hidden, motive.

      
“A Casualty of War” takes one from the battles of France to London and to a small English town, all in search for truth.  With the war coming to an end, it is going to be interesting to see where the series will go from here.

A CASUALTY OF WAR (Hist Mys – Bess Crawford-France/England-WWI) – G+

      Todd, Charles – 9^th in series

      William Morrow – Sept 2017