Tuesday, September 08, 2015

A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd - TLC Book Tour


Bess Crawford must keep a deadly pattern of lies from destroying an innocent family in this compelling and atmospheric mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of A Question of Honor and An Unwilling Accomplice
In 1916, at the height of the war, an explosion and fire at an armament factory in Kent killed more than a hundred men. With Ashton Powder Mill situated so close to the coast—within reach of German saboteurs—the Army investigated, eventually ruling the event an appalling tragedy. Now, two years later, suspicion, gossip, and rumor have raised the specter of murder—and fingers point to the owner, Philip Ashton, whose son is battlefield nurse Bess Crawford’s friend and former patient.
While visiting the Ashtons, Bess finds herself caught up in a venomous show of hostility that doesn’t stop with Philip Ashton’s arrest. Indeed, someone is out for blood, and the household is all but under siege. The police are hostile—the Inspector’s brother died in the mill explosion—and refuse to consult either the Army or Scotland Yard. Why, after two years, has the village turned against Ashton?
In France, Bess searches for the only known witness to the explosion, now serving at the Front, and tries to convince him to give evidence about that terrible Sunday morning, only to find herself and the witness hunted by someone intent on preventing anyone from discovering what—or who—is behind this web of vicious lies. Uncertain whom to trust, she can rely only on her own wits and courage, but how can she stop a killer whose face she has never seen?
Philip Ashton is urged to throw himself on the mercy of the court—where he will surely find none. Time is running out. And Bess, at the point of a gun, has only one choice left: to risk her life to save the Ashtons.

************************************

My Thoughts:

Here's the thing, I was never into mystery books, it was not my favorite genre and though I read one or two here and there, it just did not appeal to me.  I'm more of a romance and Historic novel kinda gal, but when I was first introduced to Charles Todd I fell in love with the way he wrote and the stories he told. 

Mystery?  Yep, I was sold. 

Once again I get it all in this novel, England, history, World war and some very interesting characters, and to top it all off, a huge web of lies that threatens to unravel at any minute.

I was captivated by the mystery, I wanted to know who and what and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, and every time I thought it was about to be blown into the open, something else would happen to keep it all going. 

I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give away any spoilers, I will just say that Charles Todd didn't disappoint and that if you're into mysteries and who dunnit's and what in the world is going on?  This is the book for you. 




Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me with a review copy.

1 comment:

Heather J @ TLC Book Tours said...

I really love this series too, and I'm not generally a big mystery reader. I particularly love the history included in the stories.

Thanks for being a part of the tour!