Review: A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd

A Mysterious Review of A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd. A Bess Crawford Mystery.

Review summary: This is a fine example of the books in this terrific historical series. The characters are richly drawn, the storyline is straight-forward but intricately thought out, well-developed and nicely paced. The journey that the series character takes to determine what actually happened two years ago is a rewarding one. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

A Pattern of Lies
Charles Todd
A Bess Crawford Mystery
William Morrow (August 2015)

Publisher synopsis: An explosion and fire at the Ashton Gunpowder Mill in Kent has killed over a hundred men. It's called an appalling tragedy — until suspicion and rumor raise the specter of murder. While visiting the Ashton family, Bess Crawford 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 only known witness to the tragedy is now at the Front in France. Bess is asked to find him. When she does, he refuses to tell her anything that will help the Ashtons. Realizing that he believes the tissue of lies that has nearly destroyed a family, Bess must convince him to tell her what really happened that terrible Sunday morning. But now someone else is also searching for this man.

To end the vicious persecution of the Ashtons, Bess must risk her own life to protect her reluctant witness from a clever killer intent on preventing either of them from ever reaching England.