CRUEL DECEPTION (Bess Crawford Mysteries, 11) Paperback – October 6, 2020

When writing serial mysteries, it is essential to make sure that the main character is both likeable and interesting , and has an intriguing backstory that keeps the reader hooked and waiting with bated breath for the next "episode" in the character's life.Through the Bess Crawford series, we have witnessed her personal growth and maturing. This maturity has come at a cost, seeing so much and experiencing a lot of heartache and yet somehow remaining grounded and strong. She has loving parents, and particularly a father who approves of her work. There is a whole raft of fascinating people she knows and meets, people who truly care about her and also some rather dastardly people as well.And then there's Simon. Simon is fascinating and rather dishy -- a rather humble guy of heroic proportions who did impossible things during the war and who cares about Bess more than a lot. He is always watching over her even at a distance and without declaring himself, and this is one of the "at a distance" books that goes one step farther. Simon is mentioned frequently and it is obvious that Bess misses him even if she will not really admit to it -- and we do not see him. But there are connections to Simon with the people she interacts with in this latest book. There are new characters whose presence is also felt -- and I don't want to give too much away but Captains Jackson and Barkley, and Major Webb do offer a measure of interest for the absent Simon.I love these books, but in my opinion it is time to resolve the Simon-Bess issue. ALL readers are waiting for this -- it is a very romantic situation in which they dance around each other, but if the authors think that they will lose readers by solving the issue between the two of them, they are wrong. No one is patient forever and dragging it out over a lot more books could make readers fade away. It is possible that Bess and Simon can segue into an even more interesting situation by becoming more than friends while working for the British government at the same time. WWI may have ended but political rumblings are just beginning on the horizon all across Europe, indeed around the world. The possibilities are endless for the both of them. [NB: I only hope this series does not go the way of Inspector Rutledge -- needlessly dragging out the lack of resolution for the inspector re Hamish got to be a bit too much for me...]The rather moody and edgy descriptions were so good that I could imagine the streets and buildings with no problem, but then again, their descriptions put you right there where the main characters are in all their books.The end of this book has a wonderful segue into the next book in the series which personally cannot come soon enough for me!

The mother and son writing team of Charles Todd have written one their best Ian Rutledge novels yet. The writing, as always, is excellent, the landscape in Avebury where the story unfolds is historically interesting, and the suspense is sustained throughout the novel. Ian is such a complex and intriguing character. I just wish the authors would give him more of a personal life. In past novels I enjoyed when he interacted with his sister and his old friend Melinda who survived the Lucknow attacks in India. I was saddened to discover in this novel that the woman he loved, Meredith, had died in Belgium after a violent attack by her brain-injured husband. Ian and Meredith's budding relationship offered some personal depth to Ian's story that has been missing since Meredith discovered her injured husband in Belgium several novels ago. I would love to see the authors create more of a fulfilling personal life for Ian, including a romantic relationship. As a physician who has cared for military veterans with PTSD, Ian's sterile personal life is not typical. Veterans with PTSD do often struggle with personal relationships, nightmares, flashbacks and hypervigilance issues, but many still manage to lead fulfilling lives.

I have a great fondness for all of Charles Todd's books! They are my favorites. Have read them more than once over the years. The progression of the characters over their lives is very enjoyable. The historical accounts in the books are so interesting and informative. This is one of my favorites!

I love both the Ian Rutledge and the Bess Crawford series. This was one of my favorite Bess mysteries. It was a real page turner from chapter one to the surprising ending. I was happy to read that Charles Todd is working on the next Bess adventure. Can’t wait!

Another fascinating entry in the series. The mystery was compelling and interesting on so many levels. We're introduced to a number of wonderful new characters. They weren't all nice but they were all well written with depth and layers. Thrown into the deep end, with little support from those she's depended upon in the past, Bess relies on her intelligence, training as a nurse and upbringing to help her navigate a situation that is treacherous not only for herself and Lt. Minton, but others on the periphery.There's no Simon. Simon is mentioned frequently and I had my suspicions about Captain Jackson and a possible connection between them. Didn't see the one between Major Webb and Captain Barkley however. While not in Paris, Captain Barkley's presence was definitely felt. All told, those three compensated nicely for the missing Simon. (This time) Still, I'm hoping the next book will not only involve Simon but finally include some positive movement on the Simon/Bess front.Nice segue for the next book in the closing lines....now to wait another year......