World War I battlefield nurse Bess Crawford returns for a seventh excursion in this terrific and morally challenging series by Charles Todd. The mother-son writing team took a break from their Ian Rutledge mystery series to produce their first Bess Crawford novel several years ago. Thankfully, the series became so engaging that they now flip-flop between it and their Rutledge mysteries each year.

In their latest effort, A PATTERN OF LIES, Bess goes to great lengths to help out a former patient and his family with potentially fatal consequences. Readers have seen Bess placed in one perilous situation after another, typically due to her strong sense of ethics and going above and beyond for what she sees as justice in a time of war and madness.

"Charles Todd has now taken a series that was once the lighter of their two recurring sagas and produced perhaps their darkest tale yet."

Early on in A PATTERN OF LIES, we read about a deadly explosion at the Ashton Gunpowder Mill, which was run by Philip Ashton, father to Major Ashton, one of Bess’ former patients. The immediate thought is that the Germans were behind it as the mill would have been a good target for enemy attack. Unfortunately, the tide of suspicion in the town turns against the Ashton family. With the lives of men from the town of Kent lost in this explosion, retribution is sought, and it comes at Philip’s expense.

Philip is arrested while the townspeople proceed to terrorize the Ashton household. Bess goes there as a sign of allegiance to her former patient and his family, and starts doing what she does best --- finding the truth at the heart of a dangerous situation. As she begins speaking with members of the town, her suspicions lead to a mysterious British soldier, Sergeant Rollins, who may possess a deadly agenda that includes a deeply hidden vendetta against the Ashtons.

Can Bess find out the truth before Philip is inevitably found guilty of multiple counts of manslaughter? When a mysterious injured soldier turns up at the hospital where Bess and her colleagues are stationed, a sinister coincidence ties him to the events at the mill. Another nurse is nearly murdered, and Bess quickly realizes that there may be more than one person out there determined to stop her personal investigation. She soon learns that she is at the center of a series of lies and grudges that are beyond deadly and have grown to homicidal lengths.

Charles Todd has now taken a series that was once the lighter of their two recurring sagas and produced perhaps their darkest tale yet. Bess Crawford is a heroine worthy of accolades and respect, but her constant desire to right wrongs may eventually put her in a situation from which she cannot escape. I look forward to seeing what happens to her next!