Seriously, the WORST entry in an otherwise entertaining and interesting series. The mystery was contrived and convoluted. The reveal of the mystery was anticlimactic and dull. ( )

Yawn. I would go so far as to give this 2.5 stars if I could. It had a promising beginning and the ending wasn't bad. It was all that tedious slogging around in the middle that did me in. Overall, not worth the $1.50 library fines I incurred because I just couldn't get through this before it was due back. ( )

With An Unwilling Accomplice have I almost read all the Bess Crawford that's been published. It's a favorite series of mine and yes I did miss my favorite Aussie in this book, however, the case was very interesting. Bess finds herself accused of being neglectful when a soldier in her care goes missing, so she decides to find out the truth. Why the man in question left the hotel after being given a medal by the King.

Charles Todd (mother and son) has written a really good story. I did for a moment towards the end of the book feel a bit like not much happened other than Bess trying to find the right wounded man (yup there are more than one). And, I kind of wanted something to happen, rather than all this investigation. However, the ending is very satisfying. A nice confrontation finally revealed the truth about why the soldier deserted. ( )

Charles Todd's 2014 Bess Crawford novel “An Unwilling Accomplice” has an intriguing beginning and an equally intriguing ending, even if the long midsection of the book gets a bit tedious.

The Great War is winding down in 1918 when Bess, a nurse stationed near the front in France, is assigned to accompany a wounded soldier who is being presented a medal by the king at Buckingham Palace. That night Sergeant Wilkins asks Bess to give him some time alone with friends, then slips away in the night. Not only does he become a deserter, but Scotland Yard soon suspects him of murder.

Bess finds herself an unwilling accomplice to these crimes. To restore her good name, she sets out to try to track down Wilkins herself. She is accompanied most of the way by Simon Brandon, an officer attached to her father and a regular in this series of novels. He gets more to do than usual this time, allowing the relationship between the pair to develop a bit, but any reader hoping for romance to develop will be disappointed yet again.

The hunt for Wilkins becomes tedious because Bess and Simon seem to go around in circles, then back and forth a lot. There's a wounded man called the Major who may or may not be Wilkins. Then there's a couple of women who may or may not be hiding a wounded soldier in their home. Lacking official standing in the case — although as an officer in wartime it would seem Simon should have more clout than he displays — the pair stumble around a lot trying to discover what's really going on, instead of simply asking direct questions. It's also hard to understand how, with the war still going on in France, both Bess and Simon have so much free time to track down a killer in England.

The ending rewards the patient reader, however, making this, if not one of the best Bess Crawford mysteries, at least a worthy addition. ( )

Horribly disappointed. This is the first book by this author I've read. The book starts out slow, but ok. I like the setting. But about halfway through I've lost interest and began looking for something else to read. I'll put it aside and will try again at a later date. Disclosure: I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. ( )

Good period piece, very complicated ( )

Rosalyn Landor is the narrator of the audiobook.
3.5 stars. ( )

I have read several other Beth Crawford mysteries and enjoyed each. This was no exception. A part of me feels that the story is unrealistic--a nursing sister during WWI who just happens to be back in England at the right time, etc.--but it nonetheless works for me. I like the mix of story line and insight into aspects of Britain during the Great War. I will definitely look for others in this series. ( )

An Unwilling Accomplice - Todd -
Audio performance by Rosalyn Landor
2.5 stars

I have the same comments each time I listen to a book from this series; weak plot, likable characters, interesting historical content, terrific narrator.

Only this time even the historical content was weak and the plot though still weak, was overly convoluted. The war recedes far into the background as Beth, with Simon, tries to track down a patient who went AWOL under her care. Oh, and he may have committed a murder. And, Beth may be implicated as an accomplice. But, she has free range during her extended leave to pursue the criminal; with the devoted assistance of Simon Brandon. And of course there is never a hint of impropriety in her relationship with Simon as they crisscross the country together, spend nights in various inns (always in separate rooms) , even sleeping in the car. Not so much as a kiss on the cheek. How boring.

I still enjoy listening to Rosalyn Landor. It passed the time while my mind was mostly on other things. ( )

Badly wounded man insists a British officer shot him. ( )

2014, Harper Audio, Read by Rosalyn Landor

Publisher’s Summary: adapted from Audible.com
Arriving in London on leave, Bess Crawford receives an unusual summons from the War Office. She's been requested to accompany a wounded soldier to Buckingham Palace, where he's to be decorated for gallantry by King George himself.

Though she is certain she's never met or nursed Sergeant Jason Wilkins, she cannot refuse the honor. Heavily bandaged and confined to a wheelchair, the soldier will be in her care for barely a day. But on the morning after the ceremony when Bess goes to collect her charge for his return journey, she finds the room empty. Both the Army and the Nursing Service hold Bess to blame for losing the war hero. There is a humiliating inquiry, and the incident is noted in her record.

More disturbing news complicates her already difficult situation: the Army now considers Wilkins a deserter, and Scotland Yard questions her when Wilkins is suspected of killing a man in cold blood. If Bess is to clear her name and return to duty in France, she must prove that she was never his accomplice. But the sergeant has disappeared again and neither the Army nor the police can find him.

My Review:
Following Wilkins’ desertion, and the tarnish it leaves on Bess’ impeccable service record, she and Simon Brandon (c’mon Simon!) set about following a trail of clues across England. They are drawn into a mystery that grows darker with every discovery. For my part, this goose chase read as convoluted – and I did not appreciate the gross coincidence that appears late in the novel in order to resolve the mystery.

Certainly not one of my favourites in this series. But, overall, I am enjoying and intend to continue. Next up is A Pattern of Lies. ( )

I always love to spend time in nurse Bess Crawford's world. Even though these mysteries are set in the dark years of World War I, you come away from the books inspired by the character, sense of duty, and desire to set the world right of Bess and Simon. (Am I the only one who hopes for a romance in their future?) ( )

The latest in the Bess Crawford, WWI nurse series - I really enjoy these books. In this one, Bess is requested by name to escort a patient to a ceremony where he and other wounded soldiers will be lauded by the King. Unlike the other wounded, he has no family to witness the ceremony and the next morning, he has disappeared from his room. Bess is accused of being his accomplice in deserting the Army and reprimanded by the nursing corps. To regain her good name she, with the help of her father's assistant, Simon, search the countryside following scant clues to locate the missing man. This is a little harder since he was heavily bandaged and neither of them can remember quite what he looks like. ( )

3.5 Stars ( )

At times this one felt like Bess and Simon were chasing after ghosts. The Bess Crawford series has good characters and atmosphere. Not as much depth as Maisie Dobbs, but a good fill in while I wait for the next Jacqueline Winspeare. Satisfying mystery. I look forward to the next one. ( )

I've long been a fan of Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series, and this book has a truly intriguing mystery. First of all, how did a man confined to a wheelchair manage to vanish without a trace? Secondly, how could he have committed murder? And why? This plot really had my deductive juices flowing.

Unfortunately An Unwilling Accomplice is probably the weakest book in the series, and it has everything to do with its too-large cast and its very uneven pacing. The story is good for showing readers just how determined (or stubborn) Bess Crawford is and how seriously she takes her profession. She becomes obsessed with finding out what happened and risks getting into even more trouble with the Army and the nursing service.

But the pacing of this book is almost its undoing. For much of the time the story drags out interminably, adding many secondary characters who are easy to confuse. Just when I would wonder if anything significant were ever going to happen-- BAM!-- the pace would click into breakneck speed for a bit before slowing back down to a crawl. It's a shame because-- as I've already said-- the mystery is a good one.

I'm still far from tiring of Bess Crawford, and it's the autumn of 1918. What is she going to do once World War I is at an end? I look forward to what Charles Todd may have in store for us. ( )

First, try for me with this series and I will try again. Convoluted rather than intriguing, good characterization within a meager plot premise. Lots of wandering through the countryside; seeking clues leading to a fairly obvious conclusion followed by a "happy days" accounting of the military characters. The book did a good job of demonstrating, without preaching, both the political blunders and devastating casualties of the Great War. ( )

Bess is asked to escort a wounded soldier to Buckingham Palace so he can received his medal of honor. He later goes AWOL and Bess is accused of helping him. She sets out to clear her name with help of the family friend, Sgt Major Simon. ( )

I received this book from the Early Reviewers program. I have read all the Bess Crawford mysteries by Charles Todd, and thought that this was another excellent entry in the series. I particularly enjoyed that we got to see a lot more of Simon in this book and he joins Bess to track down a soldier who disappeared while under Bess's care. Lots of fun and definitely recommended. ( )

Title: An Unwilling Accomplice (A Bess Crawford Mystery #6)
Author: Charles Todd
Pages: 337 (advance reader’s edition)
Year: 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
It is autumn 1918 and Bess Crawford is summoned to London to accompany a wounded war hero as he accepts a medal from the King of England for his meritorious service. After receiving the medal, the wounded soldier disappears, leaving Bess to face a charge of dereliction of duty. In order to clear her name and restore her reputation, Bess sets out to find the man. She enlists the help of the ever-stalwart family friend, Simon.
After setting off to track the man through hill and dale, they discover more and more questions about who they are tracking. Is it even the right man? How could he possibly just disappear when he was confined to a wheelchair? What is he up to? Then, a soldier on extended leave home is found hanging from an iron bridge, murdered. A witness places Bess’s missing soldier on the bridge around the time of the murder. Once she arrives, she is warned off by the local inspector, but gets a clue to where the man might have gone next. Bess and Simon encounter person after person who is close-mouthed and unwilling to give them any information. They follow what they hope is his trail and wind up in an area of three small villages. Is Bess’s missing soldier really an assassin? Who else could be helping keep him hidden? Is he even in this area where Bess and Simon are searching?
The mystery was the usual top-notch quality I’ve come to expect from Charles Todd, but I just felt too much time was spent chasing around the countryside. I thought it drug the story down a bit. Other than that, I enjoyed revisiting Bess and I was glad to spend much more time with Simon in the story. I admire the grit and determination and strength of Bess to see justice done no matter how tired she is or how hungry she is or what the cost is to herself. There is a twist toward the end of the story that I wasn’t expecting that made the story more interesting. I look forward to the next adventure of Bess Crawford and can’t wait to see what happens!
My rating is 4 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/. Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

This was my second Bess Crawford book by Charles Todd and I can't say that I enjoyed it as much as my first. It started well and then all of a sudden it was just a visit to this inn, that inn and nothing was happening. I know they had to try and sort it all out to clear Bess' name but it was a touch drawn out. i do, though appreciate the attention paid to historical detail in both aspects of war and life. ( )

I had never read any books in the Bess Crawford series before I read this one, but as a fan of the Maggie Hope WWII series, I was looking forward to this, as it seemed like a similar kind of story.

It started out really well, the plot drawing me in right away as Bess is unwillingly dragged into a British soldier's plan to desert his post after being honored by the King for his service. The first 50 pages flew by. But then, as Bess (and later, Simon) arrive in the English countryside to track down the missing soldier, the plot dragged to a halt. Back and forth from inn to inn in a series of small towns, running down false leads - it became so tedious! I wanted more interaction between Bess and Simon on the relationship front! The various twists, turns, and dead-ends of the plot became hard to follow, and I found myself skimming through some sections, because I just wanted to get on with it and finish the book. I'm still not sure I totally grasp the ending and how everything was wrapped up, but to be honest, I'm not sure I even care.

As other reviewers have stated, I wish there had been more time spent on character development. I wanted to get to know Simon better - here, he just seemed like a glorified chauffeur for Bess as she traipsed around the countryside. Some plot points required some suspension of reality - I find it hard to believe that a nurse like Bess would have been so involved in this - and the reasoning behind her wanting to locate this soldier seemed tenuous. And would she REALLY have had that much leave?

Overall, while I didn't feel lost coming into the series at this point (a good thing), and the author didn't feel the need to reexplain everything that happened in past books (another good thing), I don't think I'm going to seek out other books in this series. ( )

While I really like the setting and the plot ideas, I'm getting discouraged with Charles Todd. So much time is spent rushing around England and so little time on character development. In this one Bess and Simon track down a deserter whose dissapearance causes Bess to be accused of being an accomplice. ( )

While on leave in England from her position as a nursing sister on the battlefields of France in World War I, Bess Crawford has “lost” a soldier in her care. In an effort to clear her name Bess searches for the deserter, Sergeant Wilkins, who is then additionally under suspicion of murder. Joined by her platonic counterpart, Simon (a Sergeant-Major), the search is on for the missing soldier. This leads them to a cluster of three villages. Travelling repeatedly through these towns they follow numerous leads in an effort to find a murderer and save Sister Crawford’s professional integrity. As in any murder mystery there are multiple suspects and red herrings - just a few too many of each which end up muddling the plot.

Bess is an enjoyable character, professional and calm even in the most difficult situations. The book reflects the difficulties of wartime and the more formal hierarchies of social status in this time period. It was a cozy historical mystery to read on an autumn day. ( )

The novel opens with battlefield nurse Bess Crawford summoned to the war department in London. She is ordered to escort a wounded soldier to Buckingham Palace to be decorated by King George.

A day after the ceremony, the soldier, Sgt. Jason Wilkins disappears. Bess is questioned about his disappearance and accused of dereliction of duty in permitting him to go AWOL.

What follows is Bess's efforts along with her friend, Simon Brandon, to search the English countryside and locate the missing soldier and thus, to clear Bess's name.

Through the eyes of Bess, we view the English landscape and observe many of the victims of WWI, both military and civilian.

One of Bess's friends sums up the true cost of the war. "I think the greatest cost of the war is in lost friends...All the young men I've danced with...played tennis with and dallied with, are gone."

In the midst of the story Bess and Simon come upon a town where a wealthy woman is caring for a wounded officer. Thinking that it might turn out to be Sgt. Wilkins, they question the woman. In this case there is a head wound. It isn't Wilkins but we observe another casualty. The soldier has a head wound that causes moments of irrational behavior.

This was an easy read where I could imagine the countryside and what Bess and Simon were going through. I was a bit confused with the conclusion but overall enjoyed the story. ( )