An Impartial Witness

An Impartial Witness
By Charles Todd
William Morrow, 2010. 344 pgs. Mystery

While on leave during World War I, Bess Crawford observes the wife of a soldier she has nursed in an emotional and intimate embrace with another man. Then the woman is murdered and Bess comes forward with the information she has. Feeling a duty to the woman’s husband, Bess begins to investigate who the mystery man was and if he had something to do with the woman’s death. Bess’ investigation leads her into family secrets and when another woman is attacked, Bess knows she must find the murderer before more harm is done.

War causes people to behave differently and it is very interesting to see how people dealt with the trauma of war in this time period. The mystery is not as tight as the Rutledge mysteries Todd writes, but it is a good one and Bess Crawford is a determined heroine.

MN