An Irish Hostage: A Novel
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- Create Date：2021-06-29 11:31:12
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Charles Todd
- ISBN：1665098945
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Homerun2
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3。5 starsThe latest addition to the Bess Crawford historical mystery series。 Mother-son author team Charles Todd have two long-running series featuring characters still in the grip of World War I after the Armistice has been signed。 These are books set in a dark and confused time， after four years of battle， death and deprivation and the stories reflect that。Nurse Bess Crawford isn't quite sure what her next chapter will be， now that the war is over。 She is emotionally unwilling to move back int 3。5 starsThe latest addition to the Bess Crawford historical mystery series。 Mother-son author team Charles Todd have two long-running series featuring characters still in the grip of World War I after the Armistice has been signed。 These are books set in a dark and confused time， after four years of battle， death and deprivation and the stories reflect that。Nurse Bess Crawford isn't quite sure what her next chapter will be， now that the war is over。 She is emotionally unwilling to move back into her parents' house and resume that life， although she is quite close to them。 In the meantime， she has been asked to be part of the wedding of a fellow nurse whose life she quite likely saved during the war。 The nurse is Irish， and her parents are dead set against Bess journeying to Ireland， still in turmoil years after the Easter Rebellion。 Bess goes anyway。This story features a lot of Irish history and if it seems murky and complex， that reflects actual history。 Bess， as an Englishwoman， is less than welcome by the bride's family。 One of the bride's cousins has a price on his head and is a fugitive from the British authorities。 The bride and groom served in the war， and some feel that they are traitors to the Irish cause for fighting for England。No sooner has Bess arrived than the groom disappears。 Did the rebels kidnap him？ Did he change his mind？ Has he been killed？ There is lots of mysterious intrigue and no one can be trusted。 And there to keep an eye on Bess is Simon， longtime aide to Bess's high powered father。 The relationship between Bess and Simon is as uncertain as the other plot elements。A dark and atmospheric read。 Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review。 。。。more
Kjirstine
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My goodness。 Couldn't put this down， not necessarily because of the main plot， but because of the sub plotline。 A interesting story of the struggle for Irish independence and a gentle reminder that this was more than just history， that these were people and families。 Several different perspectives of the controversy are portrayed and I feel， well represented。 My favorite bits were the little hints about Bess's future， but I won't spoil that for the reader。 But I love the direction it's headed so My goodness。 Couldn't put this down， not necessarily because of the main plot， but because of the sub plotline。 A interesting story of the struggle for Irish independence and a gentle reminder that this was more than just history， that these were people and families。 Several different perspectives of the controversy are portrayed and I feel， well represented。 My favorite bits were the little hints about Bess's future， but I won't spoil that for the reader。 But I love the direction it's headed so far。Thanks Netgalley for an ARC。 。。。more
Maureen Mayer
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I was really hoping I’d like this book more， but I found it to be somewhat anticlimactic。Bess Crawford plans on traveling to Ireland for her friend and fellow nurse’s wedding， but since the Easter Rising， Eileen and her fiancé Michael are seen as traitors because they served in France during the Great War。 It’s not safe for the English to travel to Ireland during such dangerous times， but she decides to go anyway so she can stand by her friend’s side。 Only problem is， Michael is missing and pres I was really hoping I’d like this book more， but I found it to be somewhat anticlimactic。Bess Crawford plans on traveling to Ireland for her friend and fellow nurse’s wedding， but since the Easter Rising， Eileen and her fiancé Michael are seen as traitors because they served in France during the Great War。 It’s not safe for the English to travel to Ireland during such dangerous times， but she decides to go anyway so she can stand by her friend’s side。 Only problem is， Michael is missing and presumed to be taken captive， and without him there can be no wedding。 I thought the premise for this story was intriguing， and it had its moments of suspense。 However， the majority of the plot didn’t grab my attention， and I didn’t really care for the characters either。*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review。* 。。。more
MarySue
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An always enjoyable series！
Judy Lesley
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I've stayed away from the Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd for the last several books for various reasons but the title of this one intrigued me so I decided I wanted to read it。 This plot has Bess staying in one place for the entire story and I liked that much better。 If you have been a fan of this series you will likely remember the sinking of the Britannic as it was taking wounded soldiers from the battlefield to England and the other nurses who were on board。 This story takes us to the w I've stayed away from the Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd for the last several books for various reasons but the title of this one intrigued me so I decided I wanted to read it。 This plot has Bess staying in one place for the entire story and I liked that much better。 If you have been a fan of this series you will likely remember the sinking of the Britannic as it was taking wounded soldiers from the battlefield to England and the other nurses who were on board。 This story takes us to the wedding of one of those nurses who has asked Bess to be her wedding attendant in the tiny village of Killeighbeg in Ireland。 Bess is on leave from her nursing duties since the end of the war and at a loose end but her parents are concerned about her traveling all that way alone in the political unrest evident in Ireland。 It is 1919 but the unease from the Easter Rising in 1916 is making travel to Ireland by any British subjects a dangerous undertaking。 Then Bess comes up with a solution for how she can travel to Ireland and back safely so it is agreed that she can go。This is my favorite Bess Crawford book in the series thus far。 The dangerous political atmosphere is very well written and it brought home how insecure the lives of the Irish were during this time of unrest。 Bess had to trust her instincts when it came to who she could trust and those relationships played out in a very convincing way。 The question I've had throughout these books comes very close to being answered but right at the end it skittered off the page with no resolution。 Maybe in the next book？ I hope so。Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for an e-galley of this novel。 。。。more
J。
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Bess Crawford is back。 The Great War is over but there are troubles in Ireland。 Bess journeys to Ireland to act as bridesmaid for one of her nursing sisters。 This is not simple， there is danger。 The English are not safe， and the Irish who fought in and returned from World War I are considered traitors by the Irish "rebels"。 The groom is missing and Bess must tread carefully。 The setting was very interesting。 I knew very little of the Irish Rising or the politics of the time。 It was an uncertain Bess Crawford is back。 The Great War is over but there are troubles in Ireland。 Bess journeys to Ireland to act as bridesmaid for one of her nursing sisters。 This is not simple， there is danger。 The English are not safe， and the Irish who fought in and returned from World War I are considered traitors by the Irish "rebels"。 The groom is missing and Bess must tread carefully。 The setting was very interesting。 I knew very little of the Irish Rising or the politics of the time。 It was an uncertain and frightening time and made for an effective setting for this installment in Bess's story。 。。。more
Jo Dervan
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The Irish Hostage reviewDuring the First World War Bess Crawford， an English nurse served with Eileen Flynn， an Irish nurse， in France with the British army。 After the war ended the women returned to their homes but then Eileen asked Bess to be the maid of honor at her upcoming wedding to Michael Sullivan。 Michael was a local boy who had fought with the British in the war primarily to earn money for his impoverished family。 Ireland was still reeling from the Great Uprising in which the Irish peo The Irish Hostage reviewDuring the First World War Bess Crawford， an English nurse served with Eileen Flynn， an Irish nurse， in France with the British army。 After the war ended the women returned to their homes but then Eileen asked Bess to be the maid of honor at her upcoming wedding to Michael Sullivan。 Michael was a local boy who had fought with the British in the war primarily to earn money for his impoverished family。 Ireland was still reeling from the Great Uprising in which the Irish people sought to separate from Britain and form their own country。 The Uprising had been crushed by the British in a brutal manner。 So there was a hatred of the British by the Irish。 Bess’ family feared for her safety and tried to dissuade her from going。 However Eileen promised Bess that her cousin， Terrence， would be her protector。 Terrence had participated in the Uprising and was on the run from the British。 Major Dawson ， another Brit who been Michael’s commanding officer in France， was also in the town to be the best man。 However Bess and Major Dawson found out that Michael had disappeared a few days before the wedding。 There had been local resentment of Michael who was seen as a traitor for fighting in the British army。 Even members of Eileen’s family were against the marriage。 Search parties were organized but as the wedding for closer Michael was nowhere to be found。 Finally on the day of the wedding， a badly beaten Michael showed up at the church to marry Eileen。 Due to his condition， the couple could not leave the country as they had planned。 Michael was being treated at Eileen’s family farm when the Major disappeared。 Now Michael and Eileen refused to leave the country until the Major was found and Bess also was stuck while a new search began。This book delves into the historical background of the Easter Uprising of 1916 where the Irish rebels were brutally defeated by the British army in an effort to retain British rule。 It spotlights the division in the country between locals who wanted independence （mostly Catholics） and those who wanted to remain British subjects （mostly Protestants in northern Irish counties）。This is the 12th book in the Bess Crawford series of mysteries。 I received this ARC from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Jacque
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The Great War is ended and Bess Crawford doesn't know what she will do now。 When she is invited to be in the wedding of a fellow （Irish） nurse， she decides to go。 Ireland is dangerous， especially for the English and for anyone who served in the English military。 There was a bloody uprising in Dublin and suspicion and hatred are rampant。 When Bess arrives in Ireland， the groom has gone missing。 The groom is none too popular， either， since he served in the military during the war。 He stumbles into The Great War is ended and Bess Crawford doesn't know what she will do now。 When she is invited to be in the wedding of a fellow （Irish） nurse， she decides to go。 Ireland is dangerous， especially for the English and for anyone who served in the English military。 There was a bloody uprising in Dublin and suspicion and hatred are rampant。 When Bess arrives in Ireland， the groom has gone missing。 The groom is none too popular， either， since he served in the military during the war。 He stumbles into the church， beaten badly and lucky to be alive。 Bess must nurse him， face her feelings for Simon， decide what direction her life will go next， and try to survive long enough to get back home。 It took me a little while to get into the story， but then it was difficult to put down。 The Bess Crawford series is historical mystery， and the reader always learns a great deal about the world at that time。 The sad part is that the hatred of "others" is so prevalent in our current news stories。 An Irish Hostage is another well-written book in the series， but darker than some。 。。。more
Carolyn
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I've enjoyed all the Bess Crawford novels and Book 12 did not disappoint。 The story is set in the summer of 1919， after World War I， and finds Bess at loose ends。 Her work as a battlefield nurse has ended and she's not quite sure where life should take her next。 When her friend Eileen invites her to be her attendant at her Irish wedding， it's a welcome distraction for Bess， but her parents and her friend Simon are afraid Ireland is too unsettled and dangerous。 The Easter Rising of 1916 is still I've enjoyed all the Bess Crawford novels and Book 12 did not disappoint。 The story is set in the summer of 1919， after World War I， and finds Bess at loose ends。 Her work as a battlefield nurse has ended and she's not quite sure where life should take her next。 When her friend Eileen invites her to be her attendant at her Irish wedding， it's a welcome distraction for Bess， but her parents and her friend Simon are afraid Ireland is too unsettled and dangerous。 The Easter Rising of 1916 is still fresh in everyone's mind and her father says travel through the country by an unaccompanied English female is impossible。 Bess wins them over by arranging a direct flight with her American pilot friend （from book 11）。 Like all Todd's historical novels， meticulously researched details bring time and place alive for the reader。 。。。more
Meredith Snepp
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Thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review。I can't believe we're at #12 in this series！ I swore I wrote a review as soon as I finished this but I must have composed it in my head。 Our intrepid heroine is in Ireland this time， to stand in a wedding for a fellow nurse。 Bess is English and immediately realizes this could not only be a disadvantage but a danger。 As Bess arrives by plane in a tiny village， she is horrified to discover that the groom has gone m Thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review。I can't believe we're at #12 in this series！ I swore I wrote a review as soon as I finished this but I must have composed it in my head。 Our intrepid heroine is in Ireland this time， to stand in a wedding for a fellow nurse。 Bess is English and immediately realizes this could not only be a disadvantage but a danger。 As Bess arrives by plane in a tiny village， she is horrified to discover that the groom has gone missing-has he run off？ Been captured by the English or the Irish？ Tensions are at a breaking point in the village as the Rising is still a sore wound for everyone。 People are either convinced other folks didn't do enough， or others did too much。 Will the groom return in time for the wedding？ As always， this novel is a tightly constructed web full of history， drama， tension， and this time: the War is over。 What will Bess do （if she survives Ireland） now that she won't have soldiers to nurse？ How will Simon play into all of this？！About 3/4 of the way through the book I started quietly cursing out the author because I realized that something I've been wondering about， for the last 11 books， was actually being brought into the story。 Of course， this being a series， there is no nice neat bow on the topic。 In fact， I sat， staring at the last page as I finished， with my jaw hanging open。 I suspect this series is maybe winding down， since the driving force behind it （WWI） is now over， but if it doesn't neatly answer several lingering questions I'll riot。 Overall， a well done book and I'm already clamoring for #13 because I NEED ANSWERS PEOPLE。 。。。more
Randee Green
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Nurse Bess Crawford is back in the twelfth novel in the series， AN IRISH HOSTAGE。 With the Great War over and Bess's nursing services no longer in need in battlefield hospitals， she has returned home to England and is trying to figure out the next step in her life。 To fulfill a promise made early on in the war， Bess travels to Ireland to serve as the Maid of Honor at a fellow nurse's wedding。 Upon Bess's arrival， she is subjected to hostility from the local Irish。 The Irish are hoping for Home R Nurse Bess Crawford is back in the twelfth novel in the series， AN IRISH HOSTAGE。 With the Great War over and Bess's nursing services no longer in need in battlefield hospitals， she has returned home to England and is trying to figure out the next step in her life。 To fulfill a promise made early on in the war， Bess travels to Ireland to serve as the Maid of Honor at a fellow nurse's wedding。 Upon Bess's arrival， she is subjected to hostility from the local Irish。 The Irish are hoping for Home Rule， and they are hostile against anyone who is English or who fought for England。 Eileen Flynn and her fiancé， Michael Sullivan， have been on the receiving end of the hostility—including from the bride's extended family。 Not long before Bess arrives in Ireland， the groom goes missing。 Bess joins in on the search to find Michael before the wedding。 When Michael does show up， he is badly beaten and in need of Bess's nursing skills。 Instead of fleeing Ireland for her own safety， Bess decides to remain and care for Michael。 While trying to get Michael healed enough to leave Ireland， his best man goes missing。 Bess， along with the help of Simon Brandon and Eileen's cousin who staunchly supports the Home Rule， go in search of the missing English officer before he meets a fate worse than Michael's。 AN IRISH HOSTAGE is a great addition to the Bess Crawford series。 With the war over and Bess's days as a nursing sister almost over， it is good to see her growing and making decisions based on the future。 It's also interesting to see Bess in another hostile environment outside of France or England。 Charles Todd weaves the history of the 1916 Easter Rising throughout the novel and shows Bess （and the reader） why the Irish are so angry with England and why they feel betrayed by some of the Irish who fought for England during the war。 Some sections of the novel dragged at times， and sometimes it was a bit unbelievable as to why Bess would remain in Ireland where she was clearly in danger when she could have easily escaped back to England。 That being said， I enjoyed the novel。 And， considering the way AN IRISH HOSTAGE ended， I can't wait to see what happens next between Bess and Simon。 。。。more
Madeleine
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Honestly。。。I think this series may be reaching its natural end。
Susan Willis
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Bess attends a wedding in Ireland dispute current hostilities。 Trouble follows！ An excellent addition to this series。
Crystal Tadlock
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This book was really good！ It was a mystery that was actually eventful and curious。 It was historical， it was entertaining and even gave hint to some romance！I enjoyed the many facets of this book and the characters as well。 Some of them were quite odd and the mystery itself really quite shocked me！ There was some action in this book that kept me thinking and it was inclusive of historical aspects that were accurate。 I am rarely surprised by a book but this was a great read and I would most defi This book was really good！ It was a mystery that was actually eventful and curious。 It was historical， it was entertaining and even gave hint to some romance！I enjoyed the many facets of this book and the characters as well。 Some of them were quite odd and the mystery itself really quite shocked me！ There was some action in this book that kept me thinking and it was inclusive of historical aspects that were accurate。 I am rarely surprised by a book but this was a great read and I would most definitely recommend it！ 。。。more
Celia Morse
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World War One nurse Bess Crawford is at a crossroads。 The war is over and instead of being assigned to a convalescent hospital， she has been placed on leave and begins to consider a future outside the nursing service。 Her leave gives her the opportunity to travel to Ireland to be maid of honor at another nurse's wedding， but the groom disappears a few days before the wedding， reappearing bloody and beaten at the church just in time for the ceremony。The English are not popular in an Ireland strug World War One nurse Bess Crawford is at a crossroads。 The war is over and instead of being assigned to a convalescent hospital， she has been placed on leave and begins to consider a future outside the nursing service。 Her leave gives her the opportunity to travel to Ireland to be maid of honor at another nurse's wedding， but the groom disappears a few days before the wedding， reappearing bloody and beaten at the church just in time for the ceremony。The English are not popular in an Ireland struggling to gain independence and Bess is not welcomed by the family or the neighbors as she investigates the disappearance of the groom and his best man， an English officer。The postwar books in this long running series have fallen into a pattern with Bess in a remote， hostile environment， unable to depart or seek help to solve a mystery， saved by Simon， her father's sargeant， at the last minute。 The plot of this book is hard to believe， especially Simon's appearance and the events that save the missing major and extricate them from Ireland。 The series needs to move in a new direction to keep readers coming back。 。。。more
Literary Redhead
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I’m a Bess Crawford fangirl， and #12 in the hf series is my fav yet！ Bess， a nurse who served for the Brits in WWI France， goes to Ireland for a friend’s wedding and finds herself in a rat’s nest。 With the Irish suspicious of any Brit， Beth is in danger as she susses out the bridegroom’s disappearance and unravels intrigues and murder。 She’s a wonder！ Charles Todd’s novels make history a joy， and here we learn about the Irish Troubles and the tense relationship with England。 But what I love most I’m a Bess Crawford fangirl， and #12 in the hf series is my fav yet！ Bess， a nurse who served for the Brits in WWI France， goes to Ireland for a friend’s wedding and finds herself in a rat’s nest。 With the Irish suspicious of any Brit， Beth is in danger as she susses out the bridegroom’s disappearance and unravels intrigues and murder。 She’s a wonder！ Charles Todd’s novels make history a joy， and here we learn about the Irish Troubles and the tense relationship with England。 But what I love most is how much Bess has grown。 FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY she realizes her feelings for family friend Simon。 So many readers have BEGGED for them to marry。 Will they？ That’s the magnetic pull that hooks me most。 Book #13 can’t come soon enough！ 5 of 5 StarsPub Date 06 Jul 2021#AnIrishHostage #NetGalleyGrateful to Charles Todd， William Morrow and Custom House， and NetGalley for the ARC。 Opinions are mine。 。。。more
Leslie Zampetti
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Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House for an advance copy。 The book will be published on July 6， 2021。Todd's latest Bess Crawford mystery finds Bess headed to Ireland to serve as maid of honor for a friend's wedding。 It would be innocuous enough - except for the fact that Ireland is in turmoil after The Rising， and English folks are vilified。 Especially British army officers and nurses。As always， the setting and history are wonderful， and the mystery explores contemporary emotions at the Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House for an advance copy。 The book will be published on July 6， 2021。Todd's latest Bess Crawford mystery finds Bess headed to Ireland to serve as maid of honor for a friend's wedding。 It would be innocuous enough - except for the fact that Ireland is in turmoil after The Rising， and English folks are vilified。 Especially British army officers and nurses。As always， the setting and history are wonderful， and the mystery explores contemporary emotions at the time。 Bess must find the bridegroom who's disappeared and solve a murder， all while examining hr own prejudices and the complex issues surrounding the Troubles。Though the mystery plot is predictable， if reasonable， the real treat for series fans is Bess's growing consciousness of her feelings for Simon。 She's at a crossroads in life - in her career and her relationships - and fans will be wondering what comes next。 。。。more
Kelly
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I couldn’t wait to read this ARC edition of the Bess Crawford Mystery， An Irish Hostage。 I’m a huge fan and have read all the novels and short stories。 They are engaging， fast-paced mysteries， with just enough grit to keep them from being “cozy。” The depictions of WWI and its after-effects are well-researched and educational without being too bogged down with information。 What sets them apart from other war-time mysteries is their constant shifts between the main character’s life on the battlefi I couldn’t wait to read this ARC edition of the Bess Crawford Mystery， An Irish Hostage。 I’m a huge fan and have read all the novels and short stories。 They are engaging， fast-paced mysteries， with just enough grit to keep them from being “cozy。” The depictions of WWI and its after-effects are well-researched and educational without being too bogged down with information。 What sets them apart from other war-time mysteries is their constant shifts between the main character’s life on the battlefield and the homefront。AIH takes place just after war’s end and strong-willed nursing sister， Bess， is struggling with the decision of what to do with her future。 （We fans who have similar opinions as to what Beth should do with her future， may be pleasantly surprised by some of the developments）。 She is invited to be the wedding attendant of another nursing sister in an Irish village still seething from the outcome of The Rising。 Why Bess is so determined to go into such danger for a woman more selfish than smart is the real mystery to me。 The bride， who seems little more than a co-worker， alternates between whiny and hostile， but Bess refuses to abandon her。 The groom， an Irishman who is viewed as a traitor because of his enlistment in the British army， is missing。 His groomsman， a British officer who has the bad sense to go out walking by himself in a village full of murderous Rebels， is abducted。 One unfortunate witness is murdered， and Bess， with the help of her ever-loyal Simon （sadly missed in the last book）， brings everything to a satisfying conclusion。Bess’s character can be annoying at times—stubborn， sometimes willfully-blind， and loyal to a fault。 She becomes too emotionally involved with the problems of strangers， often at the expense of her loved ones。 I would dearly love to see someone say “no” to her once in a while， but then we probably wouldn’t have our mystery。 Still， she’s quick-witted， warm-hearted， and brave， and one can’t help but love her。 。。。more
S。 Smith
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In 1919 WWI battlefield nurse Bess Crawford is pondering whether she will - or should - remain part of the British government's nursing corps。 In most circumstances getting away to participate in a good friend's marriage would be a pleasant break from worries， but the ceremony is located in a small Irish town， and Ireland is unsafe for English citizens in the volatile environment following the Easter uprising。 Bess and the only other English wedding guest find themselves semi-isolated and surrou In 1919 WWI battlefield nurse Bess Crawford is pondering whether she will - or should - remain part of the British government's nursing corps。 In most circumstances getting away to participate in a good friend's marriage would be a pleasant break from worries， but the ceremony is located in a small Irish town， and Ireland is unsafe for English citizens in the volatile environment following the Easter uprising。 Bess and the only other English wedding guest find themselves semi-isolated and surrounded by local hostility that quickly turns lethal， with options for escape depending on the good will of a wanted Irish rebel。 The fast-moving plot provides excitement from start to finish， with a romantic twist at the conclusion pointing to interesting developments in future entries to this character-driven series。 Thanks to the publisher for supplying an advance reading copy via NetGalley。 。。。more
Laura Hill
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