In A Question of Honor, we start the story in India, 1908, where Bess as a child learns that Lieutenant Wade, a man in her father's regime has killed both his parents in India and three people in England, but he disappears before they catch him. And, he is presumed dead after a while when no traces of him are found. A decade later Bess learns from a dying man in France that Lieutenant Wade could be still alive...

The previous book, An Unmarked Grave, was the first book in this series that I didn't find as excellent as the rest so I was hopeful that the next one would be better. And it was. The story in this book is more interesting and I found it hard to put the book down.

The book is really intriguing to read. Bess is trying to find out if Lieutenant Wade still alive, and if he is what is he doing fighting in the front and was he really guilty of the crimes in India and England? Bess and Simon Brandon (he works for her father) are working together trying to find out the truth without involving Bess father, Colonel Crawford because the killing is still a stain on the Colonels regiment's reputation and Bess doesn't want to involve her father if it turns out that Wade isn't alive. So, she travels to the village where the killing of a family took place and tries to find out more about the murdered family and the connection to Lieutenant Wade. But, that's not that easy, some people there are even quite hostile towards her. But, Bess won't give up.

What I love about this book is that it's like a puzzle, you have to be patient, piece after piece is revealed during the progress of the story until the truth is revealed in the end. I also loved that my favorite Aussie, Sergeant Larimore made a cameo, although I wish he had a bigger part in the book. But still I love every mention of him in the books, like this one where she met him in France as she tends to wounded soldiers:

I was always happy to see this cheeky Australian. He had helped me once when I needed help desperately and I was fond of him. Dangerous to care about anyone in wartime, but still…

Looks like Bess is quite fond of Larimore as well! I must admit that I hope they will end up together. I just love every scene with them together.

I recommend this series to anyone that likes to read historical mysteries, especially books that take place during WW1. I enjoy these books very much and every book can be read as a stand-alone.

Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede ( )

Much better than the last couple novels in the series. ( )

A Question of Honor - Todd
Audio performance by Rosalyn Landor
3 stars

In this installment, it is fortunate that Bess Crawford is a fluent Urdu speaker when a dying patient wishes to impart important information about a murderous criminal. The criminal is (possibly) a former member of her father’s Indian regiment. He is also (apparently) a serial killer, who having escaped justice is now an enlisted corporal serving his majesty in the trenches of WW1.

His identification and capture is imperative to the honor of the regiment. It’s all up to Bess (and Simon), when she isn’t occupied with saving lives in field hospitals or escorting patients across the torpedo infested English Channel. (As an unnecessary aside, she has tea with Rudyard Kipling.)

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

A Question of Honor
4 Stars

WWI nurse, Bess Crawford, becomes involved in a decade old murder investigation when, moments before his death, an Indian Subedar informs her that he has seen a killer from the past. During her childhood in India, an officer from her father's regiment was accused of murdering five people, but disappeared before he could be brought to trial. This incident left a profound mark on the Colonel and his men for whom honor and duty are paramount. Now Bess has an opportunity to look into the case and discovers that all is not as it seems and perhaps the officer is innocent after all.

Despite the numerous coincidences that move the plot forward and enable Bess to solve the case, this is still a significant improvement on the previous book. The mystery is interesting with well-fleshed out suspects, a logical motive and an appropriate perpetrator.

The information on the fostering of English children born in India is very compelling and demonstrates that little about human nature has changed over time. Moreover, the descriptions of the conditions in the trenches and the injuries sustained by the soldiers add an excellent sense of realism to the narrative and immerse the reader into the wartime situation.

The one minor issue with the book is that the romance between Bess and Simon is taking too long to get going. It is time to shape up or ship out!
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I have read all of the books in this series in order. I enjoyed them all, including this one, but the flashbacks to India were a bit more work than some of them. Love the characters and the setting. The writing as usual is fully convincing and atmospheric. ( )