A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd

Bess Crawford, battlefield nurse, is witness to the devastating casualties of WWI, and her dedication and compassion for the wounded and dying in her care prompt her to agree to the deathbed request of one patient she has grown particularly fond of, Arthur Graham. She is then duty-bound to personally deliver his cryptic message—“Tell Jonathan I lied. I did it for Mother’s sake. But it has to be set right.”—to one of his brothers in England. Delivering his message introduces her to a prominent family who obviously has something to hide and eventually resents her intrusion into their family secrets. It also introduces her to another of Arthur’s brothers, who was hurried off to an asylum in his youth after being accused of the hideous murder of the family maid. Bess cannot rest until she discovers the connection between that event, Arthur’s message, and other suspicious deaths in the village, even while placing her own life in danger. A Duty to the Dead is the first in a series and is recommended for those who like the equally exceptional and determined sleuth, Maisie Dobbs, and for those who like historical mysteries and psychological suspense.