The Walnut Tree: A Holiday Tale

As a fast and true fan of the Charles Todd novels I didn't quite know what to expect with this novel. This book is lovely, it is interesting, and it is as well written as any Charles Todd I've ever read. I have to admit to being rather surprised to find that it is strictly a romance. Lady Elspeth Douglas accepted a ring as a token of love and friendship on the part of Frenchman Alain Villard the evening before he left Paris to join his regiment. Lady Elspeth is not sure of her own feelings for Alain, but finds that she has agreed to allow him to approach her guardian regarding marriage when he returns from what they all believe will be a short time of combat against the Germans. Eventually Lady Elspeth is free of her obligation to Alain's sister and is ready to return to England. On her way to the coast from Paris she sees wounded soldiers awaiting transport back to England and tries to help in even the smallest way. She is spotted by an old friend now serving with his Scottish regiment, Captain Peter Gilchrist, who tries to make sure she gets to Calais to board a ship back to England. Unfortunately, Peter must remain with his men who are engaged in a desperate fight to hold their position. In the ensuing chaos Peter and Elspeth become separated.Perhaps if I were not so familiar with the Inspector Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford series by these same authors I could have simply accepted this novel as a romantic diversion and thought no more about it. But since the other two series always involve mysteries to be solved I expected this novel to do the same. Especially since Bess Crawford makes some lightening quick appearances. That was not the case though, so what was left was a wartime romance where a young woman who has grown up under impressive privileged circumstances takes on a career in nursing which was considered much beneath her social position. Elspeth Douglas is a very independent young woman and I really liked her character. There were numerous instances of comparing the situation she found herself in at the moment with what she was accustomed to and I liked the way Elspeth learned from new experiences and grew as a person. She had the potential to be a really awful snob, but in order to "do her part" for the war effort she learned quickly and well how to be simply a young woman from a good family to all she met. No mention by her of the fact that her guardian was an Earl who would certainly not allow her to ruin her chances at an important marriage simply to be of help during a war.As a love story the plot does work, with conflict about how Elspeth really feels about both Alain and Peter and how she can help each of them as they recover from the ravages of combat. The imagery of the walnut tree is moving and meaningful. If you pick this book up and begin reading it as an example of the difficulties facing the French and the British at the very beginning (July 1914) of World War I you will find it a pleasure to read. There is no mystery involved here, just the struggle of a young woman to contribute what she feels she can do toward the war effort and her difficulties in recognizing true love. I just wish I hadn't kept waiting for the mystery to start.

I have read all of Todd's Ian Rutledge mysteries, more more recently have enjoyed the adventures of Bess Crawford, a Nurse in the Great War. I have found the Crawford mysteries, with the exception of the first one DUTY TO THE DEAD, not as believeable as Ian Rutledge, not Crawford herself, but the senarios she finds herself in. I looked forward, however to reading this holiday story about a friend of Bess Crawford, Lady Elizabeth Douglas. The story opens with Elizabeth Visiting an old friend in Paris. It is the summer of 1914 and she falls in love with her friend's wealthy and eligible brother-in-law Alain who must leave for the front as soon as the couple declare their love for one another. Trapped in France, Elizabeth has a difficult time getting back to England. First she encounters either spies or art thieves. (I think the Todd's couldn't decide which one, but it could have been left out since it had no real bearing on the rest of the story. As mystery writers, I guess the duo just had to include some element of that in the story.) Then she meets an old friend Peter Gilchrist, an officer in the British army who saves her from falling into the hands of the Huns. We assume this encounter occurs sometime in the fall of 1914, which would have made it part of the first battle of Ypres, although the lack of clarification as far as time is concerned is one of the weaknesses of the story.Now this senario establishes the love triangle which dominates the rest of the story. Should Elizabeth stay true to Alain who is badly wounded and captured by the Germans or pursue her growing attraction to Gilchrist who is also eventually wounded and convalescing in England. Elizabeth enrolls in a nursing course andthat is where she encounters Bess Crawford. They become flat mates in London. What is not explained is what type of nurse Elizabeth becomes. Is she a VAD, a volunteer, or like Bess a nursing sister in the Queen Alexandra Nursing Corps? If she is supposed to be the latter, that was a year long training program and there could be no way that Lady Elizabeth could be back in France nursing to encounter Gilchrist again. In which battle is the gallant captain wounded? Is it 1915 or 1916? Bess, in the first Crawford mystery, goes to the Mediterranean in 1916. There is no mention of that here, so we have to assume that this novel takes place earlier. The timing and lack of historical details are its greatest weakness. I think the authors sacrificed historical accuracy to love, but it left the reader confused. Too much happens in a short period of time. The Walnut Tree is really a misnomer. It only figures in the story briefly to set up rhe holiday idea.Will Elizabeth figure in other Crawford mysteries? If so, get the sequence of historical events . The art thief/spy senario was also not very well thought out. At first I thought Elizabeth was going to spy for her country , but I guess that was just too many story lines to resolve in a relatively brief tale. Ultimately the Todd's do a better job with mystery and intrigue and with romantic relationships. None of them seem particularly believeable, whether it is Ian Rutledge or Bess Crawford or Elizabeth Douglas. Better human interaction would make a better story. The Todd's might learn something from reading Barbara Cleverly's Joe Sandidlands mystery novels.

I have read most of Charles Todd's and (Mom)books, I find the American spelling irritating, The English do not use the word Gotten or Off-Of, and we have pavements not sidewalks. These and others are in all their books. They need a good ENGLISH editor, otherwise a Good read

Bought as a present. Beautiful book. Arrived very speedily and in perfect condition.

Another lovely Charles Todd book. Very well researched as to the peroid. If you like Bess Crawford you will love this.

Excellent couldn't put it down a great read a story that keeps you wanting to get to the end brilliant

I loved this book. I have read all of the Charles Todd books and look forward to each new publication.This book was a step away from their usual hero and heroine series. It was masterful.Congratulations and thank you. I loved this Holiday Tale.