THE SHATTERED TREE

By Charles Todd

This book begins during the last days of the Great War, WWI, in October of 1918. Bess Crawford is a nurse who works close to the front lines, helping to save the lives of wounded soldiers.

On this day, a casualty crosses her path. The soldier’s feet are cut up terribly from walking miles without his boots, and his French uniform has been reduced to nothing but tattered pieces of cloth. Strange thing is, however, that when the man shouts out in pain he doesn’t speak French; this wounded man is German.

This seems odd to Bess for a man who was found on the far side of the Allied lines, but the Matron in charge of the nurses explains why the man is speaking German. She believes that he must be from the area of Alsace-Lorraine—a province that was at one time French, but had been held by Germany. However, Bess isn’t convinced. She has a gut feeling about the man who states that he is Lieutenant Philippe Moreau.

Tragedy occurs for Bess when she takes the bullet of a sniper. Pulling through, she is sent to Paris for her recovery where she sees, strangely enough, the mysterious Moreau. Bess, who always has her “detective mode” running, sets out to discover if this person may just be a German spy. Following the trail of the so-called French officer, Bess finds an old friend along the way who can offer her help. It’s Captain Barkley—an American in the city of Paris looking for deserters.

As with all other stories featuring this incredible character, “The Shattered Tree” is a true spellbinder. From spies to the brutal facts of war to Bess’s unwavering determination to uncover the truth, author Charles Todd has penned yet another fantastic thriller.