South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Crawford sees both sides now in ‘Irish Hostage’; ‘Down Range’ a promising debut
Charles Todd’s novels centered around WWI are mini history lessons complemented by realistic characters who put a human face on meticulous research. Each novel by Todd — the pen name of Charles Todd and his late mother Caroline Todd (who died Aug. 28) — takes the reader deeper into the concerns, culture and aftermath of the Great War.
Set in 1919, “An Irish Hostage” gives a different view of the effects of WWI as British army nurse Bess Crawford makes plans to travel from England to Ireland to attend the wedding of Eileen Flynn, a nurse whose life she saved when the war and this series (“A Duty to the Dead”) began.
WWI is over but tensions and violence continue between England and Ireland as neither side has forgotten the 1916 Easter Rising in which Ireland tried to establish home rule by breaking away from England. The conflict also divides families and neighbors, as any Irishman who fought in France is considered a traitor, such as Eileen’s fiancé, Michael Sullivan.
Bess’ parents worry about her traveling to Ireland as British citizens have been targets of violence. The day Bess arrives in Ireland, Michael has disappeared, presumably abducted. But by whom? Bess, who has proved herself to be a cunning sleuth, finds few villagers willing to talk to her. Their hostility toward this Englishwoman is palpable.
In this 12th outing, Todd continues to explore new sides to Bess, an intelligent, compassionate woman who is contemplating her future in nursing now that the war is over. Bess’ emotional strength has allowed her to push past exhaustion to help soldiers, and, in “An Irish Hostage” to see both sides of the Irish-English conflict. Bess knows what war does to people’s souls, and does her best to offer solace.
Zoom with the author
Charles Todd will present a virtual workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 18 through the Florida Authors Academy sponsored by Murder on the Beach bookstore in Delray Beach. Titled “Research: The Foundation of Fiction,” Todd delves into the techniques and sources an author needs to create a believable world where their characters live, no matter the genre. Workshop cost is $25. Reservations are required for Zoom invite. Call 561-279-7790 or email murdermb@gate.net.
A powerful debut
Homecomings can be fraught with anxieties, built on the foundation of family history — good and bad — and expectations. Undercover DEA agent Garrett Kohl knows this all too well in “Down Range,” Taylor Moore’s powerful debut.
After years investigating the flow of the opium trade in Afghanistan, Garrett has little choice but to return to Texas’ isolated Llano Estacado region and his family’s ranch while the CIA and DEA deal with fallout from a terrorist attack in which he was involved. Garrett is accompanied by 10-year-old Asadi, the only survivor of the attack that killed his family and entire village.
Garrett hasn’t considered Texas home for years, estranged from his only brother, Bridger, and barely on speaking terms with his emotionally distant father, Butch, the only person who knows Garrett is a DEA agent. Garrett finds the ranch that his family has owned for generations in disarray, his aging father unable to keep up with the work.
The “rough and unforgiving” Texas Plains has its own war on drugs.
The influential Renegade oil company has teamed up with a Mexican drug cartel to smuggle heroin, and Garrett’s attorney brother Bridger is caught in the crosshairs because he refused to represent Renegade.
Moore melds the thriller and western genres in “Down Range,” punctuating frequent action scenes against vivid scenery that adds to the suspense. But he also concentrates on his believable characters. Garrett finds he and Bridger don’t have to be enemies, and is astounded that Butch treats Asadi as a son, easing the boy’s trauma by caring for their horses. Garrett discovers that being around family may be his salvation as he learns to be a son, a brother and also a father to his adopted son, Asadi.
Garrett — described as “the Rob Zombie version of Jeremiah Johnson” — makes for a forceful hero in “Down Range,” the beginning of what should be a long-running series.