A Hanging at Dawn (Bess Crawford #11.5)

This was such a tell all story in such a short space. Having read or listened to all of the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford books, I fell sure this account of Simon would not disappoint. And it did not. It gives us a glimpse of not only Simon but of the Saheb, Clarissa, Melinda, and Bess. It fleshed out their characters nicely. And I particularly liked the way the authors chose Bess mother to relate most of the details of the account. This story was more than technically correct. It was entertaining which is, after all, the purpose. Looking forward to the next books in both series!!

All Bess Crawford fans want to know more about Simon Brandon, close friend of the family. This novella unfolds his early life and explains his intimate connection with Bess parents, who consider him a sort of son, and with Bess, who once saw him as a brother and now, maybe more. So many avid Bess readers want them to marry; now that his mysterious past has been uncovered, will they? The next book in the series, An Irish Hostage set for release next summer, cant come soon enough!

Finally! We learn about the mysterious Simon & his past… I love this character & I think I as well as most have hopes hell end up marrying Bess. We shall see but Im grateful for a story solely about Sgt Major Brandon.

A “tell all” short story about Simon Brandon. I’m a fan of the Charles Todd books, especially the Ian Rutledge series but I’ve read most of the Bess Crawford books so I knew exactly who Simon was and what a major role he has played in some of the series offerings. And Simon has always been a favorite character whose history was hard to get hold of. This short story gave me all I could want regarding Simon as a young boy and during his service in the military.

The major incident happening in this story is very well written and well plotted just as I have come to expect from one of my favorite writing teams. Simon is serving in India during the time Bess and her family are there so the strong commitment to that family is fully explained for the role Simon will play in the adventures Bess finds herself in later. This is the perfect way to get to know the details about Simon which aren’t usually disclosed in the Bess Crawford books. Quite enjoyable and recommended whether you are already a fan or not.

Like other readers I know, I never used to like short stories, but I’ve learned to appreciate them in the past few years– especially when they can illuminate the backstory of characters in long-running favorite series of mine. Not all story ideas are worth a full-length novel, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth writing. Such is the case with Charles Todd’s short story, A Hanging at Dawn.

A Hanging at Dawn is all about the mysterious Simon Brandon, Colonel Crawford’s right-hand man, and Bess Crawford’s savior in Todd’s series featuring a nurse during World War I. The story is told through the older Crawfords (Aunt Melissa, Colonel Crawford, and the colonel’s wife, Clarissa) as well as Bess herself, and I certainly enjoyed learning more about these characters.

Most of all, I really appreciated learning more about Simon Brandon himself through incidents that occurred during his and the Crawfords’ time in India. What I found absolutely amazing is that the writing team of Charles Todd made this tale so suspenseful that I was worried about the outcome– even though I’m an avid reader of the Bess Crawford series and know he survives! I don’t know about you, but I consider that to be the mark of some excellent writing.

If you’re a fan of the Bess Crawford historical mystery series as am I, I don’t think you should pass up the opportunity to learn more about Simon Brandon and the other more mature characters who’ve stayed in the background. It’s going to add to your appreciation of the series. If you haven’t read any of the Bess Crawford mysteries, you’ll probably find A Hanging at Dawn to be a fine tale about the British in India; you just won’t be as invested in the characters. But who knows? You may find yourself wanting to know more about them, and you’ll know right where to go. (The first book in the series is A Duty to the Dead.)

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