The Walnut Tree Audiobook By Charles Todd cover art

The Walnut Tree

A Holiday Tale

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The Walnut Tree

By: Charles Todd
Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham
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About this listen

"I was in Paris the day the French Army was mobilized."

In 1914, while visiting her friend Madeleine, Lady Elspeth Douglas's life is thrown into chaos when war breaks out and the Germans quickly overrun Belgium, threatening France. Having just agreed to marry Alain, Madeleine's dashing brother, Lady Elspeth watches him leave to join his unit, and then she sets out for England, only to find herself trapped on the French coast.

Caught amid a sea of stranded travelers, terrified refugees, and wounded men overflowing the port of Calais, the restless Elspeth - daughter of a Highland aristocrat whose distinguished family can trace its roots back to the court of Mary, Queen of Scots - decides to make herself useful, carrying water to weary soldiers near the Front. It is an act of charity that almost gets her killed when enemy shells begin to explode around her.

To her rescue comes Captain Peter Gilchrist, who pulls her away from the battle and leads her to safety. But before they can properly say good-bye, Elspeth and Peter are separated.

Back in London, surrounded by familiar comforts, Elspeth is haunted by the horrors she witnessed in France. She also cannot forget the gallant Peter Gilchrist, even though she has promised herself to Alain.

Transformed by her experience, Elspeth goes to London and enrolls in a nursing course, where she meets a fellow nurse in training, Bess Crawford. It is a daring move, made without the consent of Elspeth's guardian, her cousin Kenneth, a high-handed man with rigid notions of class and femininity.

Yet Elspeth Douglas is a woman with a mind of her own, which - as she herself says—is a blessing and a curse. She is determined to return to the battlefields of France to do her part . . . and to find the man she has no right to love, no matter how far Cousin Kenneth may go to stop her. But before she can set things right with Alain, he goes missing and then Peter is gravely wounded. In a world full of terror and uncertainty, can the sweetness of love survive or will Elspeth's troubled heart become another casualty of this terrible war?

A poignant, compelling tale brimming with adventure, danger, and love, The Walnut Tree is an enchanting holiday gift and a wonderful companion to Charles Todd's acclaimed Bess Crawford series.

©2012 Charles Todd (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers
20th Century Historical Mystery Romance Suspense Thriller & Suspense England Fiction Exciting
Engaging Storyline • Compelling Narrative • Well-written Romance • Heartwarming Tale • Gripping Historical Details
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Would you consider the audio edition of The Walnut Tree to be better than the print version?

DId not read the print version, but I love to listen and to read Charles Todd novels.

What other book might you compare The Walnut Tree to and why?

A lot like the Bess Crawford series, Bess was even in this book. A little too much like Bess Crawford actually.

What does Fiona Hardingham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

That beautiful Scottish accent!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Hmmm, I always listen in my car, so that's hard to say.

Any additional comments?

Keep them coming, Charles Todd!!!

Love Charles Todd!

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Loved Lady Elspeth and her desire to be of value despite or in spite of her class. Such a different point in time from our own and yet I felt each person's motivation was genuine and and I understood. My eyes have been opened a little wider in understanding just how difficult the war was in every conceivable way and how brave they all truly were.

Loved it!

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I liked the characters and the occasional return of Bess Crawford. The performance was fine for English accents but her French is deplorable.

Very interesting story lines

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The team of Charles Todd write great heroines for their World War One stories. Bess Crawford makes a cameo appearance but the story has a different set of characters. The main character is a Scots noblewoman. The descriptions of France, England, and Scotland are well done and the reader is excellent. This is a good listen for anyone looking for a quaint holiday story - more a novella than a meaty novel.

Great addition to WW1 Mysteries

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I found this book because I had just completed reading another book narrated by Fiona Hardingham and searched under her name to find another book narrated by her as I enjoyed the first one so much. NOT dissapointed! Looking for another one of her narrations now. Also very interested in WWI books that are historically correct but not too graphic.

Narrator Fiona Hardingham

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This was less engaging than other novels by Charles Tod, but I still enjoyed it.

Engaging and enjoyable…

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I loved the reader and the story. I listen to many audiobooks and this is one of my favorites!

Beautiful story!

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I really enjoyed this, nice follow up to the Bess Crawford series. Loved it, great like the other Charles Todd books❤

Great read

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Worst narration!!! Can’t abide the voice, the mispronunciations and overall annoying timber. Totally ruined any interest in continuing to listen.

Worst narration ever!

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This review is from: The Walnut Tree: A Holiday Tale (Bess Crawford Mysteries) (Kindle Edition)
I don't give out a lot of five star reviews but this book deserves everyone of those five stars. I'm not overly sure why it's called "A Holiday Tale" because it is NOT a Christmas book or any other holiday you can think of story. I can in a way understand being called that, but it is far to complicated to go into here.
This is the story of a young titled English woman living in France when WWI breaks out. She sees the need of nurses and travels back to London to train to become a nursing sister and returns to France to nurse the wounded and dying. She hides the fact that she is Lady Elspeth, from the doctors and other nurses. I'll leave it there but what a wonderful historical novel. I both read and listened to the audible version. The Audible narrator was the best I have ever heard. English, French and Scottish accents were impeccable! I finally gave up reading and listened only. First rate everything. Clean book. No swearing, no violence, no immorality issues. Don't miss out on this book.

Brilliant Narrator!

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