Ratings8
Average rating3.6
1931. Maisie Dobbs' new case takes her investigation into the pastoral beauty of the Kent Weald where acts of arson, theft and vandelism around the village of Heronsdene have gone suspiciously unreported for more than a decade. With the country in the grip of economic malaise, Maisie is relieved to accept an assignment from an old friend who wants her to uncover the truth behind these crimes, before he can buy part of the magnificent Sandermere estate at the heart of the village. It's hop-picking time and Londoners, including Maisie's assistant Billy Beale, wanting to escape the Smoke for the summer, set up camp in nearby fields. Gypsies, too, have arrived to work the land. Maisie discovers the villagers are bitterly prejudiced against outsiders and, even more troubling, seem possessed by the legacy of a war-time Zepplin raid. She has less than a month to find out why no one has been brought to justice and why secrecy shrouds the village. She must draw on all of her finely honed skills of detection to solve one of her most intriguing cases.
Featured Series
15 primary booksMaisie Dobbs is a 15-book series with 15 primary works first released in 2003 with contributions by Jacqueline Winspear.
Reviews with the most likes.
In her fifth outing, Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and private investigator, journeys to a village in the Kent countryside on assignment to check out a proposed land/business purchase. There she finds deep feelings of distrust toward outsiders and an old, shared secret.
This time Maisie doesn't personally face danger, but she does find a complicated mystery to unravel. At the same time there are big changes in her personal life. It is a busy time for her. As always in this series, the specter of WW1 continues to cast its dark shadow.
3.5 stars rounded up.
I think that this is my favorite Maisie Dobbs so far. I enjoyed the Gypsy story line — and the dog! — although it takes a surprisingly dark turn. A good listen!