It's been a long time since I read the first Maisie Dobbs, and I remember being really enthralled with the parallels between the mystery/crime portion and Maisie's personal life. This was a less strong second installment, but still gave historical fiction, WWI tidbits, while keeping an interesting mystery alive. Unfortunately, this was much less personal for Maisie- and kind of dragged on despite an interesting subject.
This time, Maisie, personal investigator for private cases is hired to find a missing daughter of a Self-Made Supermarket Millionaire. This ends up coinciding with a concurring investigation of the daughter's old friends being murdered-one by one. What is a coincidence? What isn't? Whose behind the murders? Are they related to Charlotte, the daughter's disappearance?
The best part of the series I've decided is the WWI insight. I feel like I learn something about the time period just by reading the books. The white feather reveal was very historic, and made the learning lesson fun. The sidekick's PTSD (view spoiler)[ turned cocaine addiction (hide spoiler)] made the subject real, understandable, and was handled without judgment or criticism. The weaknesses in the book are portrayed by everything being so 'perfect'. Everything always falls into place for Maisie, and it makes the story a bit unbelievable.
I'm still enjoying this series, although some of the books are not quite as good as others. I agree that the WWI info is very interesting and the lead up to WWII is intriguing as well.
This time, Maisie, personal investigator for private cases is hired to find a missing daughter of a Self-Made Supermarket Millionaire. This ends up coinciding with a concurring investigation of the daughter's old friends being murdered-one by one. What is a coincidence? What isn't? Whose behind the murders? Are they related to Charlotte, the daughter's disappearance?
The best part of the series I've decided is the WWI insight. I feel like I learn something about the time period just by reading the books. The white feather reveal was very historic, and made the learning lesson fun. The sidekick's PTSD (view spoiler)[ turned cocaine addiction (hide spoiler)] made the subject real, understandable, and was handled without judgment or criticism. The weaknesses in the book are portrayed by everything being so 'perfect'. Everything always falls into place for Maisie, and it makes the story a bit unbelievable.