The third book in the Louise Pearlie Mysteries is “an entertaining combination of mystery, adventure, and romance, with a great sense of place and time” (Historical Novel Society). Young widow Louise Pearlie seizes a chance to escape the typewriters and files of the Office of Strategic Services, the United States’ World War II spy agency, when she’s asked to investigate a puzzling postcard … puzzling postcard referred to OSS by the US Censor. She and FBI agent Gray Williams head off to St. Leonard, Maryland, to talk to the postcard’s recipient, one Leroy Martin. But what seemed like a straightforward mission to Louise soon becomes complicated. Leroy and his wife, Anne, refuse to talk, but as Louise and Williams investigate, it soon becomes clear that Leroy is mixed up in something that looks a lot like treason. But what? Louise is determined to find out the truth, whatever the cost . . .
“A very good entry in this new and promising series.” —Booklist
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I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.
This is the third book in the Louise Pearlie series. It is a standalone book and can be read without having read the prior two books in the series. There are some references to events which occurred in the prior books but the author provides quick summaries of those events and the events are not crucial to understanding the current plot. However, this is a good series and the characters within the series do continue to develop so, if possible, it is recommended that you start with the first book in the series, “Louise’s War.”
The series takes place during WWII and the story contains the vernacular and belief systems of the time – especially about women and races. What is so interesting about this series is how Louise, the MC, while well aware of the social mores of the day, tries to find a path to assert her value. She constantly worries about losing her position – and having to go back to living with her parents – over some of her decisions and assertions – especially to men. At one point, Louise is sent out with a less-experienced male counterpart to investigate a postcard. He, to Louise’s chagrin, creates a series of errors in the investigation, but, because of her gender – she allows him to take the lead. It is only afterwards, when she is asked directly that she divulges her thoughts to her superiors. While Louise is slowly growing in the series, it is clear that she is still hindered by societal norms of the time. I also really enjoyed the references to prices, rationing, and available food items at the time.
The narrator, Jenny Hoops, as always, is superb in this series.
I’ve been enjoying Sarah Shaber’s Louise Pearlie WWII Mysteries. “Government worker” is all Mrs. Pearlie will say about her work, but she’s so much more than a file clerk, and worthy of so much more respect than she gets in a time when women’s work is “expendable.” LOUISE’S DILEMMA is third in the series, following WAR and GAMBLE and followed by BLUNDER, CHOICE, and LIES. I love knowing there are more to come).
Filing all day, with fingers taped and sore, adding to the card catalog of documents (two million cards and more every day), an important contribution to the intelligence needed to win a war, can still become tedious. A mysterious postcard from France gives reason to go into the field to prove herself more able than the men who are (or think they are) in charge. Attention to small details and making the effort to befriend others brings needed answers, and the occasion to display courage and resourcefulness and a sense of responsibility.
Details of war rationing and cookbooks make me appreciate the sacrifices and rationing my grandmother told of, and as Louise mentions, U.S. residents had it much better than those in England. A bit of history makes the adventure that much more real. The books are hard to put down, and so satisfying.
espionage, nazis, FBI, women-sleuths, suspense, friendship, Washington DC, WW2
1943 Washington office of the OSS. Louise Pearlie is a file clerk supervisor who has had an experience with the more active side of the agency in order to help a dear friend trapped in Vichy France. This time she winds up with a terribly green agent who nearly blows the whole investigation into a peculiar postcard sent to an oysterman. Later she winds up with an FBI agent on a ramification of the same case and her resourcefulness is tested to the limit. Excellent read!
Narrator Jenny Hoops makes it all seem current and real while giving the characters depth beyond the written word.