Beloved heroine Maisie Dobbs, “one of the great fictional heroines” (Parade), investigates the mysterious murder of an American war correspondent in London during the Blitz in a page-turning tale of love and war, terror and survival.When Catherine Saxon, an American correspondent reporting on the war in Europe, is found murdered in her London digs, news of her death is concealed by British … concealed by British authorities. Serving as a linchpin between Scotland Yard and the Secret Service, Robert MacFarlane pays a visit to Maisie Dobbs, seeking her help. He is accompanied by an agent from the US Department of Justice—Mark Scott, the American who helped Maisie escape Hitler’s Munich in 1938. MacFarlane asks Maisie to work with Scott to uncover the truth about Saxon’s death.
As the Germans unleash the full terror of their blitzkrieg upon the British Isles, raining death and destruction from the skies, Maisie must balance the demands of solving this dangerous case with her need to protect Anna, the young evacuee she has grown to love and wants to adopt. Entangled in an investigation linked to the power of wartime propaganda and American political intrigue being played out in Britain, Maisie will face losing her dearest friend—and the possibility that she might be falling in love again.
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Always enjoy this author and her books. I find her plots realistic and with depth and her characters are interesting and inspiring.
AMERICAN AGENT by Jacqueline Winspear I didn’t see that resolution coming . . . I knew something was coming, but I couldn’t put all the puzzle pieces together. Much to learn from Maisie.
Her liaison from the American Embassy wasn’t much help, but Billy and Sandra helped immeasurably, and they all looked out for each other, trying to stay safe with bomb shelters and evacuation to the country.
Radio broadcasts, injured pilots visiting the states, articles written about coping with the horrors of the Blitz “from a woman’s point of view” were all part of the effort to get much needed help from the U.S., despite the efforts of “America first” factions (Joseph Kennedy, too — sigh). Respect given to Priscilla’s youngest’s pacifism also “perhaps an even harder battle” than his injured brother. (Dunkirk)
The adoption hearing for Anna adds another layer of angst. Anna is loved and loves and belongs with Maisie and family.
I had to look up “French pleat” (French roll). I love new vocab.
This whole series is wonderful. I keep wanting to go immediately to the next book
Another excellent addition to the original Massie Dobbs series.
Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs is always a good read with insights into what WWI and WWII was like for the British. This is one of her best.