Part of Maisie Dobbs, book 17
First published 2022
Ferry pilot Jo Hardy flies a Supermarine Spitfire to Biggin Hill Aerodrome when gunfire erupts from the ground below. She lands safely, then returns on foot to investigate. In a nearby barn, she finds an American serviceman tied up and gagged. After Jo frees him, military police take the man into custody as a suspect in another soldier's disappearance. Two days later, a second ferry pilot crashes and dies in the same area where Jo came under attack. Jo turns to psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs for help. Maisie faces her own challenges. Her husband works at the American embassy, securing protection for visiting First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. German agents circle the high-value target. Evidence suggests the ferry pilot's death connects to the captured American soldiers and the threat against Mrs. Roosevelt. Maisie must solve the mystery to protect both the First Lady and the imprisoned serviceman. Meanwhile, her young daughter Anna struggles with her own wartime difficulties.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, mystery, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family, investigative-journalism
Setting: Biggin Hill Aerodrome, American Embassy
Period: World War II
358 pages · Hardcover · Harper