Part of Maisie Dobbs, book 1
First published 2004
Maisie Dobbs receives a case that defies explanation. A man presumed dead has surfaced at the Retreat, a cooperative farm where World War I veterans work to rebuild their shattered lives. The facility serves men struggling to recover from wounds both visible and hidden, offering them purpose through agricultural labor and community. Maisie must untangle how someone declared deceased could walk among the living. Her investigation draws her into the complex world of shell-shocked soldiers and the dedicated staff who care for them. The case forces her to confront the lasting damage of war and the desperate measures people take to escape their past. As she digs deeper, Maisie discovers that death and resurrection can take many forms, and that some men will go to extraordinary lengths to leave their old selves behind.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, adult-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Retreat
Period: World War I
352 pages · Library Binding · Center Point Pub
Content warnings: mental-illness, war