Part of Maisie Dobbs, book 14
First published 2018
Britain has declared war on Germany, and Maisie Dobbs faces a puzzling case. A young apprentice has vanished while working on a secret government project. Maisie begins her search in the Hampshire countryside as devastating news filters back from France about thousands of stranded soldiers on the beaches. The threat of invasion looms over England. Her investigation pulls her into London's criminal underworld, where a powerful figure exploits wartime chaos for profit. The case reveals how deeply money connects to warfare. Meanwhile, someone close to Maisie makes a choice that will alter his future permanently. As Maisie closes in on answers, she realizes the final confrontation could destroy her own cherished hopes. She must weigh the personal cost of pursuing justice against a dream she desperately wants to achieve.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, personal-stakes, secrets-and-lies
Setting: England, France, Hampshire, London
Period: World War II
326 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: war