IN THIS GRAVE HOUR
by Jacqueline Winspear (Allison & Busby £19.99)
WE FIRST encountered Maisie Dobbs as a young widow from the Great War determined to make her way in a man’s world. now, a string of successes credited to her detective agency has brought her into contact with the intelligence services.
With the start of another war bringing an influx of political refugees, Maisie is set the task of tracking down a killer who is targeting Belgian resistance veterans. little in the case makes sense, until she digs deep into the background of the victims to discover a tragedy that long predates 1939.
the appeal of the novel is in Winspear’s skill in creating a setting that draws on a close knowledge of the period.
the build-up of war fervour is frighteningly real. When we leave Maisie, she is preparing to play her part in the unfolding conflict. the forces of oppression are in for a bumpy ride.