Synopsis
It's 1938 and Maisie Dobbs is back in England. The German government has agreed to release a British subject from prison, but only if he is handed over to a family member. Because the man's wife is bedridden and his daughter has been killed in an accident, the Secret Service wants Maisie - who bears a striking resemblance to the daughter - to retrieve him. However, the man she holds responsible for her husband's death has learned of her journey, and is also desperate for her help...
Release date: September 22, 2016
Publisher: Harper
Print pages: 320
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The setting is only a little in London, but mostly in Munich. The author is great at conveying the mood of the setting. The plot is going undercover to impersonate a man's daughter to get him out of Dachau, the only concentration camp in Germany, and then in her spare time find Elaine and convince her to return to England. But things don't go as planned with either assignment. The man who is in Dachau as Mr. Leon Donat isn't who he says he is so Maisie must find the man to rescue him. Elaine has been setup for murder of a soldier and Maisie is trying to keep her from being arrested. With the complications it keeps the tension up and I was glued to the story.
This isn't a whodunit, so there isn't a killer reveal. Just when I thought we were at the conclusion, Maisie has still more to accomplish before she can get the @$#* out of there. This ratchets up the final chapter's suspense. Very well done.
The wrap-up shows Maisie taking steps for her future and showing healing from her grief. I appreciated ending on an upside for Maisie.
The Maisie Dobbs series has won several awards and this book displays why the accolades. This has everything: great historical detail, just complicated enough plot, complex characters, the setting used optimally, and plenty of high stakes tension. I can't recommend highly enough.
Rating: Near Perfect
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