Messenger of Truth: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
by Jacqueline Winspear
Henry Holt
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Reviewed by Andrea Sisco
Jacqueline Winspear's unique Maisie Dobbs mystery series is set in London following The Great War. Messenger of Truth is the fourth novel in the series.
Psychologist and investigator, Maisie Dobbs has learned her trade from mentor and confidant, Maurice Blanche. She's now become confident and experienced enough to solve crimes without his assistance.
It's 1931 London and controversial artist Nick Bassington-Hope falls to his death from scaffolding as he prepares for an exhibition that will present his most important and most divisive work ever to the public. The police quickly dismiss the death as an accident.
Nick's twin sister and noted journalist, Georgina Bassington-Hope is sure that her brother was murdered and hires Maisie Dobbs to investigate. No one is beyond suspicion; not Nick's artist friends, family members or even the American collector who vowed he would have Nick's newest piece--or else! Maisie Dobb's navigates family secrets, smuggling, affairs, death, and her own personal life in Messenger of Truth.
The Maisie Dobbs series is original and refreshing and I love them all. The characters are interesting, the times simpler in their own complicated way, and the London backdrop is scintillating. Maisie is a well-educated, brilliant woman who knows what she was born to do.
The only criticism I have for Messenger of Truth is that the narrative is a bit over done and long. I think it would have been a tighter book had Winspear cut some of Maisie's thoughts, descriptions and observations that really didn't advance the novel.
Armchair Interviews says: Maisie Dobbs is a winner!