Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Amber's Comments: This book was recommended to me by one of the friendly GPL librarians when I was looking for a good mystery to read.

This book takes place in 1929, but also flashed back to World War I. The main character, Maisie Dobbs, is a very smart woman who works as a private investigator. She doesn't just solve mysteries though; she also has great concern for everyone's well being while doing so. She began life as a servant girl, but her employer, Lady Rowan, took an interest in her and provided Maisie with a good education.

Maisie's first case as an investigator is brought to her by a troubled husband. As she digs deeper, the case ends up bringing back many painful memories for Maisie of her time as an army nurse. Her investigating goes beyond the original case, as she confronts the horrors of war and her own experiences.

Strong, smart and self-motivated Maisie is a very enjoyable character. Not many women in 1929 got to have her independece. This is a fascinating time period, and this book gives you a good taste of the issues of the day. It does touch on some more sensitive points: what happened to those who lost someone in the war? how did the soldiers who returned home deal with their experiences? how does someone transcend her born social status? These subjects are discussed without detracting from the actual story line. A great read (check status at GPL).