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Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs historical mysteries have consistently drawn comparisons with the work of P. D. James, Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton. Her heroine, "psychologist and investigator" Maisie Dobbs, not only uses unorthodox methods to solve her crimes but also exhibits an emotional depth and complexity unusual in most fictional sleuths.
Set in England between the two World Wars, the Maisie Dobbs novels have also shown an unusual understanding of the political, cultural and economics milieu of the times. They illustrate, often through the character of Maisie herself, the demons of World War I that continue to haunt (Maisie herself is a WWI military nurse whose betrothed was incapacitated during the war) even as the specter of World War II is looming on the horizon. This inexorable march toward the second World War is especially relevant in Winspear's latest historical mystery, in which the growing Nazi threat plays an integral role in the plot.
In 1931, England itself is in the midst of a serious economic depression. War veterans are unable to find work, and deadly diseases go untreated because of lack of funding for adequate medical care. The economic disparity particularly enrages Maisie, especially when it strikes her beloved assistant Billy's family right at the heart. She speaks passionately for the disenfranchised: "The war is being waged...only the war is here and now, and it is a war against poverty, against disease and against injustice."
In her latest case, though, Maisie is forced to take on an investigation seemingly at odds with her moral principles. A certain class of people in England and America still has money to burn, money to spend on seemingly frivolous things like entertainment, luxury cars and artwork. Capitalizing on that market is Nick Bassington-Hope, whose controversial artwork often reveals his own complex feelings about the Great War. When Nick is discovered dead in the gallery on the eve of unveiling his masterpiece, Nick's sister, the infamous journalist Georgina Bassington-Hope, enlists Maisie's help to discover whether Nick's death was an accident, as it was ruled by Scotland Yard, or something more insidious.
Soon Maisie is sneaking a peek into a social class of which she's never been a part. She's frequenting all-night clubs, socializing with intellectuals and politicians, listening to live jazz music, and dancing the night away, all while using her unusual mix of hard evidence and intuition to delve into her investigation. Before she knows it, Maisie is uncovering evidence of smuggling, adultery, gambling addiction and betrayal. But who really killed Nick Bassington-Hope, and where did he hide his reputed masterpiece?
One of the most rewarding aspects of reading Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series is the gradual fleshing out of this fascinating main character. In that aspect, MESSENGER OF TRUTH will not disappoint. Maisie, still recovering from a nervous breakdown, undergoes several revelations about herself and her society even as she solves her latest mystery. Even though the mystery plot itself is not always the main focus of the novel, readers who enjoy historical fiction, well-crafted characters and genuinely engaging stories will be absorbed by this consistently fine series.
--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl
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