In This Grave Hour: A Maisie Dobbs Novel

In her latest entry, Maisie Dobbs, a World War I nurse-turned-psychologist and investigator, returns to her investigative roots when she is approached with a new case by Dr. Francesca Thomas, a British Secret Service agent with whom she had trained in Journey to Munich. Great Britain has just entered what will be the Second World War, and there is an atmosphere of unease. Maisie is to look into the murders of Belgian refugees from the previous war. As she researches the deaths, it becomes apparent that Francesca has not told her the whole truth. A secondary parallel mystery evolves when Maisie's father and stepmother take in a child evacuee from London. Anna refuses to speak and carries her suitcase with her everywhere. Her situation and youth tug particularly on Maisie's emotions, and she becomes involved in helping the child find her family.