The Consequences of Fear

In Winspear’s newest World War II–set “Maisie Dobbs” entry (following An American Agent), the British are deep into the Blitz in London and Maisie is navigating life with her newly adopted daughter, her work as a detective, and her top-secret government assignments. She is also balancing a romantic relationship with an American intelligence officer, Mark Scott. The mystery opens with a young man named Freddie who witnesses a murder in the middle of a bombing. The police do not believe his story, so Freddie, a messenger for different government agents, comes to Maisie for help, as he has delivered messages for her in the past. As Maisie and her assistant, the dogged Billy Beale, dig into the details of the case and Freddie’s life, more shadows than facts are revealed. Maisie’s work with the British government as it assists the Free French Forces further complicates the case at hand. Like Winspear’s other novels, this one explores the characters’ minds, examining not only the facts but also the human psyche.