Maisie Dobbs, the extraordinary psychologist and investigator is back in this fifth installment. This time Maisie is hired by long-time friend, James Compton to investigate a land purchase he's considering. The large estate is on the outskirts of Kent and has a manor house, tenant farmers and most importantly for James, a brickworks.
The investigation seems straightforward and will allow Maisie to breathe a sigh of relief as her business has been slow, but as Maisie finds out as soon as she arrives at the village, something is amiss in the picturesque setting.
The hop-picking season is in full force so the village has it's share of outsiders but the villagers are secretive and don't take kindly to the outsiders, much less the Roma (gypsies) who are also in the area.
As Maisie delves into the investigation with the help of her assistant Billy Beale she learns of the fires that erupt throughout the village and other petty crimes that are also happening. Amidst all of this there is also an event that seems to have left an indelible mark on the village, the Zepplin raid that occured during the war.
At the same time the investigation is ongoing Maisie is coming to terms with a difficult personal situation. She must revisit ghosts from her past and move forward.
This series is one that only keeps getting better as a new book comes out. An Incomplete Revenge also manages to be touching and bittersweet yet I think there is a lot of excitement for what is to come. Winspear has created a truly unique character and one that has become more complex with each new book. The only bad part about this novel is knowing that I have to wait so long for the next installment.
Added 01/08