Jacqueline Winspear has written and published a yearly novel for the past sixteen years. The setting is England during WWII. Maisie Dobbs and her associate, Billy, become involved in undercover work which is both dangerous and very important. Maisie’s life has been a series of unfortunate personal happenings which reveal not only her interesting background but also her desire to improve the “lot of the less fortunate”. Since the main characters remain consistent, the plot in each book always presents a new and novel revelation of Maisie’s life. It is like meeting an old friend once a year. Maisie’s psychological training with a renowned professor has enabled her to be a keen observer of the actions and motivations of others.
The mysteries of why people commit crimes or become involved in corrupt practices are motivated by any number of reasons. Maisie’s training and experience are key to her investigations as well as her efforts to bring forth justice and healing for both the victim and the perpetrator. The Consequences of Fear is a “must-read”.
Sister Valerie Van Cauwenberghe, csj