Jacqueline Winspear’s introspective sleuth/psychologist Maisie Dobbs works in 1930s London. In <b>Messenger of Truth</b>, Maisie is asked to investigate the death of Nick Bassington-Hope, an artist from a well-to-do family who served in World War I. Nick died in a fall while preparing for an upcoming art exhibit, and his twin sister thinks he may have been pushed. In addition, the exhibit’s centerpiece, a painting reputed to be Nick’s masterwork, is nowhere to be found. Though each Maisie Dobbs book is centered on an investigation, sleuthing takes second place to Winspear’s insightful exploration of post-war England. As in her three previous books, the crime in <b>Messenger of Truth</b> has its roots in the Great War, and Winspear again illustrates the world-changing power of that tragic conflict.
Valiant Women is a vital and engrossing attempt to correct the record and rightfully celebrate the achievements of female veterans of World War II.
