Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear

Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear

Genre: Mystery
Series: #4 in the Maisie Dobbs series
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 319
Challenges: Support Your Local Library #21
Source: Library


The Short Version:
Former maid, now private investigator Maisie Dobbs searches for the truth about an artist’s death in 1931 London.

Why I Read It:
It’s a series I enjoy and it had been a while since I read the last one

The Book
In 1931 London, Maisie Dobbs has established her own business as an Investigator and Psychologist. Her newest client is well-known journalist Georgina Bassington-Hope, who wants someone to investigate the death of her twin brother. Nick Bassington-Hope died on the eve of a major exhibition of his paintings. The police have ruled the death an accident, but Georgina doesn’t believe that.

In order to learn the truth about what happened to Nick, Maisie has to get to know his family and friends. Wealthy and eccentric, the Bassington-Hopes all seem to have secrets. And Nick’s masterpiece that was about to be unveiled is nowhere to be found. Maisie’s investigative ability and intuition are both needed for her to get to the truth.

While spending time with the privileged folk who could afford to spend a fortune on artwork, Maisie sees her assistant Billy Beale and his family struggle to scrape by. The sometimes bitter class divisions and lingering pain in post war London is as much a character and storyline in this book as is the mystery of the artist’s death.

My Thoughts:
Although these are mysteries, I find them incredibly peaceful to read. They are not fast paced, but to me that doesn’t make them plodding, it enhances and reflects Maisie’s calm measured approach to her cases. I enjoy that these books are part mystery and part historical fiction set in England between the two World Wars. It’s a period I haven’t read that much about and Winspear paints a vivid picture of both the time and place. The wounds of World War I are still very much a part of life and while life and society are returning to a new normal, there is tension between the working class and privileged and every once in a while hints of the turmoil to come out of Germany.

I like that the pacing of the story mirrors Maisie’s approach to her investigations. It’s measured, deliberate and not complete when the initial answer to the mystery is discovered. As Maisie says:
“My work does not end when a solution to a given case is found or the grain of information sought is discovered. It ends only when those affected by my work are at peace with the outcome.”

This was a satisfying episode in the continuing story of Maisie, her friends, and England in the 1930’s.


Rating 4/5