Starred review from February 6, 2012
Set in 1933, bestseller Winspear’s excellent ninth novel featuring London investigator and psychologist Maisie Dobbs represents a welcome return to form after 2011’s less inspired A Lesson in Secrets. Five men Maisie hasn’t seen since girlhood break the sad news that Eddie Pettit, another friend Maisie hasn’t seen in years, died when a huge roll of paper fell on him in the paper factory where he ran errands. The gentle Eddie, who was considered slow, had a remarkable talent for relating to horses. The five, who suspect Eddie’s death was no accident, retain Maisie to find out what really happened. The case comes at an emotionally turbulent time for Maisie, who’s ambivalent about her relationship with wealthy James Compton and has begun to question the reasons for her own many acts of charity. The involved plot is as good as any in the series, and the resolution is intelligently complex. 9-city author tour. Agent: Amy Rennert, Amy Rennert Agency.