R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 3/13/2022 + 1438 more book reviews

Britain declared war on Germany in the spring of 1940. It's early into the war so little has changed. Yes, underground stations and public buildings are sandbagged. And, the government keeps reminding citizens to always carry gas masks. On the continent British soldiers are fighting Hitler's forces. Thousands are stranded on French beaches. With the Battle of Dunkirk, the English begin to realize the terror of modern warfare.

When a boy from Maisie Dobbs' neighborhood working for a defense contractor, is murdered, she investigates his death. During the investigation she encounters a powerful underworld figure is reaping money by shortcutting governmental painting jobs. The tale is based on actual events of the period.

Several plot lines run through the novel which makes it feel disjointed at times but a good deal was happening in the country with children being sent to the country including Maisie's ward and women training as ambulance drivers and for other positions. Some characters seemed to lack depth. However, perhaps best thing the author does is informing the reader about life in England during the war years.

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