Another solid Maisie Dobbs mystery. This one introduces Georgiana Bassington-Hope, reporter and child of wealthy bohemians, who has hired Maisie to uncover the cause of her artist brother's death the night before he was to debut his latest collection. Although the death appears an accident on the surface, Georgiana has cause to believe it may have been murder. The investigation leads Maisie to a desolate part of England called the Romney Marshes, and through the scene of London nightclubs where affluent people carouse as if there were no global depression. In contrast, Maisie's assistant Billy is dealing with financial strain after unemployed family members move in, as well as the serious illness of one of his children. It is difficult for Maisie to mask her righteous anger that some people drop huge amounts of money on luxury goods like art while other struggle to survive.

Although I liked the book, I didn't warm as much to the new characters as to those of earlier books in the series. I am also concerned that Maisie's character turned away once again from the social connections she formed in earlier books. Her character's increasing isolation will no doubt be explored in later novels.