The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear - 4 stars

[Ellen]

In 1932 London, Maisie Dobbs, investigator and psychologist, is hired by an elderly American couple, the Cliftons, to find the young nurse their son Michael had loved before his death in France during the war. Although he was an American, Michael had joined the British army as a cartographer but was listed as missing in action in 1914. Now, 18 years later, Michaels' bones and those of his fellow soldiers were uncovered in France in an underground room. Michael's journal mentioned a young woman with whom he had fallen deeply in love and the Cliftons would like Maisie to find her. During her investigation, Maisie determines that Michael was not killed due to enemy activity but was murdered before the shells hit the bunker killing the rest of his platoon. After the elder Cliftons are savagely attacked in their hotel room it is obvious to Maisie that someone is willing to kill to find Michael's papers and journal. The Cliftons are quite a wealthy family and just before enlisting, Michael had staked a claim on a parcel of oil-rich land in California, but the deed and legal documentation are missing.

Although much of Maisie's time is taken up with the Clifton case, she finds herself drawn to the attractive James Compton, a man she has known for many years as the son of her benefactors. James, recently returned from Canada to help his father in business, has set his heart on winning Maisie's affection and the two begin a quiet romance. Making Maisie's life unhappy, however, is the deathly illness of her beloved mentor, Maurice Blanche, who has always been a second father to her. Maisie is torn between new love and the imminent loss of Maurice.

Once again Maisie Dobbs' investigation was interesting, heartfelt and satisfying. I haven't been disappointed by this series and am so glad that there are several more to go.

[Margaret]

I love this series. Maisie is such a good character and the series has even led me to learn a little about a time I knew next to nothing about.

[Hope]

This makes me want to read another one in this series. I've read the first couple and they were great!