The Consequences of Fear

[Anne-Marie]

This is the 16th in the series about the private investigator/psychologist, Maisie Dobbs. The series began at the end of World War 1, as Maisie established herself as a private investigator, and followed her through many cases during the 20’s and 30’s. This latest offering finds Maisie investigating the murder of a secret agent, alongside her work, psychoanalysing possible SOE agents during World War 2.

Having read all the other books in the series in order, I was able to follow the relationships and references, but if you try to read this as a stand-alone book, you may become a little confused.

The book is obviously well researched, with the descriptions of wartime London, being very atmospheric. However, I found the plot overcomplicated, with too many strands to it. Perhaps this is setting up another book bringing in these aspects, but it just made the storyline a little laboursome. The characters are well developed, but their interactions sometimes a little unbelievable. So some hits and some misses with this one.

In the background Maisie’s personal life weaves it’s way through the story, revealing yet another side to Maisie, through her interaction with her family, friends and boyfriend. I know everyone has a back story, but here there was just too much of it. I understand that the author was probably trying to show the personal cost of war, her boyfriend having to go away, Maisie having to stay away from her little girl, but I much preferred the books when they were about solving a crime, and Maisie was an independent, forward-looking woman, striding out unencumbered. I feel that she doesn’t need a love interest/child and it detracts from the crime story in a jarring way.

I originally gave it 4 stars as I love Jacqueline Winspear’s writing, some of which is very insightful, but on reconsideration, I realised that I was rating the whole series rather than just the book, so marked it down to 3.