Among the Mad (Maisie Dobbs #6)Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: 2010
Pages: 319
Source: My State Public Library
Synopsis: In the thrilling new novel by the New York Times bestselling author of An Incomplete Revenge, Maisie Dobbs must catch a madman before he commits murder on an unimaginable scale.
It's Christmas Eve 1931. On the way to see a client, Maisie Dobbs witnesses a man commit suicide on a busy London street. The following day, the prime minister's office receives a letter threatening a massive loss of life if certain demands are not met—and the writer mentions Maisie by name. After being questioned and cleared by Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane of Scotland Yard's elite Special Branch, she is drawn into MacFarlane's personal fiefdom as a special adviser on the case. Meanwhile, Billy Beale, Maisie's trusted assistant, is once again facing tragedy as his wife, who has never recovered from the death of their young daughter, slips further into melancholia's abyss. Soon Maisie becomes involved in a race against time to find a man who proves he has the knowledge and will to inflict death and destruction on thousands of innocent people. And before this harrowing case is over, Maisie must navigate a darkness not encountered since she was a nurse in wards filled with shell-shocked men.
In Among the Mad, Jacqueline Winspear combines a heart-stopping story with a rich evocation of a fascinating period to create her most compelling and satisfying novel yet.
My Review: On Christmas Eve of 1931, Maisie was on her way to meet a client when a man commits suicide on a London street. The next day, the prime minister receives a threatening letter. The writer also mentions Maisie’s name. Maisie is then questioned by Scotland Yard’s special elite branch. Once she is cleared, she is assigned to find the writer of the letter. Maisie is then on a race against time to find the killer before many lives are lost.
Maisie is a very sympathetic figure. She tries to help Billy and his wife out after the death of their daughter. This case is very personal for her because it brings back a lot of memories for when she was a nurse in WWI. I was glad that Maisie didn’t have any relationships in this novel. Thus, Among the Mad was one of the best in this series because it focused on her and the killer. It heightened the stakes and made for compelling characters.
Overall, this book is about recovery and the aftermath of WWI. This was a very fast-paced read and made a very suspenseful novel. I liked that some of the novel was told from the point of view of the killer. We get to understand his mind and why he takes such drastic measures. This was also the best case in the series. It was a cat and mouse game, and it made for a very fascinating read! Among the Mad proves that Maisie Dobbs is a worthy detective like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple. For fans of Jacqueline Winspear, this is a novel that you do not want to miss! Therefore, I suggest that you buckle up and enjoy the ride as Maisie races to catch the killer before it is too late!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Comments
Post a Comment