I got this softcover at a local Savers thrift shop on senior discount day, for another release copy.

The series features Maisie Dobbs, a clever young woman who has, it seems, an excellent deductive mind as well as some kind of psychic talent (though this is mainly suggested here by a tingling at the back of her neck). She's versed in psychology as well as in detective skills, and has a small consulting practice where she attempts to not only solve the clients' mysteries for them but also to bring all the parties to some kind of resolution.

While the mystery portion of each book is certainly important, I find myself enjoying the personal bits as much or more; Maisie's relationship to her assistant Billy, the trials his family undergoes, the ups and downs of Maisie's friends, the vicissitudes of her love-life... This book includes a lot of those elements, and also inflicts a loss on Maisie that she may need some time to recover from...

In some ways this is a "cozy" series, but it doesn't feel old-fashioned. I like it very much.

I left this book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

Released for:

** 2025 Valentine challenge **