The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear

This is the seventh Maisie Dobbs novel and I am pleased to say that the high standard Miss Winspear set in the previous six is well maintained here. A young American cartographer of British descent volunteers for the British Army in 1914 but in 1916 is listed as missing in action. However, in 1932 his body, along with the rest of his team,is found beneath a field in France and his familly are anxious to trace the writer of letters found with his body. Close examination of the Post Mortem report reveals to Maisie that he was not killed by enemy action but struck down from behind. Using her many contacts in high places, the shoe leather of her assisstant Billy and her gift for organising the facts of the case Maisie brings those responsible to justice. Miss Winspear has given us another well plotted and well written detective story which is sure to please her growing legion of fans but the thing is that the Maisie Dobbs novels are more than just detective stories. Maisie has a life outside of her investigations and it is peopled by interesting and well rounded characters who are brought into the story for their interaction with Maisie and not just devices for pushing along the plot. I am sure that this accounts in large part for the popularity of these novels.