In This Grave Hour

A Maisie Dobbs Novel

By: Jacqueline Winspear

Narrated by: Orlagh Cassidy

""A female investigator every bit as brainy and battle-hardened as Lisbeth Salander."" — Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air, on Maisie Dobbs

The thirteenth installment in Jacqueline Winspear's enormously popular New York Times bestselling mystery series. As Britain declares war on Germany, the indomitable Maisie Dobbs stumbles on the deaths of refugees who may have been more than ordinary people seeking sanctuary on English soil.

Sunday September 3rd 1939. At the moment Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain broadcasts to the nation Britain’s declaration of war with Germany, a senior Secret Service agent breaks into Maisie Dobbs' flat to await her return. Dr. Francesca Thomas has an urgent assignment for Maisie: to find the killer of a man who escaped occupied Belgium as a boy, some twenty-three years earlier during the Great War.

In a London shadowed by barrage balloons, bomb shelters and the threat of invasion, within days another former Belgian refugee is found murdered. And as Maisie delves deeper into the killings of the dispossessed from the “last war,"" a new kind of refugee — an evacuee from London — appears in Maisie's life. The little girl billeted at Maisie’s home in Kent does not, or cannot, speak, and the authorities do not know who the child belongs to or who might have put her on the “Operation Pied Piper” evacuee train. They know only that her name is Anna.

As Maisie’s search for the killer escalates, the country braces for what is to come. Britain is approaching its gravest hour — and Maisie could be nearing a crossroads of her own.

Back to origins?

I felt this installment in series was better than the last couple of books. And the stage is clearly set for future developments with the introduction of new characters I expect will be met again.

Can't wait for the next one!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series and eagerly anticipate her next book. Very well researched, stories that keep my attention and great narraration!

The whole Maisie Dobbs series is good!

The entire Maisie Dobbs series is very good. The author paints such vivid pictures with words that you can see Maisie, the other characters, and the environment in your mind’s eye. The audio version gives an added dimension above and beyond the printed page.

Maisie is always a good read... but mystery?

I love the prose and history of Maisie Dobbs books, but not much of a mystery. read it for the story and enjoy...

Good people in a imperfect world

Another finely crafted story in this epic series spanning WW I to WW II. Highly recommended.