He would check into it himself but isn’t certain where, exactly, Joe is working and even if he were, he has no car to take him there and can’t leave his job to go looking. Coombes is sure he is being overly anxious, but he figures Maisie’s private investigative firm could check into Joe’s whereabouts and reassure him that Joe is doing well. But lately, Joe has been complaining of headaches and failing to make scheduled calls home. It’s a good job, not only providing a nice wage but also guaranteeing that he won’t be called-up to fight in the ongoing war. His youngest son Joe recently accepted a traveling position painting buildings for the air force. Phil Coombes, the previously discussed neighbor, comes calling.

She and Billy have barely opened their place of business before Mr. She pushes the neighbor to the back of her mind, but he doesn’t stay there long. His drooping shoulders and awkward gait signal to her that something is off, but before she has a chance to ask him about it, she is distracted by running into Billy, her co-worker/employee. Maisie is on her way into the office when she walks past a neighbor on the road. as otherwise you will lack back story on the characters and their detailed history. Technically, you don’t have to read the other books to enjoy this one, since the mystery stands on its own. While a few of her recent books have had some stumbles, her Maisie Dobbs series once more hits its stride with book number fourteen, To Die but Once. Some writers rise above that though and Jacqueline Winspear is one of them. I tend to prefer story arcs that have a definite end because I’ve found that most which don’t wind up having a great beginning but increasingly weak novels as the series continues into infinity.

Jacqueline winspear to die but once