Among the Mad (Maisie Dobbs Novels) – Book Review

By Angela Youngman Jul 10, 2009, 14:49 GMT

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 scaleIt’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 ...more

Another in the Maisie Dobbs series of History mysteries.  It is now December 1931.  Unemployment is rising rapidly and more and more people findings themselves in terrible poverty. 

Many of these are ex-WWI soldiers, often still suffering severe mental and physical wounds.  Maisie sees a man commit suicide on a busy London street.  The following day, the home secretary receives a letter threatening massive loss of life if demands are not met. 

Maisie is mentioned by name in the letter and as a result she becomes a special advisor on the case working with Scotland Yard.  It is a race against time since the writer soon proves he has the ability to murder thousands of people using hitherto unknown sources of poison. 

As always Maisie's knowledge of events and people during WW1 come to her aid.  The links between periods are carefully made, but always leave you wondering what is going to happen next.  This is a very good history mystery, one which keeps you reading. It is a compulsive page turner.  Maisie herself is a very believable heroine. 

You can sympathize with her as she reaches out into the past to find answers in a thought provoking mystery.  This has to be one of Jacqueline Winspear's best novels to date.