Among the Mad
By: Jacqueline Winspear
This sixth book in the Maisie Dobbs series continues to tell the story of post World War I London. In previous novels, Maisie’s investigations included troubled hospitalized soldiers and the questionable death of a pilot over France. Here she is challenged to find a former soldier, probably suffering from war trauma and exposure to gas, who is threatening to release a round of gas in London if his demands for better treatment of veterans are not met.
Maisie has a unique story. She worked as a servant in the Belgravia mansion of Lord Compton, a man with many ties to government, until one day Lady Compton found her reading in the library. They recognized her potential and with Maurice Blanche provided for her education, even to Cambridge. She served as a nurse in World War I and lost the man she loved, in spirit if not in body. She sets up her office as a psychologist and investigator and makes use of her compassion, empathy, and understanding of human suffering, to solve cases. She is a strong and kind heroine whom this reader hopes will find the peace and love for herself that she seeks for others. A small glimmer of hope begins to appear in this novel.
I listened to the MP3 version of Among the Mad, which is very well read by Orlagh Cassidy and is accessible through our OverDrive collection. It is also available in book and eBook editions.
Review By: Sherri Bonham