An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear
Friday February 29, 2008
Set in 1931 England, An Incomplete Revenge begins with a deceptively simple quest for psychologist and investigator Maisie to explore a rural town in Kent for a prospective land buyer, who is concerned about a series of thefts, fires, and vandalism in the area. Though the countryside is lovely and the village looks inviting, Maisie soon realizes that the secrets at stake are far more sinister than petty crime.
Comments
This book will not disappoint Maisie Dobbs fans. Once again, Winspear has created a story in which the realities of war and the emotional consequences for families takes its tole. If you have not read others in this series, I highly recommend doing so.
In all the Maisie Dobbs novels until An Incomplete Revenge, Maisie seems so much a wooden character that her “emotional” responses to various events seem strained and shallow. In this latest book Winspear has finally suceeded in making Maisie a fully rounded human being. But I wonder if this is the last novel in the series. A lot of threads are pulled together, the futures of main characters are set forth, and Maisie herself reaches an equilibrium that bodes well for her future. The last image in the book of Maisie dancing is a delight! So has Winspear left us an ending we can savor as we recognize this is the end of our involvement in Maisie’s life??