To Die But Once - (Maisie Dobbs) by Jacqueline Winspear (Paperback)

About the Book

Spring 1940. With Britons facing what has become known as "the Bore War", nothing much seems to have happened yet, Maisie Dobbs is asked to investigate the disappearance of a local lad, a young apprentice craftsman working on a "hush-hush" government contract. As Maisie's inquiry reveals a possible link to the London underworld, another mother is worried about a missing son, but this time the boy in question is one beloved by Maisie.

Book Synopsis

Finalist for the Inaugural Sue Grafton Memorial Award

Maisie Dobbs--one of the most complex and admirable characters in contemporary fiction (Richmond Times Dispatch)--faces danger and intrigue on the home front during World War II.

During the months following Britain's declaration of war on Germany, Maisie Dobbs investigates the disappearance of a young apprentice working on a hush-hush government contract. As news of the plight of thousands of soldiers stranded on the beaches of France is gradually revealed to the general public, and the threat of invasion rises, another young man beloved by Maisie makes a terrible decision that will change his life forever.

Maisie's investigation leads her from the countryside of rural Hampshire to the web of wartime opportunism exploited by one of the London underworld's most powerful men, in a case that serves as a reminder of the inextricable link between money and war. Yet when a final confrontation approaches, she must acknowledge the potential cost to her future--and the risk of destroying a dream she wants very much to become reality.

From the Back Cover

Spring, 1940. During the months following Britain's declaration of war on Germany, Maisie Dobbs investigates the disappearance of a young apprentice working on a hush-hush government contract. As news of the plight of thousands of soldiers stranded on the beaches of France is gradually revealed to the general public, and as the threat of invasion rises, another young man beloved by Maisie makes a terrible decision that will change his life forever.

Maisie's investigation leads her from the countryside of rural Hampshire to the web of wartime opportunism exploited by one of the London underworld's most powerful men, in a case that serves as a reminder of the inextricable link between money and war. Yet when a final confrontation approaches, she must acknowledge the potential cost to her future--and the risk of destroying a dream she wants very much to become reality.

Review Quotes

"The wartime details ... transport us with ease to a milieu where danger is omnipresent but--thanks to the presence of steadfast figures like Dobbs and her like-spirited colleagues--so is hope." -- Wall Street Journal

"Maisie Dobbs is always looking for truth and the underlying motives in her cases. Her stories are ones that this reviewer always wants to read because of her character, values and thoughts on life.... A story about WWII and England that is close to the heart." -- Bookreporter.com

"Winspear's protagonist is indomitable and vulnerable, brilliant and kind." -- Chelsea Clinton in Entertainment Weekly

"A novel that appeals equally to the intellect and the emotions, To Die but Once advances Maisie's engaging story and reaffirms Winspear's eminence in her field.... [A] radiant series." -- Richmond Times-Dispatch

"First-rate." -- Booklist

"History comes alive when a character you think of as a friend is in the thick of the action. That's how Jacqueline Winspear keeps her Maisie Dobbs series so fresh." -- New York Times Book Review

"The novelist paints a fascinating picture of life in England at the dawn of war.... Resourceful Maisie remains an endearingly complex character." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Winspear has created another rich reading experience for Maisie's many fans, but this title could be seen as entry point for new fans as well. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a thoughtful mystery." -- Library Journal, starred review

"In addition to providing a very good mystery, Winspear does a smashing job describing the bravery exhibited by everyday Britons as the fear of invasion becomes ever more real." -- Kirkus