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Dec 21, 2013maipenrai rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
**** Maisie Dobbs # 10. The death of an Indian immigrant leads Maisie Dobbs into a dangerous yet fascinating world. The book is set in London in 1933. Two months after the body of an Indian woman named Usha Pramal is found in the water of a South London canal, her brother, newly arrived in England, turns to Maisie Dobbs to find out the truth about her death. Not only has Scotland Yard made no arrests, evidence indicates that they failed to conduct a full and thorough investigation. Before her death, Usha was staying at an ayah's hostel alongside Indian women whose British employers turned them out into the street when their services were no longer needed. As Maisie soon learns, Usha was different from the hostel's other lodgers. But with this discovery comes new danger: another Indian woman who had information about Usha is found murdered before she can talk to Maisie. As Maisie is pulled deeper into an unfamiliar yet captivating subculture, her investigation becomes clouded by the unfinished business of a previous case as well as a growing desire to see more of the world, following in the footsteps of her former mentor, Maurice Blanche. And there is her lover, James Compton, who gives her an ultimatum she cannot ignore. I have enjoyed this character for 10 years. I don't want to create any spoilers, but this book marks a pronounced turning point in this wonderful series. As always, I recommend starting a series at the beginning with the first book "Maisie Dobbs". Ms. Winspear has created a complex and delightful protagonist. I love series that engage you as much with the character as with the story. Recommend highly