The Consequences of Fear

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Manufacturer: Jacqueline Winspear
Brand: Historical Fiction
Brew: Audiobook
Steeping Time: 10 hours 27 minutes
Tea Service: Personal Choice
Strength:

Synopsis: September 1941. While on a delivery, young Freddie Hackett, a message runner for a government office, witnesses an argument that ends in murder. Crouching in the doorway of a bombed-out house, Freddie waits until the coast is clear. But when he arrives at the delivery address, he’s shocked to come face to face with the killer.

Dismissed by the police when he attempts to report the crime, Freddie goes in search of a woman he once met when delivering a message: Maisie Dobbs. While Maisie believes the boy and wants to help, she must maintain extreme caution: she’s working secretly for the Special Operations Executive, assessing candidates for crucial work with the French resistance. Her two worlds collide when she spots the killer in a place she least expects. She soon realizes she’s been pulled into the orbit of a man who has his own reasons to kill – reasons that go back to the last war.

As Maisie becomes entangled in a power struggle between Britain’s intelligence efforts in France and the work of Free French agents operating across Europe, she must also contend with the lingering question of Freddie Hackett’s state of mind. What she uncovers could hold disastrous consequences for all involved in this compelling chapter of the “series that seems to get better with every entry” (Wall Street Journal).

I made a mistake when I started this book.

I love murder mysteries, and I love WWII historical fiction, so I figured The Consequences of Fear would be perfect for me. And it was. I fell in love with it. Halfway through, I decided to see how many other books there were since it said ‘A Maisie Dobbs Novel’ on the front cover photo, implying there were more. Lucky for me, there are 16 in total. Unlucky for me, I was halfway through book 16.

The upside is that this book worked perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel. It was obvious that there was a previous backstory that most readers would know, but it didn’t negatively affect my experience. I’m somewhat bummed that I know the outcome of some of the characters since this is the latest in the installment, but that won’t discourage me from reading them starting from book 1!

If you enjoy classic British murder mysteries, this book is a must.

There is a lot going on in The Consequences of Fear. Maisie Dobbs, the main character, is juggling normal life, running a detective agency, and secretly working with the SOE (Special Operations Executive). She’s also trying to balance in enough time to focus on her daughter and enjoy a budding relationship with Mark, her lover. Personally, I enjoy books that show what a day in the life looks like, and this one delivered. Maisie is a phenomenal main character and I adored her from the start. She is a woman that knows what she wants and doesn’t stop till she gets it. Even when she’s unsure of her next step, she shows strength in the face of it.

The Consequences of Fear starts with a murder in a blackout during the Blitz. It hits the ground running (literally) and doesn’t stop. I found the pace quick and enjoyable, and I was on the edge of my seat wondering who the murderer was. The murder is one of Maisie’s main focuses throughout the book, but she is stretched thin between her other commitments. Will she see things through? Or will something eventually give? Is young Freddie Hackett correct in what he saw, or did an imaginative young boy invent a scary scene in the dark while bombs fell around him? Only time and good detective work will tell.

Seeing where this book ends, it’s obvious that the series will continue. Thank goodness for that, because I want more! My sole complaint is that I didn’t find this series sooner! I can’t wait to get my hands on the first book and work my way back to The Consequences of Fear. I’ve got 16 books to read before the 17th hits the shelves. Challenge. Accepted.

Have you read The Consequences of Fear? Leave a comment and let me know what you thought about it! Want to read it for yourself? Click here to get a copy of your own.
Cheers,
Lydia