The book cover burble runs something like this: London, 1929. Joseph Waite is a man who knows what he wants. With his Havana cigars and Savile Row suits, he is one of Britain’s wealthiest men. And the last thing he needs is a scandal. When his eighteen-year-old daughter runs away from home, he is determined to keep the case away from the police and the newspapers. So he turns to a woman renowned for her discretion and investigative powers - the extraordinary Maisie Dobbs.

Waite's instructions are to find his daughter and bring her home. But the task is far from straightforward. Maisie, on visiting the Waite household immediately senses the pervading tensions and soon discovers that there are many reasons why Charlotte might have left home. Instinctively Maisie feels that Charlotte is safe and yet suddenly she finds herself confronting a murder scene. Then as Maisie finds herself revisiting the tragedy of the Great War she uncovers a chilling link to a recent murder case.

I like the characters here and the mystery elements kept me page turning but Maisie’s incredible, almost telepathic, insight and phenomenal luck pushed the boundaries of credibility rather a lot. More importantly for me, some of the ‘can do’ opportunities she has seem so unlikely for women at this period in British history. However despite some quibbles with this series I do want to say there are some insightful character observations of trauma and some compelling moments of compassion that uplift. Birds of a Feather is entertaining and enjoyable, I will be on the lookout for the third in the series, because I am hoping for a good recovery for Maisie’s war damaged help mate, Billy and I am admittedly intrigued to know how Maisie gets on with that Inspector chum of hers…

RELEASE NOTES:

I am delighted to have been able to pass this on tonight to a chum who is working in Quatar, one of the Gulf States, so goodness knows where this will end up next! Oh, this is so exciting, my wee book is off on its travels! Happy reading!