Some years I go on literary binges, reading quite a bit about a certain place or time period or subject. I had two mini-obsessions in 2017: World War I and the Spanish Civil War.
My interest in World War I was driven in party by genealogical research about my great-grandfather, Charles L. James, who served in France.
My friend Kate, hearing about my World War I jones and knowing I’m a sucker for a female sleuth, put me onto Maisie Dobbs, written by Jacqueline Winspear. How could I not have discovered this book, first published in 2003, sooner?
Maisie is a young woman with great intelligence and limited means. After working as a nurse at the front, she returns to England and becomes a private investigator. Her first case initially seems straightforward but leads her to confront her painful wartime memories.
One of the best things about discovering Maisie Dobbs? There are thirteen books available in this series already. Knowing that a series you like has so many unread books is such a security blanket. Catching up on Maisie will get me through reading lulls for quite some time.
Have you considered the Mary Russell series by Laurie King, starting with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice? I love them, but I am a sucker for Things Sherlockian.