Birds of a Feather

Maisie Dobbs has been asked by a wealthy entrepreneur to find his missing daughter.  Joseph Waite doesn't want the police involved.  He wants Maisie and her assistant Billy Beale to quietly find her and bring her home.  They quickly discover that the young lady seems to have been quite spoiled, but recently her demeanour has changed.  Why would that be?

Approaching the woman's ex, Maisie finds that it was the woman who broke off the engagement.  Billy learns that the woman may have gone to a convent.  He also learns that the death of another woman may have precipitated her disappearance.

Intending to interview a friend of the missing woman, Maisie finds the friend has been murdered.  It looks like the victim was poisoned and then stabbed.  DI Stratton is called, and his questioning of Maisie is short.  Maisie wonders at the coincidence of the two deaths of friends of the missing woman. Stratton confirms that the two murders are similar.  Is the missing woman also in danger?

Having discovered where the young woman is, Maisie is sure that she is safe, but is she a potential victim or a killer?  As her investigation progresses, Maisie finds ties that link the women together.  When DI Stratton arrests a suspect, Maisie is sure that he has the wrong person.

At the place of each of the dead women, Maisie finds a piece of evidence that ties the killings together.  It is that evidence that gives Maisie a clue as to whom the killer is.  She just needs to put a plan into action to catch the killer.

Author Jacqueline Winspear has crafted in intriguing mystery with a very subtle hint as to the killer might be.  If the reader misses it, they will be completely surprised.  A thoroughly enjoyable read, which I found hard to put down.  I'm looking forward to the sequel.