The death of a young Indian woman barely stirs the waters of the metropolis of London. Only when her brother arrives to find out what happened do the police make much of an effort to locate her killer. With so much time passed, there are few clues and Scotland Yard refers him to Maisie.

Maisie is struggling to make some decisions about the direction she wishes for her own life. James is pressing her about marriage. She can see war on the horizon and knows that whatever she decides will be a turning point for her.

As Maisie investigates the death of Usha Pramal, she finds it easier to clear her mind and sort through the decisions she must make. She is aware that in her efforts to help others, events have gone awry and she must do what she can to put things right.

Maisie seeks counsel from all the people who have helped her in the past. From an abbess to an Indian wise man, Maisie listens and learns what her path must be. At the same time, she has to decide what to do about Billy Beale. Billy is floundering with the case she gave him.

The deeper Maisie gets into the investigation, the more convinced she is that the cases are intertwined. Driving harder than normal since she has to finish the case and wrap up her affairs, Maisie is forced to make some tough decisions about her future.

Maisie Dobbs is an intelligent, gentle woman who binds the readers to her in a way few protagonists can. Ms. Winspear has kept the series fresh and interesting with each adventure. It's hard to see Maisie leave England but we have hope that she will find her way home as she sets out to see what her future holds.