The Comfort of Ghosts

By: Jacqueline Winspear 

Libby audiobook 10 hours

Read by: Orlagh Cassidy

Published: 2024

Genre: historical fiction

Maisie Dobbs was a nurse and ambulance driver during WWI (The Great War). She has also worked as an investigator and psychologist. Now, just after WWII, she is trying to help pick up the pieces of another horrible war in her native Great Britain. 

When a friend's son shows up at her family's mansion and is "taken in" by four young squatters, Maisie stumbles upon him almost by accident. She ends up connecting with Mary, Jim, Archie, and Grace and figuring out lots of mysterious circumstances about war time efforts.

I like her as a character. I like that the book deals with questions of alcoholism, war, grief, pain, and more without becoming maudlin. The British "stiff upper lip" and Keep Calm and Carry On mentality is strong in this book!

The title refers loosely to the balm from remembering the past while living life moving forward. The murder (and life) of Jonathan Hawkins Price was not what I expected! Also, as I was just looking for the spelling of his name, I found that this is book 18! in a series of Maisie Dobbs books! I would read more of these, but am trying to catch up on what I already have right now.

 

Also, her first husband's "back story" and what she learned was super interesting. This was an interesting and well-written book.

The vocal work was excellent.