Jo is advised to take her suspicions to Maisie Dobbs.Īs the psychologist-investigator delves into the case, she discovers the attempt to take down ferry pilots and the plight of the black American soldier are inextricably linked with the visit to Britain by the First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt. Although the death has been attributed to 'pilot error' Jo believes there is a connection between all three events - and she wants desperately to help the soldier, who is now in the custody of American military police. In a bid to find out who was trying to take down her aircraft, she returns on foot to the area, and discovers an African American soldier bound and gagged in an old barn.Ī few days later another ferry pilot crashes and is killed in the same area of Kent. Jo Hardy, an Air Transport Auxilliary ferry pilot, is delivering a Spitfire to Biggin Hill Aerodrome, when she has the terrifying experience of coming under fire from the ground. At the same time, she faces difficulties of an entirely different nature with her young daughter, Anna, who is experiencing wartime struggles of her own.October 1942. To guarantee the safety of the First Lady-and of the soldier being held in police custody-Maisie must uncover that connection. Roosevelt is clearly in danger, and there may well be a direct connection to the death of the woman ferry pilot and the recent activities of two American servicemen. There's already evidence that German agents have been circling: the wife of a president represents a high value target. Meanwhile, Maisie's husband, a high-ranking political attaché based at the American embassy, is in the thick of ensuring security is tight for the first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, during her visit to the Britain. At the suggestion of one of her colleagues, Jo seeks the help of psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs. Tragedy strikes two days later, when another ferry pilot crashes in the same area where Jo's plane was attacked.

She rescues the man, who is handed over to the American military police it quickly emerges that he is considered a suspect in the disappearance of a fellow soldier who is missing. Returning to the location on foot, she finds an American serviceman in a barn, bound and gagged. Jo Hardy, a 22-year-old ferry pilot, is delivering a Supermarine Spitfire-the fastest fighter aircraft in the world-to Biggin Hill Aerodrome, when she realizes someone is shooting at her aircraft from the ground. In the latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series, a series of possible attacks on British pilots leads Jacqueline Winspear's beloved heroine Maisie Dobbs into a mystery involving First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Jacqueline winspear a sunlit weapon