Maisie Dobbs must unravel a disappearance linked to a secret government contract and the London underworld amidst the looming threat of war.

In the spring of 1940, as Britain braces for conflict, private investigator Maisie Dobbs is drawn into the case of a missing apprentice craftsman involved in a clandestine government project. Her investigation spans from the quiet countryside to the treacherous landscape of wartime London, where she confronts a powerful figure in the criminal underworld. Maisie must navigate the moral complexities and personal risks, all while a larger global crisis unfolds, impacting the lives of those close to her.

The premise sets up a classic Maisie Dobbs mystery, blending historical context with a compelling investigation. The inclusion of wartime anxieties and the London underworld suggests a narrative rich in atmosphere and moral ambiguity. Readers familiar with the series can anticipate Dobbs' characteristic blend of keen observation and psychological insight. The narrative is likely to explore themes of duty, sacrifice, and the personal cost of conflict, both on a global and individual scale.