Reviews tagging 'Death'

The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear

4 reviews

tfpjr492's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear is an action novel with the main character Elinor White, who has training and experience as a spy in the two world wars. A large part of the story details her experiences as a child spy in occupied Belgium during WWI and as a behind-the-lines operator inserted under cover of darkness into occupied Belgium during WWII. She has natural talents with firearms and foreign languages. She is trained to leverage normal fears into intensified awareness during high-pressure situations.

These experiences have prepared her for a new challenge in post-war Britain. She endeavors to adapt to a simple and slower lifestyle in rural Britain. She appears aloof and mysterious to her neighbors, but Elinor is keenly observant of their daily lives.

“And how did Elinor know all this? Because she made it her business to know. Just as she knew the butcher was fiddling the books and his customers, just as she knew Mrs. Butler at the tea shop in Shacklehurst was a receiver of black market goods.”

Elinor is drawn into the affairs of an organized crime family. In the course of her inquiries and investigation into the crime family, she learns new insights about her traumatic and mysterious past. This book is recommended for readers, who enjoy a spy tale combined with some episodes of an organized criminal enterprise.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, War, Death, and Death of parent

coryanderson_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Rape, Violence, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Physical abuse, Grief, and Gore

Minor: Animal cruelty and Suicide attempt

Much of the book takes place in occupied Belgium during WWI and WWII and the horror, fear, and violence that entails for the civilians

vireogirl's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

More troubled than Maisie but still a strong female forged in the two world wars. Lots of struggling with grief and trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Self harm, War, Gore, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

More troubled than Maisie but still a strong female forged in the two world wars. Lots of struggling with grief and trauma.

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I eagerly awaited the next Maisie Dobbs mystery, so I was disappointed to learn this story had a different protagonist.  However, I enjoyed this book so much.  Miss White is an intriguing character, and the various timelines (WWI, WWII, 1947) were equally interesting.  This book didn't have some of the depth I'm used to from some Maisie Dobbs stories, but it still had plenty of emotional moments.  This book could stand alone or be the start of a new series.  I will read more if this series continues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, War, Death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Classism, Genocide, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Grief, and Gun violence