Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear

" This series just gets better and better as it develops. Maisie is called on to investigate the accident (possible murder) of a famed artist who fell to his death as he was mounting his exhibit in a gallery. As she delves into his troubled and tormented background, she finds a man who was tortured and changed forever by his experiences in WW1. Was his death somehow connected to his artistic depictions of the bloody conflict during that war? This was a powerful story with a decidedly surprising twist at the denouement. Winspear writes with a keen insight into her characters' feelings, their motivations and their humanity. And I especially loved the inkling/beginning of Maisie finding her way back to life from a place of sadness and despair....." " Jacqueline Winspear has an amazing ability to write in a light yet deeply moving manner at the same time. Masie and the regular characters are interesting and the story lines engaging but for me it is her portrayal of the history that leaps from the page and stays with me long after I’ve finished the book. I felt tears spring to my eyes twice in this book as she touches on sensitive subjects around the Great War with a lingering soft weight. Can’t wait to read the next one....."

미스터리 역사 허구장르의 장점을 잘 살린 작품이다. 작품에 등장하는 인물들이나 이야기 등이 상당히 사실적이고 설득력이 있어서 저자가 작품을 구상하고 쓰는 과정에서 많은 조사를 했다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 1차 세계대전의 상처가 아물기도 전에 아돌프 히틀러의 등장과 새로운 전쟁의 분위기가 세상을 어둡게 하고 있는 상황이 작품의 전반적인 배경이 되고 있다. 전쟁의 참화로부터 예술작품을 지키고자 하는 예술가들의 노력, 전쟁으로 고통받는 사람들 간의 갈등과 화해, 예상하지 못한 이야기의 전개, 새로운 삶의 시작, 진실의 이중성, 어려운 경제적 상황과 사람들의 삶이 잘 묘사되고 있는 작품이다. 난이도가 있는 표현들 때문에 읽는데 부담이 좀 있을 가능성이 있다.