Booklist review: Anthem for Doomed Youth

DCI Alec Fletcher receives a high-profile case with orders to solve it quickly and keep his wife, Daisy Dalrymple, away from the investigation. Since Daisy will be heading off to visit their daughter at her boarding school, this should not be a problem. Unfortuately, Daisy’s daughter, Belinda, and her friends encounter a body in the maze at the public garden, leaving Daisy and her friend Sakari Prasad to speculate about the murder and ponder whether it could be related to Alec’s case, which centers on the discovery of three bodies in Epping Forest. The victims all served in the same company during WWI, and their deaths may be related to wartime events. Dunn’s striking portrait of Daisy continues to remind readers that there were strong women with careers in England during the 1920s—and women who successfully balanced work and parenthood. As always, Dunn combines an entertaining story with fascinating historical material.

 — Barbara Bibel

---