Date: 24 March 2024
Location: Annie & Pete
We had a full house on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to discuss Jacqueline Winspear’s latest novel, The White Lady. It was great to have such a nice turnout, and we were especially happy to welcome Jaina’s mom who was visiting from Kenya.
This is actually the second Winspear book the Bookers have read. The first was Maisie Dobbs which we read back in June of 2019. (Incidentally, the 18th – and final – book in her Maisie Dobbs series is scheduled for release in June.)
The White Lady features another formidable woman, Elinor White, who also was involved in the First World War. However, she was just a child caught up in the resistance movement to the German occupation of Belgium. In fact, when she was only thirteen, she killed two German soldiers who were trying to rape her older sister. After WWI, she relocated to Britain, but during WWII she again became emersed in conflict as a British agent on the continent.
The novel’s setting is several years after WWII when White is living in a rural ‘grace and favor’ cottage, provided to her in recognition of her service during the war. She learns that her neighbors, a young couple with child, are being harrased and threatened by thugs. The young man was the son of a powerful crime boss. He wanted no part in his father’s crime syndicate, but the family was insisting that he join them in a major heist because of his war-time explosives training. As things started getting ugly, Ms White decided to come to the young couple’s aid.
Our standard question for all of our readings is, “How did the author treat women?” Well, Jacqueline Winspear treats women very well indeed. She always features competent and appealing female characters. I think we all enjoyed the book and were left wondering if Elinor White will appear again, perhaps at the start of a new series.
We finished the meeting with another really good meal thanks to our hosts and contributions from the members. The highlight of course was the delicious Shepard’s, make that Cottage, pie. It was just a delightful meeting.
— Bob