What readers think of An Incomplete Revenge, plus links to write your own review.

Although this was the fifth in a series about a WW1 era private investigator named Maisie Dobbs, it was the first I had read by this author. Set in London and the nearby towns, it was rich in details about this period in English history.

Jacqueline Winspear does a wonderful job of creating believable characters dealing with the broken pieces of their lives after WW1. I thoroughly enjoyed "living" in this era while watching Maisie unearth clues to discover who is setting small fires in a village. She reminds me a bit of a young Miss Marple in the way she gains the confidence of the residents of the village.

The English countryside is anything but tranquil in Jacqueline Windspear's latest novel. Maisie Dobbs is asked to look into the rash of thefts and suspicious fires plaguing the village of Heronsdene in Kent.

During the war this village was the site of a Zeppelin raid and death of the village baker and his family. Maisie is perplexed when residents are reluctant to discuss this event. They are all to ready to shift the focus to Londoners and Gypsies in the area for the hop harvest.

Rich historical detail and beautifully descriptive language capture the time and paint a vivid picture of the English landscape. As Maisie untangles the web of deception, her own story arc continues to evolve. Maisie Dobbs is a memorable character and the series gets stronger with each new entry.

This was a real treat for the Maisie Dobbs fan! As with Jacqueline Winspear's past Maisie books, the story was clever and the period details convincing. The storyline kept me guessing for a good portion of the book and was chilling as it took shape. It has several themes that would be interesting for bookclubs to discuss. I'd definitely recommend this book.

The lush descriptive detailing of the English countryside provides an atmospheric backdrop for Maisie Dobbs’ investigation into the mysterious incidents taking place in the rural village of Heronsdene in the 1930’s.

A vivid portrayal of the tensions between the cultures of the hop-pickers, the gypsies and the townspeople is richly displayed through the use of dialect, history and landscapes.

Through her relationships with Maurice Blanche, her father and Simon, among others, Maisie Dobbs has developed into a fully dimensional main character whose sixth sense along with a highly methodical thought process help prepare her for the most difficult of situations.

The myriad of secondary characters tended to bog down the plot and I found myself losing interest well into the second half of the book. Certain developments towards the end somewhat re-engaged me in the story, unrealistic as they seemed.

Symbols such as the Michaelmas daisies and the importance of identity are interwoven throughout the story. But, it almost becomes more of a somber statement of culture clashes and lessons in death than a mystery.

I kept humming "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" as I read this very fun, light and satisfying mystery from the Maisie Dobbs series--for these are the suspect groups in murder and theft. In fact, I was reading three books at the same time and was always a bit sad that I had to pick up the other two. The author has won many awards for the second book in the Maisie Dobbs' series, "Birds of a Feather" and I enjoyed this one just as much.

A detective and psychologist in a post WW I era, Winspear gives us lots of insight into the sense of loss, confusion and fear after the Great War as she investigates this cozy English town of people. Without angst, the theme of letting go and holding on to a more naive time and its people, runs throughout the book for many of its characters without being the book's focus. The resemblence to our own post-9/11 fears, regrets and losses is part of its dignity. And figuring out "who done it" still felt like a great mini-adventure.

I'm a real bibliofile and reserve a "5" for a select few. I'm sure for many others this book would have been a "5."

Loyal readers will discover a more mature, confident and independent Maisie Dobbs in Jacqueline Winspeare's newest Maisie novel. Like Maisie herself, Winspeare's plotting and fully developed character comes of age. Using psychology, the author weaves the threads of the mystery together as Maisie resolves truths about herself. I enjoyed the book for its setting in the early 1930's and the location in Kent. Maisie Dobbs fans will be eager to read this new title in the series.

I just finished reading An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear and found it to be a very pleasurable experience. Although the book is the fourth installment of a series it can be read as a stand alone novel without too much distraction from previous events. Ms Winspear has created an extremely likable, sympathetic protagonist and in general the development of all characters is excellent. The research into the history of the time and other cultures is superb. The only fault in an otherwise marvelous novel is that the plot is not compelling and is even predictable although it is beautifully told. I believe that readers who enjoy strong character development and "people" novels will be as pleased with this book as I was.

The lush descriptive detailing of the English countryside provides an atmospheric backdrop for Maisie Dobbs’ investigation into the mysterious incidents taking place in the rural village of Heronsdene in the 1930’s.

A vivid portrayal of the tensions between the cultures of the hop-pickers, the gypsies and the townspeople is richly displayed through the use of dialect, history and landscapes.

Through her relationships with Maurice Blanche, her father and Simon, among others, Maisie Dobbs has developed into a fully dimensional main character whose sixth sense along with a highly methodical thought process help prepare her for the most difficult of situations.

The myriad of secondary characters tended to bog down the plot and I found myself losing interest well into the second half of the book. Certain developments towards the end somewhat re-engaged me in the story, unrealistic as they seemed.

Symbols such as the Michaelmas daisies and the importance of identity are interwoven throughout the story. But, it almost becomes more of a somber statement of culture clashes and lessons in death than a mystery.