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Patricia F. (Stony Brook, New York)
A Cup of Tea, a Tapestry and Maisie Dobbs...
To quote our Maisie Dobbs...."She often thought of the early stages of an investigation as something akin to working a tapestry.." Picture the development and working of a tapestry and seeing meticulous labor and utmost care going into creating an important work of art. What a wonderful metaphor for a Maisie Dobbs novel! Maisie is an accomplished, capable investigator who is conducting intelligence work for the Crown. Maisie secures a job as an instructor at St. Francis College and in her undercover role, investigates the murder of Dr. Grenville Liddicote, principal of the school. This is classic Winspear at her
…more best..peeling back the layers of the investigation with the professionalism and class expected of the time period.
Having read only two Maisie Dobbs' novels in the past, it was refreshing and welcoming to revisit Maisie and look ahead to more. It should be noted that enough information is included in each novel that each can be appreciated as a stand alone piece of work. A highly regarded addition to the series, A Lesson in Secrets will be read in one sitting. (less)I am a huge fan of the Maisie Dobbs series. Winspear writes beautifully about British life post-WWI. The characters are well-developed, and you learn about the trauma the war caused throughout the country. The mysteries are intended to stand alone, but I would highly recommend that they be read in the order written.
This book starts a transition from post-WWI life to pre-WWII, and the on-going characters have the beginnings of major changes in their professional and personal lives. I recommend the book, but thought some of the minor storylines in it detracted from the main story. I look forward to the next in the series.
Lois P. (Logan Library, Logan, UT)
A Lesson in Secrets
Maisie Dobbs is back! I've been an armchair traveler as Winspear has carefully moved this engaging series forward bringing Maisie, her family, and friends to life. Here Maisie, recruited as an undercover philosophy teacher at the university of Cambridge in pre-WWII England, negotiates landmines of greed, selfishness, political intrigue, murder-- and romance--with her usual grace. Will there be a fairy-tale ending for Maisie? I'll be patiently waiting to find out!
Janet Schneider, Great Neck Library, NY
Pacifists and the Gathering Storm
In this moderately good between-the-wars series installment, it's now the summer of 1932, and intrepid psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs has just been recruited by the British Secret Service. On assignment at Cambridge University, Maisie continues to filter and consider the enormous sociological changes happening in England and in the world at that time, while solving a serviceable mystery involving the questionable loyalties of eccentric academia. Her career now flourishing and headed in a new direction, loyal readers may wonder where Maisie's personal relationships are headed.
Judy B. (Santa Fe,, NM)
Maisie Dobbs--Intrepid Spy
A satisfying read as always! Jacqueline Winspear's new Maisie Dobbs mystery finds Maisie working for the British Secret Service on a matter concerning the Queen's best interest. The story takes place in the early 1930's as Adolph Hitler and his Nazi party are coming to power in Germany and beginning to raise the interest of Her Majesty's Secret Service. There are several subplots; in fact, almost too many--as Maisie drives her little MG between London and Cambridge and Ipswich and Eltham and Chelstone and back to London. However, by the end of the story, answers are found to some secrets, but leaving others
…more unanswered and, thus, a new story. (less)This whole series just gets better and better, and this installment is particularly satisfying on many levels. Maisie Dobbs is a great character, and the era of pre-WWII England provides a perfect backdrop for her professional and personal development. The book works well as a whodunnit, but it's also interesting to watch her struggle to find her place socially, as an intelligent and independent woman. It's also a nifty piece of historical fiction. Thumbs up!
Betty B. (Irving, TX)
A Lesson in Secrets
It's 1932 and the British Secret Service enlists Maisie Dobbs for her first undercover assignment. She is sent to a small university in Cambridge to teach psychology. And she soon encounters a murder. This is the 8th in a series featuring Maisie Dobbs as she struggles to establish herself as a professional woman in the period between the two world wars. This book can stand alone and will appeal to all readers of English mysteries of this period. But after an introduction to Maisie you will want to learn more about her and will probably seek out the first book in the series. Along the way you will also learn a
…more great deal about the history of the period. (less)Dectective stories often evolve via fierce horrific scenes of violence - not so of Jacqueline Winspear's, "A Lesson in Secrets" - as old friends from preceding books encourage the reader to become the sleuth in sorting through clues to solve the murder. If you enjoyed the first books of this series, you will not be disappointed with her latest novel. In addition, Ms. Winspear has woven bits of Maisie's past life into the story of this book so that readers unfamiliar with the character can still understand the references. I enjoyed the depth of character development and the author's fluid and straight-forward
…more writing style. With humor. clarity and purpose, Maisie, as mystic and maverick, secures her detective agency, shares her sleuthing skills with government organizations and finds time to console her friends and family. Should we not regard and regale Maisie as one of the 19th century's top female detectives? (less)
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