Maisie Dobbs

At the end of number 20 I just had to start again at Number ONE. It must be 15/16?? years since I first encountered "Maisie". What would I think in 2021? It is still a wonderful read> A proper introduction to nearly all the characters who appear throughout the series. Mystery/tension/emotion/a touch of humour and a great backstory for Maisie, particularly riveting when describing the hell of WW1 in the front line of battle and nursing.It is always hard to be objective as I am seriously prejudiced in favour of Ms Winspear, but I do recomend giving the books go, and if possible start with this one. A memorable character, and there are 19 more to read!!!

After a run of reading some exceptionally gory thrillers and detective series, I felt in need of something more gentle to slow my heart rate - which this, indeed did. Perhaps a little too gentle for me - not sure I'll be reading the next one before I get a fix of one of my more, um...accident prone detectives. But come back to the series I probably will. This was well written and much of the book was taken up by Maisie's back story - how she came from being in service as a teenager to a wartime nurse and, finally, running her own detective agency.I liked the characters, many of whom will no doubt turn up in the next book, and I liked the London 1920s setting. The cockney speaking became a bit irritating to read, but I suppose it was necessary. Nothing mind-blowing, but a pleasant read for a rainy Sunday.

I loved this book. On Amazon it is often compared to Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and while I have not read those books, I have seen the TV series and yes, I can agree with them. It resembles that series BUT... at the same time not.Maisie Dobbs grows up in a very strict social order and class system without any prospects beyond becoming a maid. But she has a very bright mind and the luck of working for a woman that wants to make a changes in society. She is given the opportunity to study and step out of the class where she was born. Then World War 1 breaks out and she lies about her age to become a nurse and help out. Not until the war is over, can she return to her studies and then continue being trained by a man that is doing something so modern as being an investigator and psychologist at the same time.Some people have complained that there is only a mystery at the beginning and at the end of the book. Yes, that is true. At the same time, I as a reader wanted the story in between. The whole middle section tells Maisie's story so that the author can make a series out of this heroine. She builds up Maisie's backround so we know where Maisie is coming from, what she has encountered during the war and what people she knows. This needs to be done somewhere and why not after having started the mystery???Since the book is set in 1929, cases can not be solved quickly and have to be done so without modern technology and often with the help of psychology. She is an Hercules Poirot and a Miss Marple and yet, entirely a person of her own, an loveable, attractive young lady with a broken heart.

I loved this book. Yes, the mystery stops for quite some time and the story instead plots how Maisie became who she is, but I found this part fascinating and was happily swept along by it before the mystery resumed. I've since read two more Maisie Dobbs books and will read more. There's something comforting about these books; it's a world I look forward to inhabiting. Also, there are character traits in Maisie that are very different to other detectives and I find these traits refreshing and singular and fascinating. I've read other reviews that state that the introduction of historical fact is clunky at times. I disagree. I enjoy reading more about the time and feel that it's done in a way that I have absolutely no problem with at all and the facts always add to the story. Very happy to have encountered Ms Winspear and her very special world!

I had read most if the other Maisie Dobbs books before reading this one. It is excellent and despite being read ‘out of order’ it was still gripping. an excellent series and I am eagerly waiting to read there new book due soon.