Maisie Dobbs

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Manufacturer: Jacqueline Winspear
Brand: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Brew: Paperback
Steeping Time: 292 pages
Tea Service: Personal Choice
Strength:

Synopsis: Maisie Dobbs, Psychologist and Investigator, began her working life at the age of thirteen as a servant in a Belgravia mansion, only to be discovered reading in the library by her employer, Lady Rowan Compton. Fearing dismissal, Maisie is shocked when she discovers that her thirst for education is to be supported by Lady Rowan and a family friend, Dr. Maurice Blanche. But The Great War intervenes in Maisie’s plans, and soon after commencement of her studies at Girton College, Cambridge, Maisie enlists for nursing service overseas.

Years later, in 1929, having apprenticed to the renowned Maurice Blanche, a man revered for his work with Scotland Yard, Maisie sets up her own business. Her first assignment, a seemingly tedious inquiry involving a case of suspected infidelity, takes her not only on the trail of a killer, but back to the war she had tried so hard to forget.

Have you ever read a book and halfway through it, realized it’s part of a series?

How about starting a book and halfway through realizing it’s book sixteen in a series? That was me with The Consequences of Fear. I fell in love with the book and knew there must be more, but I was shocked to find out just how many. Finally, years later, I’m starting the series at the beginning.

I love a good mystery. Couple that with either of the world wars and I’m hooked. Detective novels can go either way for me, though. I find that they fall into one of three categories: all procedural with hardly any interaction with the people in the case, all interviews with the people but no casework, or a nice balance of the two. Luckily, Maisie Dobbs has found that wonderful balance, giving enough of both categories. Every character is engaging, and I understand Maisie and her reasoning. Much to my joy, we also extensively dig into who Maisie is and how she got to where she is.

Maisie Dobbs begins in 1929 with present-day Maisie, but we don’t stay there for long.

We spend about a quarter of the book in 1929, and then we jump back to 1910-1917. We get to grow up with Maisie through her formative years and then follow her through the war. Before we find out exactly what happened to her in 1917, we come back to 1929 and continue on with her current investigation. This plays really well since Maisie’s investigation centers around soldiers from the war, and because we got to know Maisie on a deeper level, we can see why this case means so much to her. It adds a great deal of depth to not only the plot, but to Maisie as a long-running main character.

The pace was a bit slower than I expected. Having read one of the later books in the series, I was prepared to walk into the same type of flow. Maisie Dobbs follows a slower pace that really fleshes out Maisie and the world she has lived in up until the moment we meet her. The pace didn’t have a negative impact on the story overall, and I think it fits well with the narrative. The story paints a sweeping picture of the First World War that is simple yet painfully real, and it touched the depths of my soul in a way that words can’t quite explain. I didn’t think I’d be left with such a profound feeling, but the last few chapters really brought everything home.

Maisie Dobbs lays beautiful groundwork for the series to grow on, and I’m eager to continue my journey with Maisie as she navigates the world.

I’ve already bought the second book, Birds of a Feather, and can’t wait to dive in. Maisie is a captivating lead character who has lived an entire lifetime by her mid-twenties. She is wise beyond her years and has a heart of gold. All she wants is to help everyone she comes into contact with. She is a good person through and through, and I adore her as a lead character. Maisie is strong and determined but also deeply wounded with many internal struggles to face, and I’m so glad I get to journey with her through so many more books.

All of the characters are charming and heartwarming. Morally grey characters are all the rage, and it’s easy to forget that most people are good at heart. It’s nice to read a book that has a plethora of genuinely good people. It’s comforting and a breath of fresh air. I loved everyone, even Enid, another maid that Maisie works with who, at times, could be really abrasive. It was easy to understand where her outbursts of anger came from and therefore easy to sympathize with her.

Every character comes across as a real flesh and blood person with nuances that bring them to life. Even when it comes to the big baddie of the story, I may not like them, but they are still very real and I can see what makes them tick. It was hard for me to hate anyone, which I love because I think that’s exactly how Maisie feels, too. She can see past the prickly facade and understand the reason for the spikes.

Jacqueline Winspear is a master at bringing a story to life.

The settings are detailed, the people are detailed, the sounds, smells, and sights of a location are detailed. It might be overkill for some people, and there were even moments where I thought perhaps listing what streets Maisie was walking down was a bit much, but every added detail is another brush stroke that makes Maisie Dobbs pop off the page. And for readers who know those streets, I’m sure seeing them in the story is an added bonus.

Everything about Winspear’s writing is tangible. It’s practically breathing right in front of you. Combine that with solid characters and an engaging plot, and you’ve got the recipe for an outstanding novel and series.

If you enjoy lady detective novels and WWI-era historical fiction, Maisie Dobbs is your gal.

Have you read Maisie Dobbs? Leave a comment and let me know what you thought about it! Want to read it for yourself? Click here to get a copy of your own.
Cheers,
Lydia