Book Description
London, 1931. The night before an exhibition of his artwork opens at a famed Mayfair gallery, the controversial artist Nick Bassington-Hope falls to his death. The police rule it an accident, but Nicks twin sister, Georgina, a wartime journalist and a infamous figure in her own right, isnt convinced. In Messenger of Truth, Maisie once again uncovers the perilous legacy of the Great War in a society struggling to recollect itself. But to solve the mystery of Nicks death, Maisie will have to keep her head as the forces behind the artists fall come out of the shadows to silence her. Following on the bestselling Pardonable Lies, Jacqueline Winspear delivers another vivid, thrilling, and utterly unique episode in the life of Maisie Dobbs.
Customer Reviews:
A Little Off-Balance.......2007-07-26
"God, he's just a little off balance," thought Maisie Dobbs about Officer Tucker while he was questioning her. For Maisie is investigating the death of an artist who supposedly accidentally fell from a scaffold while he was preparing to mount his mysterious triptych (3-piece art work) in a museum in England. Off balance is right, and Georgina Bassington-Hope, a famous journalist in her own right, is convinced that her artist brother, Nicholas, was pushed off the scaffold to his death. Hired by Georgina, Maisie sets of to slowly, methodically investigate the Bassington-Hope family, friends and acquaintances. Her method is fascinating reading as she quietly intuits each vital step in this formidable process, punctuated by significant opposition from the police and some smugglers.
The reader through Ms. Winspear's carefully detailed presentation meets these characters and gets to share in the intimate knowledge about their finer and gauche personality aspects. A psychologist as well as Investigator, she's got the talent with which one is born and that which can't be taught! Astute and compassionately honest she is!
Depression England and the awful World War that preceded it are frankly and carefully presented, leaving no doubt how these events created suffering and incomparable struggle for all who are surviving both. Indeed these characters somehow manage to thrive out of some deeper fine qualities that slowly emerge as Daisie continues her exploration into the seamier side of men and women of both the upper and lower class British citizens.
This is a fine, fine novel that will thrill the true mystery lover who really doesn't want to figure out the puzzle on page 1 or 100 but wants to relish the truly intriguing art divided into successive canvases of a classic, wonderful mystery!
Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on July 25, 2007
Messenger of Truth: A Maisie Dobbs Novel.......2007-07-24
The book is well written, a good story line and makes for enjoyable light reading.
A Maisie Dobbs Novel .......2007-07-18
Some books you read as a main course dinner others you save for the dessert. This book could fall into either category. A top read when you
choose to read. The person of Maisie Dobbs has been building for the past three books, and has proven to be a top notch detective and a business person. Be prepaired to find that you will have a hard time putting this book down.
Maisie Dobbs #4.......2007-07-14
I love this series! A thinking woman! Looking forward to the continuation of the series.
A dry watershed.......2007-06-24
This is Jacqueline Winspear's fourth novel about Maisie Dobbs, "psychologist and investigator." Fans of the series may be slightly disappointed, but should still enjoy it. First-time readers will wonder what all the fuss is about. For, as I suspected already in the third novel, PARDONABLE LIES, the narrative span is becoming difficult to sustain over four books.
But Winspear's sense of period seldom lets her down, and there are still many interesting things here: her view of the vibrant art scene between the wars or the heady night world of jazz clubs and cocktails, contrasted with the effect of the Depression on the out-of-work poor and the lamentable state of public health. And those parts of the story which have to do with the rags-to-riches rise of the heroine (housemaid, war nurse, Canbridge graduate, private investigator) are mercifully shorter -- though Maisie's emotional problems would mean very little to those who had not read the earlier books. But Winspear seems caught on a difficult watershed: on the one hand, continuing to write about the legacy of the First War, which no longer has the resonance that it had in her first books; on the other, exploring the life of a nation moving inexorably towards the Second. There are aspects of both here, but they do not blend easily. If she is to continue, the author needs to move forward rather than back -- and also develop the inner life of her heroine so as to make her interesting for who she is now, rather than as the product of previous books in the series.
Readers who want to read more about the role of artists in the first War -- an important element in this book -- might be interested in REGENERATION by Pat Barker. Although Barker's novel deals with poets (Sassoon and Owen among them) rather than painters, it tackles head-on the conflict between war's brutality and artistic sensitivity, which has been a persistent theme in Winspear's books, and a moving one.
Book Description
Hailed by NPR's Fresh Air as part Testament of Youth, part Dorothy Sayers, and part Upstairs, Downstairs, this astonishing debut has already won fans from coast to coast and is poised to add Maisie Dobbs to the ranks of literature's favorite sleuths.
Maisie Dobbs isn't just any young housemaid. Through her own natural intelligence—and the patronage of her benevolent employers—she works her way into college at Cambridge. When World War I breaks out, Maisie goes to the front as a nurse. It is there that she learns that coincidences are meaningful and the truth elusive. After the War, Maisie sets up on her own as a private investigator. But her very first assignment, seemingly an ordinary infidelity case, soon reveals a much deeper, darker web of secrets, which will force Maisie to revisit the horrors of the Great War and the love she left behind.
Customer Reviews:
An Extraordinary Woman.......2007-09-13
MAISIE DOBBS was recommended in a book blog that I had read; I do not recall which one, which is a pity because I owe the author thanks. I was not forty pages into the book when I decided I must have all three sequels, and by the time I was halfway through the fourth I was sad that I would soon be finished with this portion of Maisie's life. I have rarely been so attracted to a character so quickly. The stories are complex narratives with surprising insights; for some reason they remind me of Dorothy Sayers (probably the World War I connection existent in each story). The descriptions of the battlefields bring the horror of that war alive, and Maisie's 1930s world is beautifully brought to life. Full of memorable characters such as Maisie's assistant Billy, but none of them is as memorable as Maisie herself. I can't wait for the fifth book and will buy the next one in hardcover.
Hokey.......2007-07-15
Hokey, cliched, loaded with predictable plot twists (see Enid's fate and the final chapter), and a lot of stomach churning psycho babble from Maisie's teacher Maurice Blanche. There is even an utterly pointless character named, of all things, Khan. He's a blind Ceylonese mystic (OH BROTHER!) He's supposed to be a mysterious guru, but his main purpose seems to be to teach Maisie how to breathe properly. The final scene where Maisie solves the mystery is absolutely ridiculous.
Still I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is "unreadable." A "nice" book, but not compelling enough to recommend it.
beautifully evocative.......2007-07-08
Maisie Dobbs is a delicious book, if for nothing other than the way it evokes the between-the-wars era in England. You really feel the damage WWI had caused England's spirit. Maisie's young life is well drawn along with her time in the VAD in France. The only part that really didn't go down well with me was the way Maisie's use of psychology is wrapped in a coating of psychic/supernatural/mystical ability. I found it hokey. I'm also not so sure that class barriers were quite as easy to bridge as Maisie appears to have found it. Overall I found "Maisie Dobbs" a charming read, the mystery pulls the story along, but the atmosphere and flavor make it stand out.
Here's what I want..........2007-07-08
I could echo the sentiments of everyone else here... I "shant."
I loved Maisie... One little thing, tho. I am a sucker for a terrific story with lots of history woven in... I would have liked to have seen more World War I, real-life London in this era... Sort of like The Alienist...
But, I already bought the second book, Birds of a Feather, and I was hooked immediately.
Maisie, I'm with you!
If you are just now finding Maisie Dobbs, how I envy you!.......2007-06-26
And you may as well order the next three now, because no way will you not want to read them! My husband and I have all four (so far published; we eagerly await the next one), and have shared them with numerous friends. Maisie is a wonderful heroine, and the books are so evocative of the time and place, and the characters so well drawn, that the mystery story itself is almost secondary. However, the stories are good, too. Maisie is a great find, and we hope she goes on for a very long time. Enjoy!
Book Description
In the third novel of this bestselling series, London investigator Maisie Dobbs faces grave danger as she returns to the site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the mystery of a pilot's deathnbsp;Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone. Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe. Every once in a while, a detective bursts on the scene who captures readers' hearts-and imaginations-and doesn't let go. And so it was with Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs, who made her debut just two years ago in the eponymously titled first book of the series, and is already on her way to becoming a household name. nbsp;A deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her not only to the edge of madness but to the doors of those who practice the dark arts and commune with the spirit world. nbsp;In accepting the assignment, Maisie finds her spiritual strength tested, as well as her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. The mission also brings her together once again with her college friend Priscilla Evernden, who served in France and who lost three brothers to the war-one of whom, it turns out, had an intriguing connection to the missing Ralph Lawton.nbsp;Following on the heels of the triumphant Birds of a Feather, Pardonable Lies is the most compelling installment yet in the chronicles of Maisie Dobbs, "a heroine to cherish" (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review).
Customer Reviews:
Pardonable Lies.......2007-09-05
When things happen, they happen in threes. So Maisie Dobbs finds out when she takes on a case to help a child accused of murder, a sort of double case dealing with soldiers killed in the war, and trying to find out who was trying to kill her. The child accused of murder is a girl barely thirteen forced into street walking, of the two soldiers, one was the brother of Maisie's best friend and the other the son of an MP who had promised to settle the question of whether the boy still lived or not. Lastly, the killer had surfaced as she began her investigations Was is someone connected to a case? Talented Jacqueline Winspear has written a story that will keep you reading, beginning to end. You will thoroughly enjoy meeting Maisie and the other characters while stepping back in time. A series of subplots woven into the fabric of the whole make for a satisfying and pleasant read. A touch of the paranormal added to the mix of mystery and romance give it a flavor to set it apart from the rodinary mystery. Any reader will find this deserves the title, cozy, even though it doesn't follow all the rules. You'll be looking for other books by this very able author. I know I will.
Powerful Anti war Message.......2007-06-08
All of the Maisie Dobbs books are wonderfully written historical novels as well as mysteries. They take place between the wars, and speak of the horrors of the War to End All Wars. What the brave Brits don't know is that there is much worse to come.
I re-read the series often, and purchase it for gifts.
Much to like--but in slo-mo.......2007-05-17
There is much to like in the mystery novels featuring Maisie Dobbs, private investigator in London, ex-nurse from World War I. First, there is Ms. Dobbs herself, an interesting mixture of liberated feminism and vulnerability. Memories of the war's blood and horrors are never far in the back of her memory. Everything she does is affected by this.
Then there is the time, a dozen years after the war, in the midst of the so-called Great Depression that hit Europe well before the United States, with an even bigger war looming in the guise of nazism and fascism. The reader recognizes this, but of course Maisie has no way to know what Mein Kampf will lead to in less than a decade.
Unfortunately the plot is just too slow, stopped cold from time to time as the author insists, for example, upon telling us the color and texture of every garment that a character is wearing, even though the raiment has absolutely nothing to do with anything. Moreover, the happenings are just a wee bit vague at times--too many times. This curious mixture of vagueness and too much information should have been edited out during the first read at the publishers.
Still, Maisie and her times merit at least three stars.
Reviewed by Sarra Borne.......2007-02-10
The third in the Maisie Dobbs series, Pardonable Lies, maintains the high quality of writing evident in her first two mysteries. Author Jacqueline Winspear transports us back to the 1930's, when the Great War (WW1) was still fresh in the mind. Maisie Dobbs served as a nurse in France during that engagement, after the war, with help from mentor Maurice Blance, she attended college and became a psychologist and detective.
In this book, Maisie is asked to lend her expert assistance on three cases. The first, to prove an impoverished young girl innocent of a crime that might send her to the gallows. The second, to discover the fate of the brother of her closest friend and confidante, reported dead by the military. Her third case is to discover whether a young aviator shot down over France is dead or alive. His father, Sir Cecil Lawton, doesn't really care one way or the other but feels he must fulfill the deathbed promise made to his wife.
As she investigates, she learns that there are a few intertwining threads among these three seemingly unrelated stories. Probing deeper, she discovers shadowy figures following her and an attempt is made on her life. But which case is the one that inspires such passion?
In order to get to the heart of the matter, Maisie forces herself to return to France where she is still haunted by her memories of nursing wounded soldiers. She must confront her demons and put her past behind her - or suffer the consequences.
Jacqueline Winspear has written a highly complex and masterful story. Readers will gain a real feel for the time between the two World Wars from all the exquisite detail Winspear has painstakingly included. Maisie herself is an appealing, imperfect heroine, who is more than ready to admit her faults, showing a character that is all that much more authentic.
Maisie Dobbs.......2007-02-06
Jacqueline Winspear provides us with a fresh breath in mystery writing. The author's vivid descriptions take one back to the time period of World War I. The main character, Maiser Dobbs, is a cross between Nancy Drew and Alexandra Cooper of the Linda Fairstein novels. It is difficult to put the book down, because you want to find out what happens next. In the end, you have not only been thoroughly entertained by Ms. Winspear's writing, but you are left with a feeling of peacefullness.
Book Description
Jacqueline Winspear's marvelous and inspired debut, Maisie Dobbs, won her fans from coast to coast and raised her intuitive, intelligent, and resourceful heroine to the ranks of literature's favorite sleuths. Birds of a Feather finds Maisie Dobbs on another dangerously intriguing adventure in London “between the wars.” It is the spring of 1930, and Maisie has been hired to find a runaway heiress. But what seems a simple case at the outset soon becomes increasingly complicated when three of the heiress's old friends are found dead. Is there a connection between the woman's mysterious disappearance and the murders? Who would want to kill three seemingly respectable young women? As Maisie investigates, she discovers that the answers lie in the unforgettable agony of the Great War.
Customer Reviews:
Better Than A Finger In The Eye, I suppose........2007-07-17
Slightly better than the first book. Not quite as hokey, but the new agey "aura sensing" involved in the investigating is pretty lame. The characters are rather dull and lack any depth or heart (Billy Beale and his phony accent are too much.) There is still too much pseudo-intellectual psycho-babble and a pretty thin subplot featuring Billy Beale drags the story down a little.
However, the main story is better in structure and content. (Although I figured out who the murderer was well before the fianle so it can't be that great.
And thank God the ridiculous Khan the "Blind Ceylonese Mystic" character is only mentioned briefly.
I'm willing to give Maisie one more shot though.
review.......2007-05-25
Some books you save for the appetizer others for the main course, other for dessert. This book is the main course.
Maisie, my friend !!.......2007-05-14
Maisie Dobbs is a strong, interesting woman in the post-WW I era that we know little about - until we meet Maisie. She's a former nurse during the war, she's now a private investigator and psychic who doesn't just solve crimes but tries to assure that's all right with the people involved when it's over. It's a little slow in places but then picks up again as life in the early 1930s entices us to read on. Thank you, Ms Winspear, for creating a unique new series.
good series.......2007-05-11
I like this series. The attention to period detail is a bit nice. I think this is one of the better books of this series.
Different reading, for me..........2007-03-07
I don't ordinarily read mysteries, but because the Maisie Dobbs series has a heroine with a background in the Great War, I was intrigued enough to pick up the first two books (Maisie Dobbs and Birds of a Feather). I found many romance-novel-type elements about these books (not exactly in a good way either) -- many descriptions of what Maisie and other women characters are wearing, for instance, and the potential relationship with Inspector Stratton which is gently hinted at the end of this book. Even her rise from maid to private investigator has a kind of romance-gloss about it.
Although the historical background and research in these books is pretty near faultless, it almost seems as if there's too much of it, somehow. Something doesn't ring true. This book is set in 1930 but modernity creeps in somewhere. I can't quite put my finger on it -- it's like it's written through a historical filter, yet not all the 21st century is held back.
Well, whatever. I found the mystery somewhat bland. I wasn't really caring about any of the characters, and I wanted to be more intrigued by the book; to have a harder time (and for the author to give Maisie a harder time) solving the mystery. It was a good, not a great, read.
Perhaps a habitual mystery reader would rate this higher, but having read the first two Maisie Dobbs books, they don't succeed in leaving me with an appetite for more.
Product Description
'...an exclusive QBP 2-in-1 edition, are two of best-selling author Jacqueline Winspear's critically acclaimed World War I-era novels, featuring our new favorite female sleuth, Maisie Dobbs.'
Customer Reviews:
Winspear Writes Enchanting Mysteries.......2006-09-11
I just discovered Jacqueline Winspear recently and was
completely enchanted by her Masie Dobbs mysteries. The
mysteries take place during WW1. Winspear writes so
vividly and factually of this era that one might think she
actually lived through this time herself. Her mysteries
take me back to the 1800's and early 1900's when, in my
estimation the very best mysteries were written.
Maisie became a detective back during the "great war" when
women weren't exactly welcomed in such an occupation.
She solves mysteries as well suffers through her own
heartbreaking losses during the time we called, "the war to end all wars". Once you read a Maisie Dobbs book, you want
more and more.
Average customer rating:
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Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs Mysteries)
Jacqueline Winspear
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Messenger of Truth: A Maisie Dobbs Novel (Maisie Dobbs Novels)
ASIN: 0792736648 |
Book Description
With the country in the grip of economic malaise, and worried about her business, Maisie Dobbs is relieved to accept an apparently straightforward assignment from an old friend to investigate certain matters concerning a potential land purchase. Her inquiries take her to a picturesque village in Kent during the hop-picking season, but beneath its pastoral surface she finds evidence that something is amiss. Mysterious fires erupt in the village with alarming regularity, and a series of petty crimes suggests a darker criminal element at work. As Maisie discovers, the villagers are bitterly prejudiced against outsiders who flock to Kent at harvest-time—even more troubling, they seem possessed by the legacy of a war-time Zeppelin raid. Maisie grows increasingly suspicious of a peculiar secrecy that shrouds the village, and ultimately she must draw on all her finely honed skills of detection to solve one of her most intriguing cases.
Rich with Jacqueline Winspear’s trademark period detail, this latest installment of the bestselling series is gripping, atmospheric, and utterly enthralling.
Books:
- Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit
- My Grandfathers Blessings : Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging
- Old Souls: Compelling Evidence from Children Who Remember Past Lives
- Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions
- Out: A Novel
- Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction
- Physik (Septimus Heap, Book 3)
- Practical Aspects of Interview and Interrogation, Second Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)
- Redemption: The Last Battle of the Civil War
- Return To Me
Books Index
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