book data
479 ratings, 3.85 average rating, 67 reviews
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published
2006
by Henry Holt and Co.
binding
Hardcover, 336 pages
setting
The United Kingdom
isbn
0805078983
(isbn13: 9780805078985)
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 h...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 620)
Read in August, 2007
This was my latest experience with Maisie Dobbs, the post-WWI British heroine created by Jacqueline Winspear. This fourth book in the series was good, but somehow I didn't enjoy it as much as the third three- don't know why. I highly recommend the whole series though!
I was excited to read in the p.s. section of the third book, "Messenger of Truth", that the series will be adapted for British television and that Winspear envisioned Anthony Hopkins and Maggie Smith as playing roles, ...more
I was excited to read in the p.s. section of the third book, "Messenger of Truth", that the series will be adapted for British television and that Winspear envisioned Anthony Hopkins and Maggie Smith as playing roles, ...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
anglophiles, Sally Lockhart fans
This book, the fourth in the series, is a failure as a mystery. Maisie Dobbs is asked to investigate a death that might be murder, and eventually she uncovers not only the truth but also a smuggling ring. Unfortunately, although the reader can follow the trail of the smugglers, the resolution of the central death seems to depend on Maisie's psychic abilities--abilities that the reader doesn't have. The resolution makes sense, but it seems to come out of the blue.
There are, however, a numb...more
There are, however, a numb...more
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Read in February, 2008
Compared to her previous Maisie Dobbs novels, I didn't particularly enjoy Jacqueline Winspear's latest offering.
The plot was slow and, for the most part, uninteresting to me (as were the characters); I didn't develop much attachment or sympathy for anyone (with the exception of perhaps Billy Beale or her long-time patron). On the upside, it was nice to get some resolution to her relationship with Andrew Dene, which left me hanging in the last book.
I hate to say it, but I'm glad to be done w...more
The plot was slow and, for the most part, uninteresting to me (as were the characters); I didn't develop much attachment or sympathy for anyone (with the exception of perhaps Billy Beale or her long-time patron). On the upside, it was nice to get some resolution to her relationship with Andrew Dene, which left me hanging in the last book.
I hate to say it, but I'm glad to be done w...more
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Read in October, 2008
Maisie Dobbs is breaking traditions after the 2nd world war by being an investigator and living by herself. In Messenger of Truth, Maisie is asked to investigate the death of an extremely talented artist. The artist was greatly impacted by the war. Was it murder? Was it an accident? Maisie, with her unusual approach to investigation, is sure to unearth the truth.
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Read in October, 2008
Quotes I want to remember:
p. 2 - '"Grief is not an event, my dear, but a passage, a pilgrimage along a path that allows us to reflect upon the past from points of remembrance held in the soul. At times the way is filled with stones underfoot and we feel pained by our memories, yet on other days the shadows reflect our longing and those happinessesses shared."'
"I am no longer an artist interested and anxious.
I am a messenger who will bring back word from the men
who are...more
p. 2 - '"Grief is not an event, my dear, but a passage, a pilgrimage along a path that allows us to reflect upon the past from points of remembrance held in the soul. At times the way is filled with stones underfoot and we feel pained by our memories, yet on other days the shadows reflect our longing and those happinessesses shared."'
"I am no longer an artist interested and anxious.
I am a messenger who will bring back word from the men
who are...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
female sleuths, mystery,
Okay, first off, this is an exceptional book. Delving into the mysteries and lives of the art world and the plot line of this story. Great book. Highly recommended.
But.....I think I hated this book. It is so filled with pain and despair that it affected my mood, or maybe it was my mood that affected how I related to the book, who knows. Several of the plot twists I probably could have lived without, personally. But they do not take away from the book, it really just enhances the emotions tha...more
But.....I think I hated this book. It is so filled with pain and despair that it affected my mood, or maybe it was my mood that affected how I related to the book, who knows. Several of the plot twists I probably could have lived without, personally. But they do not take away from the book, it really just enhances the emotions tha...more
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Read in November, 2006
The fourth Maisie Dobbs novel (for background details, see my review of the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs).
It's 1931 in England, and the war that officially ended in November, 1918 still haunts the people and colors much of the behavior and social interaction that occurs. Maisie, familiar from experience with both ends of the English social scale, can deal sympathetically with Billy, her working class assistant and his family concerns, while pursuing the facts of her current case...more
It's 1931 in England, and the war that officially ended in November, 1918 still haunts the people and colors much of the behavior and social interaction that occurs. Maisie, familiar from experience with both ends of the English social scale, can deal sympathetically with Billy, her working class assistant and his family concerns, while pursuing the facts of her current case...more
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Read in August, 2008
Maisie is on the case again, this time into the death of a young artist whose pieces often feature the war. His death looks like an accident, but his sister isn't convinced, and neither is Maisie. The mystery in this book is probably the most horrible and painful of all the Maisie Dobbs book, and probably the one that delves most deeply into the great wounds the war has left in English society. Maisie moves away from her close mentoring relationship with Maurice, and comes to a conclusion abo...more
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Read in August, 2008
Not my favorite, but better than the third book. What I like about the Maisie Dobbs books is the insight into how the generation that fought WWI tried to remake their lives and the major changes in English society. Women are accepted into the workplace because the traditional route of marriage and housework is closed to them by the death of some many of the young men. The economic depression of the early '30s forces many of the returning soldiers into poverty and begging. In this book we see ...more
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Read in October, 2008
I enjoyed this installment of the Maisie Dobbs series, but got a little lost in some of Maisie's meandering thoughts as she worked her way through this particular case. She was also trying to resolve her feelings about her beau, and continue recovering from a breakdown in previous novel. I think most of this is just me, that perhaps I wasn't in the mood for this book at this time. I like Maisie, her independence, her intuition, and path she's following in her life. I look forward to the next...more
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4 comments
Read in October, 2007
I really have enjoyed this series of books. I felt it was very plodding. I just didn't get as interested in the mystery and the characters as I have in the past. Maisie needs to come out a little and enjoy life. She is on the outside looking into her life. For some reason whenever I was reading this book I felt like I need to be wrapped up in a blanket and drinking tea . I felt it was rather dreary. I hope she can break out her doldrums in the future.
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recommends it for:
Dorel and Jernnifer
All 5 of these books are good mysteries, and add to that the Anglophile aspect and a huge historical WWI backdrop, and the twenties/thirties time frame is unusual as well. They are fascinating. One and two were very good, but her writing has come even further, and three, four and five are excellent, in my humble opinion. Maisie's character is very compelling in itself. I will continue to watch for #6. Don't understand why no one knows of these books!
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in February, 2008
The world of artists and a retreat on the southern coast lends a unique ambience to this book, in which Maisie continues her sleuthing in the aftermath of WWI. As usual, Winspear does not flinch from the darker aspects of lower middle class London life, with a sad development in the life of assistant sleuth Billy. A little too much Nancy Drew-like lurking in corners for me, but otherwise engrossing.
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Read in August, 2007
Sadly, I did not really enjoy this book. Lots of info that didn't seem relevant, and was preachy about the conditions in 1930s England. Appropriate for some types of books, but not a mystery! I'm bummed I didn't enjoy it as much as others, because I do like this series and do like the character. The author left it wide open for another book, so hopefully, there will be a sequel that is better!
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Read in August, 2008
I enjoyed this installment in the Maisie Dobbs series very much. The series as a whole is so interesting and involving -- can't believe there's only one more to go. This particular mystery...about a painter who may or may not have been accidentally killed...was interesting, though not to the level of the prior two in my estimation. The subplot involving Billy's family was a highlight.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
mystery/historical fiction fans
I enjoyed this book because I love the series and the main character, Maisie Dobbs, a WWI nurse turned investigator. This fourth book of the series takes place in 1930 and has more historical story than mystery. And I think it made me love it more. I found out more about Maisie's depth. I highly recommend the series.
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Read in January, 2008
I enjoyed this fourth entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. It is a bit sadder than the rest of them, and it's too bad Maisie can't seem to find personal happiness. But I like the characters and their development througout this series, and the people she investigates in this mystery were interesting, too.
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I like the Maisie Dobbs series as it allows me to channel the young Nancy Drew-loving me. This one might be the weakest, though; the first couple books, more clearly about the impact of WWI, were more intriguing to me; I'm hoping as the series gets into WWII, it'll pick up a little more.
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Read in December, 2007
I like this character more and more with every book I read in this series. She had depth and self-awareness. In this book, Masie Dobbs begins to question the authority and her connection to the man who trained her. She also finally faces the grief over the loss of her mother years earlier.
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Read in September, 2007
I absolutely love Winspear's writing voice. She reads like an Agatha Christie book and has won the Christie awards so that speaks volumes. Her character, Maisie Dobbs, is a simple lady with the ability to deduce and figure out crimes. Love to puzzle out the mystery in each book.
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