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Maisie Dobbs #6
Among the Mad
Christmas Eve,1931. On the way to see a client, Maisie Dobbs witnesses a man commit suicide on a busy London street. The following day, the Home Secretary receives a letter threatening a massive loss of life if certain demands are not met. Maisie is invited into Scotland Yard's elite Special Branch as a special adviser on the case - and becomes involved in a race against time to find a man who soon proves he has the knowledge, and will, to murder thousands of innocent people. Before this harrowing case is over, Maisie must negotiate her way through a darkness not encountered since she was a nurse in wards filled with shell-shocked men.
In Among the Mad, Jacqueline Winspear combines a heart-stopping story with a rich evocation of a fascinating period to create her most compelling and satisfying novel yet.
In Among the Mad, Jacqueline Winspear combines a heart-stopping story with a rich evocation of a fascinating period to create her most compelling and satisfying novel yet.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2009
1129 people are currently reading
6471 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Winspear
61 books8,380 followersJacqueline Winspear was born and raised in the county of Kent, England. Following higher education at the University of London’s Institute of Education, Jacqueline worked in academic publishing, in higher education and in marketing communications in the UK.
She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and while working in business and as a personal / professional coach, Jacqueline embarked upon a life-long dream to be a writer.
A regular contributor to journals covering international education, Jacqueline has published articles in women's magazines and has also recorded her essays for KQED radio in San Francisco. She currently divides her time between Ojai and the San Francisco Bay Area and is a regular visitor to the United Kingdom and Europe.
Jacqueline is the author of the New York Times bestsellers A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, Among the Mad, and An Incomplete Revenge, and other nationally bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha, Alex,
and Macavity awards for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for best novel and was a New York Times
Notable Book.
Series:
* Maisie Dobbs
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jacque...
She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and while working in business and as a personal / professional coach, Jacqueline embarked upon a life-long dream to be a writer.
A regular contributor to journals covering international education, Jacqueline has published articles in women's magazines and has also recorded her essays for KQED radio in San Francisco. She currently divides her time between Ojai and the San Francisco Bay Area and is a regular visitor to the United Kingdom and Europe.
Jacqueline is the author of the New York Times bestsellers A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, Among the Mad, and An Incomplete Revenge, and other nationally bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha, Alex,
and Macavity awards for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for best novel and was a New York Times
Notable Book.
Series:
* Maisie Dobbs
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jacque...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,220 reviews
July 23, 2016
I think this series is really growing on me now and in this particular episode it was nice to see Maisie warming up a bit and becoming an easier person to like.
The author is very good at writing accurately about this period of English life, especially the way she deals with the many social injustices of the time. In this story we hear about mental asylums and the grotesque treatments they used, and also a lot about the suffering of returned soldiers from the Great War.
I also loved the way Maisie got herself tied up with the police and with special branch plus getting to meet the Prime Minister. They were definitely simpler times in many ways!
An interesting and pleasurable read - informative too!
The author is very good at writing accurately about this period of English life, especially the way she deals with the many social injustices of the time. In this story we hear about mental asylums and the grotesque treatments they used, and also a lot about the suffering of returned soldiers from the Great War.
I also loved the way Maisie got herself tied up with the police and with special branch plus getting to meet the Prime Minister. They were definitely simpler times in many ways!
An interesting and pleasurable read - informative too!
July 16, 2010
I don't know if the Maisie Dobbs books fall in the 'chicklit' category or not, but I have a secret weakness for them. I am reading this one on my fancy new Kindle, which is skinnier than I would ever have thought possible. Life is good.
The burning question, of course, remains the same. Will this be the book where Maisie finally gets laid? Will she even get a chaste peck on the cheek? Lord knows, it's time - it's been 14 years since the end of the Great War, and the shell-shocked fiance who was confined to the loony bin was killed off a few books back. Surely, even the virtuous, feisty, wise Maisie HAS NEEDS.
But I'm not holding my breath. Much as I enjoy Jacqueline Winspear, it's clear by now that she's more interested in studding her books with those colorful period details mined from the bowels of the Bodleian than broaching a topic as indelicate as allowing Maisie a bit of nookie more than once a decade.
Not that we don't enjoy those lovingly researched period details - they warm the cockles of our BBC/Masterpiece Theatre/PBS-loving hearts. In general, Ms Winspear has a fairly light touch. Her books are fun to read, and this latest instalment is no exception. It seems churlish to point out that it would have been better to relegate the whole dead baby/bereaved mother subplot to whatever Dickens story it escaped from. A writer as talented as Ms Winspear has no need to resort to that kind of emotional manipulation.
added, July 16th, 2010:
Now that I've had a few days to digest "Among the Mad", I feel I should add that I think it's one of the best in the series. The main plot (escalating acts of terrorism by a wounded WWI veteran, involving the release of nerve gas, first targeting members of the government, then the general public, with a down-to-the-wire manhunt to find him before his planned New Year's Eve finale) could be taken from today's headlines. The slow buildup of tension is extremely well done - Winspear has a gift for pacing, and her account of the interactions among the various parties involved in the chase (Scotland Yard, the Special Branch, government research labs, Maisie and her assistant) is entirely convincing.
You could turn on your TV on any given Tuesday evening and find an episode of NCIS* whose plot is virtually identical to that of "Among the Mad". The forensics would be much glitzier, and the threat would be some kind of bio-weapon, but the themes and issues explored would be remarkably similar. We are used to thinking of Ms Winspear as someone who brings the past to life in her stories - the themes explored in this particular story still resonate in 2010.
*: another guilty pleasure of mine; comparison with NCIS should be considered as high praise (but it's frankly a relief that Maisie Dobbs doesn't have an iphone, particularly if you're a closet Luddite like me).
The burning question, of course, remains the same. Will this be the book where Maisie finally gets laid? Will she even get a chaste peck on the cheek? Lord knows, it's time - it's been 14 years since the end of the Great War, and the shell-shocked fiance who was confined to the loony bin was killed off a few books back. Surely, even the virtuous, feisty, wise Maisie HAS NEEDS.
But I'm not holding my breath. Much as I enjoy Jacqueline Winspear, it's clear by now that she's more interested in studding her books with those colorful period details mined from the bowels of the Bodleian than broaching a topic as indelicate as allowing Maisie a bit of nookie more than once a decade.
Not that we don't enjoy those lovingly researched period details - they warm the cockles of our BBC/Masterpiece Theatre/PBS-loving hearts. In general, Ms Winspear has a fairly light touch. Her books are fun to read, and this latest instalment is no exception. It seems churlish to point out that it would have been better to relegate the whole dead baby/bereaved mother subplot to whatever Dickens story it escaped from. A writer as talented as Ms Winspear has no need to resort to that kind of emotional manipulation.
added, July 16th, 2010:
Now that I've had a few days to digest "Among the Mad", I feel I should add that I think it's one of the best in the series. The main plot (escalating acts of terrorism by a wounded WWI veteran, involving the release of nerve gas, first targeting members of the government, then the general public, with a down-to-the-wire manhunt to find him before his planned New Year's Eve finale) could be taken from today's headlines. The slow buildup of tension is extremely well done - Winspear has a gift for pacing, and her account of the interactions among the various parties involved in the chase (Scotland Yard, the Special Branch, government research labs, Maisie and her assistant) is entirely convincing.
You could turn on your TV on any given Tuesday evening and find an episode of NCIS* whose plot is virtually identical to that of "Among the Mad". The forensics would be much glitzier, and the threat would be some kind of bio-weapon, but the themes and issues explored would be remarkably similar. We are used to thinking of Ms Winspear as someone who brings the past to life in her stories - the themes explored in this particular story still resonate in 2010.
*: another guilty pleasure of mine; comparison with NCIS should be considered as high praise (but it's frankly a relief that Maisie Dobbs doesn't have an iphone, particularly if you're a closet Luddite like me).
December 29, 2021
Among the Mad was the sixth book in the Maisie Dobbs historical fiction series by Jacqueline Winspear. I am enjoying making my way through this body of work. This was a fairly dark novel as Maisie Dobbs was out on the streets of London, not far from her office, when she attempted to intervene in a shocking incident where a homeless man commited suicide just before Christmas. Thus sets a series of events in motion, one of them being Maisie Dobbs being attached to Scotland Yard as the investigation widened and accelerated. The underlying theme of this novel is the trauma that so many soldiers and nurses endured during the Great War. Even though it was 1931, a lot of the destitute and homeless were veterans of that war often suffering great trauma. It is in this book that we see how far Maisie Dobbs has come in her own healing of the wounds she suffered, both physical and psychological, and the losses that she endured when she was serving in France.
The epigraphs chosen for Among the Mad says it all:
------- LEWIS CARROLL,
Alices Adventures in Wonderland
---- GEORGES DUHAMEL
French doctor serving at Verdun in the Great War
The epigraphs chosen for Among the Mad says it all:
"But I don't want to go among the mad
people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the
Cat. "We're all mad here.
I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you
wouldn't have come here."
------- LEWIS CARROLL,
Alices Adventures in Wonderland
A short time ago death was a cruel stranger, the
visitor with
the flannel footsteps. . . today it is
the mad dog in the house.
One eats, one drinks beside the dead, one sleeps in the
midst of
the dying, one laughs and one sings in
the company of corpses.
---- GEORGES DUHAMEL
French doctor serving at Verdun in the Great War
September 22, 2011
Among the Mad is quite possibly the closest I'm ever going to get in liking the character of Maisie Dobbs. While I have enjoyed the series as a whole, I haven't always enjoyed Maisie, and it wasn't until her last adventure ( An Incomplete Revenge ) that Maisie and her cold fish-ery ways didn't make me want to wack her upside the head with a cloche hat. In fact, this installment (the sixth in the series) finds Maisie relatively normal. She's not conjuring up some Jedi power deep within her diaphram. She's relatively sociable to those people she interacts with (perhaps due to the fact that some of them are crazier then her). She has even condescended to pull that iron poker out from her rear end and invited a fellow detective for a bite of dinner in her flat (oxtail soup - with carrots, onions and potatoes - if you're interested).
Yes, Maisie is almost human this time around, and it certainly makes for an enjoyable read. The plot is more dramatic and chilling as well, and all the action takes place within a one week period from December 24th - December 31st, 1931. Someone in greater London has a vendetta against the government due to their treatment of shell-shocked WWI veterans, and is committing acts of terrorism to voice their anger and trigger a change. Deadly chemical weapons are being used, and the terrorist promises a full scale attack on New Year's Eve if their demands for change aren't met. Maisie liasions with Scotland Yard and Section Five to track down a mentally unstable war vet before they can bring their plan to fruition. In the meantime, Maisie's employee, Billy Beale, has problems of his own, as his wife Doreen . Can Maisie help both the government and the Beale family?
Yes, Maisie is almost human this time around, and it certainly makes for an enjoyable read. The plot is more dramatic and chilling as well, and all the action takes place within a one week period from December 24th - December 31st, 1931. Someone in greater London has a vendetta against the government due to their treatment of shell-shocked WWI veterans, and is committing acts of terrorism to voice their anger and trigger a change. Deadly chemical weapons are being used, and the terrorist promises a full scale attack on New Year's Eve if their demands for change aren't met. Maisie liasions with Scotland Yard and Section Five to track down a mentally unstable war vet before they can bring their plan to fruition. In the meantime, Maisie's employee, Billy Beale, has problems of his own, as his wife Doreen . Can Maisie help both the government and the Beale family?
March 2, 2009
Learned new British words. Elevenses is a snack similar to afternoon tea, but it usually occurs around 11 am. Might consist of cake or biscuits with a cup of tea.
A Burns dinner was mentioned. It is a celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns, a Scottish poet who wrote Auld Lang Syne. The dinner has a format that is followed and is usually held on or near Burn's birthday on January 25th.
I am sad to have finished this book, as it might be a year or so until the next. Love Maisie, Billy, Frankie, Maurice, Lady Rowan, Priscilla, and even Stratton. The characters are expertly weaved throughout all the books.
Favorite quote of this book:"There were no family photographs, no small framed portraits on the mantelpiece over the fire in the sitting room as there were at her father's house. She thought the flat would be all the better for some photographs, not only to serve as reminders of those who were loved, or reflections of happy times spent in company, but to act as mirrors, where she might see the affection with which she was held by those dear to her. A mirror in which she could see her connections."
A Burns dinner was mentioned. It is a celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns, a Scottish poet who wrote Auld Lang Syne. The dinner has a format that is followed and is usually held on or near Burn's birthday on January 25th.
I am sad to have finished this book, as it might be a year or so until the next. Love Maisie, Billy, Frankie, Maurice, Lady Rowan, Priscilla, and even Stratton. The characters are expertly weaved throughout all the books.
Favorite quote of this book:"There were no family photographs, no small framed portraits on the mantelpiece over the fire in the sitting room as there were at her father's house. She thought the flat would be all the better for some photographs, not only to serve as reminders of those who were loved, or reflections of happy times spent in company, but to act as mirrors, where she might see the affection with which she was held by those dear to her. A mirror in which she could see her connections."
February 25, 2021
I wasn’t sure that I’d continue with this series. I read the first 5 books to/with a friend. We finished book 5 less than a week before she died. For this book I read both the Kindle e-book and the Hoopla audiobook, both from the library. The narration was wonderful. I thought I’d been doing a good job for over a year reading the first 5 books but as soon as I started listening to this book I discovered that no not so much. I got Maisie and Billy and all of them wrong. It could be argued that I just interpreted them differently but I will say my narration was wrong. We enjoyed the first 5 books anyway.
In this book I liked knowing things before Maisie knew them and enjoyed having as much knowledge as the reader was given. I did find the story depressing but Maisie and her crew are always uplifting anyway.
As usual I got irritated when the main character puts themselves in danger although at least in this case there were good reasons. Whether they were good enough or not is another topic for discussion, especially given that there were multiple instances. I wanted to avoid reading this at bedtime because I thought that the story would get way too scary but it never got that bad.
One quote that I loved: “And that’s what we are all looking for, isn’t it? A home. We’re looking for where we belong.”
I plan to continue reading the series and I’m looking forward to reading more of the books.
In this book I liked knowing things before Maisie knew them and enjoyed having as much knowledge as the reader was given. I did find the story depressing but Maisie and her crew are always uplifting anyway.
As usual I got irritated when the main character puts themselves in danger although at least in this case there were good reasons. Whether they were good enough or not is another topic for discussion, especially given that there were multiple instances. I wanted to avoid reading this at bedtime because I thought that the story would get way too scary but it never got that bad.
One quote that I loved: “And that’s what we are all looking for, isn’t it? A home. We’re looking for where we belong.”
I plan to continue reading the series and I’m looking forward to reading more of the books.
June 2, 2019
In Among the Mad, Maisie Dobbs is out on a busy street with her employee on Christmas Eve when she witnesses a WWI veteran commit suicide. The next day a letter is received addressed to the Prime Minister indicating there will be more loss of life unless something is done to help these veterans; however, the letter goes on to mention Maisie by name. Scotland Yard's Special Branch calls Maisie and the detective work begins.
There are 2 things I really love about this Maisie Dobbs mystery. 1) I appreciate the method of how Maisie Dobbs completes her detective work. Her approach is to look at what happened and start asking questions - the right questions - the questions you and I might ask as a reader. Then, she tries and finds somebody who can answer those questions. It's methodical and we get answers slowly, but it feels natural within the confines of the story.
The 2nd thing that I really loved about this particular Maisie Dobbs mystery is how delicately the story speaks on veterans issues, veteran experiences, and veteran health care and rehabilitation. In addition, the author is able to show us the inner workings of the mental health care system of 1931/1932, the red tape involved, and the different British government agencies and how they work together (or don't work together). All of these aren't issues of just 1931/1932, but are still issues today. Within the confines of the story we are shown the part of history that we sometimes forget or know little about - which is how mustard gas and chlorine gas were used in WWI and the effects it had on soldiers both physically and mentally. The story even reaches out past soldiers and veterans and shines a light on how different mental health facilities treated patients and the methods they practiced and employed on patients who were not veterans.
Audio Book Review: Although this is only my 2nd Maisie Dobbs mystery, I have come to not only appreciate how well written these stories are, but I have also come to appreciate how well produced and voice-acted the audio books are. One example of this incredible work is how tired Maisie sounded on the audio book at the beginning of the story after she is injured from an explosion, but is called up by Scotland Yard before she has any time to rest and recuperate. She just sounded so tired.... Another example of the quality work of the voice-actress is whenever Maisie 'implores' people to listen to her in times when things look dire. Maisie has a voice and it comes through loud and clear on how important the subject at hand is to her.
All in all, I highly recommend this book and the audio book as well. I look forward to getting the next one too and hopefully my small library has it on audio for me to check out.
There are 2 things I really love about this Maisie Dobbs mystery. 1) I appreciate the method of how Maisie Dobbs completes her detective work. Her approach is to look at what happened and start asking questions - the right questions - the questions you and I might ask as a reader. Then, she tries and finds somebody who can answer those questions. It's methodical and we get answers slowly, but it feels natural within the confines of the story.
The 2nd thing that I really loved about this particular Maisie Dobbs mystery is how delicately the story speaks on veterans issues, veteran experiences, and veteran health care and rehabilitation. In addition, the author is able to show us the inner workings of the mental health care system of 1931/1932, the red tape involved, and the different British government agencies and how they work together (or don't work together). All of these aren't issues of just 1931/1932, but are still issues today. Within the confines of the story we are shown the part of history that we sometimes forget or know little about - which is how mustard gas and chlorine gas were used in WWI and the effects it had on soldiers both physically and mentally. The story even reaches out past soldiers and veterans and shines a light on how different mental health facilities treated patients and the methods they practiced and employed on patients who were not veterans.
Audio Book Review: Although this is only my 2nd Maisie Dobbs mystery, I have come to not only appreciate how well written these stories are, but I have also come to appreciate how well produced and voice-acted the audio books are. One example of this incredible work is how tired Maisie sounded on the audio book at the beginning of the story after she is injured from an explosion, but is called up by Scotland Yard before she has any time to rest and recuperate. She just sounded so tired.... Another example of the quality work of the voice-actress is whenever Maisie 'implores' people to listen to her in times when things look dire. Maisie has a voice and it comes through loud and clear on how important the subject at hand is to her.
All in all, I highly recommend this book and the audio book as well. I look forward to getting the next one too and hopefully my small library has it on audio for me to check out.
March 31, 2022
This was a very intense read. It showed how the veterans of World War 1 were treated for what we now call PTSD and how the problems of homeless veterans have been with us for nearly a century. It really puts a spotlight on the hidden costs of war. The villain just wanted those in power to see and acknowledge the problems of the disabled veterans so that something could be done about them.
One of the things that shook me to the core were the descriptions of the chemical weapons of the period and how they were used. The other was the treatment of depression in that era which was brutal.
Despite the topics presented in the story, it was an excellent read. Please note that I have read and enjoyed this author's Maisie Dobbs series out of order but have still enjoyed it.
One of the things that shook me to the core were the descriptions of the chemical weapons of the period and how they were used. The other was the treatment of depression in that era which was brutal.
Despite the topics presented in the story, it was an excellent read. Please note that I have read and enjoyed this author's Maisie Dobbs series out of order but have still enjoyed it.
February 19, 2019
3.25 stars
The 6th book in the Maisie Dobbs series, for me, has been the best so far. Seeing that it was unfolding at Christmas time, made me hesitant, since I don't read or enjoy Christmas books. However, this book did not make Christmas its focal point or even much of a background setting.
This book delved more into the military world, of which Maisie was an Army nurse on the front lines, and the lingering problems of the discharged servicemen, not unlike our current military situation today. It also continued with the tragic family line of Billy, Maisie's assistant.
I felt that this book had the meat that the previous five were lacking. I hope that the series will continue in this fashion.
The 6th book in the Maisie Dobbs series, for me, has been the best so far. Seeing that it was unfolding at Christmas time, made me hesitant, since I don't read or enjoy Christmas books. However, this book did not make Christmas its focal point or even much of a background setting.
This book delved more into the military world, of which Maisie was an Army nurse on the front lines, and the lingering problems of the discharged servicemen, not unlike our current military situation today. It also continued with the tragic family line of Billy, Maisie's assistant.
I felt that this book had the meat that the previous five were lacking. I hope that the series will continue in this fashion.
May 2, 2009
The sixth in the Maisie Dobbs, Psychologist and Investigator, series picks up on Christmas Eve 1931. Winspear has done a nice job of developing her characters throughout the series, allowing them to grow and change according to circumstances. Although a few characters strain credulity, that can be forgiven because they serve the greater purpose of the plots. Maisie, our intrepid but no-longer-young girl detective has risen from poverty and domestic service, past service as a nurse in France, to become the head of her own two-person detective agency.
The motif running through the series is the ongoing post-traumatic disorders suffered by the major characters from their service in World War I. I admire Winspear greatly for focusing on this theme because it gets past the usual chronological stereotype that goes: WWI (All Quiet, Please! We're on the Western Front over Here), then everyone drinks and dances with wild abandon through the 20s (The Sun Also Rises, But I'm Too Hung Over to Notice), then suddenly the Great Depression looms and novels channel "The Grapes of Wrath" or screwball comedies that foreshadow the rise of fascism in Europe (the deliciously frothy "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" comes to mind).
Winspear allows her characters to remain firmly stuck in the events that shaped their youth; much more realistic. The time frame between the Great War and the early 1930s is so short that the characters are still working out issues and we are painfully aware many of them will never succeed. A non-fiction examination of this topic can be found in "Shook Over Hell: Post-Traumatic Stress, Vietnam, and the Civil War," by Eric T. Dean, Jr. Harvard University Press, 1997. Although I do not agree with all of Dean's hypotheses (the closer he gets to the present, the more his political views seem to ooze into his scholarship), he provides much valuable data and a fascinating look at an issue that gets regularly renamed (shell shock, battle fatigue, PTSD) but never goes away.
"Among the Mad" finds Maisie, Scotland Yard, and British Intelligence working, sometimes at cross-purposes, to find a killer bent on acts of mass violence against the civilian population of London. Moving from hand grenades to poison gas, the villain is suitably invisible and one step ahead to keep the plot moving. Winspear leaves us enough clues along the way that we can guess the ending if we wish, but most of her fans are just along for the ride to enjoy a good yarn, clearly told, and have a chance to revisit characters that have become old friends.
The Maisie Dobbs books are not high literature, but that may be a point in their favor with readers who are grateful for a good British lady-detective story with enough set dressing to create a sense of time, enough geography to create a sense of place, and enough historic detail to provide a painless "historic-novel history lesson," so that we feel less guilty for sitting down with a good read instead of doing something "productive" like the laundry. We'd much rather watch Maisie out-think, out-intuit, and out-resolve her Scotland Yard counterparts. (Has any independent detective character in a novel EVER said anything nice about Scotland Yard's effectiveness?) All this done while coping with the lingering pain and loss from the Great War and while transitioning into a world we, the reader, knows will be far scarier.
The motif running through the series is the ongoing post-traumatic disorders suffered by the major characters from their service in World War I. I admire Winspear greatly for focusing on this theme because it gets past the usual chronological stereotype that goes: WWI (All Quiet, Please! We're on the Western Front over Here), then everyone drinks and dances with wild abandon through the 20s (The Sun Also Rises, But I'm Too Hung Over to Notice), then suddenly the Great Depression looms and novels channel "The Grapes of Wrath" or screwball comedies that foreshadow the rise of fascism in Europe (the deliciously frothy "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" comes to mind).
Winspear allows her characters to remain firmly stuck in the events that shaped their youth; much more realistic. The time frame between the Great War and the early 1930s is so short that the characters are still working out issues and we are painfully aware many of them will never succeed. A non-fiction examination of this topic can be found in "Shook Over Hell: Post-Traumatic Stress, Vietnam, and the Civil War," by Eric T. Dean, Jr. Harvard University Press, 1997. Although I do not agree with all of Dean's hypotheses (the closer he gets to the present, the more his political views seem to ooze into his scholarship), he provides much valuable data and a fascinating look at an issue that gets regularly renamed (shell shock, battle fatigue, PTSD) but never goes away.
"Among the Mad" finds Maisie, Scotland Yard, and British Intelligence working, sometimes at cross-purposes, to find a killer bent on acts of mass violence against the civilian population of London. Moving from hand grenades to poison gas, the villain is suitably invisible and one step ahead to keep the plot moving. Winspear leaves us enough clues along the way that we can guess the ending if we wish, but most of her fans are just along for the ride to enjoy a good yarn, clearly told, and have a chance to revisit characters that have become old friends.
The Maisie Dobbs books are not high literature, but that may be a point in their favor with readers who are grateful for a good British lady-detective story with enough set dressing to create a sense of time, enough geography to create a sense of place, and enough historic detail to provide a painless "historic-novel history lesson," so that we feel less guilty for sitting down with a good read instead of doing something "productive" like the laundry. We'd much rather watch Maisie out-think, out-intuit, and out-resolve her Scotland Yard counterparts. (Has any independent detective character in a novel EVER said anything nice about Scotland Yard's effectiveness?) All this done while coping with the lingering pain and loss from the Great War and while transitioning into a world we, the reader, knows will be far scarier.
March 2, 2020
I would love to know Maisie in real life. I know there are a number more books in this series. I don’t want to look ahead but it’s now 1932. Only a few more years and the build up to the next war starts so I’m sure the books will continue into that area.
June 7, 2022
4.25 stars. I am really enjoying this series more and more as I continue into it. I started it thinking it is a "cozy mystery" series and I would have to say now that it is not. There are some brutal scenes and occurrences, but since we're in England, dealing with the aftermath of WWI, it makes sense.
I always feel stuck in the timeframe; the author does her research and gives me a good flavor not only for the time period but for the times, if that makes any sense. I always learn something I didn't know before, and often her work makes me curious to read & learn more.
The audio narrator, possibly the whole way through so far, is the same woman. I had trouble with her narration early on in the series, but I'm beginning to appreciate her intonations, particularly when Maisie (the main character) is speaking with someone she genuinely cares about. Her empathy and sensitivity really come through, and when I finish one book, I find myself wanting to jump right into the next. Since most of the books are available for instant download via Hoopla / Overdrive, and the libraries all seem to have copies of the paper books, this is pretty easy to do!
I've come to almost think of Maisie as the 1930s version of Monk (but without the OCD). She has a "non-traditional" way of approaching a case. Her asst., Billy, is a man, and they have a (platonic) history. I've become attached to her friends & family, as well as Billy's. I care what happens to them all, and Winspear doesn't spare the reader, at times. But all in all, things go in a generally positive direction, and I love that Maisie is educated and kind, and respected by her (mostly male) peers.
It's hard to go wrong with most any book in the series so far. I've already started #7! Thanks again to Lisa, for encouraging me many times to continue on with the series after I'd left a gap of many years after reading the first volume.
I always feel stuck in the timeframe; the author does her research and gives me a good flavor not only for the time period but for the times, if that makes any sense. I always learn something I didn't know before, and often her work makes me curious to read & learn more.
The audio narrator, possibly the whole way through so far, is the same woman. I had trouble with her narration early on in the series, but I'm beginning to appreciate her intonations, particularly when Maisie (the main character) is speaking with someone she genuinely cares about. Her empathy and sensitivity really come through, and when I finish one book, I find myself wanting to jump right into the next. Since most of the books are available for instant download via Hoopla / Overdrive, and the libraries all seem to have copies of the paper books, this is pretty easy to do!
I've come to almost think of Maisie as the 1930s version of Monk (but without the OCD). She has a "non-traditional" way of approaching a case. Her asst., Billy, is a man, and they have a (platonic) history. I've become attached to her friends & family, as well as Billy's. I care what happens to them all, and Winspear doesn't spare the reader, at times. But all in all, things go in a generally positive direction, and I love that Maisie is educated and kind, and respected by her (mostly male) peers.
It's hard to go wrong with most any book in the series so far. I've already started #7! Thanks again to Lisa, for encouraging me many times to continue on with the series after I'd left a gap of many years after reading the first volume.
November 12, 2009
I liked the first two books in this series the best. This one was similar to the last few - WWI history, Maisie Dobbs calm & cool sleuthing ability, with her personal life not taking as much progress as I expected. It's an okay book. Clean, though.
And I am always annoyed when I feel that books digress with personal development in a following novel, which this one seemed to w/ Doreen, Billy's wife. She was getting over Lizzie's death at the end of the last novel, so I was rather surprised when she took such a turn for the worse at the beginning of this novel, and I found myself not quite believing the positive prognosis at the end - what's to prevent the author from just starting the next book the same way, if she feels like it? With an, "oh, just kidding, she's not really recovered after all, even though she appeared to be..."
It's very similar to how I feel about Maisie's personal life. I'm always surprised at the beginning of each novel how Maisie appears to start out, emotionally, at a similar level to the beginning of the previous novel. Then she progresses through the novel, makes headway, comes to a similar conclusion that she came to in the last book, and we start all over again the next time around. Her personal development is going very slowly for a main character, spread over the series instead of taking place in one book. I'm ready to make some new headway with Maisie's personal life... I've been ready since book 3. For example, it takes her a few books to finally be on speaking terms w/ her amazing mentor Maurice again, that meant everything to her in the first couple of books? And she faces her shell shock every single book... I keep thinking we've moved beyond that, but I guess not. So I guess these following books should be read more for the mystery, not the personal development. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the next one when it comes out...
And I am always annoyed when I feel that books digress with personal development in a following novel, which this one seemed to w/ Doreen, Billy's wife. She was getting over Lizzie's death at the end of the last novel, so I was rather surprised when she took such a turn for the worse at the beginning of this novel, and I found myself not quite believing the positive prognosis at the end - what's to prevent the author from just starting the next book the same way, if she feels like it? With an, "oh, just kidding, she's not really recovered after all, even though she appeared to be..."
It's very similar to how I feel about Maisie's personal life. I'm always surprised at the beginning of each novel how Maisie appears to start out, emotionally, at a similar level to the beginning of the previous novel. Then she progresses through the novel, makes headway, comes to a similar conclusion that she came to in the last book, and we start all over again the next time around. Her personal development is going very slowly for a main character, spread over the series instead of taking place in one book. I'm ready to make some new headway with Maisie's personal life... I've been ready since book 3. For example, it takes her a few books to finally be on speaking terms w/ her amazing mentor Maurice again, that meant everything to her in the first couple of books? And she faces her shell shock every single book... I keep thinking we've moved beyond that, but I guess not. So I guess these following books should be read more for the mystery, not the personal development. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the next one when it comes out...
July 5, 2017
Another terrific entry in a terrific series. As Winspear's writerly skill and control grow, we see Maisie too settle in to a new degree of control over her personal and professional life, recognizing -- as we and her pal Priscilla have known all along -- that she has not yet fully rejoined the living after the war, and deciding to make that change. The subplot involving the Beale family continues, and nicely parallels both the main murder plot and Maisie's own evolution. One of the best so far. I listened to the audio, and the narration is excellent.
September 6, 2025
La novela está ambientada en Londres, en la Navidad de 1931. Tras la guerra, el país atraviesa una grave crisis económica que afecta especialmente a los exsoldados: no hay subsidios, ni empleo, ni un hogar al que volver. Muchos de ellos arrastran heridas de guerra incurables. En plena calle, un hombre hace estallar una bomba, y Maisie es llamada por las altas esferas de Scotland Yard para ayudar a resolver el atentado.
Maisie es una mujer adelantada a su época, algo que se refleja a lo largo de toda la novela. A su lado continúa su fiel ayudante, Billy. En esta entrega, el peso recae más en los dramas del pasado de algunos personajes. La autora ofrece pequeños resúmenes, aunque yo recomendaría leer la serie en orden para no perder detalles.
También se aprecian avances en los métodos de investigación policial y en los recursos disponibles. La trama se centra en las altas esferas, los secretos de Estado y la necesidad de evitar una posible rebelión entre la ciudadanía. La obra incluye una amplia denuncia social hacia el gobierno de la época y la escasa ayuda prestada a quienes lo perdieron todo tras la Primera Guerra Mundial.
En este volumen he notado que la trama avanza con más lentitud, incluso con capítulos repetitivos y pausados, aunque otros aportan más acción. Maisie, por su parte, evoluciona bastante sin perder su esencia.
Si te gusta la novela negra detectivesca con un toque de historia y denuncia social, no te puedes perder esta serie de libros.
Maisie es una mujer adelantada a su época, algo que se refleja a lo largo de toda la novela. A su lado continúa su fiel ayudante, Billy. En esta entrega, el peso recae más en los dramas del pasado de algunos personajes. La autora ofrece pequeños resúmenes, aunque yo recomendaría leer la serie en orden para no perder detalles.
También se aprecian avances en los métodos de investigación policial y en los recursos disponibles. La trama se centra en las altas esferas, los secretos de Estado y la necesidad de evitar una posible rebelión entre la ciudadanía. La obra incluye una amplia denuncia social hacia el gobierno de la época y la escasa ayuda prestada a quienes lo perdieron todo tras la Primera Guerra Mundial.
En este volumen he notado que la trama avanza con más lentitud, incluso con capítulos repetitivos y pausados, aunque otros aportan más acción. Maisie, por su parte, evoluciona bastante sin perder su esencia.
Si te gusta la novela negra detectivesca con un toque de historia y denuncia social, no te puedes perder esta serie de libros.
August 7, 2015
I really enjoy the Maisie Dobbs series, and I'm not a big fan of mystery books. However, what I do like about these books is her style. The series is set in the late 20s, early 30s, just when Britain is still reeling from shell-shocked soldiers, a shaky economy, and small step forward into modernity in terms of women's rights. Maisie, despite being a thoroughly modern Millie, is still very much an elegant and genteel lady. She has empathy for her fellow human being regardless of their situation, but she's also pragmatic and realistic. She's filled with optimism thinking that everyone can improve with help, but she's also realistic and understands that not everyone will improve. She is never sarcastic, derisive, or over-bearing. She is a true lady who rarely makes anyone feel uncomfortable. She is filled with patience, and in short, is the type of person I would like to be when serving the public, but I know I fall far short of the mark! And the reader for the audiobook has a lovely British accent and conveys Maisie's emotions superbly! I could listen to that woman all day!
This story, unlike some of her others, moved along briskly. There wasn't too much time spent dwelling on the human condition or Maisie's emotional turmoil dealing with her war-time trauma or her loss of her fiance. There's a hint at romance to come, a quickly moving storyline, a few side stories involving her friends, and then a satisfactory resolution for all.
This story, unlike some of her others, moved along briskly. There wasn't too much time spent dwelling on the human condition or Maisie's emotional turmoil dealing with her war-time trauma or her loss of her fiance. There's a hint at romance to come, a quickly moving storyline, a few side stories involving her friends, and then a satisfactory resolution for all.
April 10, 2010
Last night (2/20/09) I met Teri Garzon and we went to Vroman's to hear Jacqueline Winspear speak about this book, the latest in her Maisie Dobbs series. She talked about different experiences or memories from her life that sparked the ideas for this new book. As a teenager, she did voluteer work at a mental hospital, which sparked an idea for this book. She also spoke about her grandfather and his "shell shock" from World War I. Finally she related a brief personal experience when she was working in London (in Fitzroy Square) during the late 1970s - early 1980s and was witness to a bombing in Regent's Square Park. Needless to say, I am anxious to make my way through the other three books in this series so that I can start this one!
3/29/10 - Going to hear Jacqueline Winspear at Vroman's on April 12th. Want to get this book read before I get her new one.
3/29/10 - Going to hear Jacqueline Winspear at Vroman's on April 12th. Want to get this book read before I get her new one.
July 15, 2018
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Well, I have book hangover.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Well, I have book hangover.
Wow.
November 25, 2024
4.25/5
One of my favourites so far! So many great but difficult themes… the author tackles them with such grace. A wonderful but emotionally-taxing read. 💔💔💔
One of my favourites so far! So many great but difficult themes… the author tackles them with such grace. A wonderful but emotionally-taxing read. 💔💔💔
May 31, 2019
My sixth Maisie Dobbs mystery and I am still (and hopefully always) loving her and her stories.
Christmas Eve, London, 1931. Maisie and Billy are in the street, walking from their office to Billy's home. Christmas packages for the Beales are in their arms. Maisie notices a man sitting on the ground, gray looking and sad. She nears him with change in her hand. She gasps when she sees him reach into his pocket. An explosion occurs, killing the man and causing Maisie to strike her head on the ground. The man is dead; Maisie escapes with a bad headache.
Christmas Day. Maisie would still like to deliver the packages to the Beale family. There she witnesses a very sad and melancholic Doreen, Billy's wife. In a previous episode, their little girl died and Doreen was still suffering. This episode will prepare us for the compassionate side of Maisie as she assists Billy with getting the proper care for Doreen.
Boxing Day. Maisie is able to travel in her MG to Chelstone, to visit her father, Frankie. But her visit is cut short. Inspector Richard Stratton has telephoned asking for Maisie's assistance. An urgent situation requires she return to London immediately. When she arrives and meets with Scotland Yard she is informed that ' a threat has been received by the Home Secretary... asking for help for those unemployed and if action has not occurred within 48 hours, London will see the letter writer's power.' What will this person do. Now we see the no-nonsense and highly organized side of Daisie as she assists in finding the culprit and all who are involved with him.
In the 6 books that I have read in this series, I have seen Maisie grow from a motherless scullery maid to a confident psychological detective. As I continue to read these books, I see a Maisie who can be short tempered as she strives to be the woman she wants to be. That sounds harsh on my part. I have come to realize that Maisie is living at a time different from me; a time when women were discouraged from doing anything except being married and a good wife and mother. This realization has helped me to see a Maisie who wants to be valued and respected. She has developed a very no-nonsense approach to solving problems. Bravo Maisie.
I will continue to read these mysteries until I arrive at the 14th installment.
Recommend for those who like historical fiction set in the England of the early to middle 20th Century.
5 stars
Christmas Eve, London, 1931. Maisie and Billy are in the street, walking from their office to Billy's home. Christmas packages for the Beales are in their arms. Maisie notices a man sitting on the ground, gray looking and sad. She nears him with change in her hand. She gasps when she sees him reach into his pocket. An explosion occurs, killing the man and causing Maisie to strike her head on the ground. The man is dead; Maisie escapes with a bad headache.
Christmas Day. Maisie would still like to deliver the packages to the Beale family. There she witnesses a very sad and melancholic Doreen, Billy's wife. In a previous episode, their little girl died and Doreen was still suffering. This episode will prepare us for the compassionate side of Maisie as she assists Billy with getting the proper care for Doreen.
Boxing Day. Maisie is able to travel in her MG to Chelstone, to visit her father, Frankie. But her visit is cut short. Inspector Richard Stratton has telephoned asking for Maisie's assistance. An urgent situation requires she return to London immediately. When she arrives and meets with Scotland Yard she is informed that ' a threat has been received by the Home Secretary... asking for help for those unemployed and if action has not occurred within 48 hours, London will see the letter writer's power.' What will this person do. Now we see the no-nonsense and highly organized side of Daisie as she assists in finding the culprit and all who are involved with him.
In the 6 books that I have read in this series, I have seen Maisie grow from a motherless scullery maid to a confident psychological detective. As I continue to read these books, I see a Maisie who can be short tempered as she strives to be the woman she wants to be. That sounds harsh on my part. I have come to realize that Maisie is living at a time different from me; a time when women were discouraged from doing anything except being married and a good wife and mother. This realization has helped me to see a Maisie who wants to be valued and respected. She has developed a very no-nonsense approach to solving problems. Bravo Maisie.
I will continue to read these mysteries until I arrive at the 14th installment.
Recommend for those who like historical fiction set in the England of the early to middle 20th Century.
5 stars
September 29, 2021
I love this series! The roaring 20's have given way to the 1930's. Maisie Dobbs, being an independent woman with her own business is unusual for the times. World War I still lingers, but the veil has lifted. Many people from the great war, the veterans, are without pension and livelihood. Some are disgruntled. A bomb goes off, a threatening letter is received, and Maisie is enlisted by the Scotland Yard to prevent further atrocities.
February 17, 2024
I've read enough of the Maisie Dobbs series to be familiar with her and the way she works. I find it interesting to follow along on the pattern (template) she uses. She is methodical yet intuitive but always thorough. And like Miss Marple, the police seem to benefit from her assistance.
I've gotten to know the people in her orbit (although Priscilla seems like an add-on in this story). Her father is a dear. I like Billy and the work he does with Miss Dobbs.
At the beginning of this story Maisie gets a concussion yet it doesn't seem to affect her that much. I found it distracting because I've had concussions and the best course of action is not to carry on with business as usual. I wanted to tell her to rest and lie down... but she doesn't. Hmm... not realistic.
This plot was interesting but at times implausible. I liked that the story emphasizes the plight of those who fought in the war yet had no visible wounds but were still 'wounded' in mind or spirit. Even today, it's good to be mindful that people cope with hurts inside of them and we don't know about them. It seems everyone has something...
This was an engaging story to listen to on my walks. I'll definitely listen to more of the series. Let's see what Maisie tackles next.
Right you are, Miss.
I've gotten to know the people in her orbit (although Priscilla seems like an add-on in this story). Her father is a dear. I like Billy and the work he does with Miss Dobbs.
At the beginning of this story Maisie gets a concussion yet it doesn't seem to affect her that much. I found it distracting because I've had concussions and the best course of action is not to carry on with business as usual. I wanted to tell her to rest and lie down... but she doesn't. Hmm... not realistic.
This plot was interesting but at times implausible. I liked that the story emphasizes the plight of those who fought in the war yet had no visible wounds but were still 'wounded' in mind or spirit. Even today, it's good to be mindful that people cope with hurts inside of them and we don't know about them. It seems everyone has something...
This was an engaging story to listen to on my walks. I'll definitely listen to more of the series. Let's see what Maisie tackles next.
Right you are, Miss.
November 25, 2014
“…inside the villain is a victim…”
Among The Mad is the sixth book in the Maisie Dobbs series by British-born American author, Jacqueline Winspear. After witnessing a suicide in the street near her office, Maisie is seconded by Special Branch to help investigate a case, possibly related, involving letters containing non-specific threats to the public, and finds herself visiting No 10 Downing Street. It is of concern that MI5 are also involved, but Maisie’s special skills and her unique perspective prove helpful when the team are working to a deadline. Billy’s wife, Doreen is hospitalised, and Maisie’s close friend, Pris is not coping well with her move from Biarritz.
Winspear gives her readers another interesting plot with a twist or two, and she touches on many issues: reactive depression, its various manifestations and shocking treatment regimens; the high prevalence of shell shock and the scandalously inadequate support given to affected servicemen; and research into chemical weapons and victims of experimentation.
For this investigation, Maisie has to visit the Battesea Dogs Home, hospitals, research facilities and an orphanage. She manages to save the day at no small risk to herself, as well as proving herself a supportive employer and a resourceful friend. She makes a purchase that may well come in handy in future investigations. Another excellent instalment in the Maisie Dobbs series, and readers will look forward the next book, The Mapping of Love and Death.
Among The Mad is the sixth book in the Maisie Dobbs series by British-born American author, Jacqueline Winspear. After witnessing a suicide in the street near her office, Maisie is seconded by Special Branch to help investigate a case, possibly related, involving letters containing non-specific threats to the public, and finds herself visiting No 10 Downing Street. It is of concern that MI5 are also involved, but Maisie’s special skills and her unique perspective prove helpful when the team are working to a deadline. Billy’s wife, Doreen is hospitalised, and Maisie’s close friend, Pris is not coping well with her move from Biarritz.
Winspear gives her readers another interesting plot with a twist or two, and she touches on many issues: reactive depression, its various manifestations and shocking treatment regimens; the high prevalence of shell shock and the scandalously inadequate support given to affected servicemen; and research into chemical weapons and victims of experimentation.
For this investigation, Maisie has to visit the Battesea Dogs Home, hospitals, research facilities and an orphanage. She manages to save the day at no small risk to herself, as well as proving herself a supportive employer and a resourceful friend. She makes a purchase that may well come in handy in future investigations. Another excellent instalment in the Maisie Dobbs series, and readers will look forward the next book, The Mapping of Love and Death.
March 19, 2009
Maisie Dobbs brings to mind my grandmother, a divorced woman with a career in the 1930s. Though she never said much about it, I know she faced obstacles that men did not. I admire Maisie’s—and my grandmother’s—self-sufficiency and independence, focus, perseverance, awareness of others’ problems and desire to help. Some things have changed for the better, and some have not; despite improvements in medicine and psychology, many U.S. veterans face a disturbing lack of treatment for the physical and emotional wounds of war.
January 20, 2022
Fascinating twists in Maisie’s life. British Secret Service become involved. Billy Beale’s wife Doreen cannot get over the tragedy in their lives. Once again the inhumanity of war, the treatment of the survivors comes to the fore.
February 20, 2026
quite a dark chapter.
This is one of the darker chapters in Maisie’s story, dealing as it does with shell shock, what we would now call post traumatic stress.
The way it was treated in the 1930s is quite an eye opener.
This is one of the darker chapters in Maisie’s story, dealing as it does with shell shock, what we would now call post traumatic stress.
The way it was treated in the 1930s is quite an eye opener.
June 12, 2016
Dang, I was hoping the Maisie Dobbs books were getting better. Having her working with Special Branch had me wary from the get go, but the idea of Maisie dabbling in espionage works better than in some series that have taken a similar turn. If she is to stay involved with the evolving world crisis for the time frame, Maisie will need more than simple detective work to remain in the thick of things. Unfortunately in "Among the Mad", I found no reason for Robbie MacFarlane to have such confidence in Maisie. Most of her conclusions were based on feelings not concrete evidence. I know Maisie is billed as a "psychologist and investigator", but way too much psychobabble and not enough investigating. And speaking of MacFarlane, why do so many men seem to fall for Maisie? I certainly do not understand the appeal. She's rigid, unapproachable and slightly arrogant.
And I really felt that Maisie lacked empathy where Doreen was concerned. Yes, she helped transfer her to a different institution, but I would have expected more urgency in the matter, especially since Maisie was well aware of the questionable treatment Doreen was undergoing which could severely hamper her mental well-being and recovery. She seemed a little too blasé about the whole situation.
And I thought Maisie becoming less reliant on her lapel watch might be a good thing, but cripes, I was wrong. Her OCD is worse than before. How many times did she glance at a clock on the wall or on a mantle? At least a dozen. I wish I'd known to keep track before starting the book. One part made me laugh (Okay, more than one, though I don't think Winspear was aiming for humor). When Maisie was aping MacFarlane's movements at their first meeting, he called her out on it. I was wondering when someone would finally notice.
And I really felt that Maisie lacked empathy where Doreen was concerned. Yes, she helped transfer her to a different institution, but I would have expected more urgency in the matter, especially since Maisie was well aware of the questionable treatment Doreen was undergoing which could severely hamper her mental well-being and recovery. She seemed a little too blasé about the whole situation.
And I thought Maisie becoming less reliant on her lapel watch might be a good thing, but cripes, I was wrong. Her OCD is worse than before. How many times did she glance at a clock on the wall or on a mantle? At least a dozen. I wish I'd known to keep track before starting the book. One part made me laugh (Okay, more than one, though I don't think Winspear was aiming for humor). When Maisie was aping MacFarlane's movements at their first meeting, he called her out on it. I was wondering when someone would finally notice.
June 23, 2017
I found this book quite by chance at the library. What luck! Little did I know it was the 6th book in a series. I liked it so much I decided to read the series backward - just finished, and want to go forward and read through to #6 again!
These books are not ordinary! Maisie Dobbs is a psychologist/private investigater in post-WWI London. She came from a poor family but was given a chance to better herself by an upper-class woman with a good heart. Maisie worked as a tweeny maid in the woman's home while being tutored/mentored by an unusual doctor. She was accepted at Oxford's women's college, but left to be trained as a nurse and do her part in France during WWI. She completed her schooling upon return to England, worked with her mentor for several years, and set up her own practice.
The stories aren't just mysteries - they develop characters deeply while providing what seems to me to be a very real snapshot of life in post-war London and the surrounding area.
Maisie looks inward at least as much as she does outward when working on a case and she even meditates!
Thank you, Ms. Winspear, for creating such an interesting, likable and believeable "heroine" in Maisie Dobbs!
These books are not ordinary! Maisie Dobbs is a psychologist/private investigater in post-WWI London. She came from a poor family but was given a chance to better herself by an upper-class woman with a good heart. Maisie worked as a tweeny maid in the woman's home while being tutored/mentored by an unusual doctor. She was accepted at Oxford's women's college, but left to be trained as a nurse and do her part in France during WWI. She completed her schooling upon return to England, worked with her mentor for several years, and set up her own practice.
The stories aren't just mysteries - they develop characters deeply while providing what seems to me to be a very real snapshot of life in post-war London and the surrounding area.
Maisie looks inward at least as much as she does outward when working on a case and she even meditates!
Thank you, Ms. Winspear, for creating such an interesting, likable and believeable "heroine" in Maisie Dobbs!
October 22, 2009
Just finished this book which is #6 in the Maisie Dobbs series and I liked it better than any of the others other than #1 which was my most favorite. The story really moves along in this one and Winspear seems to be re-energized by her characters again. I do like picking up with the same characters as the reader feels a relationship with them. I find myself really interested in the time period and what life was like for women in England at this point in time - post WWI, pre WWII.
Good book. I recommend it!
Good book. I recommend it!
September 20, 2019
4.5 stars. I adore the character of Maisie Dobbs--her clarity, fortitude, compassion, and independence--and I also really appreciate the other characters who people Winspear's books. I have learned so much about World War I from reading these books, particularly the impact on those who fought and returned home to England with physical and mental wounds. These are books written with great heart and a keen insight into the human psyche. Every one of these books is a treasure, and this is my favorite mystery series (so far)!
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