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Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs, #2)

Jacqueline Winspear

Start date: January 18, 2009

Finish date: January 22, 2009

Discussion: F-J

Why we're reading this: 2nd of the Maisie Dobbs books!
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What Members Thought

Apr 16, 2012 Dorothy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mysteries, tough-women

Maisie Dobbs has been on her own as a private investigator/psychologist for about a year in this second entry in Jacqueline Winspear's well-written series. She has gained a new office, new living quarters, and an assistant, Billy Beale, and she has gained some measure of respect from the police, especially Detective Inspector Stratton of Scotland Yard.

She is contacted by a self-made, brash, and impatient businessman named Joseph Waite (An impatient businessman named Waite. Get it? Sorry, couldn' Maisie Dobbs has been on her own as a private investigator/psychologist for about a year in this second entry in Jacqueline Winspear's well-written series. She has gained a new office, new living quarters, and an assistant, Billy Beale, and she has gained some measure of respect from the police, especially Detective Inspector Stratton of Scotland Yard.

She is contacted by a self-made, brash, and impatient businessman named Joseph Waite (An impatient businessman named Waite. Get it? Sorry, couldn't resist!) It seems that Waite's daughter 32-year-old Charlotte has run away from the family home and Waite wants her found and brought back immediately if not sooner.

Meantime, the police are investigating the murder of a young woman about Charlotte's age, but before the crime can be solved, another young woman is murdered in similar fashion. As Maisie proceeds in her search for the missing woman, she discovers that there may be a link between her and the murdered women. Then she learns that another woman with a connection to all three has recently committed suicide. At least, it was thought to be suicide. Maisie has her doubts.

She and Billy proceed with their investigation, but Maisie comes to realize that something is seriously wrong with Billy. His leg wound from the Great War is bothering him and he may have turned to illicit drugs to try to ease his pain. And then her beloved father is injured while caring for a horse on the estate where he lives. With all of these concerns on her plate, will Maisie be able to retain her focus on the missing person case?

Winspear manages to weave many interesting historical facts into her historical fiction. Here, we learn about the Order of the White Feather, a group of women who, during World War I, went around England handing white feathers to young men who were not in uniform. The feather was supposed to represent cowardice and it was a form of group pressure to try to get the men to enlist.

Interestingly, we also learn a bit about the inventor of Pilates exercises, which, at the beginning, were meant to help those injured in the war strengthen their bodies and learn to cope with disabilities.

Winspear also does a good job of recreating the cultural atmosphere of the times. This story takes place in 1930 when England, and much of the world, was in a depression and hunger and want were everyday companions for so many people. Winspear's descriptions of those people seem poignant and real and lend much authenticity to this very interesting series. ...more

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Oct 01, 2015 Katherine rated it really liked it

Wonderful sequel. The mystery vase was harder to decipher but loving the reflective approach of the stories.

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Jul 03, 2013 Liz B rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, mystery, historicalfiction, ebook

I think I liked this better than the first Maisie Dobbs--maybe because the first was more historical fiction than mystery. In any case, this is the start of a terrific new series for me--it deals with the repercussions of WWI, as does the Charles Todd Inspector Rutledge series, and it has such a great main character in Maisie.

I like this darker (realer) version of the years between the wars. It's a time period I love because of Agatha Christie...and apparently it was a boom time for murders in E ...more

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Mar 09, 2020 Toni rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-read-in-2020

Another great entry in Maisie Dobbs' story. I love reading about this era, and I enjoyed Maisie's thought process. ...more

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Jul 03, 2021 Amanda rated it liked it

Good summer read. I think I’ll read one more of the series and see how it goes.

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Sep 15, 2014 Donna Halloran rated it really liked it

Really loved this. I enjoyed the Maise Dobbs character and would happily read more. I like the support characters as well. The story/mystery was a little bit easier for me to figure out than I expected. I also liked the setting - this is NOT usually a time that I would enjoy but her spin worked for me

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