The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear - 4.5 stars

[Ellen]

In the last book of the Maisie Dobbs series, the war has ended and London is recovering from the devastating bombings. Maisie stumbles upon 4 adolescents and a gravely injured man squatting in the empty home of a close friend. She learns that the youngsters had been recruited by the British government as spies and informants against the Germans but now that the war is over they have no safety net. Maisie promises that she will settle their situation and help them towards a better life. She is also shocked to realize that she knows the injured ex-soldier quite well. As she takes on the mission to rehabilitate the children and to facilitate the healing of the soldier, along with reuniting him with his family, Maisie learns of a secret concerning her late husband James. Although she is now happily married and with an adopted daughter, Maisie knows she must follow the threads of James' past no matter where it leads.

Although I am sad that there will be no more Maisie Dobbs' books, I understand the author's reasoning that she has brought her heroine through 18 books and 2 World Wars. It is time for Maisie to enjoy life with her family. Thanks for the great ride Ms. Winspear!

[NancyJ]

Ellen wrote: "In the last book of the Maisie Dobbs series, the war has ended and London is recovering from the devastating bombings. Maisie stumbles upon 4 adolescents and a gravely injured man squatting in the ..."

Wonderful review Ellen! I’m still fairly early in the series and I like it more and more. It’s good to know it was a satisfying series.

[Robin P]

I really liked this series but I wish she had spent more time on the pre-WWII period. Once there were Nazis, I couldn't read any more.

[Hannah]

I really enjoyed this one, and thought it was a fitting end to the series. But like Robin, I also wish she had spent more time on the pre-WW2 period. There are so many events in British history I would have liked to see Maisie solving related-mysteries to, and I also much preferred a younger Maisie as a character to the character after she became a mother.