I love it when you recommend books. I jot the author and title down in a notebook I keep for just these books to be read. I usually include who or where the recommendation comes from; a book blog, a newspaper or magazine review, NPR, PBS – or, most importantly, one of you.
Maisie Dobbs came to my attention through several of you, first Marilyn Ritter, then Dee Ready, and soon word seemed to spread of Maisie, like a daisy in the garden scattering her seeds. I finally picked up Jacqueline Winspear’s first novel of the series a few weeks ago. I know I want to follow Maisie through the rest of the series as well.
Maisie Dobbs is a private investigator/psychologist whose story is one of a poor girl who does well, initially through the help of benefactors and through her own gifts of intelligence and kindness. It is set primarily in post WWI England with flashbacks to Maisie childhood and her experience as a nurse in the war.
After Maisie’s mother dies, Frankie, her father, a well liked chap who makes a meager living as a costermonger*, finds Maisie a job in service at the estate of Lord Julian and Lady Rowan Compton. Maisie, a young girl at the time, does her fair share of the work, but, she sets her internal clock for the wee hours of the morning so that she can sneak into the Compton library to read as many as the books as she can, teaching herself Latin along the way.
One night, Lady Julian, who has returned home very late with Lord Julian and Dr. Maurice Blanche, slips into the library and discovers the young Maisie there. She soon realizes Maisie’s aptitude and arranges for Dr. Blanche to tutor her in between her household chores. Eventually higher education is arranged, until the outbreak of WWI, when Maisie become a nurse.
The book is about more than Maisie’s lessons, work and wartime service, however. Much more. It is about the aftermath of World War I and it is about compassion, especially when it comes to wartime disfigurement, and it is about the unfortunate manipulation of veterans. Maisie Dobbs is a mystery with a soul.
Maisie’s first client, which is how the book begins, is a man who suspects his wife is having an affair. Maisie takes on the case, following the young woman to a cemetery and watches her put a simple bouquet on the grave of a man with only a first name. Maisie soon discovers that there are several other soldiers of the war buried there, all in simple graves, all without a surname. Maisie suspects far more is going on – and it is. When Lady Rowan’s son decides to move into a home called The Retreat for veterans, Maisie steps up her efforts to discover what is really going on.
Maisie Dobbs was a quick read that held my interest and left me wanting to learn more about post WWI – and more about Maisie Dobbs.
I look forward to reading the next Maisie Dobbs book, and the next; and to following her about she solves crimes, and other life mysteries.
Thank you, Dee and Marilyn, for introducing me to Jacqueline Winspear and Miss Maisie Dobbs.
* I didn’t know what a costermonger was and so, Mr. Google led me to Ms Wikipedia where I learned that a costermonger is someone who sells fruits and vegetable from a cart. Common pre-WWI, I imagine them less so now, though I do remember a street vendor from my early childhood when we still lived in Chicago.
Sounds good — I make the same kind of “TBR” (to-be-read) list. The sad thing was that I decided to put it on my Kindle Notepad so I’d have it when I went to the library or bookstor. Very handy for a time….and then my Kindle broke…. all my purchased content transferred to my new one of course, but my notes were lost. So sad…so now I’m back to the old fashioned way, paper notes that I can never find when I need them ;>…..I’ll try to remember this one…it does sound like a great series about a very interesting time esp. in England.
Oh, Salle, what a shame that is. I know what you mean about paper notes, of which I have many myself, so, I do try to get books I’m interested in put down in the notebook. I’ve been known to put in a sticky note or tape in a napkin, which makes for quite an interesting turning of pages. I believe there are 8 or 9 books in this series. I think you might like Maisie Dobbs.
Costermonger…from selling ‘costard’ apples.
Thank you. A new word for me to go with costermonger.
I remember a street vendor from my childhood in Chicago too, but he drove down the alley selling fruits and vegetables from a truck, not a cart, so I wonder if he counts as a costermonger? Anyway, thanks for another excellent book review!
I would say that it does, indeed, count Janet. The cart I remember was pulled by a real horse down the alley. Funny what we remember, isn’t it? I do wish that the knife sharpener would push his cart down my street here like he does in Elmhurst. I could use his skillful sharpening.
Dear Penny, I’m so glad you enjoyed “Maisie Dobbs” and that you want to read the other books in the series. Reading them in order really helped me see the growth of the characters. Another series that reveals the effects of WWI on England and on a Scotland Yard detective is the Ian Rutledge myseries by Charles Todd–a mother and son team of writers. There are about 12 books in this series and they are extremely well written. Not a quick read, but a satisfying one. The first in the series–and reading it first is essential is “A Test of Wills.” That test takes place between Ian Rutledge and Hamish–who died in World War I. Peace.
I really did enjoy Maisie Dobbs, Dee! Thank you for the suggestion to read them in order. The next one should be “Birds of a Feather” and I look forward to reading it soon.” Maisie Dobbs” was a wonderful suggestion. I might not have known about the series had it not been for the blogging community – and you. Thank you as well for the Ian Rutledge mysteries suggestion. I will be sure to put it on my TBR list. Penny
Yet another great series to put on my docket, Penny. Mysteries are my first loves, particularly period ones with strong characters. I’m firing up my good reads now to add it to my list.
It was a worthwhile read, Andra, a mystery with a good bit of post WWI history. I think you will enjoy it.
Sounds good. Now Maisie Dobbs will be on my list.
It is, Janet, and I think you will like the character, Maisie Dobbs.
Hello Penny:
You really have me wanting to read that book. Your recap made me wish I had the book. Have you read Dovekeepers? Pretty wonderful.
I just returned it yesterday to the library in your very town, Mary Anne. I think you would enjoy it as well as the character, Maisie Dobbs. I haven’t read Dovekeepers and will add it to my list on your suggestion. Thank you.
Hope you are doing well.
That’s a great review and now you’ve really inspired me to rush out and buy this book to read for myself. It sounds like it has a fabulous story-line xx
Thank you. It is a really good read and I’m looking forward to reading the next on in the series. I think you will enjoy it. Let me know.
I can’t get on with Maisie but I will say the covers are some of the best I’ve seen anywhere.
She is certainly not for everyone, Cath, and is not as much mystery as one might want. They are such wonderful covers and seem to stay consistent with what I’ve seen on her website.
Hello Penny,
Just back and catching up on my blog reading. So pleased that you found Maisie Dobbs worth your while. You know it’s always risky to recommend books! Am glad your visit with the little angel was fun and that the garden show was such a success. I remember reading about the planning all year. Stay cool and watch out for those flying shopping carts!
It is good to see you back, Marilyn, and I did, indeed, find Maisie Dobbs worth my while and look forward to reading more. Thank you for the recommendation – and for taking the time to catch up here. Ha! Others watch for flying saucers. I for flying shopping carts.
Trying to stay cool is something most of us are trying to do. Hope you are as well, Marilyn. Take care and thank you again for risking the recommendation.
Great! I love mysteries. Time to download this for my time away in Cornwall I think, Penny. Thank you!
Enjoy your trip, Kate, and whatever mysteries pass you way. I think you might enjoy Maisie Dobbs.
Added Maisie Dobbs and books following to my list. A day or so ago I started typing up a TBR list with the authors in ABC order. I’m thinking though I might not enjoy reading this list as much as I did the bits and pieces of paper and jottings that gave some clue as to when/where I made the note. I thought this might keep me from having duplicates on the list. I’ll see. As to reading all the books…..even if I retired tomorrow and lived to be 100 I wouldn’t have the time.
I can see the benefit of having the list alphabetized by author, Karen. It is fun though to read the bits and pieces with the odd sticky note here and paper napkin there. Oh but that we would have all the time to read all the books we want to read. It will be fun trying, though, won’t it?
Hope you are staying cool.
Another wonderful review, Penny! I have my lists, too, of course, but they aren’t very organized. I ought to take a lesson and get a notebook! I recall when Dee mentioned this and thought it sounded wonderful then. I’d already forgotten the series, but now that you’ve outlined it so beautifully it is a must! Fortunately I just never seem to be plagued by conscience in acquiring books for the ever-expanding and not-so-well-read pile! I just figure that someday/somehow I will read them all…I am not plagued by being too rooted in reality either, am I? LOL! I will be getting this book…and probably soon so I won’t forget about it!
Well, Debra, my notebook isn’t that well organized, but, at least I have TBR’s in one place. hehe It is a pleasant read with a bit of mystery and a lot of history and such. I think you would enjoy Maisie Dobbs. I’m working on not feeling guilty about my books, a lifelong “habit” that I won’t likely break. I guess I’m not “too rooted in reality” either, Debra. Someday . . .
I LOVE this series. I have the two latest waiting for me on the shelf.
I just know I am going to enjoy reading my way through this series, Nan. I think Maisie Dobbs will be more than a mystery and that I will grow to know here more and more.