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Book Review of Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, Bk 1)

Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, Bk 1)
bunchiemamma avatar reviewed on + 2 more book reviews


This is the first novel in Winspear's wonderful series about Maisie Dobbs. On one hand, it's a classic "servant girl makes good by becoming a detective" novel, but superb writing and historical settings (she serves as a nurse in France during WWI, and in "Journey to Munich," which I'm reading now, Hitler is coming to power in Germany and the British Government has enlisted her in its service.) There's always a murder to be solved, but not by deduction. Her methods are more in line with those used by The Mentalist in the TV show of the same name. Secondary characters are drawn with depth and sensitivity, even those who aren't necessarily good.

In other words, Winspear takes on the period between and including both world wars, so these are not "cozy" mysteries. There's no shying away from tragedy, including drug addiction, terrible losses, and the desperate poverty of the wars' wounded and widowed.

Highly recommend for all readers.