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ker0wyn's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic! I decided it was time to finally try and get over my prejudice against mystery books so I decided to start with Maisie Dobbs. I knew it would be easier if I picked something a little more historical than your average James Patterson fare (what can I say? I need a hook!). I figured, even if it followed the normal mystery tropes at least I might learn something along the way.
Then, the most delightful thing happened- Winspear actually managed to avoid all the things that normally bug the crap out of me with mystery novels! I'll just say right off the bat that the most important aspects of a book for me are a) great characters, and b) a setting I can really get into. The reason I don't normally enjoy mystery books, then, is that I've found that many of them often lack greatly in those two areas.
Firstly, characters: I have often found superficial main characters who merely exists to further the plot and throw a little sass into the mix (Stephanie Plum, anyone?). Here I found Maisie Dobbs to be a wonderfully fleshed out and complex character who is interesting in and of herself. The mystery is an interesting part of the story, but by no means the ONLY part, and it completely works with the entire story line, fitting in seamlessly with where the character is at in her life.
I often get annoyed, too, when it feels like the main character has gotten through the events of the book entirely unscathed. I don't want them to be the same person at the end--I want them affected by what they have experienced. I want to be able to go back to the beginning of the book and see how much they have changed. I like a rousing plot as much as the next gal, but what's the point if it's "business as usual"? Where's the emotional satisfaction? I just can't deal with wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am sort of plots- yeah, yeah, yeah, stuff happens and then HERE'S THE KILLER! Wasn't that tidy? None of that here. Maisie ends up wrestling with some major demons she's been avoiding.
Ok, now for setting: I read for escapism- let's be honest here! I like to be transported to another time, another world. I want to learn something new or imagine someplace entirely different. This book hit for me on this level, as well. It is very obvious the author was meticulous about researching the time period, and nothing ever felt forced. She managed to evoke so many different aspects of the time span she covered, from the class struggles at the turn of the century, to the chaos and uncertainty of WWI and the scars that remained after the war. Details were used effortlessly, never feeling as if the author was trying to fit in one more neato fact she learned that she just couldn't leave out.
Ok, I need to wrap this up, so I'm just going to end with: Gee, I guess I kinda liked it!
Then, the most delightful thing happened- Winspear actually managed to avoid all the things that normally bug the crap out of me with mystery novels! I'll just say right off the bat that the most important aspects of a book for me are a) great characters, and b) a setting I can really get into. The reason I don't normally enjoy mystery books, then, is that I've found that many of them often lack greatly in those two areas.
Firstly, characters: I have often found superficial main characters who merely exists to further the plot and throw a little sass into the mix (Stephanie Plum, anyone?). Here I found Maisie Dobbs to be a wonderfully fleshed out and complex character who is interesting in and of herself. The mystery is an interesting part of the story, but by no means the ONLY part, and it completely works with the entire story line, fitting in seamlessly with where the character is at in her life.
I often get annoyed, too, when it feels like the main character has gotten through the events of the book entirely unscathed. I don't want them to be the same person at the end--I want them affected by what they have experienced. I want to be able to go back to the beginning of the book and see how much they have changed. I like a rousing plot as much as the next gal, but what's the point if it's "business as usual"? Where's the emotional satisfaction? I just can't deal with wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am sort of plots- yeah, yeah, yeah, stuff happens and then HERE'S THE KILLER! Wasn't that tidy? None of that here. Maisie ends up wrestling with some major demons she's been avoiding.
Ok, now for setting: I read for escapism- let's be honest here! I like to be transported to another time, another world. I want to learn something new or imagine someplace entirely different. This book hit for me on this level, as well. It is very obvious the author was meticulous about researching the time period, and nothing ever felt forced. She managed to evoke so many different aspects of the time span she covered, from the class struggles at the turn of the century, to the chaos and uncertainty of WWI and the scars that remained after the war. Details were used effortlessly, never feeling as if the author was trying to fit in one more neato fact she learned that she just couldn't leave out.
Ok, I need to wrap this up, so I'm just going to end with: Gee, I guess I kinda liked it!
beanbag883's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jaepingsu's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting start to this mystery series set in post-WWI England. The structure of this was a bit off-putting, as it begins with Maisie tackling her first official job after taking on the investigation practice of her mentor and then throwing the reader into a condensed biography of Maisie (and occasionally flipping back to the "present" time of her story). In the audio edition this made for a few confusing moments as these time shifts had no warning so it took a bit to catch on when the events were occurring in Maisie's timeline.
I found her approach to mysteries to be interesting--a mix of deduction based off body language and some meditation--and I'll be picking up more to see her really in action. Since so much of this sets up her personal history, there wasn't much mystery solving.
I found her approach to mysteries to be interesting--a mix of deduction based off body language and some meditation--and I'll be picking up more to see her really in action. Since so much of this sets up her personal history, there wasn't much mystery solving.
Spoiler
I was disappointed to find out that the entire time Winspear teases about something having happened to Maisie's sweetheart during the war, it wound up he was still alive and Maisie was just avoiding visiting him for ten years. Yes, it's a terrifying thought to see the person you love damaged so much they can't respond anymore, but this felt like such a cruelty on her part.chels_elyse's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyed the deep story lines developed for the series. Excited to pick up the next story.
jdgcreates's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't get past what seemed like stilted writing to me, sadly. And I tried.
caitie711's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
booksuzi54's review against another edition
4.0
I first heard about the Maisie Dobbs series from a podcast I listen to--Forever 35--one of the hosts, Doree Shafrir raved about these books in between discussing the merits of facial care. Then Anne Bogel of the What should I read next podcast recommended it--- I was sold.
I enjoy books that include the first world war, so it wasn't a stretch for me to enjoy this one. We meet Maisie and learn about her background in a flashback. A well written first in series.
I enjoy books that include the first world war, so it wasn't a stretch for me to enjoy this one. We meet Maisie and learn about her background in a flashback. A well written first in series.
alisonthepastor's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
mynightstandrunnethover's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad but really just felt like a lead up to the another story. May read the next one just to see if that is the case.