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utahmomreads's review against another edition
4.0
Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear is the latest installment in the Maisie Dobbs mystery series. I read Maisie Dobbs, the first one, earlier this year but have not read the other seven novels between. You can read my review of Maisie Dobbs *here*.
Elegy for Eddie is Maisie's quest to discover whether or not a childhood acquaintance, Eddie--a gentle horse trainer, was murdered. Police have written Eddie's death at a paper factory as an unfortunate accident. Maisie isn't so sure and once she begins investigating it becomes painfully obvious that there are more powerful people involved in Eddie's death.
Jacqueline Winspear writes an exciting and fun mystery that flows along at a pace appropriate for the historical period. In Elegy for Eddie, things are not so black and white and Maisie's own sense of right and wrong is questioned. Set in London during the 1930's, Maisie must accept that there are others, more powerful, with a greater understanding of the imminent danger and that national security must be protected.
The novel is well written and while it would probably help to have read all of the Maisie Dobbs novels in the series (I did appreciate the background I had of Maisie's past because of my reading of the first novel), Elegy for Eddie can stand alone.
My only real complaint with the novel is Maisie Dobbs herself. I appreciate her education and her brilliance at solving crimes, but I am not yet reconciled with her personality. I can't quite put my finger on just what bugs me about her--perhaps it's the same personality traits/flaws that are frequently pointed out to her by other characters in Elegy for Eddie.
With the Maisie Dobbs series, Jacqueline Winspear offers readers a woman detective this historical period between the World Wars. Winspear expertly captures the emotion of the period and the people still healing from the first war and yet preparing (perhaps unknowingly) for the next. Elegy for Eddie is compelling and haunting.
Elegy for Eddie is Maisie's quest to discover whether or not a childhood acquaintance, Eddie--a gentle horse trainer, was murdered. Police have written Eddie's death at a paper factory as an unfortunate accident. Maisie isn't so sure and once she begins investigating it becomes painfully obvious that there are more powerful people involved in Eddie's death.
Jacqueline Winspear writes an exciting and fun mystery that flows along at a pace appropriate for the historical period. In Elegy for Eddie, things are not so black and white and Maisie's own sense of right and wrong is questioned. Set in London during the 1930's, Maisie must accept that there are others, more powerful, with a greater understanding of the imminent danger and that national security must be protected.
The novel is well written and while it would probably help to have read all of the Maisie Dobbs novels in the series (I did appreciate the background I had of Maisie's past because of my reading of the first novel), Elegy for Eddie can stand alone.
My only real complaint with the novel is Maisie Dobbs herself. I appreciate her education and her brilliance at solving crimes, but I am not yet reconciled with her personality. I can't quite put my finger on just what bugs me about her--perhaps it's the same personality traits/flaws that are frequently pointed out to her by other characters in Elegy for Eddie.
With the Maisie Dobbs series, Jacqueline Winspear offers readers a woman detective this historical period between the World Wars. Winspear expertly captures the emotion of the period and the people still healing from the first war and yet preparing (perhaps unknowingly) for the next. Elegy for Eddie is compelling and haunting.
sroot45's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
applegnreads's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing author. Maisie continues to develop as a character.
mouseczko's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
danileighta's review against another edition
3.0
I love this series overall, but this book dragged for me. I felt disconnected from Maisie and needed breaks. This had something to do with her back and forth feelings about James, but mostly I just felt frustrated. I do think the author did this on purpsose to some extent. Let's be honest, Maisie has been a bit too perfect and she really does try to control things, though we may not have seen it in this light in previous books. I appreciated the self discovery and inquiry, but, just as I get annoyed with myself for my own flaws, I found I was growing impatient with Maisie.
Overall, as I write, I see where this book fits in with the overall canon, but it was not as fun to reas as others. I will definitely continue with the series, but I do hope things pick up a bit.
Overall, as I write, I see where this book fits in with the overall canon, but it was not as fun to reas as others. I will definitely continue with the series, but I do hope things pick up a bit.
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
4.0
In the last one, Maisie went back to the Cambridge of her youth. In this one, she is taken further back, to the Lambeth of her childhood, as she is asked to solve the death of a developmentally disabled young man from Lambeth, who she knew as a child. Among other things, she discovers her father maintained a relationship with Eddie well into adulthood, long after Frankie moved to the country -- in fact, right up to Eddie's death.
This one has all her personal relationships thrown into disarray. What part does her best friend's husband play in the story of Eddie's death? Why is she feeling suffocated in her relationship with James? Her father refuses to move into the Dower House, now hers -- and is carrying on a relationship with her housekeeper, Mrs. Bromley. And perhaps most upsetting, her right-hand man, Billy Beale, is badly beaten up, and his mentally ill wife accuses Maisie of meddling in their lives -- and Maisie has to confront her own need for control and whether her own wisdom really is best.
Good read. Good lessons in the limits of generosity.
This one has all her personal relationships thrown into disarray. What part does her best friend's husband play in the story of Eddie's death? Why is she feeling suffocated in her relationship with James? Her father refuses to move into the Dower House, now hers -- and is carrying on a relationship with her housekeeper, Mrs. Bromley. And perhaps most upsetting, her right-hand man, Billy Beale, is badly beaten up, and his mentally ill wife accuses Maisie of meddling in their lives -- and Maisie has to confront her own need for control and whether her own wisdom really is best.
Good read. Good lessons in the limits of generosity.
whatcassiedid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0