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k_cavacini's review against another edition
3.0
This was quite a different entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. I was surprised at some of the events that had happened between the last novel and the start of this one; Maisie is not the same person that we left. I still love her character and the mystery was as interesting as ever but I felt that this book was a stepping stone to the next chapter in Maisie's life. I'm interested to see where she goes.
niharikaaaaaa9's review
3.0
I actually didn't like this Maisie Dobbs book (and I've liked every book up until this point, so I was surprised). This book starts off with a tragedy, and it seems like the rest of the book awkwardly tries to toe the line between Maisie's response to the tragedy and her response to the murder that she saw and is now trying to solve. This balancing act felt forced, and the transition between the two responses were not very smooth. Part of what made Maisie, Maisie was the fact that she was level-headed regardless of what happened to her, falling back on the principles that Maurice and Khan had taught her, and that was all thrown to the wind in this book.
The mystery itself was far too convoluted for my taste - up until the very end, it was unclear what was truth and what was not, who the players in the game were, and what Maisie's role in all of it was going to be.
This book tried to address both the tragedy and the mystery, and unfortunately, did neither well, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars.
The mystery itself was far too convoluted for my taste - up until the very end, it was unclear what was truth and what was not, who the players in the game were, and what Maisie's role in all of it was going to be.
This book tried to address both the tragedy and the mystery, and unfortunately, did neither well, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars.
wellingtonestatelibrary's review
5.0
She did it - she finally made me cry. This one was so emotional!!!
woomom's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmm. Not sure what to think. I usually love all things Maisie Dobbs, and love is not the word I'd use to describe this book. I did like that Masie was back to solving a murder mystery and puts some of her old crime-solving techniques to work. I did like that she couldn't leave well enough alone as she was told to numerous times during this book. I still like Maisie's character.
I didn't like how many of Maisie's major life events were just skirted over. I wanted to live them with her. I didn't like the fact that she was so quick to cut off all ties to her family and relations in England. I felt like a lot of those relationships give the previous books in this series strength.
That said, it was still an engaging read and one not to miss if you're a Maisie Dobbs fan.
I didn't like how many of Maisie's major life events were just skirted over. I wanted to live them with her. I didn't like the fact that she was so quick to cut off all ties to her family and relations in England. I felt like a lot of those relationships give the previous books in this series strength.
That said, it was still an engaging read and one not to miss if you're a Maisie Dobbs fan.
hgarf13's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5: Summarizing 4 significant years of Maisie"s life was laziness of the part of Ms. Winspear. All I can say is quit giving Maisie so much trauma and either give her a happy ending that sticks or abandon writing about her love life all together.
The characters surrounding the mystery were much more compelling than our heroine. The setting of the Spanish Civil War was also very interesting.
The characters surrounding the mystery were much more compelling than our heroine. The setting of the Spanish Civil War was also very interesting.
tschonfeld's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t mind that some action took place off stage (although it does make you feel like you missed a book at the beginning). The problem is that is so out of the pattern for this sometimes ponderously slow series. It just felt…forced. Yet I like Maisie and so I will keep reading as she is like a friend. But as a friend…I wanted to be with her for the things. Alas. I will have to settle with being on the outside looking in.
susannareads's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite Maisie. Definitely a moment of evolution for the series, which I get. Still good though and I’m still excited for the next one!
liberrydude's review
4.0
When the previous book ended Maisie had closed her office in London and was headed to India for some soul searching. Three years later a lot has happened in her life. Tragically she’s in the same position if not worse. She’s headed home to England but gets off the ship in Gibralter. She’s in no hurry to return home but is trying to accommodate her family who is anxious for her return. She needs to pause and perhaps rethink her homecoming.
She literally trips over a body in the dark while walking. She decides to use her investigative skills as a distraction from returning home. She quickly realizes the British Secret Service is involved and is monitoring her activities. The Spanish Civil War is underway. Lots of gun running and espionage in the area as well as refugees. Her activities result in more admonitions from men she worked with in London-McFarlane. They want to protect her or manipulate her. She’s not having it as she has the last word and secretly steals away to the war to resume her old nursing career with the Republicans near Madrid.
She literally trips over a body in the dark while walking. She decides to use her investigative skills as a distraction from returning home. She quickly realizes the British Secret Service is involved and is monitoring her activities. The Spanish Civil War is underway. Lots of gun running and espionage in the area as well as refugees. Her activities result in more admonitions from men she worked with in London-McFarlane. They want to protect her or manipulate her. She’s not having it as she has the last word and secretly steals away to the war to resume her old nursing career with the Republicans near Madrid.
jennchandler's review against another edition
2.0
It took me a while to read this book because I simply didn't care. The beauty of the Maisie Dobbs books has always been Maisie herself. However, she stopped progressing as a character several books ago. In this book, she is in exactly the same situation she was in the first books, but she's lost her spunk and vitality. I feel as if Winspeare found success and then tried to repeat it, rather than allowing her characters and writing to change and progress. In short, I won't be reading any future Maisie Dobbs mysteries, though I may reread the first ones, which I love dearly.
roscoehuxley's review against another edition
3.0
Many reviewers mention how they did not like several years being summed up in a few paragraphs, but I found it refreshing. I was definitely curious about how Winspear would wrap up Maisie's decision about marrying James, and found the way it was managed in this book to be truly about the only way it could work.
This book has Maisie preparing to return home and working through her demons. While the mystery of the murder was there, that was hardly the focus. It was more Maisie working her way back to being able to move forward.
This book has Maisie preparing to return home and working through her demons. While the mystery of the murder was there, that was hardly the focus. It was more Maisie working her way back to being able to move forward.