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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
It's odd how the secret service is more concerned about Communism than Fascism. Nope, nothing relatable or relevant here at all.
Ok - this one was actually really good!!! Perhaps because the story bridged both WWI and the rising Nazi party (thus predicting - perhaps a little too much - WWII) or perhaps because Maisie wasn't as annoying I actually had trouble putting this one down. Once the murder was revealed, I have to admit I tuned out a little so I'm still not sure what happened to Maisie's love life with James. Also, I didn't care at all about the "B-plot" revolving her new secretary. Still, this redeemed the series for me!
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Racism, Murder
Minor: Antisemitism
I was so excited to see that another Maisie Dobbs book had been released. I am so impressed with these books, overall. As usual, this installment is not highly suspenseful with action around every corner, but I love the characters and the story is quietly meaningful.
1932 and Maisie is recruited by the British Secret Service to apply and work as a lecturer at a private college in Cambridge to monitor various activities. But when a murder occurs she calls in her friends from Scotland Yard. While setting her assistant Billy on various different tasks.
An enjoyable slow paced well-written mystery
An enjoyable slow paced well-written mystery
This was my least favorite Maisie Dobbs novel. The best part of these stories is Maisie's autonomy when comes to her investigations. Her joining the Secret Service just ruined all of that. The other thing that has really started to annoy me regarding these stories is the wishy washy way Maisie is handling her love life. It's getting ridiculous, her moaning that's she's lonely and staring at families with longing and then when a great guy comes around she can't decide. Even back in the day it would be possible for a woman to have a career and be married. It may have been rare, but it was not unheard of entirely. Jacqueline Winspear needs to make a decision, stick with it and get on with the story.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
There are some books that leave a deep impression on you and you remember clearly when and where you read it. The first Maisie Dobbs book was one of them for me. I remembered being totally absorbed in the book and how touching the story was that I even shed some tears (on the bus!). Unfortunately, I’m way behind in this series now… as it happens –too many books too little time.
A Lesson in Secrets is the 8th book in this series and I would usually have fallen on the wayside with serial books by this stage. I kind of did; I’ve only picked up book 7 a few months’ ago and remembered what I liked about it. I think it’s difficult to keep your readers’ attention when the same sort of things happen in each book but on the other hand, any sort of change is also risky! I was a little cautious in starting this novel as I knew Maisie’s status quo has changed. I wondered how different the shape of the novel will be.
Whilst a couple of things added an extra spin to the novel, it is still a murder mystery. Maisie still went about her investigation as she would though due to the added angle, she’s not as involved in the other matters that came up so we only get bits and pieces of those (am a little sad about missing this). However, this novel has added a certain touch of thoughtfulness… there were various school of thoughts discussed including was/peace, existence of God, etc. These were what I enjoyed most in this instalment. The mystery itself was quite interesting though I’m starting to get annoyed at Maisie ‘fixing’ everybody around her; there’s always a paragraph or two of how she’s settled them into one thing or another. So, it might take me a few more months before I’d even think of picking up book 9.
A Lesson in Secrets is the 8th book in this series and I would usually have fallen on the wayside with serial books by this stage. I kind of did; I’ve only picked up book 7 a few months’ ago and remembered what I liked about it. I think it’s difficult to keep your readers’ attention when the same sort of things happen in each book but on the other hand, any sort of change is also risky! I was a little cautious in starting this novel as I knew Maisie’s status quo has changed. I wondered how different the shape of the novel will be.
Whilst a couple of things added an extra spin to the novel, it is still a murder mystery. Maisie still went about her investigation as she would though due to the added angle, she’s not as involved in the other matters that came up so we only get bits and pieces of those (am a little sad about missing this). However, this novel has added a certain touch of thoughtfulness… there were various school of thoughts discussed including was/peace, existence of God, etc. These were what I enjoyed most in this instalment. The mystery itself was quite interesting though I’m starting to get annoyed at Maisie ‘fixing’ everybody around her; there’s always a paragraph or two of how she’s settled them into one thing or another. So, it might take me a few more months before I’d even think of picking up book 9.