Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
These are my breezy summer reading books. I liked this one, but as someone who works in academia, I find the thought that someone can carry on a whole other life when teaching full time a bit preposterous. Maisie at least spends time grading and doing things that are required by teachers. But she also dashes off for long weekends every weekend to work her other job. It was fine, but not the best in the series.
Time with Maisie Dobbs is always time well-spent. I like that this book in the series starts to aim Maisie at her future, instead of at her past.
Not my favorite installment in the series -- it felt like a bit of a stop-gap as things fall into place, for Maisie's new life as both independently wealthy and in a romantic relationship, and also for the world as Hitler rises to power and WWII approaches.
3.5 stars. This installment, with the change in venue and undercover assignment working for The Crown, wasn't as interesting to me. I prefer Maisie's work on a more personal and local level. Still, Winspear does a great job putting you smack dab in the midst of 1932 England. Comparing the Nazi rumblings to those of the current day will make you shiver.
Don't let the 3 stars fool you. I like this series very much and will read all of them. In this book it's 1932 and the nazis are just starting to rise to power in Germany. Meanwhile in London the government is worried about communism instead. The books are life affirming in the face of sadness. It's not high literature by any means but I've greatly enjoyed the arc of Maisie's life.
I'm really enjoying these middle series books. I feel like the author has finally let Maisie not be so annoyingly perfect and the mysteries and plots have gotten a bit more complex. She's also done away (mostly) with the woo-woo stuff and Maisie's "Intuition."
Maisie's first case with the British Secret Service! I worried that she'd get more boring as a rich person, but the mystery we got was interesting and gave this almost a campus novel feel at times. I enjoyed the look at the rise of fascism, abroad but also in England, through the lens of Maisie's case. It's not the first time this has come up in the series, but as we get closer to WWII, it's nice to see it come up with more urgency and see how everyday people would or would not be affected.
I did LOL at the extremely closed door allusions to Maisie/James having sex. I don't know what I think of their relationship. I felt like it came out of nowhere in the last book (I was waiting for things to heat up between her and Stratten), but he seems supportive of her work, so...?
I did LOL at the extremely closed door allusions to Maisie/James having sex. I don't know what I think of their relationship. I felt like it came out of nowhere in the last book (I was waiting for things to heat up between her and Stratten), but he seems supportive of her work, so...?
Another nice mystery in the Maisie Dobbs series. This time, WW2 is looming and Maisie accepts a position as a philosophy professor at a Cambridge college to do undercover surveillance work on the goings-on at the school.
This book included two mystery lines: Maisie worked on the school mystery, while Billy worked on another side mystery. The side mystery was a bit distracting and underdeveloped and probably could have been eliminated altogether.
This book included two mystery lines: Maisie worked on the school mystery, while Billy worked on another side mystery. The side mystery was a bit distracting and underdeveloped and probably could have been eliminated altogether.
It is hard to believe that there are already 8 books in the Maise Dobbs series. I received an ARC as a part of the First Reads program, though the book is currently on shelves at your local bookstore.
I have greatly enjoyed the series up to this point and this book is no exception. Whereas the early books in the series dealt with the aftermath of WWI, in [b:A Lesson in Secrets|6553732|A Lesson in Secrets (Maisie Dobbs, #8)|Jacqueline Winspear|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298251499s/6553732.jpg|6746307] we begin to see the events that will lead to WWII.
Maise is recruited by the government to go undercover as a lecturer at a new college in an attempt to ferret out any behavior that is potentially dangerous to the crown. When the head of the college is murdered, Ms. Dobbs finds herself in the middle of both a murder mystery and spy thriller.
All the elements of the previous books are here: well written characters, good atmosphere, and a solid mystery.
New readers could probably read this as an introduction to the series, but I would recommend starting at the beginning as all the books are quite good and the long term development of characters makes more sense when you have the whole story.
I have greatly enjoyed the series up to this point and this book is no exception. Whereas the early books in the series dealt with the aftermath of WWI, in [b:A Lesson in Secrets|6553732|A Lesson in Secrets (Maisie Dobbs, #8)|Jacqueline Winspear|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298251499s/6553732.jpg|6746307] we begin to see the events that will lead to WWII.
Maise is recruited by the government to go undercover as a lecturer at a new college in an attempt to ferret out any behavior that is potentially dangerous to the crown. When the head of the college is murdered, Ms. Dobbs finds herself in the middle of both a murder mystery and spy thriller.
All the elements of the previous books are here: well written characters, good atmosphere, and a solid mystery.
New readers could probably read this as an introduction to the series, but I would recommend starting at the beginning as all the books are quite good and the long term development of characters makes more sense when you have the whole story.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No