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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I first met Maisie Dobbs in Ms. Winspear's first offering, as one might imagine: Maisie Dobbs. I didn't enjoy that very much because I was comparing it to Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy mysteries. I had that discussion with someone from my book club. She said she agreed about Maisie Dobbs, but that later books were much better and convinced me that I should try some more.
A Lesson in Secrets is very much better, actually quite compelling. Maisie finds herself embroiled in an government intelligence program in a small college established by a pacifist. This all occurs in 1932 England, at the time Hitler is coming to power in Germany. The government is concerned that there is an increasing acceptance of the Nazi propaganda in England. (I think that Americans should be much more aware of the whole rise of Hitler. It is scary.)
Maisie finds herself embroiled in a murder, another murder, as well as the intelligence role, more enough to keep Maisie busy. However, Maisie was up to the challenge; as usual, I suspect.
I can recommend this to those who like a good mystery set in the time leading to World War II
A Lesson in Secrets is very much better, actually quite compelling. Maisie finds herself embroiled in an government intelligence program in a small college established by a pacifist. This all occurs in 1932 England, at the time Hitler is coming to power in Germany. The government is concerned that there is an increasing acceptance of the Nazi propaganda in England. (I think that Americans should be much more aware of the whole rise of Hitler. It is scary.)
Maisie finds herself embroiled in a murder, another murder, as well as the intelligence role, more enough to keep Maisie busy. However, Maisie was up to the challenge; as usual, I suspect.
I can recommend this to those who like a good mystery set in the time leading to World War II
I love Maise and all these books. I had a harder time keeping these characters straight, but regardless, lovely.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
#8 in the series, but I found myself wishing more of the story was focusing on Billy and Sandra rather than the college and death of its president. Good twist at the end and hope to hear more about Ursula in the next installment of this lovely series.
"In the summer of 1932, Maisie Dobbs’ career goes in an exciting new direction when she accepts an undercover assignment directed by Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and the Secret Service. Posing as a junior lecturer, she is sent to a private college in Cambridge to monitor any activities “not in the interests of His Majesty’s Government.” When the college’s controversial pacifist founder and principal, Greville Liddicote, is murdered, Maisie is directed to stand back as Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane and Detective Chief Inspector Stratton spearhead the investigation. She soon discovers, however, that the circumstances of Liddicote’s death appear inextricably linked to the suspicious comings and goings of faculty and students under her surveillance."
"In the summer of 1932, Maisie Dobbs’ career goes in an exciting new direction when she accepts an undercover assignment directed by Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and the Secret Service. Posing as a junior lecturer, she is sent to a private college in Cambridge to monitor any activities “not in the interests of His Majesty’s Government.” When the college’s controversial pacifist founder and principal, Greville Liddicote, is murdered, Maisie is directed to stand back as Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane and Detective Chief Inspector Stratton spearhead the investigation. She soon discovers, however, that the circumstances of Liddicote’s death appear inextricably linked to the suspicious comings and goings of faculty and students under her surveillance."
I have enjoyed reading the Maisie Dobb series, even though I have done so a bit out of order. This book portends the coming Hitler regime in Germany as the British government looks the other way and sees the growing Nazi movement as "harmless." A survivor of WWI, Maisie's world view is shaped by those experiences, which are a common theme throughout the books. Some of the characters from this book turn up in later editions as Britain prepares to go to war again. The latest book in the series, In This Grave Hour, when war with Germany is imminent.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another great Masie Dobbs book, another interesting look into a lesser discussed aspect of WWI and the time before WWII.
I am enjoying the Maisie Dobbs mysteries. I like Ms. Winspear's characters, the continued growth of Dobb's business in each successive book, and the inclusion of important historical elements. In this book, Dobbs goes undercover as a college lecturer to root out Communism, but finds Nazis instead. She also solves the murder of the school's president, and the murder of a friend's husband.
Maisie is asked by a special branch to be a teacher at a private college to determine if there is anyone who might be against the crown.
While there, the head of the school, a pacifist, is murdered, and she decides to do her own investigation to help Scotland Yard.
She learns about a teacher who works for the Belgian government and another assistant who’s a Nazi. That woman’s boyfriend is the son of a major benefactor to the school, and there’s an administrator who was in dispute with the chancellor about participating in a debate about socialism.
She also finds out about a secretary who left abruptly and learns her story, connected to the book made famous by the chancellor which allowed him to open the peace focussed school.
It seems she has an idea about who the killer is, until something clearly points to someone else. She tells the government that her concern is about the Nazis, which her boss dismisses.
She helps her friend Sandra, whose husband died, and supports her until Sandra herself uncovers a mob connection to her husband’s death.
In the meantime, she and James are growing in their relationship, and Stratton decides to leave policing and become a teacher.
More adventures to come. A great book.
GPL audiobook
While there, the head of the school, a pacifist, is murdered, and she decides to do her own investigation to help Scotland Yard.
She learns about a teacher who works for the Belgian government and another assistant who’s a Nazi. That woman’s boyfriend is the son of a major benefactor to the school, and there’s an administrator who was in dispute with the chancellor about participating in a debate about socialism.
She also finds out about a secretary who left abruptly and learns her story, connected to the book made famous by the chancellor which allowed him to open the peace focussed school.
It seems she has an idea about who the killer is, until something clearly points to someone else. She tells the government that her concern is about the Nazis, which her boss dismisses.
She helps her friend Sandra, whose husband died, and supports her until Sandra herself uncovers a mob connection to her husband’s death.
In the meantime, she and James are growing in their relationship, and Stratton decides to leave policing and become a teacher.
More adventures to come. A great book.
GPL audiobook