An Incomplete Revenge

Maisie Dobbs #5

by Jacqueline Winspear, Orlagh Cassidy (Narrator)

With the country in the grip of economic malaise, and worried about her business, Maisie Dobbs is relieved to accept an apparently straightforward assignment from an old friend to investigate a potential land purchase. Her inquiries take her to a picturesque village in Kent during the hop-picking season, but beneath its pastoral surface she finds evidence that something is amiss. Mysterious fires erupt in the village with alarming regularity, and a series of petty crimes suggests a darker criminal element at work. As Maisie discovers, the villagers are bitterly prejudiced against outsiders who flock to Kent at harvest-time--even more troubling, they seem possessed by the legacy of a war-time Zeppelin raid. Maisie grows increasingly suspicious of a peculiar secrecy that shrouds the village, and ultimately she must draw on all her finely honed skills of detection to solve one of her most intriguing cases.

LENGTH
9 hours, 18 minutes

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical, Historical Mystery, British Literature

10 pages, Audiobook

First published June 5, 2008

About the author

Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in the county of Kent, England. Following higher education at the University of London’s Institute of Education, Jacqueline worked in academic publishing, in higher education and in marketing communications in the UK.

She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and while working in business and as a personal / professional coach, Jacqueline embarked upon a life-long dream to be a writer.

A regular contributor to journals covering international education, Jacqueline has published articles in women's magazines and has also recorded her essays for KQED radio in San Francisco. She currently divides her time between Ojai and the San Francisco Bay Area and is a regular visitor to the United Kingdom and Europe.

Jacqueline is the author of the New York Times bestsellers A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, Among the Mad, and An Incomplete Revenge, and other nationally bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha, Alex,
and Macavity awards for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for best novel and was a New York Times
Notable Book.

Series:
* Maisie Dobbs

http://us.macmillan.com/author/jacque...

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder what it is about this series of books that makes me keep on reading even though I am not totally enthusiastic about them! I find Maisie an odd character, not particularly likeable and even a little cold. This book also irritated me with more information than I really needed about gypsies and the author's romanticising of them. Nevertheless the mystery was good, the story was interesting and the post World War One setting was delightful. That may be the secret. I do enjoy all the historical details and Jacqueline Winspear does that side of things extremely well. I am sure I will continue with the series:)

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Maisie Dobbs novel yet.

I have a notion that Jacqueline Winspear creates her plots the same way Maisie Dobbs solves her mysteries - by sketching out a map containing each clue onto a large canvas until she can see how all the pieces fit together. What I find wonderful about a Winspear mystery is that her canvas doesn't just include who did it, with what, where and when. I suspect it is painted in colors to reflect the season and the clothes Maisie wears, and I'd guess that the overarching themes that she addresses in each book are added to the canvas too. They certainly square up beautifully in the book, in an almost poetic, end of a sonnet sort of way.

Reading An Incomplete Revenge is not like reading an Agatha Christie mystery. I figured out all the twists of the plot before the end of the story. But I wasn't in it just for the riddle, but for the writing and the character development and the peak into an England of the early thirties, hops picking and Roma life.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Incomplete Revenge was the latest in the series about Maisie Dobbs, a psychologist and investigator in Britain during a time of an economic slowdown and decline following the Great War. Maisie agreed to investigate potential problems in a remote village in Kent for a friend who was contemplating a large real estate purchase in the area. Coincidentally, her assistant Billy and his family were going to be in rural Kent, too, for a week during the hop-picking season as they had all done for years. In addition to the "Londoners" there for the harvest, there was also a group of gypsies. As Maisie continues her exploration of this quaint and picturesque village in Kent, she begins to learn the history of unexplained fires as well as a series of petty crimes in the area that are continuing. There is also the added mystery of a Zeppelin raid during the Great War. As Maisie Dobbs investigates all of the disparate threads, we also learn much more about her past and how she comes to terms with these issues. Having spent a beautiful week in rural Kent, added a special enjoyment to this book.

"Coincidence is a messenger sent by truth."

"The concept of such an end brings to mind the phoenix, the sacred firebird, who at the end of life builds a nest of cinnamon twigs, which he ignites, and goes to his death amid flames that will bear new life."

"It is also worth knowing that tears from the phoenix were said to heal all wounds."

"And it is in the senses that memories are summoned, so that a sound, a scent, or the way the wind blows brings a reminder of what has happened and when."

[Celia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maisie leaves London and heads to Kent in the middle of hopping season to undertake some investigations into a brickworks and the surrounding village.

While I enjoy the Maisie Dobbs series (if you're completely unfamiliar, think post-WW1 solo female detective, a former nurse with painful history), there are several elements to the series that don't click with me - Maisie's psychic abilities are up there (I like fantasy, I just don't like psychics in historical fiction), as is her overly formal thought process and communication with other people. Maisie is supposed to draw people in and have them confide in her, and yet it puzzles me sometimes why people do so when faced with her cold calm exterior.

In this book, we get some sort of explanation for Maisie's psychic gifts when we discover she has Gypsy heritage. *sigh* A little romanticised and... well, silly, for my taste, but it doesn't overwhelm the story, which is a nice little mystery firmly rooted in the War, as are most of Maisie's investigations. I do like the way this series brings to life post-war England, and the way the war has affected so many lives, the very heart and spirit of the country.

Maisie has to let go of a painful link to her past, and it is nice to see a consistent maturing of her character as the books go on. I will definitely keep reading these, despite never rating them too highly - I like Maisie despite myself.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a dog that is in this one and was so happy with that part of the story. At the beginning it provided some humor and by the end it was incredibly heartwarming. It made me happy.

We learn more in this book about Maisie’s family history via Maisie’s mother’s and maternal grandmother’s background and therefore more about Maisie’s roots.

I love how real world history is included in this series of books. The looming Nazi threat is starting to show, even though it’s just toward the end of 1929 by the end of this book.

As with all the books so far a lot happens with many characters. I feel attached to many of the characters.

This author is an excellent story teller, does a good job with her characters, and I love the incorporated history and the settings which are mostly in London and Kent County in England but a bit of France too.

I’ve now read this series books 1-5 aloud to/with a friend. I think I’d really like them anyway but I’m sure I’ve enjoyed them partly because of sharing the reading experience. We are in the queue for book 6.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far my favorite Maisie Dobbs installment since the very first book.

I was beginning to wonder how much longer I could stomach Maisie with her psychic abilities, her coldness and her all around off-putting-ness. It's very rare that I will continue with a series in which the main character annoys me so very much, but in the case of this series, I'm willing to put up with her because I do like the style of Winspear's writing, the time period, the slow plotting, and the issues that the mysteries bring to the forefront; namely, the problems faced by the lost generation following World War I. Winspear weaves these elements effortlessly throughout each of her books, and while Maisie herself doesn't impress me, almost every other element does.

This offering takes the reader to the farmlands of Kent during the autumn hop picking. Maisie has been asked to look into some mysterious petty crimes and fires in an around the village of Heronsdale, where a brickworks factory is being considered for purchase by her client. As always, Maisie learns much more then she originally set out to find, and we as the reader learn more about the human condition and the effects of war, revenge and suffering on the human heart. Maisie comes in for her own share of suffering, grief, and finally acceptance in some personal matters, and seems to move forward in her own journey toward healing. Apart from one strange episode of dowsing for hidden treasure (?#%?), Maisie is relatively *weird-free* in this installment (relatively, mind you....), and much more palatable to my taste this time around.

I have experienced a renewal in my enjoyment of this series and this sleuth, and will happily journey on with Maisie for the next mystery: Among the Mad.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fifth in the Maisie Dobbs series and I thought it was well done! I loved the story and despite having come to some of the basic conclusions, I still enjoyed following along as Maisie discovered the finer details. I love this series for the depiction of the time period and life as it was after the Great War. In my opinion it's very well written from that perspective.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This is the 5th book of the series of Maisie Dobbs. Again, not a book that I was wildly happy with. The whole plot seemed to be a bit dull. However there were some characters in this book that were a fun surprise. And as the books continue we are seeing Maisie's life evolve, with the death of her first love, Simon, and the inclusion of a few more characters that are sure to show up in future books. Still looking for that one book in the series that i truly enjoy.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very taken with this book I loved the many textures and the fullness of characters, the setting of the late 1930s interspersed with a background story from WWI. I had never read a Maisie Dobbs story before but am fast becoming a new fan! Quite aside from the many mysterious happenings, I enjoyed learning of hop-picking, and the rich fullness of gypsies and gypsy lore.

Jacqueline Winspear has a very fluid voice in telling the story, understands the nuances in people, fear, hope, revenge, forgiveness, and the need to live a full life. The formation of who Maisie is unfolds throughout the book. She is a strong woman, conscientious, tolerant and compassionate. Her title of psychologist and investigator might well read psychic investigator, given her abilities and attunement to nature. There were many strands to be woven in this tapestry, with a lot of knots and tangles. The mysteries maintained a strong level and I was happy to see so much of the tapestry tied off in the Epilogue.

The many characters in the book are victims of the very crimes they were involved in and you cannot help but feel the fear and incitement for what was done without even realizing why. The despicable but lazy “Lord of the Manor” of the village is one of the feeblest strong-arms I’ve ever met in a book, I think. Does he deserve the outcome? Most probably, but maybe it was once again the easy way of doing things. Overall, a very honest and satisfying read, you can be sure I will be reading more of Maisie’s cases. Thanks to Jacqueline Winspear for one of my new favourite series! I recommend this book for the light mystery it is, a great antidote for between heavier tomes, enjoyable and fulfilling; I do like a book that I can learn something new from, too.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Incomplete Revenge is the fifth book in the Maisie Dobbs series by British-born American author, Jacqueline Winspear. James Compton, son of Maisie’s long-time patron, Lady Compton, is in the process of purchasing a large estate at Heronsdene, Kent for the family company, but some incidents of petty crime, vandalism and small fires in the area are cause for concern, so Maisie is engaged to conduct enquiries. It is early autumn of 1931, and as these cases all seem to occur during the hop harvest, it is especially convenient that her assistant, Billy Beale usually takes his family for a working holiday hop-picking at this time, and is able to contract to the farm on said estate. The waters are muddied, somewhat, by the influx of large groups of Londoners and gypsies, all taking part in the harvest, and the fact that the villagers of Heronsdene seem reluctant to involve the police or fire-brigade. It appears that the land-owner, Alfred Sandermere, is a poor businessman and not well-liked by his tenant farmers or the villagers. A theft from the Manor house, blamed on two young London boys, sees Maisie visiting the gypsy matriarch in search of information. Maisie notices that the mood in the village is unusual: there is an undercurrent of fear in addition to the resentment and suspicion that the presence of the Londoners and gypsies usually brings. It seems the villagers are still keenly feeling the wartime loss of many of their young men, and are strangely hesitant to discuss the Zeppelin raid that occurred in 1916. In trying to determine if this is a case of sabotage, insurance fraud, opportunistic theft by itinerant workers or something else entirely, Maisie’s investigations lead her to encounters with a determined journalist, a dishonest vicar, a loyal dog, some reticent villagers, a luthier and a very snobbish land-owner. She helps to fight a fire, learns to dowse for silver, attends two funerals, dances with gypsies, reconciles with an old friend and picks some hops. Winspear touches on school bullying, prejudice against gypsies and anyone who is different, mob mentality and, of course, revenge. Her extensive research into gypsy customs and beliefs and into hops and hop picking in the early 20th century is apparent in every page. This gentle-paced mystery has quite a twist in the tail: a shocking crime that only becomes apparent in the last few chapters. Once again, an excellent read that will have Winspear fans looking forward to the next book in the series, Among The Mad.

[LJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

First Sentence: The old woman rested on the steps of her home, a caravan set apart from those of the rest of her family, her tribe.

An old friend hires investigator Maisie Dobbs to investigate matters relating to a potential land purchase. Petty thefts have been blamed on London boys there to help pick hops, but the residents also distrust the Gypsies who are there. Maisie has discovered small fires which have occurred each year but no one reported them to the fire departments or police. A family was killed during the war by a Zeppelin attack, yet no one will talk about it. Maisie must put together the pieces together while also dealing with her feeling regarding the soldier she loves who has been in a coma since the war.

This is my second foray into Maisie Dobbs. I didn’t care for her first time and, I must admit, nothing much has changed. Winspear does include information on the gypsies that I found interesting until it became redundant. She also includes details to the point of minutia on things that aren’t particularly important. Her descriptions are informative but not evocative so that a feeling for the sense of place is missing.

As a character, Maisie is the sort of person who would annoy me if I knew her. Yes, I can justify some of it by remember she’s experience the trauma of war, but not all. There is arrogance to Maisie that surpasses self confidence and is somewhat unappealing as it borders on arrogance. Her friend, Priscilla, is the complete antithesis to Maisie and annoying in her own way. In fact, the most interesting characters in the book were Maisie’s father followed closely by the dog.

The story itself is just not gripping. There’s no real suspense or emotion; everything is at a distance and somewhat dispassionate. The number of coincidences is overwhelming; Maisie’s perfection at everything becomes tiring. Everyone is willing to talk to her. There is no struggle or effort really required; it’s all quite neat and rather placid.

For those who like cozies; no violence, no real threat, no swearing, no sex, no real evil, this would be perfect. Unfortunately, that’s just not my taste so although there were parts that were interesting, it was not really my cup of tea--single malt whisky, please.

AN INCOMPLETE REVENGE (Hist Mys-Maisie Dobbs-England-1931) - Okay
Winspear, Jacqueline – 5th in series
Henry Holt and Company, ©2008, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780805082159

[Deena · Rating 3 out of 5]

These aren't bad... after all, I keep reading them! But there are several things about them that I find annoying.

I am uncomfortable with the mixture of "sixth sense" and pretentious academic psychology that Maisie supposedly combines to solve her cases. The review at the end, when she returns to the sites she visited during the case, seems to me a contrived device that is essentially pointless. Perhaps I also prefer my mysteries less cerebral.

In this particular book, a specific annoyed me. Apparently, Ms. Winspear has never actually disposed of the ashes of a cremated person. "carefully tipped... ashes into a gentle breeze" my arse. They'd be in a heap at your feet, or all down your clothing. Human ashes don't behave that way. Ms. Winspear should either have checked it, or left it alone.

All of that being said, I'll probably keep reading the series.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books never fail to just rip my heart out and stomp on it.

War is never truly over.
Death is not always final.
Revenge is never the best way to deal with things of now or the past.

One of the best yet [I think the author must cry buckets while writing these - I sure do while reading them] and since they have all been very good, that is the highest praise I can give it.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

On to the next

[Miriam Simut · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

[Sydney Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say that Trees in a forest are connected in ways we humans don't detect. Is it possible that connection lives on in books and humans, by the spores of the paper coming from that forest? I feel this book so keenly, speaking to me about prejudice and world hate today. Wow, I did not expect this. I'm so glad I came back to this series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy all the details of time and place in these books.

[Jacqie · Rating 2 out of 5]

According to Goodreads, two stars means "it's okay." I've been feeling that way about a lot of books lately, and I kind of wish that "okay" was three stars, not two, but so it goes.

I tried the first Maisie Dobbs book and was bored. This one was a book club pick, and it's the fifth in the series, so I thought it was worth another try. I do like historical mysteries, this particular time period as well.

But I was still bored. I've noticed that certain British authors make such a fetish of stiff-upper-lipping that their characters give you nothing to invest in. Maisie is so restrained and cold, and I didn't feel it was as much of a virtue as the author evidently does.

There are other issues as well- the author really romanticizes and exoticizes the Gypsies (or Romany as they are more properly called). They have special powers, some of them, and it turns out that Maisie has Gypsy blood too, so not only does she have the Sight and the ability to dowse, but these reclusive and untrusting people take to her almost instantly. It felt like pandering to the curious instead of a respectful treatment of these people.

And one large issue- the entire story had happened long years before Maisie had even arrived. It's as though the author had a story idea in her head full-blown, and then couldn't think of a way to tell it other than to have Maisie investigate events that were over a decade old because of a far-fetched excuse about checking out a potential property for her employer. It was a trite story to start with, too. The bad guy practically twirls his mustache from the time we're introduced to him, so I can't really call it a mystery. It's just a matter of the author laying out the facts to us. No dead bodies in this one either, at least not in the traditional murder mystery sense. It's as cozy as cozy could possibly be.

So, it was boring, it was cliched, it didn't need to be a mystery, and it was somewhat culturally insensitive. Maybe a 2 is all it deserves after all! I am not inspired to read any more by this author.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maisie Dobbs is finally lighter, starting to live again, after the horrors of the first world war. Even if a new war is brewing and everyone is beginning to feel it. She is set to solve some petty crimes in a village, because of the impending sale of a country estate. It ties to the gypsies, to hop picking and to a zeppelin bombing in the first world war. Atmospheric and captivating, we learn more about Maisie Dobbs - and yet more about the scars of WWI, although not so much hers this time. Love this series and glad there is so much more of it!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was my favorite of the series, so far. I’m enjoying it more as I go, getting to know the recurring characters. We learn a little more about Maisie’s genealogy in this one, which I found interesting. The audio narration all seems to be done by the same narrator. She sometimes makes Maisie seem a bit prissy but overall, I like the narration, and looking forward to carrying on with the series.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fifth Maisie Dobbs. I can't say I LOVED this one, but still very good.

Maisie is asked by James Compton, her benefactress' son, to look into a purchase that he wishes to make in Kent. James is worried that the owner might cause trouble or that he is not who he seems.

So Maisie sends Billie to Kent to start the sleuthing. Billy is going there anyway to pick 'ops (AKA hops, the ingredient in beer).

Lots of secrets are found in Herendeen, the small town in Kent. Unraveling these secrets is what makes this book.

Another plus - learning of Maisie's gypsy heritage and gypsy customs and way of life. Gypsies pick 'ops too!!

4.5 stars ( I couldn't see where this book was going at first, but it definitely did go somewhere)

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, really, because these books are the ultimate "comfort read" for me.

Many of us find comfort in the familiar: meeting a character again and again, and hopefully, if the author gets it right, there is character development along with new plot lines. Winspear does it right.

At the same time, there is always a minor flaw in these novels, in that Winspear always seems to withhold a vital piece of information that helps the reader resolve the mystery. An ideal mystery should offer all the solutions within one's grasp; should have, at hand, all the information the protagonist has, and it is up to the reader to decipher/disentangle and thereby test their own mettle. I don't think that Winspear has perfected that part of the equation yet but to give her her due, there are very, very (let me say it again: very) few mystery writers who can offer the entire case and let the reader be the equal of the writer.

Despite this irritating little quirk, I adore Maisie Dobbs -- for the sheer relaxation of it all.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winspear's a standing favorite of mine, and her latest doesn't disappoint. She captures the emotional resonance of the interwar period so perfectly, and Maisie is one of the most fully realized characters in mystery today. There's a thread of sensitivity and grace threaded through this series that makes it one to return to time and again - more than a mystery, it's an exploration into the mental challenges of grief, loss, and finding your way again in "the afterwards."

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this series on audio is a wonderful experience. The narrator brings the characters to life, and really gets me inside Maisie, who is developing into a softer, more rounded character, now able to accept her faults and shortcomings as well as her skills and abilities. So glad there are still several books ahead of me!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all 5 of the series in order, to supplement my reading about the history of WWI. This one took me a long time before I became a fan, but by the end, I was totally involved in the story, and in tears. Can't wait to read the next one.

[eyes.2c · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maisie is entering a different phase. This investigation sits in the middle of other matters—her past, her love for Simon, her fractured relationship with Maurice, Priscilla, and who she is becoming.
As always I’m devoted to Maisie and her life.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this series when there were already 12 or so books in it, and I tried to read them in order (unlike almost every other series I have read, it turns out) and seemingly I missed this along the way. This is one of my favorite series, and this installation is no exception. It involves themes that are constant throughout--Maisie is from humble beginnings, but interacts with the nobility, she is educated and not easily cowed, and she meets people where they are at. Her approach to problems is without class constraints, and because it is a murder mystery series, she always gets her man. Her personal life and choices are also quite solid, and I recommend this highly.

[Charlene Intriago · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time Maisie is investigating a land purchase near the village of Heronsdene in Kent for the company of family friend James Compton. There have been some thefts and in particular some fires that need to be explained before the Compton company will buy the estate. Set in the fall of 1931, Londoners and gypsies are descending on the village to work alongside the locals to pick hops. The locals are not the friendliest of folks and Maisie senses something is amiss when she first gets there. They are a secretive bunch! Billy Beale, Maisie's able assistant, also makes arrangements to be there too so he can help with the investigation but also for him and the rest of his family to pick hops for extra money.

With beautiful descriptions of the English countryside and life in England after a devastating war, Jacqueline Winspear has again given us great story. I loved her adding the gypsies and mentioning Grantchester - since it is one of the latest offerings from PBS and one of my favorite shows.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a three hankie read for me. The ripple effect of the war continues in the mysteries and person storyline in this book. There seems to be a chapter ending with this book, though I won’t post spoilers here about that.

The mystery is more of an investigation that goes sideways. James Rowan, son of Maisie’s benefactor, wants to buy a company associated with an estate and needs Maisie to look into the estate to make sure he has good information going into negotiations. This is also where Billy’s family is picking hops, along with many east end families on “vacation.” There have been thefts and fires in the area for years, usually blamed on the Londoners or Roma who arrive for the hop harvest.

The secondary storylines relate to Maisie’s Roma roots, her relationship with Maurice, finding a way to be in touch with Simon’s mother, and Pricilla trying to find a school for her three boys.

It’s amazing that all this happens in 300 pages. Maisie races between London and the small towns in Kent multiple times in this one. It’s fast-paced and has a lovely, satisfying conclusion.

[Rachel Morrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised to see that I only got this book 8 days ago, and I already finished it this afternoon. I really enjoyed it! I believe this is the 4th or 5th book about the same main character, and I read the one previous to this one just a couple weeks ago. I don't know if I enjoyed this one more on its own, or if it's the fact that I care more about the main character by now. Either way, I am looking forward to reading more Maisie Dobbs books!

One thing both the books I've read by Jacqueline Winspear have in common that I really like is a kind of "theme." I don't want to give anything away about this book or the last, so I have to be vague. Something similar happens in the lives of different characters, and they react very differently. It makes me think about myself, and how I would act in a similar situation. And I always like that, when a book entertains AND makes me try to be a better person.