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Maisie Dobbs #16
The Consequences of Fear
As Europe buckles under Nazi occupation, Maisie Dobbs investigates a possible murder that threatens devastating repercussions for Britain's war efforts in this latest installment in the New York Times bestselling mystery series.
September 1941. While on a delivery, young Freddie Hackett, a message runner for a government office, witnesses an argument that ends in murder. Crouching in the doorway of a bombed-out house, Freddie waits until the coast is clear. But when he arrives at the delivery address, he’s shocked to come face to face with the killer.
Dismissed by the police when he attempts to report the crime, Freddie goes in search of a woman he once met when delivering a message: Maisie Dobbs. While Maisie believes the boy and wants to help, she must maintain extreme caution: she’s working secretly for the Special Operations Executive, assessing candidates for crucial work with the French resistance. Her two worlds collide when she spots the killer in a place she least expects. She soon realizes she’s been pulled into the orbit of a man who has his own reasons to kill—reasons that go back to the last war.
As Maisie becomes entangled in a power struggle between Britain’s intelligence efforts in France and the work of Free French agents operating across Europe, she must also contend with the lingering question of Freddie Hackett’s state of mind. What she uncovers could hold disastrous consequences for all involved in this compelling chapter of the “series that seems to get better with every entry” (Wall Street Journal).
September 1941. While on a delivery, young Freddie Hackett, a message runner for a government office, witnesses an argument that ends in murder. Crouching in the doorway of a bombed-out house, Freddie waits until the coast is clear. But when he arrives at the delivery address, he’s shocked to come face to face with the killer.
Dismissed by the police when he attempts to report the crime, Freddie goes in search of a woman he once met when delivering a message: Maisie Dobbs. While Maisie believes the boy and wants to help, she must maintain extreme caution: she’s working secretly for the Special Operations Executive, assessing candidates for crucial work with the French resistance. Her two worlds collide when she spots the killer in a place she least expects. She soon realizes she’s been pulled into the orbit of a man who has his own reasons to kill—reasons that go back to the last war.
As Maisie becomes entangled in a power struggle between Britain’s intelligence efforts in France and the work of Free French agents operating across Europe, she must also contend with the lingering question of Freddie Hackett’s state of mind. What she uncovers could hold disastrous consequences for all involved in this compelling chapter of the “series that seems to get better with every entry” (Wall Street Journal).
341 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2021
1637 people are currently reading
11141 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Winspear
61 books8,326 followersJacqueline 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,773 reviews
March 29, 2021
“Fear, she thought, had a viscous quality to it, to the extent that you could even feel your feet as you were running to the shelter; a burden slowing you down, despite the fact that you were moving as fast as your legs could carry you. Fear was sticky, like flypaper, something to steer clear of as you went about your business, because if you were sucked into that long banner of worry, you would be like an insect with wings adhered and feet stuck, never to escape. Fear was the scariest of emotions and it nestled there, growing ever stronger and sprouting shoots, a seed in the fertile soil of doubt.”
I dare say all of us has felt the cold finger of fear on our shoulder at some time in our life. Some maybe more than others. The reasons for the fear vary, but we each of us know it. Imagine being a young school boy selected to run messages, from point A to point B and possibly back again, through the bombed streets of London during the day and at night when the only light to see by is provided by exploding bombs courtesy of the German Luftwaffe—done to earn just a few pennies to help feed your family. Envision what one might see on the path of destruction that must be run.
Jacqueline Winspear has spun such a mystery with her latest installment featuring Maisie Dobbs, psychologist/investigator extraordinaire. The young messenger is Freddie Hackett and he has come to Maisie to help him with what he has seen after being rebuffed by the police. Maisie takes up the case and brings us along to witness its progression. Winspear has written another sophisticated mystery that causes us to contemplate how we might handle such circumstances.
“In the aftermath, actions taken in wartime aren’t necessarily looked upon kindly. Those who have never been to war can be the harshest of judges—their sense of what is right taking comfort in the soft pillow of peace rather than the bed of nails that is conflict.”
I highly recommend this read to everyone.
I dare say all of us has felt the cold finger of fear on our shoulder at some time in our life. Some maybe more than others. The reasons for the fear vary, but we each of us know it. Imagine being a young school boy selected to run messages, from point A to point B and possibly back again, through the bombed streets of London during the day and at night when the only light to see by is provided by exploding bombs courtesy of the German Luftwaffe—done to earn just a few pennies to help feed your family. Envision what one might see on the path of destruction that must be run.
Jacqueline Winspear has spun such a mystery with her latest installment featuring Maisie Dobbs, psychologist/investigator extraordinaire. The young messenger is Freddie Hackett and he has come to Maisie to help him with what he has seen after being rebuffed by the police. Maisie takes up the case and brings us along to witness its progression. Winspear has written another sophisticated mystery that causes us to contemplate how we might handle such circumstances.
“In the aftermath, actions taken in wartime aren’t necessarily looked upon kindly. Those who have never been to war can be the harshest of judges—their sense of what is right taking comfort in the soft pillow of peace rather than the bed of nails that is conflict.”
I highly recommend this read to everyone.
April 12, 2021
From 2013 to 2019 I read lots of books, non-fiction and fiction, about World War One to honor the 100th anniversary of the War. During that time, I discovered Jacqueline Winspear’s series of Maisie Dobbs. The series was set during WWI. This book is number sixteen and much has evolved. It is now the beginning of World War Two.
I have enjoyed watching the progress of Maisie over the years. In this book Winspear provides excellent descriptions of the bombings of London and the effects on the people. Maisie is working part time for the government and continuing her work at her detective agency. Winspear is a master storyteller. I highly recommend this series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and twenty-seven minutes. Orlagh Cassidy does an excellent job narrating the series. Cassidy is an actress and audiobook narrator. She is one of my favorite narrators.
I have enjoyed watching the progress of Maisie over the years. In this book Winspear provides excellent descriptions of the bombings of London and the effects on the people. Maisie is working part time for the government and continuing her work at her detective agency. Winspear is a master storyteller. I highly recommend this series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and twenty-seven minutes. Orlagh Cassidy does an excellent job narrating the series. Cassidy is an actress and audiobook narrator. She is one of my favorite narrators.
March 27, 2021
The sixteenth Maisie Dobbs book and another very enjoyable read.
The Consequences of Fear is set during WW2, just prior to America joining the fighting. Winspear writes very historically correct stories and sets the scene for her characters beautifully. In England there are night bombings, evacuees, lots of cups of tea and food shortages. Maisie's American friend brings gifts of chocolate to her daughter Anna. Not many children would have been eating chocolate at that time.
Maisie is very involved in secret war work, helping to select individuals to travel as undercover agents overseas. This gives her lots of cause for concern and keeps her from seeing enough of her daughter, and there are many pages of her internal ramblings over what she should and should not do. Occasionally it was a little too much for me, but then something would happen and the book would get back on track.
The book ends with a sad event and with a very happy one and finishes on an historic day which changed the whole course of the war. I hope the author is already writing book 17 because we have to find out what happens to Maisie next.
The Consequences of Fear is set during WW2, just prior to America joining the fighting. Winspear writes very historically correct stories and sets the scene for her characters beautifully. In England there are night bombings, evacuees, lots of cups of tea and food shortages. Maisie's American friend brings gifts of chocolate to her daughter Anna. Not many children would have been eating chocolate at that time.
Maisie is very involved in secret war work, helping to select individuals to travel as undercover agents overseas. This gives her lots of cause for concern and keeps her from seeing enough of her daughter, and there are many pages of her internal ramblings over what she should and should not do. Occasionally it was a little too much for me, but then something would happen and the book would get back on track.
The book ends with a sad event and with a very happy one and finishes on an historic day which changed the whole course of the war. I hope the author is already writing book 17 because we have to find out what happens to Maisie next.
May 30, 2021
I started book 1 with a friend and we were able to read the first 5 books. I read this last book over what would have been her birthday.
Great book for thinking about being ruled by fear or fear getting in the way or of not being at all ruled by fear. The subject felt very close to home for me so extra meaningful.
This book #16 had an excellent mystery and particularly wonderful additional characters. As usual, I enjoyed all the returning/regular characters.
As with all of these books there is much that is amusing even though the books aren’t comedic.
Ever since the Return to Munich book there has been at least one American character. I hate the way the narrator of the audiobooks does an American accent. I never read just an audiobook but I sometimes listen at the same time as reading an e-book or a paper book. Since book 6 I’ve read most of these with e-books with audio books accompanying.
As usual the author’s note/extras at the end are wonderful.
Some quotes I liked:
“Children should always be believed until proven otherwise.”
“Fear was the scariest of emotions and it nestled there, growing ever stronger and sprouting shoots, a seed in the fertile soil of doubt.”
“Never let fears get in the way of happiness, because fear can lead to such irrational reasoning, and we can make dreadful mistakes, saying things we can’t take back.”
“And as she grieved, she realized that she had never trusted the world to keep herself or those she loved safe. From the moment of her mother’s death, she had known that terror could be around the next corner at any moment. Had there ever been a time when she felt the clutch of fear in her gut loosen its grip, so that she could have faith in the future?”
“And fear is really the most omnipresent of emotions, isn’t it? Fear and panic can be crippling for all concerned.”
“Hatred, revenge—they’re just as bad as trying to protect yourself from more hurt—they can make you brittle inside. And if you’re brittle, you break. One way or another, you break.”
“I believe it’s called ‘irrational reasoning.’ It’s what happens to people when they’re scared”
“It’s funny how things work out, isn’t it? I mean, it’s like dominoes—you touch one and then the others start to go, and sometimes they fall in the right direction and one person knows another and it all opens up like a flower.”
Is this the last Maisie Dobbs book? If so I’ll miss this series but feel I will feel satisfied having gotten to read all of the books. If it’s not the end I’ll look forward to future books and hope that I’ll be able to read them. A friend who read it recently thought this would be the last book because of the way it ended, and I’ve seen others make the same conjecture, but I can easily imagine this series continuing. I do see a book scheduled to be published in 2022, A Sunlit Weapon, that doesn’t necessarily look like another Maisie Dobbs book. I’m curious about it and have shelved it on my to read shelf.
4-1/2 stars rounded up.
Great book for thinking about being ruled by fear or fear getting in the way or of not being at all ruled by fear. The subject felt very close to home for me so extra meaningful.
This book #16 had an excellent mystery and particularly wonderful additional characters. As usual, I enjoyed all the returning/regular characters.
As with all of these books there is much that is amusing even though the books aren’t comedic.
Ever since the Return to Munich book there has been at least one American character. I hate the way the narrator of the audiobooks does an American accent. I never read just an audiobook but I sometimes listen at the same time as reading an e-book or a paper book. Since book 6 I’ve read most of these with e-books with audio books accompanying.
As usual the author’s note/extras at the end are wonderful.
Some quotes I liked:
“Children should always be believed until proven otherwise.”
“Fear was the scariest of emotions and it nestled there, growing ever stronger and sprouting shoots, a seed in the fertile soil of doubt.”
“Never let fears get in the way of happiness, because fear can lead to such irrational reasoning, and we can make dreadful mistakes, saying things we can’t take back.”
“And as she grieved, she realized that she had never trusted the world to keep herself or those she loved safe. From the moment of her mother’s death, she had known that terror could be around the next corner at any moment. Had there ever been a time when she felt the clutch of fear in her gut loosen its grip, so that she could have faith in the future?”
“And fear is really the most omnipresent of emotions, isn’t it? Fear and panic can be crippling for all concerned.”
“Hatred, revenge—they’re just as bad as trying to protect yourself from more hurt—they can make you brittle inside. And if you’re brittle, you break. One way or another, you break.”
“I believe it’s called ‘irrational reasoning.’ It’s what happens to people when they’re scared”
“It’s funny how things work out, isn’t it? I mean, it’s like dominoes—you touch one and then the others start to go, and sometimes they fall in the right direction and one person knows another and it all opens up like a flower.”
Is this the last Maisie Dobbs book? If so I’ll miss this series but feel I will feel satisfied having gotten to read all of the books. If it’s not the end I’ll look forward to future books and hope that I’ll be able to read them. A friend who read it recently thought this would be the last book because of the way it ended, and I’ve seen others make the same conjecture, but I can easily imagine this series continuing. I do see a book scheduled to be published in 2022, A Sunlit Weapon, that doesn’t necessarily look like another Maisie Dobbs book. I’m curious about it and have shelved it on my to read shelf.
4-1/2 stars rounded up.
April 8, 2021
There is a lot going on for Maisie all at once.
In 1941 Britain is at war, bombs are falling on London and Maisie Dobbs is not only running her private enquiry agency. She has a secret job evaluating potential agents for the SOE who will be sent into France to work with the Resistance. In this capacity she is nonplussed when she is faced with two young ladies whom she knows personally. How on earth can she, in good conscience, send them off to be agents in occupied France where the chances of survival is not at all good?
Next, a young boy who runs messages for Government offices is witness to a murder but the police don’t believe him because by the time they arrive at the scene they can’t find a body. Frightened, he confides in Maisie who believes him and promises to find out the truth of the matter.
Midway through the book the story becomes convoluted as Maisie investigates the murder and becomes embroiled in something involving French soldiers that took part in a conflict between France and Syria long ago and this seems to become the main focus of the book. I decided I didn’t care one whit about all that – I only wanted to know ‘who done it’.
AND there is a romance brewing for Maisie and an American from the American Embassy!
I’m always eager to read about Maisie’s latest adventures but this story is too long and too confusing and too far off the beaten path.
I advise a new reader to the Maisie Dobbs series NOT to start with this book. I have read them all and even I was a little bit lost along the way in this one.
In 1941 Britain is at war, bombs are falling on London and Maisie Dobbs is not only running her private enquiry agency. She has a secret job evaluating potential agents for the SOE who will be sent into France to work with the Resistance. In this capacity she is nonplussed when she is faced with two young ladies whom she knows personally. How on earth can she, in good conscience, send them off to be agents in occupied France where the chances of survival is not at all good?
Next, a young boy who runs messages for Government offices is witness to a murder but the police don’t believe him because by the time they arrive at the scene they can’t find a body. Frightened, he confides in Maisie who believes him and promises to find out the truth of the matter.
Midway through the book the story becomes convoluted as Maisie investigates the murder and becomes embroiled in something involving French soldiers that took part in a conflict between France and Syria long ago and this seems to become the main focus of the book. I decided I didn’t care one whit about all that – I only wanted to know ‘who done it’.
AND there is a romance brewing for Maisie and an American from the American Embassy!
I’m always eager to read about Maisie’s latest adventures but this story is too long and too confusing and too far off the beaten path.
I advise a new reader to the Maisie Dobbs series NOT to start with this book. I have read them all and even I was a little bit lost along the way in this one.
November 21, 2020
SPOILER ALERT!
I cried when I finished Winspear’s newest Maisie Dobbs novel, realizing how much I’ve grown to love this hf mystery series.
GRACE
The author once said Maisie’s character came to her in “a moment of artistic grace.” All of her books — including this 16th in the series — bear that blessing.
LOVE AND HORROR
This latest beams bright with kindness, the search for truth and the healing power of family amid a horrendous time. It is 1941 in Britain, the Blitz in full force in London.
MURDER?
A young messenger, Freddie Hackett, tasked with delivering government missives across the city, often while bombs fall, witnesses a murder. The police don’t believe him because no body is found.
SEEKING MAISIE
Undaunted, Freddie goes to Miss Dobbs’ office, having delivered messages there and hoping the forensic psychologist can help.
TRIPLE THREAT
She has great empathy for the boy, traumatized by what he’s seen, the work he does, and the beatings he and his mother endure at the hands of his violent father.
SABOTAGE
Maisie attempts to uncover the truth while balancing her work with Britain’s SOE, the Secret Operations Executive Churchill founded to “set Europe ablaze” through sabotage.
DEATH
Then a body is found that looks like the victim Freddie saw. And a mysterious death occurs in an SOE camp in Scotland. Are the two related? And how can Maisie cope with her work interviewing potential SOE agents — two she knows —before approving them as Allied spies, knowing most die within three weeks in enemy territory?
ANTIDOTE
While murders and war shatter any sense of safety and fear grips Maisie’s heart, she takes strength from her extended family: her kind father and stepmother, darling adopted daughter Anna, handsome American lover Mark, loyal assistant Billy, best friend Priscilla, and the many she’s drawn close to over the years.
ADORED
Near the end, a brave character is buried, with the Welsh saying, “Roedd hi'n annwyl iawn” read at the funeral. During a later joyful event, with Maisie encircled by family, that saying could be applied to her too: “She was much loved.”
5 of 5 Stars (I’d give as many that fill the night sky if I could!)
Pub Date 23 Mar 2021
Heartfelt thanks to the author, Harper, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#TheConsequencesofFear #NetGalley
I cried when I finished Winspear’s newest Maisie Dobbs novel, realizing how much I’ve grown to love this hf mystery series.
GRACE
The author once said Maisie’s character came to her in “a moment of artistic grace.” All of her books — including this 16th in the series — bear that blessing.
LOVE AND HORROR
This latest beams bright with kindness, the search for truth and the healing power of family amid a horrendous time. It is 1941 in Britain, the Blitz in full force in London.
MURDER?
A young messenger, Freddie Hackett, tasked with delivering government missives across the city, often while bombs fall, witnesses a murder. The police don’t believe him because no body is found.
SEEKING MAISIE
Undaunted, Freddie goes to Miss Dobbs’ office, having delivered messages there and hoping the forensic psychologist can help.
TRIPLE THREAT
She has great empathy for the boy, traumatized by what he’s seen, the work he does, and the beatings he and his mother endure at the hands of his violent father.
SABOTAGE
Maisie attempts to uncover the truth while balancing her work with Britain’s SOE, the Secret Operations Executive Churchill founded to “set Europe ablaze” through sabotage.
DEATH
Then a body is found that looks like the victim Freddie saw. And a mysterious death occurs in an SOE camp in Scotland. Are the two related? And how can Maisie cope with her work interviewing potential SOE agents — two she knows —before approving them as Allied spies, knowing most die within three weeks in enemy territory?
ANTIDOTE
While murders and war shatter any sense of safety and fear grips Maisie’s heart, she takes strength from her extended family: her kind father and stepmother, darling adopted daughter Anna, handsome American lover Mark, loyal assistant Billy, best friend Priscilla, and the many she’s drawn close to over the years.
ADORED
Near the end, a brave character is buried, with the Welsh saying, “Roedd hi'n annwyl iawn” read at the funeral. During a later joyful event, with Maisie encircled by family, that saying could be applied to her too: “She was much loved.”
5 of 5 Stars (I’d give as many that fill the night sky if I could!)
Pub Date 23 Mar 2021
Heartfelt thanks to the author, Harper, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#TheConsequencesofFear #NetGalley
April 20, 2021
It hurts me to give this a low rating. For years I loved this series. Even when it took a nose dive a few books ago I still kept reading and it bounced back with Maisie doing spy work in Germany and reuniting with Billy. Now we're back to the same old thing. Billy is in the background and Maisie is mostly doing paperwork for the SOE. When I first started this book I had hoped that given the author's love of history she'd make Maisie one of the thousands of so called superfluous women left after WWI when almost an entire generation of men were wiped out, a Miss Marple type. I found Maisie at her best when she was working on cases, her and Billy were a great team, and the interactions with her mentor Maurice and family and friends helped build the stories and give Maisie depth. She had no husband, or children, but you still got to know her family and friends those who made Maisie who she was. Whenever the elements of romance were added it often felt forced like it was just added because it was expected. When the series picked up Maisie was alone again and things were back to the way they were before. Now it's taken a nose dive again and she not only has a love interest but also an adopted daughter. I guess I was hoping that the series would take on more of a Foyle's War storyline. Solving crimes during war that might be related to the war. Instead Maisie is worrying over leaving her traumatized daughter alone, and stressing over a relationship with an American diplomat and there's little about the actual case. I started this book at the beginning of a five day weekend and every day despite having tons of time to read I only got 10-20 pages per day, I just didn't care enough to pick it up and was easily distracted, I think I even looked for excuses not to pick it up. It focuses too much on Maisie's personal life to me and I wish it put them in the background more and the case of the murder poor young Freddie witnessed more at the front. Given how the book ends its doubtful things will improve. But it'll be interesting to see and I can only hope I'm wrong. I also object to the British being all alone waiting for their American saviours. My Canadian grandfathers and their brothers who served in the war prove that Britain was not alone and this rhetoric is offensive to all the countries who were there from the start, even those countries who had been occupied fought in their own way. I'll keep going and hope for the best in the next one.
April 18, 2021
A solid entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. Here are my favorite passages:
"Fear was sticky like fly-paper, something to steer clear of as you went about your business because if you were sucked into that long banner of worry you would be like an insect with wings adhered and feet stuck never to escape."
"In the aftermath, actions taken in wartime aren't necessarily looked upon kindly. Those who have never been to war can be the harshest of judges. Their sense of what is right taking comfort in the soft pillow of peace, rather than the bed nails that is conflict."
Anna to Maisie: "Mummy, you're crushing me!" Maisie's response: "I'm sorry darling, I just have so many cuddles inside me, I suppose they all came out at once."
"If there's one thing I've learned about wartime and indeed love the hard way, Pris, is that you don't dither when it comes to happiness."
"roedd hi'n annwyl iawn" - Welsh for "she was much loved."
"Fear was sticky like fly-paper, something to steer clear of as you went about your business because if you were sucked into that long banner of worry you would be like an insect with wings adhered and feet stuck never to escape."
"In the aftermath, actions taken in wartime aren't necessarily looked upon kindly. Those who have never been to war can be the harshest of judges. Their sense of what is right taking comfort in the soft pillow of peace, rather than the bed nails that is conflict."
Anna to Maisie: "Mummy, you're crushing me!" Maisie's response: "I'm sorry darling, I just have so many cuddles inside me, I suppose they all came out at once."
"If there's one thing I've learned about wartime and indeed love the hard way, Pris, is that you don't dither when it comes to happiness."
"roedd hi'n annwyl iawn" - Welsh for "she was much loved."
March 28, 2021
Another great addition to this long running series. This 16th installment in the Maisie Dobbs series is set in London, 1941. Amidst the Blitz, Maggie must help a young boy, Freddie Hackett, prove that he saw a murder take place. Freddie is among the many youths employed as messengers, running through the streets of London, helping the war effort, all while dodging bombs and falling buildings. Did he see a murder, or was it the psychological stress of his job and home-life playing tricks with his mind?
Meanwhile, war-weary Massie is torn between her work and the need to protect both herself and her family. She is also unsure of her relationship with her handsome American beau Mark Scott. Pulled into the intrigue of war-time government espionage, she comes to see that there is a fine line between what is necessary for war and what is actually criminal. If someone is useful to the cause, should they be allowed to actually get away with murder?
Thanks to Harper and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
If you aren't already familiar with this series, you are missing out!
Meanwhile, war-weary Massie is torn between her work and the need to protect both herself and her family. She is also unsure of her relationship with her handsome American beau Mark Scott. Pulled into the intrigue of war-time government espionage, she comes to see that there is a fine line between what is necessary for war and what is actually criminal. If someone is useful to the cause, should they be allowed to actually get away with murder?
Thanks to Harper and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
If you aren't already familiar with this series, you are missing out!
February 15, 2021
Maisie is involved in doing some secret work for the War Department, and London is in the middle of The Blitz. Meanwhile, a local boy claims he's seen a murder--the police are skeptical, but Maisie is certain he's telling the truth. I was impressed that the author's descriptions were so vivid, it really brought home what it was like to be in London during the German bombings. In addition to her cases, Maisie has a new romance, and has adopted a war orphan. I have read and enjoyed all of the books in this series, but I think this would also work as a stand-alone. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.
May 6, 2021
I went into this story with 3 misconceptions that impacted my enjoyment.
1.) I assumed these books were standalone stories and even though The Consequences of Fear was the 16th addition to the Maisie Dobbs series, I would be able to dive in right away.
2.) I assumed the Maisie Dobbs books were mysteries.
3.) I assumed adopting a pet tiger would be cool.
Needless to say, I was in for some disappointment. 1.) The Consequences of Fear was full of many characters Maisie had met (I believe) in previous novels. While there was no problem keeping this cast straight, the struggle lay in uncovering the emotional connections that intertwine the characters. The emotional depth of certain plot twists were not as powerful to a new reader coming in blind. 2.) While Maisie did investigate a murder, the story seemed more focused on being a historical snapshot of World War 2 London. The mystery depended on happenstance and coincidence and the solution resolved on the guilty party succumbing to his guilt rather than the insights or sleuthing of our detective. 3.) While Paws, my pet tiger was definitely cool (and it attracted a rather exciting type of leather wearing and tattooed woman that had until now found me invisible), but it was also hungry. All the time. If I was not careful the tiger would prowl around behind me and eat up all my snacks. And I have a lot of snacks in my home. You see, I shop at Costco. The constant fear he might eat all my snacks leaving nothing for my rumbly belly made it hard to concentrate on the tale. I did not want to go back to Costco. It was a Saturday and the store would be packed! So that also impacted my enjoyment.
The Consequences of Fear takes place in September 1941 as London is being bombed to smithereens by the Nazis. A young boy, a message runner for the government witnesses a what appears to be murder as he works on a delivery running through the debris and broken buildings of the city. It is up to private investigator Maisie Dobbs to figure out what the heck just happend. Like a closetful of snacks: cheese puffs packaged in enormous metal vats and chocolate chip Keebler cookies stacked in cases, this novel seems like a sure fire trip to fun city. But like the discovery that Paws, your pet tiger has snuck into said snack closet and devoured all manner of wondrous snack leaving only shredded containers, ripped packaging, a slimy coating of tiger drool, and the crushed dreams of a happy tum-tum, this novel is a little disappointing. The story was absolutely readable with an interesting time period and enough research to transport me, however it was not exactly what I was looking for. I'll probably still check out more of these books down the road.
1.) I assumed these books were standalone stories and even though The Consequences of Fear was the 16th addition to the Maisie Dobbs series, I would be able to dive in right away.
2.) I assumed the Maisie Dobbs books were mysteries.
3.) I assumed adopting a pet tiger would be cool.
Needless to say, I was in for some disappointment. 1.) The Consequences of Fear was full of many characters Maisie had met (I believe) in previous novels. While there was no problem keeping this cast straight, the struggle lay in uncovering the emotional connections that intertwine the characters. The emotional depth of certain plot twists were not as powerful to a new reader coming in blind. 2.) While Maisie did investigate a murder, the story seemed more focused on being a historical snapshot of World War 2 London. The mystery depended on happenstance and coincidence and the solution resolved on the guilty party succumbing to his guilt rather than the insights or sleuthing of our detective. 3.) While Paws, my pet tiger was definitely cool (and it attracted a rather exciting type of leather wearing and tattooed woman that had until now found me invisible), but it was also hungry. All the time. If I was not careful the tiger would prowl around behind me and eat up all my snacks. And I have a lot of snacks in my home. You see, I shop at Costco. The constant fear he might eat all my snacks leaving nothing for my rumbly belly made it hard to concentrate on the tale. I did not want to go back to Costco. It was a Saturday and the store would be packed! So that also impacted my enjoyment.
The Consequences of Fear takes place in September 1941 as London is being bombed to smithereens by the Nazis. A young boy, a message runner for the government witnesses a what appears to be murder as he works on a delivery running through the debris and broken buildings of the city. It is up to private investigator Maisie Dobbs to figure out what the heck just happend. Like a closetful of snacks: cheese puffs packaged in enormous metal vats and chocolate chip Keebler cookies stacked in cases, this novel seems like a sure fire trip to fun city. But like the discovery that Paws, your pet tiger has snuck into said snack closet and devoured all manner of wondrous snack leaving only shredded containers, ripped packaging, a slimy coating of tiger drool, and the crushed dreams of a happy tum-tum, this novel is a little disappointing. The story was absolutely readable with an interesting time period and enough research to transport me, however it was not exactly what I was looking for. I'll probably still check out more of these books down the road.
April 5, 2021
This series that began in WWI England is now deep in WWII. Maisie Dobbs’ life and her character on the page continues to evolve.
The plot here didn’t resolve as cleanly and satisfyingly as usual for the series or for the mystery genre, but since there was more attention to Maisie’s life than to the mystery, the resolution didn’t leave as much of a hole as it might have. This is another enjoyable entry in the series, ending with the promise of new direction in the next novel.
The plot here didn’t resolve as cleanly and satisfyingly as usual for the series or for the mystery genre, but since there was more attention to Maisie’s life than to the mystery, the resolution didn’t leave as much of a hole as it might have. This is another enjoyable entry in the series, ending with the promise of new direction in the next novel.
April 21, 2021
We currently encounter Maisie Dobbs in the fall of 1941. She had established herself as a psychological investigator in 1929 and has transitioned, fifteen books later,into a psychological profiler for Special Operations Executive. Her role involves evaluating candidates for undercover work in France with local resistance cells. She has delegated much of the day to day tasks of her investigative agency but makes time to help a young boy, Freddie Hackett, who comes to Maisie with a disturbing story.Freddie is a runner who delivers messages for the war office.He runs through the streets of London in the midst of bombings to deliver these important communications.During one of his night deliveries, he witnesses a man being killed.He is terrified and has informed the police but they dismiss his tale as the overactive imagination of a youngster. Maisie, always sympathetic to the anxieties of children,initiates some cursory inquiries, hoping to alleviate Freddie’s fears. Once involved, Maisie concludes that there is some substance to the youngster’s story.
The pursuit of this murderer sets up a sophisticated mystery that also intersects with Maisie’s profiling efforts for the War Office. The author weaves storylines involving treachery in the Levant during the 1920s, the danger in occupied France and the terror and displacement in London.
For me, a well plotted book is a springboard for introducing underlying themes central to the human condition. The core concern of this novel is an examination of how to cope with fear and anxiety under duress and difficult circumstances. Maisie discusses the concept of taking our fears and inner anxieties and converting them into a positive energy force that propels us forward. Winspear’s blend of characterization and plot results in an intriguing mystery that illustrates this precept.It prompts readers to contemplate the underpinnings of our ability to maintain composure and make difficult choices during our life journey.
The pursuit of this murderer sets up a sophisticated mystery that also intersects with Maisie’s profiling efforts for the War Office. The author weaves storylines involving treachery in the Levant during the 1920s, the danger in occupied France and the terror and displacement in London.
For me, a well plotted book is a springboard for introducing underlying themes central to the human condition. The core concern of this novel is an examination of how to cope with fear and anxiety under duress and difficult circumstances. Maisie discusses the concept of taking our fears and inner anxieties and converting them into a positive energy force that propels us forward. Winspear’s blend of characterization and plot results in an intriguing mystery that illustrates this precept.It prompts readers to contemplate the underpinnings of our ability to maintain composure and make difficult choices during our life journey.
April 2, 2021
I was a fan of the Maisie Dobbs books until about book 12. The more her life story was spun, the less believable. This one was very sappy, slow-moving, and way too many “Dahhhlings” for me. I agree with one of the reviewers that Maisie Dobbs never would have been chosen as a spy because of her lack of emotional control. And I really began to disrespect the character when she adopted a girl who had already experienced tragedy and just pretty much left her to be cared for by others. The American boyfriend is just a campy stereotype of what people assumed Americans acted like at the time. The narrator’s Scottish accent of Robby McFarland is appalling. The storyline did not capture me as the author’s previous initial books had, and what happened to Maisie’s relaxation and centering techniques? And why would a one-time nurse assist a coroner? This book seemed as though it was written for a deadline, not as a creation from the heart. Maisie Dobbs should really think about retiring soon.
March 9, 2021
Series: Maisie Dobbs #16
Publication Date: 3/23/21
Number of Pages: 352
WOW! What a wonderful new-to-me series to find. I had been reading the book blurbs on each new book as it was released – and they sounded like great stories – but I put off trying one because I thought it was still too close to ‘contemporary’ to suit me. I read very little that isn’t set in the Victorian or earlier eras. As I am becoming more and more disillusioned with the ‘woke’ historical romance books that are being written, I decided to branch out with more and more historical mysteries. This one is absolutely wonderful. I loved Maisie Dobbs – and YAY for me – I started with the book where Maisie gets married. The writing is excellent and the story and plotting are near perfect. What really brings the story home though, is the descriptions of life in WWII London during the blitzes. I absolutely felt as if I was running right along with Freddie as the bombs were dropping.
Freddie Hackett is twelve-years-old and is proud that he has been chosen as a message runner for the government. He is, of course, afraid of the bombs dropping, but those aren’t any scarier than his home life. If he keeps his father in enough coins to stay at the bar, maybe he and his mother won’t be beaten tonight. Freddie is a gifted runner who might be in the Olympics someday and as his feet are flying and he turns a corner toward his destination, he sees something unthinkable. Two men are in a fight, so he backs into a small doorway of a bombed-out home so the men cannot see him. When one takes a knife out and murders the other, Freddie loses his stomach contents. He remains quiet and still long after it is over – and then, shaking, he goes on his way to the delivery. He gets a really good look at the murderer – and guess who answers the door.
The police aren’t particularly interested in the murder Freddie reports, but Freddie is frightened, so he looks elsewhere for someone to help. That person is Maisie Dobbs. Maisie immediately believes the story Freddie is telling and begins an investigation despite her government office boss telling her to leave it be. As Maisie digs deeper and deeper into the case, she comes to learn that there are political implications to solving the crime. That, of course, doesn’t deter Maisie and she keeps going. She not only has to find the murderer, but she also has to keep Freddie, his mom, and his sister safe.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m so sorry I took so long to decide to give the series a try. Now, I just have to make time in my schedule to go back and read the first fifteen books. I can’t think of a single thing I’d change about the book – except I think it might be fun to have Mark more involved in Maisie’s case. I’m very happy to recommend this book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 3/23/21
Number of Pages: 352
WOW! What a wonderful new-to-me series to find. I had been reading the book blurbs on each new book as it was released – and they sounded like great stories – but I put off trying one because I thought it was still too close to ‘contemporary’ to suit me. I read very little that isn’t set in the Victorian or earlier eras. As I am becoming more and more disillusioned with the ‘woke’ historical romance books that are being written, I decided to branch out with more and more historical mysteries. This one is absolutely wonderful. I loved Maisie Dobbs – and YAY for me – I started with the book where Maisie gets married. The writing is excellent and the story and plotting are near perfect. What really brings the story home though, is the descriptions of life in WWII London during the blitzes. I absolutely felt as if I was running right along with Freddie as the bombs were dropping.
Freddie Hackett is twelve-years-old and is proud that he has been chosen as a message runner for the government. He is, of course, afraid of the bombs dropping, but those aren’t any scarier than his home life. If he keeps his father in enough coins to stay at the bar, maybe he and his mother won’t be beaten tonight. Freddie is a gifted runner who might be in the Olympics someday and as his feet are flying and he turns a corner toward his destination, he sees something unthinkable. Two men are in a fight, so he backs into a small doorway of a bombed-out home so the men cannot see him. When one takes a knife out and murders the other, Freddie loses his stomach contents. He remains quiet and still long after it is over – and then, shaking, he goes on his way to the delivery. He gets a really good look at the murderer – and guess who answers the door.
The police aren’t particularly interested in the murder Freddie reports, but Freddie is frightened, so he looks elsewhere for someone to help. That person is Maisie Dobbs. Maisie immediately believes the story Freddie is telling and begins an investigation despite her government office boss telling her to leave it be. As Maisie digs deeper and deeper into the case, she comes to learn that there are political implications to solving the crime. That, of course, doesn’t deter Maisie and she keeps going. She not only has to find the murderer, but she also has to keep Freddie, his mom, and his sister safe.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m so sorry I took so long to decide to give the series a try. Now, I just have to make time in my schedule to go back and read the first fifteen books. I can’t think of a single thing I’d change about the book – except I think it might be fun to have Mark more involved in Maisie’s case. I’m very happy to recommend this book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 28, 2021
I was most disappointed with book 16 and, having read them all, I'm not sure if the series will get back on track for me in the future. The adopted child/sticky sweet romance element leads Maisie down the 'without a man I'm not complete' stereotypical mid-20th century female trail. In the earlier novels Maisie's family - though in the background - were clearly those around her including Priscilla's and Billy's families, as well as her father, James' parents and Maurice. The forced effort to make a family unit for her is unsettling and distracting. In The Consequences of Fear some of the paragraphs between Maisie and Mark are embarrassingly cloying and 2 of the conversations with Brenda made me stop for a while.
I agree with some reviewers here that it's unfortunate the series took this turn a few novels back. Maisie and Billy work well together, the cases are interesting unto themselves, and the history from a Londoners perspective is so engaging, I enjoy this writing very much. The murder mystery in this novel definitely took a backseat to Maisie's work (and fights) with McFarland and to her relationships at two of her multiple homes. I wanted more of the old days where we were privy to the case sheet updates and the foot work and "clue" discovery.
For me, with this series, I'd hoped Maisie would be a combination of Miss Marple/Foyle & Phryne Fisher/Victoria Warshawski (with flirtings at DS Stratton), which of course is asking way too much...but the descent into heart-on-your-sleeve almost weepy Mom and wife is a disappointment. Fingers crossed for the next one and thank goodness for the earlier novels.
I agree with some reviewers here that it's unfortunate the series took this turn a few novels back. Maisie and Billy work well together, the cases are interesting unto themselves, and the history from a Londoners perspective is so engaging, I enjoy this writing very much. The murder mystery in this novel definitely took a backseat to Maisie's work (and fights) with McFarland and to her relationships at two of her multiple homes. I wanted more of the old days where we were privy to the case sheet updates and the foot work and "clue" discovery.
For me, with this series, I'd hoped Maisie would be a combination of Miss Marple/Foyle & Phryne Fisher/Victoria Warshawski (with flirtings at DS Stratton), which of course is asking way too much...but the descent into heart-on-your-sleeve almost weepy Mom and wife is a disappointment. Fingers crossed for the next one and thank goodness for the earlier novels.
May 19, 2021
An Exceptional Book
I thoroughly enjoyed, )The Consequences of Fear".
The books was a fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. I loved the way it started off fast and immediately caught my attention.
The characters are enjoyable. I really loved Maisie-- a strong female lead.
The setting in England during the bombings of WW2 was perfect.
I highly recommend.
I thoroughly enjoyed, )The Consequences of Fear".
The books was a fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. I loved the way it started off fast and immediately caught my attention.
The characters are enjoyable. I really loved Maisie-- a strong female lead.
The setting in England during the bombings of WW2 was perfect.
I highly recommend.
December 21, 2023
"Fear makes us feel our humanity."
-- Benjamin Disraeli
As the title suggests, The Consequences of Fear is about different fears, particularly during wartime, and the consequences of that fear. The author, Jacqueline Winspear, notes that under orders of Winston Churchill, Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE) was founded in July 1940 with the intention of engaging in warfare by specially trained agents sent to France among other locations to set up resistance lines and commit acts of espionage and sabotage in Nazi-occupied Europe. This book talks about Maisie Dobbs' involvement with this clandestine top-secret operation when two women known to Maisie were sent to France as SOE agents in 1941. We also meet a young runner risking his life delivering messages during the night as the bombs are exploding all around. One night on his run he witnessed a murder but is unable to convince the police since there was no body. But young Freddie Hackett seeks out the services of Maisie Dobbs when he recalled delivering a message to her in the past. Maisie Dobbs believes Freddie Hackett and works intensely with him to determine what in fact the young boy witnessed that night. However Dobbs must be careful in her investigation as she is also working with the SOE to assessing potential candidates for the crucial work of the French Resistance. However, these two worlds collide when she sees the suspected killer in an unlikely position that further complicates the situation as Maisie Dobbs becomes entangled in a power struggle between Britain's intelligence efforts in France and work of the free French agents operating across Europe. And the romance between the American diplomat, Mark Scott, and Maisie continues much to the delight of her daughter, Anna. This was another stellar book in this series by Jacqueline Winspear.
"Maisie often wondered if she would ever remember walking along a street before it was bombed, and what it looked like without broken buildings looming out of the detritus of war like shattered teeth."
"Fear was the scariest of emotions and it nestled there, growing ever stronger and sprouting shoots, a seed in the fertile soil of doubt."
March 27, 2021
The more I read about Maisie Dobbs, the more irritating she is becoming. I was hoping to to find out more about Billy, Sandra and their families but this book is all about the sanctimonious Miss Maisie Dobbs and how she is trying to push her ideologies onto the establishment. How on earth would anyone let her step foot into the Foreign Office, let alone make life or death decisions, when she herself is so unbalanced, too touchy feely? In real life she would not even be considered for such a position. And as for assisting at a postmortem, it just wouldn't happen.
As with most of the Maisie Dobbs series , too much word count is spent recapping on old cases and the people she has met along the way, which I find is a lazy way of writing. It felt to me that I was being lead through the nose step by step, I suppose assumptions were made by the author that we don't know the workings of the world.
It is a shame that these books are becoming more pedestrian because I think that fundamentally they are good storylines.
As with most of the Maisie Dobbs series , too much word count is spent recapping on old cases and the people she has met along the way, which I find is a lazy way of writing. It felt to me that I was being lead through the nose step by step, I suppose assumptions were made by the author that we don't know the workings of the world.
It is a shame that these books are becoming more pedestrian because I think that fundamentally they are good storylines.
August 1, 2021
Who doesn't like a Maisie Dobbs book? I enjoyed this one for sure.
I liked the impracticality of Miss Dobbs in a time period that is tough and dangerous. The Blitz is going on in London and Miss Dobbs is out there solving crime witnessed by a 1o-year-old runner, delivering messages for the war effort. The child believes he has seen a murder, but the body is missing and only Miss Dobbs and Billy Beale are supportive of him. Together they go at the crime to find out what exactly happened and of course, there are secrets, danger, and intrigue. Always worth the read.
4 Stars
Happy Reading!
I liked the impracticality of Miss Dobbs in a time period that is tough and dangerous. The Blitz is going on in London and Miss Dobbs is out there solving crime witnessed by a 1o-year-old runner, delivering messages for the war effort. The child believes he has seen a murder, but the body is missing and only Miss Dobbs and Billy Beale are supportive of him. Together they go at the crime to find out what exactly happened and of course, there are secrets, danger, and intrigue. Always worth the read.
4 Stars
Happy Reading!
March 25, 2021
I was a late arrival at the party when it comes to Jacqueline Winspear’s hugely popular series, my first introduction being The American Agent, the fifteenth outing for the intrepid and resourceful Maisie Dobbs. Ardent fans of the series will have been eagerly anticipating Maisie’s next adventure but even if – like me – you’re a recent convert, or indeed if The Consequences of Fear will be your first foray into Maisie’s world, I guarantee you’ll quickly be drawn into the story.
Although there are brief references to Maisie’s previous cases and it may take a bit of time to sort out the various members of her extended family, The Consequences of Fear can definitely be enjoyed by readers new to the series. Those familiar with her previous adventures will be pleased to see the return of characters such as Billy Beale, Maisie’s assistant in her private investigation business, intelligence chief Robert MacFarlane and Anna, her adopted daughter. Not forgetting, of course, Maisie’s ‘gentleman friend’, Mark Scott.
As well as the ever reliable Billy, Maisie has a number of resources to call upon to help with her investigation, including her friends Priscilla and Gabriella. As Maisie observes, ‘She had her worker bees, valuable contacts who would seek whatever information she needed, buzzing around their gardens of endeavour until they found the pockets of intelligence she had requested.’ Unfortunately, being one of Maisie’s ‘worker bees’ can sometimes be a risky business. And when all else fails, Maisie can call on her memories of the wise advice of her former mentor, Maurice Blanche.
The book’s title is cleverly explored in various ways. For example, as one character remarks early on in the book, “where secrets reside, so does fear – it’s the unknown.” It transpires there are indeed secrets to be revealed some of which go longer back in time than anyone might imagine. Whilst fear can be ‘the scariest of emotions…a seed in the fertile seed of doubt’, it can also bring much-needed alertness. ‘Fear had to be handled with care, managed so it became a tool, not a weight.’
Increasingly, Maisie feels the tension between the important but secret work she undertakes alongside the cases that come to her private investigation business, and her new caring responsibilities. It doesn’t help that her secret work involves potentially life or death decisions about others, or that Mark Scott’s equally confidential work takes him away frequently. Naturally, like the rest of the population, she’s also concerned about her family’s safety – the threat of further bombing raids and the possibility of invasion. ‘She realised that she had never trusted the world to keep herself or those she loved safe.’ It all leads at one point to Maisie concluding, “I think I’ve had enough”.
By the end of the book, I think even new readers will have come to the conclusion that Maisie doesn’t easily give in to fear when it comes to pursuing her investigations. But what about fear of commitment in her personal relationships? Should Maisie heed the advice that ‘Love is always worth the leap’? (I know my answer in Maisie’s case!)
The backdrop of wartime of London is vividly evoked: checking the blackout curtains as darkness falls, listening to the rumble of bombers overhead, navigating streets of bombed out houses, seeing young boys like Freddie Hackett running through the dark streets carrying messages between Air Raid Precautions depots.
The book’s conclusion sees scenes of both sorrow and joy, and – tantalizingly – a world on the brink of a new phase of the war. As a now committed Maisie fan, I say roll on the next book!
Although there are brief references to Maisie’s previous cases and it may take a bit of time to sort out the various members of her extended family, The Consequences of Fear can definitely be enjoyed by readers new to the series. Those familiar with her previous adventures will be pleased to see the return of characters such as Billy Beale, Maisie’s assistant in her private investigation business, intelligence chief Robert MacFarlane and Anna, her adopted daughter. Not forgetting, of course, Maisie’s ‘gentleman friend’, Mark Scott.
As well as the ever reliable Billy, Maisie has a number of resources to call upon to help with her investigation, including her friends Priscilla and Gabriella. As Maisie observes, ‘She had her worker bees, valuable contacts who would seek whatever information she needed, buzzing around their gardens of endeavour until they found the pockets of intelligence she had requested.’ Unfortunately, being one of Maisie’s ‘worker bees’ can sometimes be a risky business. And when all else fails, Maisie can call on her memories of the wise advice of her former mentor, Maurice Blanche.
The book’s title is cleverly explored in various ways. For example, as one character remarks early on in the book, “where secrets reside, so does fear – it’s the unknown.” It transpires there are indeed secrets to be revealed some of which go longer back in time than anyone might imagine. Whilst fear can be ‘the scariest of emotions…a seed in the fertile seed of doubt’, it can also bring much-needed alertness. ‘Fear had to be handled with care, managed so it became a tool, not a weight.’
Increasingly, Maisie feels the tension between the important but secret work she undertakes alongside the cases that come to her private investigation business, and her new caring responsibilities. It doesn’t help that her secret work involves potentially life or death decisions about others, or that Mark Scott’s equally confidential work takes him away frequently. Naturally, like the rest of the population, she’s also concerned about her family’s safety – the threat of further bombing raids and the possibility of invasion. ‘She realised that she had never trusted the world to keep herself or those she loved safe.’ It all leads at one point to Maisie concluding, “I think I’ve had enough”.
By the end of the book, I think even new readers will have come to the conclusion that Maisie doesn’t easily give in to fear when it comes to pursuing her investigations. But what about fear of commitment in her personal relationships? Should Maisie heed the advice that ‘Love is always worth the leap’? (I know my answer in Maisie’s case!)
The backdrop of wartime of London is vividly evoked: checking the blackout curtains as darkness falls, listening to the rumble of bombers overhead, navigating streets of bombed out houses, seeing young boys like Freddie Hackett running through the dark streets carrying messages between Air Raid Precautions depots.
The book’s conclusion sees scenes of both sorrow and joy, and – tantalizingly – a world on the brink of a new phase of the war. As a now committed Maisie fan, I say roll on the next book!
March 29, 2021
Each novel in the series just keeps getting better & better. Love these characters!
April 10, 2021
Jacqueline Winspear is her earned her popularity as contemporary author . I've not previously read anything by her, so I was pleased to win this newest installment of the Maisie Dobbs series. Maisie is a recent widow, who despite the many challenges in her life (loss of spouse, and having recently adopted a young orphan) and her busy career as a private investigator, using her talents from her education in psychology (she is a doctor) and her war experience as a spy and ambulance driver in the first World War. She is now doing "government" work on the qt. Though friends and family alike are pretty certain she is doing things they are not privy too, they are supportive of her "doing her bit" for the war effort in 1941.
There are several different matters that this story focuses upon. Her efforts in helping the government screen candidates for highly dangerous spy missions. She is also working a case of a murder witnessed by a young boy with no body after the fact. Add to that his description of the murderer places a high government agent as the chief suspect makes the story seem even more unlikely. Did he see a murder? Maisie really doesn't know and the police dismiss his story as attention seeking. Meanwhile, Maisie must navigate politics and the less than supportive coworkers, she bumps up against. All these issues make for a modestly passed story with several plots that connect and cross over each other and curious ways.
This can be read as a standalone, the author made sure that the reader had sufficient information to follow the characters, relationships and plot lines without any prior knowledge. I did think I may have been even more engaged had I known the characters better. There were quite of minor characters in the story and at times this challenged me (my memory is poor due to an injury). This may not be concern for other readers.
Winspear delivers an excellent characterizations especially with Maisie, who uses her intellect and observation to achieve great things in her cases and for England. Maisie was a feminist before that was a term. She excels at supporting her theories without coming off as bitchy. I found myself smiling at certain observations and didn't find the details of murder or the war to be graphic. I will definitely look to read more by this author.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher and the author, Ms. Winspear for an advanced reading copy in return for my honest review.
There are several different matters that this story focuses upon. Her efforts in helping the government screen candidates for highly dangerous spy missions. She is also working a case of a murder witnessed by a young boy with no body after the fact. Add to that his description of the murderer places a high government agent as the chief suspect makes the story seem even more unlikely. Did he see a murder? Maisie really doesn't know and the police dismiss his story as attention seeking. Meanwhile, Maisie must navigate politics and the less than supportive coworkers, she bumps up against. All these issues make for a modestly passed story with several plots that connect and cross over each other and curious ways.
This can be read as a standalone, the author made sure that the reader had sufficient information to follow the characters, relationships and plot lines without any prior knowledge. I did think I may have been even more engaged had I known the characters better. There were quite of minor characters in the story and at times this challenged me (my memory is poor due to an injury). This may not be concern for other readers.
Winspear delivers an excellent characterizations especially with Maisie, who uses her intellect and observation to achieve great things in her cases and for England. Maisie was a feminist before that was a term. She excels at supporting her theories without coming off as bitchy. I found myself smiling at certain observations and didn't find the details of murder or the war to be graphic. I will definitely look to read more by this author.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher and the author, Ms. Winspear for an advanced reading copy in return for my honest review.
February 16, 2021
I do love a Maisie Dobbs story and have been reading Jacqueline Winspear’s fab series for years, not always in order as it depends what the library has in stock, but one thing’s for sure, I always love catching up with Maisie. I love finding out what’s going in her personal and professional life, it’s like I’m catching up with an old friend.
This is the 16th book in the series and it’s seems to get better with each book. I loved following Maisie and her assistant Billie, as they try to work out what it was that young Freddie Hackett saw. Maisie is convinced that he’s telling the truth, but her contacts at Scotland Yard and SOE want her to leave it alone, that the boy was just imagining things. Well Maisie is not one for giving up, and the more she looks into the case the more disturbing it gets.
This was such a good story as there was a lot going on in the case and in Maisie’s other life, now that she’s involved with checking over recruits for SOE. Two of the new recruits are women she knows very well, and she feels dreadful at being involved in the process of sending them to occupied France, especially when her best friend Priscilla is related to both of them!
As to solving the mystery? Well, as usual I didn’t have a clue and totally forgot about trying to work it out as I was so wrapped in the story, especially what was happening between Maisie and Mark Scott. He’s the American she met in the previous book and things were getting interesting between them. This book has ended on a real cliff hanger and I really hope there’s going to be a happy ending for Maisie, as she’s had so much tragedy in her life. I’m crossing my fingers that the author doesn’t make something awful happen between them in the next book.
I thoroughly recommend this wonderful series to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries especially ones set in World War Two.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for my digital copy via the NetGalley app.
This is the 16th book in the series and it’s seems to get better with each book. I loved following Maisie and her assistant Billie, as they try to work out what it was that young Freddie Hackett saw. Maisie is convinced that he’s telling the truth, but her contacts at Scotland Yard and SOE want her to leave it alone, that the boy was just imagining things. Well Maisie is not one for giving up, and the more she looks into the case the more disturbing it gets.
This was such a good story as there was a lot going on in the case and in Maisie’s other life, now that she’s involved with checking over recruits for SOE. Two of the new recruits are women she knows very well, and she feels dreadful at being involved in the process of sending them to occupied France, especially when her best friend Priscilla is related to both of them!
As to solving the mystery? Well, as usual I didn’t have a clue and totally forgot about trying to work it out as I was so wrapped in the story, especially what was happening between Maisie and Mark Scott. He’s the American she met in the previous book and things were getting interesting between them. This book has ended on a real cliff hanger and I really hope there’s going to be a happy ending for Maisie, as she’s had so much tragedy in her life. I’m crossing my fingers that the author doesn’t make something awful happen between them in the next book.
I thoroughly recommend this wonderful series to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries especially ones set in World War Two.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for my digital copy via the NetGalley app.
April 21, 2021
In the years of World War II, Maisie Dobbs and her team runs the Government's espionage training centers and her own investigative center, in war ravaged London.
One day, a runner of messages, Freddie Hackett, witnesses a murder on the streets and then all evidence vanishes. He goes to Maisie for her to find the murderer but what Maisie finds is far more sinister and goes back decade's.
Please read my detailed review from the link below
https://www.aniblogshere.com/the-cons...
Do read 📖, like👍🏼, comment💭, or share...🚩
#maisiedobbs #jacquelinewinspear #london #ww2 #murdermystery #policethriller #crime #thrillernovel #thrilling #mysterious #bookfan #bookreviewer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #booklovers
One day, a runner of messages, Freddie Hackett, witnesses a murder on the streets and then all evidence vanishes. He goes to Maisie for her to find the murderer but what Maisie finds is far more sinister and goes back decade's.
Please read my detailed review from the link below
https://www.aniblogshere.com/the-cons...
Do read 📖, like👍🏼, comment💭, or share...🚩
#maisiedobbs #jacquelinewinspear #london #ww2 #murdermystery #policethriller #crime #thrillernovel #thrilling #mysterious #bookfan #bookreviewer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #booklovers
April 20, 2021
Listening. Not enjoying. Gave up half way through
Read
January 13, 2023Reread 1/11/23 -1/13/23 There is sa tarantula storm in Northern and Central CA and with massive flooding and some of the 30 feet cliffs on the beach in my neighborhood let go and prediction of another week of rain and more mudslides. I needed to get my mind off of that so I picked this up again. I enjoyed it this second time. It’s set in London and Kent England during WWll. Our main character Maise Dobbs is an independent investigator and psychologist. She independently consults to Scotland Yard and is currently interviewing and assessing potential agents to go into France. A young boy who is a messenger runner for the Yard sees someone killed and the body was missing. No one listened to him and so he goes to Maisie’ office cause he has brought her messengers there before. And Maise takes him on pro bono (for free). One of the peopls wanting to go in and help FRance was also involved in WWI. He is French and also he may be involved in the killing the young lad say. What I like about this book is I learned a little more of the politics piqued my curiousity.
This series of books started when Maisie was a young lass working as a maid in a mansion right after WWI. And it’s how she made it to where she is today. The causes she has are unusual. Her mentor was involved in training and managing undercover agents in WWI. Not your typical themes.
It did take my mind off things. For that I’m grateful.
First time read - The book started with this quote:
“Fear makes us feel our humanity”. Disraeli.
I don’t usually rate this series any more. I, however, continue to enjoy the series year after year because of the humanity of it.
I was surprised by the avenue she took in this book. Knew it would be about WWII and the blitz but this was not what I expected. It raised a lot of issues pertinent to today’s world. First is the main theme of her series - the effect of war on people and countries. She is always widening our understanding of war by widening the circles. Here she explores the effects of war on a young boy - a message runner. He’s fast and reliable. His father had been in WWI and the story talks to how his behavior and alcoholism impacted his son and family. Another avenue is the beliefs people hold. And how grudges, shame, honor, trauma and/or love of one’s country play out for some of the characters. This time we get to re-meet female characters from previous books in the series. She focuses more on the different direct roles women played in WWII’s war effort then she has in past books.
The familiar cast are back: Maisie and her family and her American diplomat beau; her best friend Priscilla and her extended family; Lord and Lady Compton; her assistants Billy and Sandra; Caldwell from Scotland Yard; and her old Scottish colleague from the Secret Service and his malt liquor too. A colleague and/or ex-lover??? of Maisie’s mentor Maurice who was an active spy in France in WWI is back. From Maisie’s interactions with her there was a foreshadow of things to come in the series. Though, you never know with our author if that’s exactly where she will go.
Change is abreast. People connected to Maisie moved out of London to Kent. Brenda, grandmother of Maisie’s daughter Anna, has really come into her own as her relationship to Maisie has changed more and more over the last years. It’s no longer upstairs-downstairs. It’s family. And it feels right. Upstairs- downstairs has been a theme in Maisie’s life since the first book. Brenda is much more outspoken with her opinions. Was surprised at first to hear her new voice but glad for it. Maisie’s dad and the Compton’s are elders -in their 80’s now and have slowed down a lot. All the elders enjoy having Anna in their lives. Maisie in early mid-life is changing too.
I’ll leave the other surprises for you to find for yourself.
This series of books started when Maisie was a young lass working as a maid in a mansion right after WWI. And it’s how she made it to where she is today. The causes she has are unusual. Her mentor was involved in training and managing undercover agents in WWI. Not your typical themes.
It did take my mind off things. For that I’m grateful.
First time read - The book started with this quote:
“Fear makes us feel our humanity”. Disraeli.
I don’t usually rate this series any more. I, however, continue to enjoy the series year after year because of the humanity of it.
I was surprised by the avenue she took in this book. Knew it would be about WWII and the blitz but this was not what I expected. It raised a lot of issues pertinent to today’s world. First is the main theme of her series - the effect of war on people and countries. She is always widening our understanding of war by widening the circles. Here she explores the effects of war on a young boy - a message runner. He’s fast and reliable. His father had been in WWI and the story talks to how his behavior and alcoholism impacted his son and family. Another avenue is the beliefs people hold. And how grudges, shame, honor, trauma and/or love of one’s country play out for some of the characters. This time we get to re-meet female characters from previous books in the series. She focuses more on the different direct roles women played in WWII’s war effort then she has in past books.
The familiar cast are back: Maisie and her family and her American diplomat beau; her best friend Priscilla and her extended family; Lord and Lady Compton; her assistants Billy and Sandra; Caldwell from Scotland Yard; and her old Scottish colleague from the Secret Service and his malt liquor too. A colleague and/or ex-lover??? of Maisie’s mentor Maurice who was an active spy in France in WWI is back. From Maisie’s interactions with her there was a foreshadow of things to come in the series. Though, you never know with our author if that’s exactly where she will go.
Change is abreast. People connected to Maisie moved out of London to Kent. Brenda, grandmother of Maisie’s daughter Anna, has really come into her own as her relationship to Maisie has changed more and more over the last years. It’s no longer upstairs-downstairs. It’s family. And it feels right. Upstairs- downstairs has been a theme in Maisie’s life since the first book. Brenda is much more outspoken with her opinions. Was surprised at first to hear her new voice but glad for it. Maisie’s dad and the Compton’s are elders -in their 80’s now and have slowed down a lot. All the elders enjoy having Anna in their lives. Maisie in early mid-life is changing too.
I’ll leave the other surprises for you to find for yourself.
March 28, 2021
I always look forward to the next book in the Maisie Dobbs series and was very happy to get my hands on this one as soon as it was released. However, I was slightly disappointed. There was not much mention of Maisie's family and private life, and the love affair with Mark was lacking in interest. Apart from my reservations, the coverage of the murder itself was meticulous, and the historical background of the second world war in London was well researched.
March 28, 2021
I am on a roll. This represents the latest book of a series I have read from the beginning and must again proclaim (for the third time in recent history) that this book is the very best of the series. To capsulize, Maisie is in a good place in her personal life, and her work life has transitioned into war work helping the cause using her gifts of assessing candidates for clandestine war efforts.
I don't want to spoil this book for others by detailing key events. The time period of WWII has not yet progressed into US participation; Maisie is concerned about reports from a young boy the service uses as a runner to deliver messages when he witnesses a murder and no one believes him.
This book is really packed with important events, winding up with a couple of really big ones. A very good read!
I don't want to spoil this book for others by detailing key events. The time period of WWII has not yet progressed into US participation; Maisie is concerned about reports from a young boy the service uses as a runner to deliver messages when he witnesses a murder and no one believes him.
This book is really packed with important events, winding up with a couple of really big ones. A very good read!
April 5, 2021
Another strong novel of war, psychology and self-questioning. Strong characterizations-- we see how someone who is clearly a trained murderer is also fighting for the honor of his country. A weak self-serving character spends his adult life harming his family almost to the breaking point. How Maisie discovers an aging heroine who gives her good advice and keeps it in mind
What can I say? I'm not going to ruin Maisie's deeply involved trek into mature adulthood through another war and the interplay of personal connections and careful observation. I foresee a new permanent character for the next book, freeing Maisie to follow her heart while remaining connected to Mr Beale and the office in London.
What can I say? I'm not going to ruin Maisie's deeply involved trek into mature adulthood through another war and the interplay of personal connections and careful observation. I foresee a new permanent character for the next book, freeing Maisie to follow her heart while remaining connected to Mr Beale and the office in London.
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