Maisie Dobbs

by Jacqueline Winspear

Paperback, 2005

Status

Available

Series

Maisie Dobbs (1)

Genres

Description

Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: The book that introduced the world to the intuitive, intelligent, and resourceful heroine Maisie Dobbs�??one of literature's favorite sleuths! Maisie Dobbs entered domestic service in 1910 at thirteen, working for Lady Rowan Compton. When her remarkable intelligence is discovered by her employer, Maisie becomes the pupil of Maurice Blanche, a learned friend of the Comptons. In 1929, following an apprenticeship with Blanche, Maisie hangs out her shingle: M. Dobbs, Trade and Personal Investigations. She soon becomes enmeshed in a mystery surrounding The Retreat, a reclusive community of wounded World War I veterans. At first, Maisie only suspects foul play, but she must act quickly when Lady Rowan's son decides to sign away his fortune and take refuge there. Maisie hurriedly investigates, uncovering a disturbing mystery, which, in an astonishing denouement, gives Maisie the courage to confront a ghost that has haunted her for years.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Lman

Maisie Dobbs, as a first book, introduces a remarkably perceptive, extremely intuitive and highly personable young woman in the title role; but, like other series of note, underscores the criminal premise with significant social commentary - accentuating both the era and our main protagonist’s

unique situation. And thus some readers will, as with Alexander McCall Smith’s work, dislike the greater accent on sociological and historical elements, rather than the mystery, whilst this author weaves the background of an immeasurably sensitive sleuth into the tale. As for me - I was totally absorbed!

The start of the book corresponds with the start of the career of Maisie Dobbs, in London in 1929, as a self-styled “Trade and Personal Investigator” – much more than a private detective, in any language – now graduated from her apprenticeship with her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and out from under the wing of her patron and former employer Lady Rowan Compton. Her first client, on the surface appearing as a simple case of investigating infidelity, emphasises the rare aptitude Maisie will bring to her work – in her insistence on the welfare of all concerned parties, in her acuity to sense and measure the emotions of others, in her intelligence of the use of all of this; and in her ability to see beyond the obvious.

How the path to all this transpired is communicated in the middle segment of the book, the background to Maisie and her previous life unfurling with the mores, and subsequent events, of the times; and the devastation of the First World War. The far-reaching consequences of the latter unfold in the last section of this story; the scars still born by many, Maisie included, long years after the war ended, still impinging darkly on the populace as a whole.

In some ways this tale disappoints with occasional lack of detail: in the ease of Maisie’s success, in her smooth transition out of a known rigid class structure - with seemingly little repercussion; and in her ostensibly incomparable ability to juggle all her necessary tasks. In defence, I suppose this is exactly what the author is attempting to convey, relinquishing all this for her reader to supply by concentrating more on the central themes; and despite Maisie's core of strength, filled with outstanding ability and unmatched empathy, added to her slight frame is a certain fragile vulnerability, appearing subtly at the requisite times.

Maisie Dobbs is an exceptional creation, in my opinion, with her fascinating deductions and odd suppositions, and thus her story is a welcome addition to my reading. The combination of vivid war-time experiences with the cultural and social changes, in this period of history, provide a basis for a notable young female to thrive in her unusual occupation. Her distinctive approach to her work, and her unusual stance in its execution, offer the promise of many delights in forthcoming chapters. I think we have only touched the surface of the inimitable Maisie Dobbs; there is much more to relish as her life unfolds…

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LibraryThing member MusicMom41

What fun to find a new mystery series, and from an author who isn’t dead so there may even more than the five already published. It’s also nice that there aren’t so many that it will take me years to catch up! This book does a good job of introducing us to Maisie Dobbs and giving her life

history while still keeping up interest in the “mystery.” The novel takes place in 1929 and deals with the effects of WWI on the lives of many of the characters. The middle section does a flashback to tell us about Maisie’s life and also quite a bit about the war, especially the work of the medical personal who had to deal with the battlefield casualties—rather like MASH. With all this background I am anxious to see how the characters continue in the ensuing books.

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LibraryThing member dougwood57

In this first installment in the series, Jacqueline Winspear gives notice that Maisie Dobbs will not be a typical detective series. The reader first meets detective Maisie Dobbs in 1929 working on a case of a wandering wife (she was actually visiting the grave of a dead vet of the Great War),

pretty standard fare so far, but Winspear then spends the middle chunk of the book giving us Maisie’s full background from 1910. A Downstairs girl whose intelligence and curiosity brings her to the notice of her progressive employer, Lady Rowan, Maisie’s education is interrupted by service as a nurse in WWI.

The story then runs back to a mystery that stemmed from the original inquiry: several WWI veterans buried in graves marked only by their first name. Why did they drop their last name? Why were they all at a place called the Retreat when they died?

The book explores the horrific psychological and physical consequences of traumatic war injuries that occurred on the battlefield and off. The book also explores the relationship of an only daughter with her loving widower father, the relationships in the Downstairs and between the Upstairs and Downstairs. A gem in the field of genre detective fiction.

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LibraryThing member ClydePark

A bit hokey, with a few predictable plot twists (see Enid's fate and the final chapter), and a lot of stomach churning psycho babble from Maurice Blanche. There is even a somewhat pointless character named, of all things, Khan. He's supposed to be some mysterious guru, but his main purpose seems to

be to teach Maisie how to breathe properly. The mystery's solution is a little disappointing also.

Still I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is "unreadable." A "nice" book, but not spectacular. Though I can't see myself reading another Dobbs novel anytime soon.

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LibraryThing member lit_chick

2008, BBC Audiobooks, Read by Rita Barrington

Young Maisie Dobbs works in domestic service at the London home of aristocratic suffragette, Lady Rowan Comptom. Maisie is remarkably bright, and Lady Rowan takes the youngster under her wing. Maurice Blanche, Lady Rowan’s friend and a private

investigator frequently retained by the European elite, recognizes Maisie’s intuitive gifts and helps her earn admission to the prestigious Girton College in Cambridge. But the outbreak of WWI changes everything. Maisie trains as a nurse and serves at the Front in France where she finds – and loses – an important part of herself. In 1929, ten years after the Armistice, Maisie sets out on her own as private investigator. Her first case involves suspected infidelity, but will reveal something very different. Maisie remembers what she learned from the inimitable Dr Blanche: that coincidences are meaningful, the truth elusive, that her role is always to help, never to condemn or judge.

“Truth walks toward us on the paths of our questions ... as soon as you think you have the answer, you have closed the path and may miss vital new information. Wait awhile in the stillness, and do not rush to conclusions, no matter how uncomfortable the unknowing.”

Maisie Dobbs, both the novel and the character, are perfect gems! Winspear writes beautifully – with eloquence and compassion, with such genuine regard for all those scarred by war. I love that she has written Maisie as a series so that I can spend more time with her – and with the incomparable Maurice Blanche. Rita Barrington’s narration further enriches an already favourite story. Most highly recommended!

“Memories are links in a golden chain that bind us until we meet again.”

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LibraryThing member rennerra

Interesting concept, female detective who had been a nurse in WWI. Since I love WWI, I love the historical details. Not so hot about the mystery. She's a rather detached type of person, I found her hard to get emotionally attached to. She's just a little too perfect to warm up to.

LibraryThing member phoebesmum

In general I prefer to confine the term 'Mary Sue' to fan fiction, where it belongs. But when I tell you that Maisie has purple eyes, rippling black hair, outstanding intelligence, a near-psychic empathy with her clients, and is practically perfect in every possible way … I think I may be allowed

an exception. On top of all this, the author researched the First World War background for this very, very thoroughly – and, oh, how it shows! Throw in a faithful Cockernee sidekick (wiv an 'eart of gold), a salt-of-the-earth costermonger father (also wiv an 'eart of gold), an eccentric Suffragist and her household (ALL with hearts of gold) and … I can hardly bear to say it, but a denouement that involves our heroine thwarting the bad guy by bursting into song … I'm afraid it's simply dreadful.

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LibraryThing member mzonderm

I liked this book. Really, I did. The writing is wonderful. But I was a little confused about what kind of book it wanted to be. Was it a mystery? Or the story of Maisie's experiences as a nurse in WWI? Either one would have been great, but to start the mystery and then have an extended flashback

to her childhood and experiences leading up to where the book started was, for me, too big a break in the narrative. But I liked each part, so I read on. It was kind of like having two good books in one. And both parts finished in an unexpected way, which I couldn't help but like.

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LibraryThing member ctpress

Wikipedia: Maisie is a "psychologist and investigator" in post World War I London. A nurse during the war, Maisie returnes to London to work with her mentor, accomplished detective Dr. Maurice Blanche. When Blanche retires, Maisie opens her own detective agency.

We are in such good company here with

the kind-hearted and smart Maisie Dobbs who is determined to “raise above her station” in life. WW1 interrupts her plans but also brings new and interesting friends - and a love-interest - into her life.

Her first case leads her to a strange “Retreat” for wounded veteran soldiers where something rotten is going on. A case that sets the tone - Winspear writes with compassion for those scarred by the war - including Maisie Dobbs herself. The mystic mentor Dr. Maurice Blanche is also a very interesting character.

This introduction to Maisie Dobbs certainly wet my appetite for more. Just plain good storytelling.

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LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom

Considering that I LOVE British mysteries, that I love period fiction and that I enjoy starting a new mystery series now and then, this book should have been right up my alley. And, considering that this was a "New York Times Notable book, nominated for an Edgar award for best novel," etc. etc., it

simply did not appeal to me. Not that's that ever been my critieria for liking or not liking a book, but I did expect a bit more.

Maisie Dobbs was young when her mom died and was sent off to work for Lord and Lady Compton in service. From there, she made her way to Cambridge University, from there she went to work as a nurse when the war broke out, falling in love with Captain Simon Lynch on the battlefield. Then she started working with a confidential investigator, where she got her training. Now he's retired, and she has the business. That's her backstory, which fills a majority of the book, leaving very little time a much fuller development of the central plot.

I think this would be more appropriate for readers of cozy mysteries, or those who like a bit of melodrama and romance in their mystery novels, or even for young adults. I guess I like more mystery in my mystery novel.

As a mystery series opener, it's one of the weakest I've read, which is a shame, really, since this book comes so highly recommended.

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LibraryThing member TooBusyReading

I really expected to like this book: a novel set around the time of WWI, a strong female protagonist, a mystery, a detective, England – what's not to like? Despite all those positives, the story just didn't work for me. It begins in 1929 as Maisie is starting her own detective business. It then

switches to the years before and during WWI, with her poor childhood, unusual advantages, and career as a nurse during the war. And returned to the post-war years. I actually preferred the story about the war years. The stories of the soldiers returning home, injured in minds and bodies, were touching in that such horrible things truly happened, but the characters never came alive for me.

I didn't like that Maisie, as a new detective, pretended to be a friend to a woman who trusted her, got the information she wanted from her, and then told herself she would never see her again, just too coldhearted and made me like Maisie's character less. In a couple of places early on, the prose tended to be a little too purple, so I was pleasantly surprised when there wasn't too much later in the book. The mystery part of the book seemed pretty weak to me. I think the book will appeal to quite a few readers but it was just not to my taste. When I read, books that are pure fiction with situations that can't happen, with monsters and talking dogs and vampires, all can seem real to me as I read. This book, based on events that did happen and characters that could have existed, never felt real and I couldn't forget that I was reading fiction.

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LibraryThing member kambrogi

Getting to know Maisie Dobbs is a real treat. You will find yourself in London, ten years after The Great War, where you'll see the streets, motorcars, homes, clothing and most of all Maisie herself as though looking at old, but very clear, photographs. Maisie is just establishing her first solo

detective agency after extensive training under the retired master Maurice Blanche. She is prepared to offer her special psychic and psychological insights along with her other investigative skills, and will soon take on a new assistant in the person of Billy Beale: war veteran, fixit man, and sapper extraordinaire. Maisie’s first case requires her to follow a young wife who disappears from home twice a week, however the mystery takes Maisie back to the past – both hers and the young lady’s. Maisie served as a Red Cross nurse in France, where she lost her heart and a great deal more. The story peels away layer after layer of her backstory as she parses the mystery she has been hired to solve. Maisie is a very special young woman, and the author has done an exceptional job of writing a murder mystery that is far more than the sum of its parts. I can’t wait to dig into Maisie’s next adventure in Birds of a Feather.

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LibraryThing member TadAD

I’m told that the rest of the Maisie Dobbs series is quite superior to this first book, which should be viewed largely as an introduction to the characters. On that basis, I’ll continue on to the second one in the series.

This first book is definitely just a character introduction. There

wasn’t really any mystery (the reader has no real doubt about what is happening from the beginning) and a significant part of the book is taken up by flashbacks describing Maisie’s childhood and war years.

So, other than wishing it had been 100 pages instead of 320, how did it stack up? Well, Maisie is one of those characters who I can see growing on the reader: intelligent, spunky, and matured by the Great War beyond her years. The combination of impoverished childhood, employment as a domestic, the later superior education and the service as a combat nurse make for a combination that can provide a lot of facets to her character.

The supporting cast is less developed though Billy, who I assume will become her sidekick, is rather colorful and might prove to be a lot of fun. I found her mentor, Maurice Blanche, a trifle cliché. Winspear tried a bit too hard to make him into the Iconic Detective, with the hoard of rules, and special insights, not mention the little mannerisms à la Nero Wolfe’s lips pursing in and out or Sherlock Holmes reaching for the violin. Lady Rowan is a bit of a hoot and I hope we see a lot of her.

In summary: an over-long introduction to the series but the characters have some promise. The second book will tell.

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LibraryThing member Smiler69

It's 1929 and Maisie Dobbs is just starting up her one-woman detective agency. Her first customer is suspicious that his wife is having an affair, but from the first interview Maisie has with him, we are given strong indications that she has her very own investigative approach. When she follows the

man's wife and discovers the woman has been visiting the grave of a man identified only by his given name, and then arranges to have a conversation with the woman, Maisie realizes that she has a much bigger case to investigate than a simple spousal misunderstanding. As she goes about uncovering secrets which may save the lives of several war veterans, we also revisit Maisie's past, from the moment she entered into service when a young girl as a 'downstairs' maid. Thanks to her uncommon intelligence and curiosity Maisie gained the respect of her employer who arranged for private tutoring, which eventually lead to Maisie being accepted at university. When WWI was declared, Maisie felt obligated to help in the war effort and became a nurse, found, and lost her first love, and her experiences of treating wounded soldiers gave her the necessary background which ultimately helps her crack her first important case as a detective.

The book delves on themes that I have great interest in, namely WWI and it's aftermath. I especially appreciated how the story referenced Craiglockhart Mental Hospital, which I first read about in Pat Barker's Regeneration. I also liked Dobbs' unique holistic approach in her dealings with people—an unusual MO for a detective, which was also problematic for me because it played into the cozier aspects of the novel which sometimes grated on me. The narrator in the audio version was good, but I also found her delivery cloying, which, again, overemphasized the sentimental aspects of the story. I'll probably seek out the next in series to see how things evolve, but will read it in print format next time.

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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50

A thoroughly enjoyable book, Maisie Dobbs is the first in the Jacqueline Winspear series about a young woman who becomes a private detective in 1929. Her first case involves investigating a retreat for disfigured WW I soldiers and is fairly straight forward but does launch us into the past and we

get to see where Maisie comes from, how she was mentored and educated and her nursing experiences in World War I. She is able to face some of her own demons and put closure onto her own past.
The book started slowly for me, but once we went into the flashback of Maisie’s early years the story picked up. I have long been interested in the years between the two great wars, and I enjoyed the descriptions of society, fashions and conditions. This looks to be a very promising series.
This first book is more about setting the scene and introducing the characters. Maisie Dobbs is just one of a slew of interesting characters in this well written, well researched book, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

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LibraryThing member chinquapin

In the beginning of this book, Maisie Dobbs is setting up business as a private investigator in London shortly after World War I. Her first client is a man who suspects his wife of infidelity, and wants Maisie to find out what she is doing during her unexplained absences. Following the woman,

Maisie discovers that she is visiting a grave at a cemetery that is marked with only the single name, "Vincent." Looking around the cemetery, she finds that there are several graves marked by only a single name, which she finds odd and sparks her curiosity. Vincent, she finds, had been terribly disfigured in World War I and had lived at a rehabilitation farm for soldiers known as "The Retreat."

In the next, middle section of the book, Maisie's story is told, how she went from being the daughter of a poor costermonger, to a maid for Lady Rowan, to a student at Girt College in Cambridge, to a nurse in World War I, and finally becoming a private investigator.

The novel returns back to the mystery of Vincent and "The Retreat" when Maisie finds out that the son of Lady Rowan, her beloved patroness, wants to go there.

This was a great mystery, although it was somewhat unconventional. The historical period after World War I was brought vividly to life, as well as the period of Maisie's growing up years just prior to the war. The mystery was intriguing and well plotted...my only criticism was that it was still very vague and undefined when the book moved to the section about Maisie's background, so I wasn't sure what was being investigated at that time. It was all clear later, but this pacing, with a substantial biographical interlude, was a little odd. I am definitely interested in reading more books in the series.

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LibraryThing member PirateJenny

Maisie is a young woman in late 1920s London who is starting a detective agency. She brings something unique to the business though--inspired by her mentor, Maurice Blanche, she has training in psychology which she uses in her business. Her first case brings back memories of her past as

well--Maisie was a nurse in France during the Great War. There's perhaps just a tad too much detail about the clothing (although I love the '20s style) but it's nowhere even close to Laurell K. Hamilton in that respect! It's also the start of a series, which I'll be hooked on.If you like period mysteries or period novels, you'll like this one.

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LibraryThing member Turrean

A solid beginning to the series. I thought some of the dialog was stilted ("We must rescue him. His life is in danger.") and the fact that Maisie's benefactors, Lady Rowan and Maurice Blanche, never make a misstep in helping her. They are always wise, always fair, always right. Maisie had very

little to fear from the time she was 13 on. I also was a bit impatient with the shifts in the timeline--for me, it didn't build suspense, it just made me disengage from the story.

The best scenes in the books were the ones where Maisie is helping someone to understand a truth about themselves, instead of merely uncovering a mystery. The time and place are beautifully rendered--the reader sees the terrible upheaval the Great War causes in Britain--the pain of loss, the bewildering changes in traditional roles based on class and gender, the miserable condition of veterans struggling with mental illness and shattering injuries.

Completely unbelievable: spoiler: that anybody would believe that a man with Billy's bearing, accent, and vocabulary was the brother of a woman with Maisie's appearance--she even delivered him to the Retreat in Lady Rowan's fancy car. Billy didn't even practice for the role.

But...I will certainly seek out the next in the series.

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LibraryThing member tangential1

A very quick read with a wonderful twist at the end. You kind of get lost in Maisie's back story for about half the book, which is kind of cool on the one hand because you get to know the character much better, but then awkward at the same time because you spend that whole half of the book

wondering what exactly this has to do with the mystery that was presented at the beginning. Now that I've read a few of the books, though, I can see that the author just has this desire to have a "case" mystery as well as a more personal mystery for the character to discover (or rediscover depending). So in that first one, you have the mystery of Maisie's past and then the mystery that is brought to her to solve. The character was interesting, but I thought there was something of a disparity between her younger self and her older self without too much explanation of how that had happened. You find out all about her work as a maid when she was 13, for example, but do not find out about how she ended up apprenticing as a private investigator. I suppose you could assume that it happened because the person she was apprenticing with had been her teacher, but he had not really been presented as a PI earlier in the book so you start to wonder how he started as a PI in the first place. That's probably something Ms. Winspear plans to reveal later in the series, though, as she likes to meld Maisie's past to whatever is happening in the present. Overall impression: it was a pretty good read but I don't have any real desire to read through it again. Definitely a library borrow.

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LibraryThing member Catnelson

After Maisie sets up a private investigation firm and deals with a case involving marital infidelity, she encounters a young soldier from the Retreat House, and learns that no one comes out of there alive.

LibraryThing member tututhefirst

In this first of a many volumned series, Maisie meanders through the grand opening of "M. Dobbs, Trade and Personal Investigations" in the first chapter and the ensuing first case. She is asked by a well-to-do gentleman to ascertain where his wife goes when she leaves the house for the day. He

wants to know whether she is being unfaithful. We see Maisie following the lady in question to a cemetery, we are presented with Maisie's questions about whose grave she's visiting and why, and only then do we get a flashback into her earlier life and pick up the pace - a story within the story which takes up a good chunk of the book.

Maisie is placed "into service" at an early age, where her insatiable curiosity and keen intellect are noticed by her employer Lady Rowan Compton, a brave suffragette do-gooder who places Maisie under the tutelage of one Dr. Maurice Blanche. Her education progresses, she's admitted to Cambridge (quite a coup for a woman in 1915 and quite an eye-opening experience for Maisie). As England becomes more entrenched in the war, Maisie determines to do her duty, and enlists as a nurse trainee, lying about her age to do so. After meeting the love of her life during her training in England, she is shipped off to France to work in a field hospital. When she returns, she is a much more mature, wise and worldly woman who goes on to complete her education and decides to use her formidable deductive reasoning skills to help others. Thus (and I admit that for me it was a giant leap) the opening of the detective agency. I'll not spoil the story by revealing the outcome of the romance.

Of course, one must remember that the whole time Maisie is solving her puzzles, her mentors Lady Rowan and Maurice Blanche are there in the background as safety nets. But in spite of that, I found the story fascinating if for no other reason than it provided a crystal clear look into the life and culture of the era: the changing roles of women, the total devastation of the European male population -either in outright death, or lingering wounds both physical and mental. Nowhere do we hear the words PTSD mentioned, but with the insight gained in the 21st century, we are certainly able to see its foreshadowing a hundred years ago.

Maisie is a gutsy, bright, determined and lovable protagonist, and I'm certainly going to check out the next two or three to see if her character develops enough to merit all the hype.

A note on formats: I both read and listened to this one-- Rita Barrington's clear, crisp British accent lent a great deal of authenticity to the audio version. This is one series that does well in audio. The plot is not so convoluted and there are not too many characters to track, so it lends itself to a gentle afternoon of knitting by the fire while ear-reading a good story. A definite addition to my list of series to follow.

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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna

This was an unusually dense mystery. In fact, in many ways the mystery was incidental to the richness of the character development. Very good writing. I also enjoyed the view of England as it changed over the course of World War I and beyond. I'm looking forward to reading more of Maise Dobbs.

LibraryThing member diana.hauser

Maisie Dobbs is written by Jacqueline Winspear. It is Book 1 of the Maisie Dobbs series. This first book was published in 2003. The latest title, which is 17th in the series, was published in March 2022.

Friends continuously reminded me to put this book on my ‘to read list’. When I finally read

this book, I was overwhelmed by the emotion I felt. Maisie Dobbs is so unique - as a person, as a psychologist, as an investigator. The mysteries are quiet, yet imbued with such intensity and suspense.
The time period of these books are before, during and after The Great War/World War I.
The Great War (for me) is often difficult to read about. World War I affected every thread in the fabric that is England. It also deeply affected the US and, indeed, most of Europe. “The war to end all wars.”
I would recommend this title and this series (I am currently reading Book 2, Birds of a Feather).
*****

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LibraryThing member majkia

Maisie Dobbs is so much more than a mystery. It is Upstairs/Downstairs and Downton Abbey mixed with a bit of [A Farewell to Arms]. Grim and realistic but also life-affirming.

It’s the story of a costermonger’s daughter who is put into service and then caught devouring her employer’s library.

It’s the story of the sea change brought about by the Great War, and Women’s Suffrage, when entrenched values, beliefs and assumptions were turned on their heads and examined and found wanting.

It’s also a fascinating mystery.

Highly recommended!

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LibraryThing member riverwillow

Maisie is an incredible character and I found the flashbacks, especially those to WWI, insightful and moving. I'm moving straight on to 'Birds of a Feather and am trying to resist book 3 on Amazon! I'll send both books onto Decembermum.

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