Publication
New York : Picador, [2006]
Collection
Call number
Fiction W
Physical description
359 p.; 21 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: In the third novel of this bestselling series, London investigator Maisie Dobbs faces grave danger as she returns to the site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the mystery of a pilot's death. Every once in a while, a detective bursts on the scene who captures readers' hearts�??and imaginations�??and doesn't let go. And so it was with Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs, who made her debut just two years ago in the eponymously titled first book of the series, and is already on her way to becoming a household name. A deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her not only to the edge of madness but to the doors of those who practice the dark arts and commune with the spirit world. In accepting the assignment, Maisie finds her spiritual strength tested, as well as her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. The mission also brings her together once again with her college friend Priscilla Evernden, who served in France and who lost three brothers to the war�??one of whom, it turns out, had an intriguing connection to the missing Ralph Lawton. Following on the heels of the triumphant Birds of a Feather, PARDONABLE LIES is the most compelling installment yet in the chronicles of Maisie Dobbs, "a heroine to cherish" (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Revi… (more)
Subjects
Series
Media reviews
Booklist
Fans of Miss Marple and Precious Ramotswe are sure to embrace Maisie, a pitch-perfect blend of compassion and panache
School Library Journal
A thought-provoking series entry, the story contains revelations of secret missions, homosexuality, the lives of persons from all layers of society, and a winning heroine who is not perfect and is willing to learn from her mistakes
Publishers Weekly
Winspear writes seamlessly, enriching the whole with vivid details of English life on a variety of social levels.
User reviews
LibraryThing member laytonwoman3rd
This is the third entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. It is 1930 in London. Maisie is well-established now in her career as a "Psychologist and Investigator", as her business cards put it. She feels she has mostly vanquished the traumas of the Great War, and settled into a normal routine. However,
Reviewed August 2013
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engaging in two separate investigations initiated by relatives of young men lost in the war threatens her emotional stability, and possibly even her life. She determines to face France again, to "slay her dragons", and also, always, to do right by her clients. This series continues to leave me somewhat ambivalent. I like Maisie's character, but Winspear's style occasionally strikes me as rather awkward, and a time or two she has Maisie do something unlikely (or fail to do something quite inevitable) so obviously in aid of the plot that it throws me out of the story. And there is a clumsily tacked-on, where-did-that-come-from bit to tie up a loose end of one element of the story (which element, it becomes clear, was only in the story to build suspense). By the third outing, the author ought to be getting a grip on this kind of thing, which slights her heroine's intelligence and that of her readers. I might be through with Maisie Dobbs now, or I might not. As I said, I'm ambivalent.Reviewed August 2013
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LibraryThing member delphica
I felt this was a strong improvement from the second Maisie Dobbs book. Maisie goes to France for the first time since the War to investigate two servicemen killed in action. The plot here is more interesting and thoughtful, I think, although it has a contemporary feel to me despite the setting. I
Even though I enjoyed this more, I continue to find Maisie insufferable, and most fervently hope that the last installment in this series is The Mystery of Why It Took Billy Beale So Long To Put Strychnine In Maisie's Tea.
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like the plot gimmick of taking the two (seemingly) unrelated mysteries and slowly revealing how they intersect -- obviously it's not very realistic, but that's also probably why we don't go around solving mysteries in real life.Even though I enjoyed this more, I continue to find Maisie insufferable, and most fervently hope that the last installment in this series is The Mystery of Why It Took Billy Beale So Long To Put Strychnine In Maisie's Tea.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
In the third novel featuring Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and private investigator, Maisie takes on three investigations -- a young girl arrested by Scotland Yard and charged with murder, and the World War I deaths of two British soldiers in France. The investigations take Maisie to France, a country
Even though I had enjoyed the first two novels in this series, I put off reading this third installment because of the mention of spiritualism in the summary on the cover. I generally don't enjoy books that delve into the supernatural. I was pleased to find that spiritualism does not feature prominently in the book, although it is present in the plot.
Of the three books I've read so far from this series, this is my favorite. In the previous books, Maisie is a confident woman with much more self-discipline than the average person. This book reveals the vulnerability that Maisie still harbors underneath her self-assured persona. Maisie doesn't have physical scars from the war; her wounds are internal. It will be interesting to see how Maisie's character continues to develop in subsequent books in the series.
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she has avoided since the war because of the trauma she experienced there during her nursing service.Even though I had enjoyed the first two novels in this series, I put off reading this third installment because of the mention of spiritualism in the summary on the cover. I generally don't enjoy books that delve into the supernatural. I was pleased to find that spiritualism does not feature prominently in the book, although it is present in the plot.
Of the three books I've read so far from this series, this is my favorite. In the previous books, Maisie is a confident woman with much more self-discipline than the average person. This book reveals the vulnerability that Maisie still harbors underneath her self-assured persona. Maisie doesn't have physical scars from the war; her wounds are internal. It will be interesting to see how Maisie's character continues to develop in subsequent books in the series.
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LibraryThing member lit_chick
2005, Audio Renaissance, Read by Orlagh Cassidy
Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator, is in demand. And this time her assignment will test not only her personal strength and dedication, but also her spiritual strength and her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. Sir Cecil Lawton, on a
Pardonable Lies is the most intriguing of the three Maisie Dobbs novels I’ve read to date. Winspear explores the reality of homosexual men in 1940s London: shame, secrecy, and indignity. Readers get a glimpse of the sense of hopelessness which drives us to desperately explore any avenue which might offer peace – including the dark arts. And Maisie’s personal life is evolving: her relationship with Dr Andrew Dene and her decision to purchase a home of her own.
Highly recommended.
Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator, is in demand. And this time her assignment will test not only her personal strength and dedication, but also her spiritual strength and her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. Sir Cecil Lawton, on a
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deathbed plea from his wife, employs Maisie to investigate the death of his aviator son who was killed in WWI. Agnes Lawton never accepted that her son was killed – a torment that led her to brink of madness and to seek out those who commune with the spirit world. Maisie must travel to the French site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the pilot’s death, and she will face grave danger before the case is concluded. Pardonable Lies is the most intriguing of the three Maisie Dobbs novels I’ve read to date. Winspear explores the reality of homosexual men in 1940s London: shame, secrecy, and indignity. Readers get a glimpse of the sense of hopelessness which drives us to desperately explore any avenue which might offer peace – including the dark arts. And Maisie’s personal life is evolving: her relationship with Dr Andrew Dene and her decision to purchase a home of her own.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
Protagonist: Maisie Dobbs
Setting: 1930s London
Series #3
Pardonable Lies is the third installment of the Maisie Dobbs mystery series,
and it's the strongest one yet. Maisie, former nurse during WWI, is set up
in practice in London as a psychologist and private investigator. A wealthy
man asks her to
listed as killed in action in France. His wife had never believed it and
insisted that their son was still alive. The man asks Maisie to prove or
disprove it for the final time. Maisie is reluctant to take on the case
because it will involve traveling to France--the one place she has avoided
since the war ended.
The late 1920s and early 1930s is not everyone's favorite time period. The
strong emphasis on World War I and its aftermath isn't to everyone's taste
either. Maisie is a rather odd character. Still fragile from her own war
experiences, she seems to keep an emotional and physical distance between
herself and everyone else. To me, the strength of Winspear's books is the
depiction of how war twists and mangles people--changing how they think and
behave even years down the road. The world had never had to deal with
carnage on this scale before, and Maisie shows how it affected us all...one
small piece at a time. When I've finished reading one of these books, I
have to mentally shake myself out of the time period. Good stuff!
Setting: 1930s London
Series #3
Pardonable Lies is the third installment of the Maisie Dobbs mystery series,
and it's the strongest one yet. Maisie, former nurse during WWI, is set up
in practice in London as a psychologist and private investigator. A wealthy
man asks her to
Show More
help him carry out his dead wife's last wish. Their son was listed as killed in action in France. His wife had never believed it and
insisted that their son was still alive. The man asks Maisie to prove or
disprove it for the final time. Maisie is reluctant to take on the case
because it will involve traveling to France--the one place she has avoided
since the war ended.
The late 1920s and early 1930s is not everyone's favorite time period. The
strong emphasis on World War I and its aftermath isn't to everyone's taste
either. Maisie is a rather odd character. Still fragile from her own war
experiences, she seems to keep an emotional and physical distance between
herself and everyone else. To me, the strength of Winspear's books is the
depiction of how war twists and mangles people--changing how they think and
behave even years down the road. The world had never had to deal with
carnage on this scale before, and Maisie shows how it affected us all...one
small piece at a time. When I've finished reading one of these books, I
have to mentally shake myself out of the time period. Good stuff!
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LibraryThing member kambrogi
I read this without reading the previous two Maisie Dobbs mysteries, and although I am not much of a mystery fan, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am always interested in England of the 1920’s-1930’s, a post-WWI/pre-WWII setting. This one has the peculiar added quality of a somewhat mystical female
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detective, a New Age anachronism I found appealing. Maisie is charged with finding two lost war veterans’ final resting places, and the results of her investigations are ultimately tangled. Although the basic outcomes are not difficult to guess, they make for interesting stories. I especially appreciated the fact that the cases were important to her personally, interacting as they did with her own war experiences as a nurse. I look forward to reading the other two books in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member labfs39
Although I don't normally read mysteries, I am enjoying the Maisie Dobbs books very much. This is the third in the series, and it's my favorite so far. In this one, the author explores the plight of homosexuals in World War I, reminding me of [[Pat Barker]]'s [Regeneration Trilogy]. In addition,
Maisie's newest case is to confirm the death of an aviator shot down in enemy territory during the war. The father promised his wife on her deathbed that he would look for his son, whom he believes is dead, but that his wife is convinced survived the crash. In addition, Maisie's friend, Priscilla, asks her to look into the death of her brother, Peter, also lost in the war. In pursuing these two cases, Maisie has to return to France and face her own memories of the war and its horrors.
I love the historical context of these novels. Not only does the author explore issues of World War I and its aftermath, but she also depicts well the events and social mores of the interwar period. Her heroine, Maisie Dobbs, is both a strong, independent woman and emotionally vulnerable due to her experiences. So far, they have been quick, but satisfying reads.
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Maisie experiences dark emotional turmoil that adds depth to her character.Maisie's newest case is to confirm the death of an aviator shot down in enemy territory during the war. The father promised his wife on her deathbed that he would look for his son, whom he believes is dead, but that his wife is convinced survived the crash. In addition, Maisie's friend, Priscilla, asks her to look into the death of her brother, Peter, also lost in the war. In pursuing these two cases, Maisie has to return to France and face her own memories of the war and its horrors.
I love the historical context of these novels. Not only does the author explore issues of World War I and its aftermath, but she also depicts well the events and social mores of the interwar period. Her heroine, Maisie Dobbs, is both a strong, independent woman and emotionally vulnerable due to her experiences. So far, they have been quick, but satisfying reads.
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LibraryThing member EJStevens
Maisie Dobbs, female sleuth and former battlefield nurse, tackles three major cases in Pardonable Lies. Maisie is brought in by inspector Stratton of Scotland Yard to interview a young girl suspected of murder. Although evidence puts her at the scene of the crime Maisie believes in the girl's
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innocence. Sensitive to the loss of her own mother at a young age Maisie strives to find the truth before young Avril Jarvis is separated from her mother permanently with a life prison sentence. Upon arriving home to her room at the Compton residence she finds Lord Compton waiting for her with a request to assist his friend Sir Cecil Lawton prove his son's death. Lawton's wife never believed the reports that her son had died in France during the War and on her deathbed made Sir Cecil promise to find their son. This leads Maisie's friend Priscilla to ask her to conduct a similar investigation into the death of her eldest brother Peter. Priscilla lost all three of her beloved brothers in the War yet Peter's body was never found. Maisie with two cases leading her back to France must face her own demons in her search for truth. Maisie must find the strength to face her own bloody past if she is to find out what truly happened to these two soldiers. I highly recommend this novel for any fan of the mystery genre, however giving this book the mystery label does not in fact do it justice. Winspear breaks beyond the bounds of popular mystery fiction providing us with the clues and investigations that we have grown to love while providing a rich tapestry of historical context and introducing characters with a depth rarely found in modern fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member ctpress
Book description: In the third novel of this bestselling series, London investigator Maisie Dobbs faces grave danger as she returns to the site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the mystery of a pilot’s death.
Winspear cleverly spins a tale of several hidden identities and cover-ups that
Interesting to follow the growth of maturity and independence in Maisie Dobbs - also as she has to confront her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and find a new way to relate to him.
Orlagh Cassidys reading was great and I enjoyed the characters in a new way listening for the first time to a Maisie Dobbs novel. Not the last time.
Winspear cleverly spins a tale of several hidden identities and cover-ups that
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Maisie Dobbs have to unravel. I wonder if Maisie really can lay the past behind her - seems like a long journey for her.Interesting to follow the growth of maturity and independence in Maisie Dobbs - also as she has to confront her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and find a new way to relate to him.
Orlagh Cassidys reading was great and I enjoyed the characters in a new way listening for the first time to a Maisie Dobbs novel. Not the last time.
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LibraryThing member ThoughtsofJoyLibrary
Maisie Dobbs finds herself involved in three cases: a 13-year-old girl charged with murder, verification of a presumed dead son, and the search of details concerning a friend's brother. Maisie's past comes back to haunt her as she works diligently to solve the cases.
Maisie's cases had some
Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..."
Maisie's cases had some
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interesting components that kept me curious, but not on the edge of my seat curious. As with the other books in this series, there were psychic and supernatural elements. They were more prevalent this time around and that caused me to be liery. I do not like those elements. What I do enjoy about this series is Winspear's creation of a realistic setting and atmosphere of the late 1930's in England and France. Every book has transported me there without fail. (3.5/5)Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..."
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LibraryThing member TrishNYC
Maise Dobbs is an "investigator and psychologist" who finds herself probing a number of mysteries all at the same time. She is called into help with a murder case that features a thirteen year old, a man who seeks to fulfill a death bed promise and a request from a friend to find out the fate of
I finally decided to delve into the Maise Dobbs series after constantly running into it in online bookstores. It contains two things that intrigue me very much, life before,during and after the world wars and mystery stories of any kind. I knew going in that there would be certain references that I would not fully understand seeing as I am starting the series in the third book but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not miss much by not reading the first two books. The descriptions of England post World War 1 were very enjoyable and nostalgic(not that I was there during WW1). There were some supernatural elements thrown in and I did not think that added anything to the story. It felt weird and forced and Maise was in my opinion doing well in her own and did not need that added factor. Regular readers of this series may be used to this by now but to me it was meh.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as it turned out to be more than just mystery solving and was surprisingly contemplative
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her missing brother. As she looks into these incidents, she finds that some of her cases intersect with each other and produce surprising and unexpected results. In addition, Maise returns to France, the site of the worst horrors in her life where she served as a nurse to the wounded troops. She finds herself not fully healed from past traumas and is also surprised to discover that her mentor is more than she knew him to be. Maise's long dead mother also features prominently in her thoughts, making for a sweet and sad insight into our main character. I finally decided to delve into the Maise Dobbs series after constantly running into it in online bookstores. It contains two things that intrigue me very much, life before,during and after the world wars and mystery stories of any kind. I knew going in that there would be certain references that I would not fully understand seeing as I am starting the series in the third book but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not miss much by not reading the first two books. The descriptions of England post World War 1 were very enjoyable and nostalgic(not that I was there during WW1). There were some supernatural elements thrown in and I did not think that added anything to the story. It felt weird and forced and Maise was in my opinion doing well in her own and did not need that added factor. Regular readers of this series may be used to this by now but to me it was meh.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as it turned out to be more than just mystery solving and was surprisingly contemplative
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LibraryThing member hemlokgang
Audiobook....This Maisie Dobbs story was okay.....I didn't enjoy the characters particularly and the story was way too predictable.
LibraryThing member ImBookingIt
As I was reading, I was thinking this might be my first 5 star rating in a while. The characters were intriguing, the plot drew me in, the details on life in the 1930s were fascinating. The writing was wonderful (and I normally don't notice the writing). The plot lines wrapped up one by one. Just
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one left dangling...Then the book almost dropped to 3 stars, I was so angry about how that story line resolved. OK, I suspect if I went back to the beginning, the details needed to make the conclusion relevant were there. But I really felt like it was pulled out of nowhere. Grumble. But the rest of the book was really good, so I'll focus on that.I'm a character driven reader-- If a book has interesting characters, I can gloss over a lot of plot weakness. If the characters are weakly drawn, I have trouble caring about strong writing and plot. This book was strong on all of these.The characters in this book were wonderful. I was drawn into Maisie's conflict, coming to terms with her past while trying to solve some cases that dredged up her history with WWI. Even most of the secondary characters were textured, and there are several I'd like to get to know better.After the characters, what I liked most about this books were the reflections of the effects of war, even years after it ends. You see the effects on people that were there and of those that are left behind, of the effects on entire communities.I like this series, the earlier books as well as this one. I'll go on to read the rest sooner rather than later. I'm just still disappointed in the conclusion of that one plotline! Show Less
LibraryThing member klaidlaw
Jacqueline Winspear finally hit her stride with this book. I was beginng to think I was not going to bother with any more of her books. I found the mumbo jumbo spirtualism thing a bit much to take in the first two books. It is still evident in this book, but the plot is more refined and the
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interaction between characters is more finely tuned. The conflict between Mazie and her mentor is an important part of pushing the story along, and there were some nice twists in the plot. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kimaoverstreet
Pardonable Lies, the third installment in Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series continues the saga of the bright housekeeper turned nurse, turned detective and her friends and family, and introduces three new mysteries for Maisie to solve. Two involve determining the actual fates of two WWI
This is a series that should definitely be read in order. Readers of the first two books won't be disappointed!
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soldiers, involving a trip to France, and forcing Maisie to confront her own painful war memories. The third involves the defense of a young street girl accused of murdering her pimp. This is a series that should definitely be read in order. Readers of the first two books won't be disappointed!
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LibraryThing member MusicMom41
Another interesting outing for Maisie Dobbs in which her search to find out if the son of a peer of the realm actually died in WWI because his dying wife made him promise to find him as she didn’t believe he was dead. The father wished it to be proved he was dead. The search leads her to also
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find out about the brother of her college friend, Pricilla Everden. The third Maisie Dobbs book is a well written and historically researched novel which adds to the pleasure of a good story. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kathy89
I really am enjoying this series. Maisie is involved in three separate investigations that coincidently intertwine with each other. She is asked for help by the Yard in the case of a 17 yr old girl arrested for murder, and a friend of her mentor needs closure on his MIA son from WWI. Since Maisie
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is going to France her friend Priscilla asks her to find out where her brother, a soldier in WWI, is buried. Show Less
LibraryThing member verbafacio
In this third Maisie Dobbs novel, Maisie takes on her past -- her experiences as a nurse during WWI. Investigating the wartime deaths of two soldiers, Maisie must revisit the traumas of her early career. The plot twists along satisfyingly, with a touch of espionage and bohemian lifestyle thrown in
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for good measure. Show Less
LibraryThing member readingrat
Sort of reminded me of the Agatha Christie novels.
LibraryThing member bremmd
Another Maisie Dobbs hit as far as I’m concerned. I was worried the mystery portion of the story was a little far fetched but Winspear made it work. Not only did the mystery work but this chapter saw Maisie start to really heal and grow. And Pris was back. Yippeee.
Maisie travels to France to find
I was so happy to see Priscilla play such a large role in this book and I hope there’s more of her to come. I think she’s such an important friend for Maisie. Her only real girlfriend, in fact. And like a true girlfriend she doesn’t let Maisie get away with any of her typical diversionary tricks. Pris drags Maisie out into the world and is forcing her to start to live a real and full life. I think Maisie is going to need a lot of help as she blossoms and I hope Pris is the girl to help in the future novels.
I wonder about Maisie’s love life. I love Andrew Dene and think he brings a lot of humor and lightheartedness into Maisie’s life, which she desperately needs. But, I don’t know if he’ll be the fellow she ends up with in the end. And I don’t know what I feel about this yet. I guess I haven’t decided if I’m Team Dene or Team Stratton (darn you Twilight, I don’t even life you and you still have influence over me). I think it will be good for Maisie to take her time and play the field a little. I just wish she would except a date with Inspector Stratton. I think they’ll find they have much in common.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series thanks to Book Club Girl I have my very own copy on the way to read. I believe Pardonable Lies was a big turning point for Maisie. I think she’ll finally be able to move on and start living life a little more and making more connections with people.
Speaking of Book Club Girl, she’s hosting a discussion of Pardonable Lies today in conjunction with her I’m Mad for Maisie Read-Along so please head over there and follow along. There is quite a bit I didn’t mention about the book to discuss and a lot of great thoughts on the book being talked about. If you haven’t read the book yet it should whet your appetite to dig in.
Maisie travels to France to find
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out what happened to not only Ralph Lawton but also her good friend Priscilla’s brother Peter. While in France Maisie finally has to deal with the aftermath of her experiences in the war. It was a relief to me she broke down, I felt she would never really be able to move on and grow until she finally dealt with all her pent up emotions about all she had been through. It did break my heart she had to lose a little of her trust in Maurice during this whole ordeal but I think in the long run they will have a better relationship.I was so happy to see Priscilla play such a large role in this book and I hope there’s more of her to come. I think she’s such an important friend for Maisie. Her only real girlfriend, in fact. And like a true girlfriend she doesn’t let Maisie get away with any of her typical diversionary tricks. Pris drags Maisie out into the world and is forcing her to start to live a real and full life. I think Maisie is going to need a lot of help as she blossoms and I hope Pris is the girl to help in the future novels.
I wonder about Maisie’s love life. I love Andrew Dene and think he brings a lot of humor and lightheartedness into Maisie’s life, which she desperately needs. But, I don’t know if he’ll be the fellow she ends up with in the end. And I don’t know what I feel about this yet. I guess I haven’t decided if I’m Team Dene or Team Stratton (darn you Twilight, I don’t even life you and you still have influence over me). I think it will be good for Maisie to take her time and play the field a little. I just wish she would except a date with Inspector Stratton. I think they’ll find they have much in common.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series thanks to Book Club Girl I have my very own copy on the way to read. I believe Pardonable Lies was a big turning point for Maisie. I think she’ll finally be able to move on and start living life a little more and making more connections with people.
Speaking of Book Club Girl, she’s hosting a discussion of Pardonable Lies today in conjunction with her I’m Mad for Maisie Read-Along so please head over there and follow along. There is quite a bit I didn’t mention about the book to discuss and a lot of great thoughts on the book being talked about. If you haven’t read the book yet it should whet your appetite to dig in.
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LibraryThing member PirateJenny
This is the third in the Maisie Dobbs series. Winspear keeps getting better. In this outing, Maisie is hired to discover the truth about a client's son's death. The client's wife had believed their son was still alive (he'd been reported shot down during the war--WWI) and on her deathbed, made him
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promise to find out the truth. There's a young girl in jail for killing her "uncle" who Maisie believes is innocent. And Maisie's best friend Priscilla asks her to do the favor of finding out where exactly one of her brothers had been killed during the war--the family hadn't been told and Priscilla needed to set him to rest. Maisie finally has to face her experiences in the war and discovers some rather shocking things along the way. Show Less
LibraryThing member turtlesleap
Maisie Dobbs solves another round of related mysteries in this delightful book and, in so doing, reveals a bit more of herself to the reader. The Maisie Dobbs mysteries are placed in England, immediately following World War I and delve into the almost unfathomable damage done to the survivors of
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that war. As Maisie draws upon her early training, her skills in the new art of psychology and her own formidable self-discipline, the reader has an opportunity to look around at the world around her and experience life in that era. A very nice read. Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
Maisie Dobbs is an extraordinary young woman. She signed up to serve as a nurse during World War I, lying about her age. She witnessed unbelievable pain, death, and destruction and thought she was almost recovered from her experiences. She has been asked to search for a young man whose mother could
Maisie uses meditation to try and keep an even keel and not be overwhelmed by the sorrow felt by her clients. She is highly intelligent and is surrounded by loyal friends and family. As such, I would like to see her a little less dependent on them. She is such a strong character that I would prefer that she didn't lean on them as much as she does. For someone who stood ankle deep in blood, listening to the screams of men undergoing amputation, I wish she would trust her own strength. Maybe she develops during the series. I'll have to continue to see.
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not accept the report of his death. At the same time she has been asked to locate the grave of another young man. To accomplish these things she has to return to France, to the same locales she worked. Maisie uses meditation to try and keep an even keel and not be overwhelmed by the sorrow felt by her clients. She is highly intelligent and is surrounded by loyal friends and family. As such, I would like to see her a little less dependent on them. She is such a strong character that I would prefer that she didn't lean on them as much as she does. For someone who stood ankle deep in blood, listening to the screams of men undergoing amputation, I wish she would trust her own strength. Maybe she develops during the series. I'll have to continue to see.
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LibraryThing member RubyScarlett
Beautiful book with a very specific atmosphere and tone throughout. Maisie encounters many ghosts as she deals with the War's aftermath and her three investigations were all interesting as usual. I loved Priscilla, her best friend, who's fun and excitable, which is a rarity in this book. I'm loving
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this series but it should be enjoyed slowly as there's lots of applied psychology to take in. Very small event in Maisie's life foreshadows bigger changes in the future so I look forward to that. Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
There are basically three story lines in this book. One is Maisie's efforts to clear a young girl of murder charges. Another is to find a missing aviator--a case Maisie primarily takes on so that the girl has adequate legal representation. The third is to locate her friend Priscilla's brother's
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grave. In the midst of it all we encounter a fair amount of espionage, which is not really my cup of tea when it comes to mysteries. Maisie's life is in danger, but she's not sure who is responsible for the attempts on her life. There's just a little too much going on in this novel to try to keep up with everyone and with which part of the story the person might be connected. It had been quite awhile since I read the first book in this series, and I have forgotten some of the things from that particular book which might have helped me understand more of some of the action in this novel. Winspear is a good writer, but this is my least favorite installment in the series to date. Show Less
Awards
Macavity Award (Winner — Historical Mystery — 2006)
Agatha Award (Nominee — Novel — 2005)
Lefty Award (Nominee — 2006)
Language
Original publication date
2005-08-10
ISBN
9780312426217