I read one of the sequels first so I was a little surprised by how this book flowed but I loved it nevertheless. I usually read straight mysteries with very little character development (you know like Agatha Christie novels where Miss Marple does not grow, change or develop in any way – I am not saying it is bad I am just saying it is true!).
But this mystery is about Maisie and how the mystery affects her. I can’t say that I enjoyed reading about the war but it made the characters actions much more understandable. At the beginning Maisie is hired to investigate a seemingly simple case of infidelity and is soon enmeshed in a case that sends her back into her past and forces her to face pains she would soon forget.
Through a series of flashbacks we discover that Maisie lost her mother. Then her father, who loved her very much but couldn’t support her, sent her to be a maid in an aristocratic family, I love how she would sneak into the Library to read their books. The Lady of the house recognizes Maisie’s talent and intelligence and arranges for Maisie to be tutored while continuing her employ as a maid. Eventually she qualifies to attend Girton College at Cambridge. But sadly before she could complete her education the Great War breaks out and she joins up as a nurse. She falls in love with a young doctor. She then manages to survive three years of harrowing experiences. But sadly just before the war is over she is badly injured and her doctor dies. After recovering she finishes her education and becomes a private investigator using her knowledge of working class as well as her connection with the aristocracy.
As you can see the mystery is secondary to the development of Maisie. I think this is a great book. I would recommend it to any reader. You don’t have to be a mystery reader to enjoy Maisie Dobbs. I have also read a couple of Jacqueline Winspear other books and would highly recommend those as well. Happy Reading!
November is the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho which I am frantically reading because on November 1 to November 30 I will be participating in NaNoWriMo (which you may remember from last year is writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days).
4 comments:
I loved this book. I feel like recently I have been reading "down" to my intellect. Does that make sense?? I feel like I've been reading the equivalent of Soap Operas and then I read this book and my mind was stimulated AND it was entertained. I too loved how Maisie's character developed. You really understand her as a person. I liked how she wasn't perfect. She is a character that is flawed. She couldn't cope with much of her past and through the novel she began to deal with it. Again, many books I have read in the recent past have female characters that seem perfect. They are not easy to relate to but Maisie was a character that I related to. I loved Simon and reading his part of the story was difficult but again, I'm glad Maisie is a character that is real and has had sorrow in her life. It wasn't a perfect ending and that made it more real. Maybe it's because I have a three-year old little girl, but I'm over reading the books that end with "they rode off into the sunset and they lived happily ever after". Liz, thanks for picking this book out. I have the next Maisie Dobbs book saved at the library and hopefully will pick it up soon. Don't worry, I've already read The Alchemist!
Katie,
I am so glad that you liked it. I think you will like her other books as well but they are just not AS great as the first one. It is up there with my top favorite books!
First let me say thanks Liz for picking this book. I was in by the first paragraph. Most books it takes me a couple of paragraphs or even a couple of pages. I loved how Maisie's developes into the striking young woman who becomes succesful in a time when women where not considered to be in business.
I just thought though at the end that Maise does goes and sees her young doctor and tells him she was going to marry him but he was so badly brain damaged in war she didn't have the courage to go see him until she saw what was happening at the farm. Let me know if I read it wrong.
You are right mom. I forgot that in the book it makes it seem like he died but then you realize at the end he is alive but not. Thanks!
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