Helpful Score: 2
4th Maisie Dobbs book (and they SHOULD be read in order.) Maisie investigates the apparently accidental death of a controversial artist. As in all the Maisie Dobbs books, the "murder" is less important than the characters, all of whom are suffering from the Depression and the other after effects of WWI. The coming WWII is foreshadowed in the politics of the day. Touching, often wrenching, never dull. Difficult to put down.
Helpful Score: 1
#4 Maisie Dobbs series, set in post-WWI England. Maisie, a former nurse turned private investigator is hired by a young woman, Georgina Bassington-Hope, whose brother Nicholas has just died in what was ruled an accident when he fell from some scaffolding while preparing for an exhibition of his paintings. Georgina has a funny feeling that it was not an accident, and wants Maisie to figure out if her feeling has any substance to it.
Nicholas Bassington-Hope was very talented, and had been documenting the war in his latest paintings, a set that together is said to be his magnum opus--which are missing. He had them hidden away, not to be displayed to anyone until his exhibition, and no one knows where they are--or will admit to it. As Maisie visits Nick's friends and family and those associated with the art gallery, she begins to get the same feeling Georgina had, but nothing solid.
On the personal side, Maisie's assistant Billy Beale and his wife Doreen are having a bad time of it as their youngest child Lizzie is hospitalized with a severe case of diphtheria, and Maisie continues to settle in to her new home and resolves to figure out what she should do about her relationship with Dr. Andrew Dene.
This series just seems to get better the further along I read in it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and until very close to the end, I did not figure out who the bad guy was--plenty of red herrings although in thinking back, the clues were there to be ferreted out. Looking forward to the next in series to see what direction the author takes Maisie in.
Nicholas Bassington-Hope was very talented, and had been documenting the war in his latest paintings, a set that together is said to be his magnum opus--which are missing. He had them hidden away, not to be displayed to anyone until his exhibition, and no one knows where they are--or will admit to it. As Maisie visits Nick's friends and family and those associated with the art gallery, she begins to get the same feeling Georgina had, but nothing solid.
On the personal side, Maisie's assistant Billy Beale and his wife Doreen are having a bad time of it as their youngest child Lizzie is hospitalized with a severe case of diphtheria, and Maisie continues to settle in to her new home and resolves to figure out what she should do about her relationship with Dr. Andrew Dene.
This series just seems to get better the further along I read in it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and until very close to the end, I did not figure out who the bad guy was--plenty of red herrings although in thinking back, the clues were there to be ferreted out. Looking forward to the next in series to see what direction the author takes Maisie in.
Helpful Score: 1
I have loved every one of Jacqueline Winspear's books. Her main character, Maisie Dobbs, is cleverly crafted. Although her present occupation in these books is a private investigator, she is not rough and tumble. She retains her feminity. There are flashs back to World War I when she was a nurse treating the wounded soldiers in a Mash type of set up.
Her other characters, Billy her assistant, is very believable for the times. That is another she has done well. The reader gets a very accurate feel for the time periods that she speaks of. I recommend all the Maisie Dobbs book in this series.
Her other characters, Billy her assistant, is very believable for the times. That is another she has done well. The reader gets a very accurate feel for the time periods that she speaks of. I recommend all the Maisie Dobbs book in this series.
John A. and Marguerite E. W. (aliennightbird) reviewed Messenger of Truth (Maisie Dobbs, Bk 4) on + 40 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this installment of the Maissie Dobbs series better than the other two books that I have read (not that I didn't like the others!).
In this story, Maissie just seemed a bit more human and approachable. The story seemed drew me in far more, perhaps mainly because it was a straight mystery story with a lot of red herrings and great clues. Also, it involved subject matter which really intersted me as an artist.
The tie-in the WWI was touching, horriffic, and haunting. The artist who was killed was committed to telling the truth about what he had seen during the war, no matter who it hurt.
The story about the death of the child touched me as well. I even had to fight tears in one spot, and I am generally a hard nut to crack.
As usual, the author's writing style is readable, fairly fast paced, but with great detail and narrative that invokes emotion and makes one think. The main characters, at least, are deep and complex.
Altogether, this is a great book, and I would hightly recommend it.
In this story, Maissie just seemed a bit more human and approachable. The story seemed drew me in far more, perhaps mainly because it was a straight mystery story with a lot of red herrings and great clues. Also, it involved subject matter which really intersted me as an artist.
The tie-in the WWI was touching, horriffic, and haunting. The artist who was killed was committed to telling the truth about what he had seen during the war, no matter who it hurt.
The story about the death of the child touched me as well. I even had to fight tears in one spot, and I am generally a hard nut to crack.
As usual, the author's writing style is readable, fairly fast paced, but with great detail and narrative that invokes emotion and makes one think. The main characters, at least, are deep and complex.
Altogether, this is a great book, and I would hightly recommend it.
Victoria E. (shespeaksvolumes) reviewed Messenger of Truth (Maisie Dobbs, Bk 4) on + 3 more book reviews
Wonderful book. Maisie is such an interesting character. She is very intuitive, a psychologist and a private investigator. A person I would love to meet.
The plot is well thought out and characters well developed. This historical fiction is set in reality so that the reader feels a strong sense of belonging to that place and time.
The plot is well thought out and characters well developed. This historical fiction is set in reality so that the reader feels a strong sense of belonging to that place and time.
The very latest Maisie Dobbs book. Another winner. Hardcover addition.
Soon to be a part of the PBS Mystery Series, so you know it is good!
Soon to be a part of the PBS Mystery Series, so you know it is good!
Another thrilling and unique episode in the life of Maisie Dobbs.
London, 1931. On the night before the opening of his new and much-anticipated exhibition at a famed Mayfair gallery, Nicholas Bassington-Hope falls to his death. The police declare it an accident, but the dead man's twin sister, Georgina, isn't convinced. When the authorities refuse to conduct further investigations, Georgina takes matters into her own hands, seeking out a fellow graduate from Girton College: Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator.
The case soon takes Maisie to the desolate beaches of Dungeness in Kent, as well as the sinister underbelly of the city's art world. She again uncovers the dark legacy of the Great War in a society struggling to recollect itself in difficult times. But to solve the mystery of the artist's death, she will have to remain steady as the forces behind his death come out of the shadows to silence her.
London, 1931. On the night before the opening of his new and much-anticipated exhibition at a famed Mayfair gallery, Nicholas Bassington-Hope falls to his death. The police declare it an accident, but the dead man's twin sister, Georgina, isn't convinced. When the authorities refuse to conduct further investigations, Georgina takes matters into her own hands, seeking out a fellow graduate from Girton College: Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator.
The case soon takes Maisie to the desolate beaches of Dungeness in Kent, as well as the sinister underbelly of the city's art world. She again uncovers the dark legacy of the Great War in a society struggling to recollect itself in difficult times. But to solve the mystery of the artist's death, she will have to remain steady as the forces behind his death come out of the shadows to silence her.
This is the fourth in the Maise Dobbs series. If you haven't read any of them, you must treat yourself. In this one, Maisie solves the mystery of an artist's death, another vivid, thrilling, and utterly unique episode in the series.
Kathleen R. (Katchie) -
Another great mystery with lots of interesting characters. When I picked up this book, I could not put it down. I had to read to find the solution to the mystery. Maisie is wonderful again and I look forward to reading more of her adventures.
It's 1931 in London when an emerging artist, Nicholas Bassington-Hope, dies in a fall from the scaffolding from which he is hanging paintings for his latest and most talked about show. Is it an accident or murder? Nicholas' twin sister, Georgina, believes that it is murder and hires Maisie Dobbs to investigate and find out.
In the process Maisie discovers much about herself. Her determination to be a self-supporting and independent woman in a time of change leads her to evaluate her romantic life, her career, and her choice of dwelling. I found myself empathizing with Maisie, her emotions, her fears and her decisions. She forges ahead on all fronts and discovers a mystery that has nothing to do with the death of the artist. As she walks through the mud my feet were as wet and cold as hers and the fingers on my hands experienced the same cold dampness. My fears mirrored her own as I was afraid that she would be caught by smugglers or criminals.
For me, the characterization was so strong that I found the mystery was pushed to the background. This is a fine read and I highly recommend it. May others find the same pleasure that I found when reading this novel.
In the process Maisie discovers much about herself. Her determination to be a self-supporting and independent woman in a time of change leads her to evaluate her romantic life, her career, and her choice of dwelling. I found myself empathizing with Maisie, her emotions, her fears and her decisions. She forges ahead on all fronts and discovers a mystery that has nothing to do with the death of the artist. As she walks through the mud my feet were as wet and cold as hers and the fingers on my hands experienced the same cold dampness. My fears mirrored her own as I was afraid that she would be caught by smugglers or criminals.
For me, the characterization was so strong that I found the mystery was pushed to the background. This is a fine read and I highly recommend it. May others find the same pleasure that I found when reading this novel.
Continues the series set in post-WW1 England with Maisie Dobbs a female investigator-psychologist. Investigation surrounds death of an artist. The family of the artist provides a variety of characters and the social scene the family and artist's friends participate in provides a vignette of the times. Continued developement of Maisie's private life and events in those close to her broaden the novel's impact. Continued high quality writing by the author.
Another good entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. I have been reading these novels sporadically -- this is the third I have read. In this one, Maisie is hired by Georgina Bassington-Hope to look into the apparent accidental death of her brother, Nick. Georgina has a gut feeling that Nick's death was not accidental and may have been a murder. Nick had been preparing an art exhibit and had fallen from a scaffold resulting in a broken neck and death. But had he been pushed? The police think not and after a cursory investigation, decided the death was accidental. Maisie intuitively agrees with Georgina and decided to take the case. This leads her on a journey into the art world and also a smuggling operation involving moving art from Europe. The novel takes place in 1931, over ten years after the end of the Great War but the effects of this horrific war are still on the minds of many who lost loved ones. This includes Nick's sister, Nolly, who lost her husband during the conflict and much of Nick's art has to do with the War and its consequences. Could this be something that could possibly lead to Nick's death? Another theme of this book is the destitution of many in Britain during the years of the Great Depression that not only affected the U.S. but the rest of the world as well. Maisie's assistant, Billy, lives among the most destitute and has been trying to provide for his family as well as his in-laws who have nowhere else to live. The dreaded disease diphtheria also hits Billy's family hard when their youngest daughter contracts it.
Overall, I thought this was an all right entry in the series but I felt it sometimes dragged a little especially when Maisie was dealing with the Bassington-Hope family who I really didn't feel a lot of sympathy toward. But I would still recommend this to readers of the series and I will definitely be continuing with the other novels.
Overall, I thought this was an all right entry in the series but I felt it sometimes dragged a little especially when Maisie was dealing with the Bassington-Hope family who I really didn't feel a lot of sympathy toward. But I would still recommend this to readers of the series and I will definitely be continuing with the other novels.
Wonderful, as always!
