A Maisie Dobbs Novel (Maisie Dobbs Novels) - Messenger of Truth

If you like historical mysteries, this is a good series. It's pretty tame, though. No violence, no sex, no heros riding in to save the day. Maissie Dobbs is a Nancy Drew-like character in sensible shoes and a prim hat in WWI England. That said, it's enjoyable for the scenery, the times and her gypsy strain that gives her a heightened sensibility to "truth." I'm happily reading the series.

Maisie Dobbs again takes us into the war, the World War I, the horror of it and the waste of it . The vehicle of the artist and the mystery of his death, is truly that - a vehicle, a way to deliver the message.

Was the death of a successful artist an accident or murder? Private investigator Maisie Dobbs is hired to find out. This case draws her into the world of art, the unusual lives of her wealthy client's family, and smuggling along the coast. Maisie's unusual technique's and insightful observations of the times and people around her kept me turning the pages as she uncovered what the authorities could not.

After exhausting all of Alexander McCall Smith's books and searching desperately for another slow paced mystery without much gore, I stumbled upon Jacqueline Winspear's books with great luck. She writes with much darker undertones than Smith's, but like Smith the characters are very real and endearing and she is accurate when describing the place, time, atmosphere (post-WWI England). I absolutely recommend this to anyone that is a history buff, a PBS Mystery fan (Miss Marple and the likes) or who liked Nancy Drew novels as a child.

After exhausting all of Alexander McCall Smith's books and searching desperately for another slow paced mystery without much gore, I stumbled upon Jacqueline Winspear's books with great luck. She writes with much darker undertones than Smith's, but like Smith the characters are very real and endearing and she is accurate when describing the place, time, atmosphere (post-WWI England). I absolutely recommend this to anyone that is a history buff, a PBS Mystery fan (Miss Marple and the likes) or who liked Nancy Drew novels as a child.

Some books you read as a main course dinner others you save for the dessert. This book could fall into either category. A top read when you
choose to read. The person of Maisie Dobbs has been building for the past three books, and has proven to be a top notch detective and a business person. Be prepaired to find that you will have a hard time putting this book down.

The Maisie Dobbs series is well written and historically well researched. In particular, the character development of Maisie as she grows and matures from a young girl to a successful woman, draws one in. I would highly recommend starting with Book 1 in the series. One book builds on the next. Very enjoyable readying.

I love the characters and the continuity of their connectedness, the lessons learn ed through painful situations. Maisie is a very likeable and authentic protagonist. She just keeps getting better.

Love this whole series.....intelligent mysteries combined with a period of history I am unfamiliar with make fascinating reading. Also love strong female characters....Maisie is "it "without being masculine.