Leaving Everything Most Loved (Maisie Dobbs)

This series keeps getting better with each installment! Maisie is an engaging protagonist and I enjoy seeing a woman in the 1920's behaving with verve and independence. I am anxious to read the next book in the series and I anticipate downloading it immediately!

The thoughtful and engaging Maisie Dobbs not only solves the puzzle; she continued to walk the labyrinth of her post-World-War-I life with grace, insight, and a resolute spirit. Winspear seems to be allowing herself an exit from the series, but her narrative, characters, and situations are so powerful that I hope she will bring Maisie back--even stronger than before "leaving everything most loved."

I found Jacqueline Winspear's first book, MAISIE DOBBS, in 2003 in a little independent bookstore. I was captivated by the complex character of Maisie, the excellent writing, the in depth research surrounding the time period of World War I in England, and the intriguing story. Since then, I have looked forward to each new book and another step in the formation of Maisie Dobbs. Certainly they are good little whodunits, but really, so much more. If someone reads this tenth book in the series and enjoys it, I would highly recommend, even insist, that the reader go back to the beginning of the series. While Winspear tries to make each book stand on its own by tucking in as much of Maisie's background as possible, she can't do it justice. SO...read the series in order. You'll love Maisie even more!

Maisie Dobb's story moved through some of her early cases through to a feeling that she needed to travel and find more about herself. We see her at a crossroads in her relationships, especially James, and she wants to move forward.

Feel I've gotten to know these characters and travelled a long way with them. Happy to see them flourish and grow. Characters are likably consistent but the plots are always different enough so as not to ever seem like Ms Winspear is working from an over-used formula. Good stories, well-written. Always pre-order the next one!

I enjoy this series quite a bit. The writer seems to do a good job with the time frame and provides an insight as to how life was for folks, especially women. I like Maisie's spunk and her organized way of solving her cases.
I hope that this wasn't the end of the series. I can't wait for the next installment, especially since this left us wondering what she will be doing next. What all will she discover when she "finds herself".

I chose the highest rating, because Winspear's book maintained the same high quality as the first Maisie Dobbs novel. I appreciate this since so many series tend to falter at some point. Anyone interested in the historical information in these novels as well as being lovers of mysteries should enjoy the book.

I have enjoyed all the Mazie Dobbs series, I always look forword to the next book. This new book is so unexpected. If you've enjoyed the previous Mazie Dobbs books you will really love this next book in the series. If you have never read a book in this series I recommend you start with the first book, because the series builds. Enjoy!

These are very English, very dear books filled with characters you will get to know better than your life-long friends. Maisie has grown and prospered and is ready for something new. Other reviewers will tell you the storyline, I just want to recommend the book. Brilliant author. Lucky you if you haven't read the series yet.

Keep a handkerchief ready for the last chapter of this one! As in previous Maisie Dobbs books, this one gives great insight into Britain during the period between WWI & WWII. This time readers learn about the treatment of immigrants from India as the try to blend their culture from a different region of The British Empire into the traditions of the English homeland.

I enjoy characters that have integrity and yet intrigue. As the mystery developed, I learn more and more about the main characters as well as the characters particular to this novel. The author mixes all these people into an intriguing puzzle that my mind wants to solve, but not too soon. There is a part of me that wants to remain with these people just a little longer.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Maisie Dobbs' series. This book seemed to be trying to tie up all the story lines that had developed over the series so that this could be the end of the series, yet just enough at the very end to tease us with the possibilities of more to come.

Maisie's growth in intellect and problem solving skills goes up another notch in this latest book. It has several unexpected developments and is somewhat different from the other books preceding it but is well written and leaves you waiting, again, for the next installment in where Maisie's life takes her.

Partly mystery and partly novel, "Leaving Everything Most Loved" opens the way for English psychologist/sleuth Maisie Dobbs to move on in her life of helping others as she develops her own sense of who she is. She uses not only her reason but her intuition to solve the mystery of who killed the beautiful, young Indian girl, Usha Prama, whose cultural background led her to teach and heal.

Since there are so few clues, Maisie begins by interviewing people who knew and worked with Usha. Maisie learned much about the girl from her brother, who had come from India to find out why Scotland Yard had made so little progress in her case. With her questions, she uncovers a web of relationships among the characters in this story that point her to the answers to Usha's death.

As she becomes more deeply involved in Indian culture, she longs to travel to India. This would mean closing her investigation business and finding places for her employees. There is also the matter of her on-going relationship with James Compton and how to handle the pressure on her to marry him.

Those who have followed Maisie's story from when she was a 13-year-old sent out to service by her father after the death of her mother know that she earned a chance at an education through her deep interest in learning, and later volunteered as a nurse in World War I.

She misses her mentor, Maurice, whose death caused an emptiness in her heart even though he left her financially independent, and she wants to make her life more like his.

There is unfinished business with a man who is working with James on dealing with the obvious stirrings of war from Germany. This is 1933, and Herr Hitler is going back on the promises that the Germans made following the First War.

After James heads to Canada to build an air force, Maisie leaves on her journey to Bombay, with all the details attended to for closing this part of her life.

Will she contact James with a yes or no answer to his proposal at the end of six months, as she has promised? Will she use her intelligence and understanding of human nature to aid her country in its coming fight with Axis forces in the late 30s and beyond? Will her unfinished business be brought to a successful conclusion?

Although Maisie is a quiet, introspective person, she is also a woman of action. It would be hard to see her waiting out World War II in meditation.

What can I say, I love the Maisie Dobbs series....as does everyone to whom I have recommended it.
Each book is wonderful, engaging and never disappoints.
It appears she has left open the possiblity of another in the series.....I certainly hope so !

Sad about its conclusion and hope this does not mean that Winspear is through with Maisie. For instance, did she move to India? What happened when she got there. What happened with her lover? Did she finally marry him or did she ditch him? He did seem rather boring.

I have loved this series since the first novel. We women must follow our instincts as well as intelligence. Ms Winspear is so insightful in developing Masie in many aspects of her personality and gifts. Will India change her? Will James wait for her? I can't wait for more!!!!

I like this series and always look forward to the latest installment. While I was a bit disappointed with the plot turn, I do know that the ups and downs of romance keep us interested. Those who like "cozy" mysteries will almost assuredly like Maisie. Read these in order.

The latest in the Maisie Dobbs series. All these books are intriguing - and give the reader an insight into the thinking and prejudice of the times in England between WWI and WWII.

This is a wonderful series - and I've enjoyed each of these books - this latest one as well.

I knew from previous books( and the title,) that our heroine would be leaving England and James! The author not only sets herself up to write her into new countries, but left the door open for her to return to England and hopefully James. This book had many twists and new info. on how the Indians were treated in Britain as well as sharing some of their customs. We read on how they were used by the Brits. for domestic help and as soldiers in the wars. Another good feature is that as Maisie closes off her case, she revisits all that she has accomplished in her life. The author uses this process for reviewing all of her previous books in this series. That was quite a nice ending.

This series continues to fascinate, providing texture and details to a era that we know about superficially from other books and dramas, but not in this depth. The characters continue to develop, and the combination of a mystery plus the continuing arc of individuals' personal stories makes this a hard-to-put-down and entertaining read.

Winspear's works are interesting historical fiction. I enjoy the chronological aspect of them all. They open one's eyes to the class system in England & the trouble it caused. I recommend starting with her 1st Maisie Dobbs novel & continuing on through them all! Great read.

Another skillfully told story with one of my all time favorite heroines, Maisie Dobbs. I love the insights into British society during the period between the two World Wars. This is a heroine to admire and love. The stories are rich and nuanced, especially because these are basically murder mysteries.

Once more, I thoroughly enjoyed this Maizie Dobbs. The main 'case' was a bit confusing, and sometimes hard to remember the relationships of one character to another, but that may just be me. I appreciated completing the stories of several main characters, and the review of Maizie's prior life and works, in readiness for a major life change ahead. I eagerly wait the next book! The possibilities are endless!

Always enjoy the Maisie Dobbs adventures and mystery, but this one seemed rather tiresome and transitional. Seemed repetitive and more reminiscing of days gone by. Not much in the way of surprises or newness.

I've read every Maisie Dobbs book since the first one came out. They could vary some, but never reached the point of tedium that this one did. We spend paragraph upon paragraph with Maisie ruminating, reminiscing,pining, philosophizing, but not getting out there and solving the mystery. The mystery is pretty thin anyway--just a vehicle for some interesting research about Anglo-Indian women between the wars--and most readers probably had it pretty well figured out quite early (even though she withholds any hint of motive until the four page resolution. Hint: if it takes four pages to give the solution, then you haven't set it up very well.)
And the summary of all the previous books??? Is Ms. Winspear dying? Is the Maisie Dobbs series dying? It certainly felt like a eulogy...
Also found some careless writing: repeats of the scene of the yound Maisie in stolen visits to the library, at least two characters credited with saying Maisie "thinks too much, etc. Rushed, badly edited, lacking energy.

Always enjoy the Maisie Dobbs adventures and mystery, but this one seemed rather tiresome and transitional. Seemed repetitive and more reminiscing of days gone by. Not much in the way of surprises or newness.

I've read every Maisie Dobbs book since the first one came out. They could vary some, but never reached the point of tedium that this one did. We spend paragraph upon paragraph with Maisie ruminating, reminiscing,pining, philosophizing, but not getting out there and solving the mystery. The mystery is pretty thin anyway--just a vehicle for some interesting research about Anglo-Indian women between the wars--and most readers probably had it pretty well figured out quite early (even though she withholds any hint of motive until the four page resolution. Hint: if it takes four pages to give the solution, then you haven't set it up very well.)
And the summary of all the previous books??? Is Ms. Winspear dying? Is the Maisie Dobbs series dying? It certainly felt like a eulogy...
Also found some careless writing: repeats of the scene of the yound Maisie in stolen visits to the library, at least two characters credited with saying Maisie "thinks too much, etc. Rushed, badly edited, lacking energy.

I certainly hope Jaqueline Winspear will continue this series. I have grown to like Maisie and the those close to her. I would be sad to see it end. JW writes very well and makes solving a mystery a journey of discovery of ourselves and who we are or how we may change as well.

Another Maise Dobbs novel which leaves me wanting more and quickly. As always I feel so close to the sorry and the characters, I feel I know them. Great writer , well written, good plots and quite the ending. Many ore of Maise coming soon I hope.

Our heroine, Maisie Dobbs, and the plot line had me fooled - I thought 'the butler did it' but, alas, I was wrong. The ending of the story opens up many new vistas for Maisie - nothing bad happens should you think I gave away a part in the story.

This is a good story with an interesting and unusual cast of characters. I liked reading about Indians in England in the period between the wars. I think there was too much concentration on Maisie's personal life. It really had the feeling of chick lit.

I really enjoy the Maisie Dobbs series but I truly wanted her to settle down with James. They way they are to telegraph in a few months does allow that to happen but she has an adventurous soul. Of course, this leaves the series open for many marvelous and new adventures.

Super read, both from the narrow mystery perspective and the broader social/cultural perspective.. Focuses on the murder of an Indian woman brought to London, and the reasons for the murder are ingenious and touching.

I have absolutely loved this series - the books are well written, well crafted, the characters are developed well, and the historical context is fascinating. Once I started reading one of the books, I couldn't put it down - thank goodness for one click kindle purchases!!! I hope that the series continues when Maisie returns from her overseas experience!

I was a little disappointed. The story line moved rather slow. Jaqueline uses descriptive, colorful, yet simplistic wording. She has story lines that all tie together smoothly. I love the intricate, subtle details that she employs to paint the setting of that era in history. She uses small inferences of the impending war, teasing the reader with the clouds of an imminent political erosion. Somehow, though, it didn't involve me enough to pick up and read the book, as I felt it should have.

I have enjoyed reading the Maise Dobbs books but this was the best. I always say that about Ms Winespear's books. She makes Maise so real and we can relate to her decsion making because sometimes we have had to make similar descions in our daily lives. I hope we will read about Maisie's travels and her descion about her love.

The "detective" is a very proper English lady for the time period. She is smart and respected and the "flash backs" help to keep context regardless of whichever book you read first. I have read all of them and have not been disappointed.

I completely enjoy Maisie Dobbs...I am ready for the next book already. I know I will have to wait. I will do so impatiently. I want to know her decision about James, and I hope she takes the risk and marries him.