10th Anniversary Edition with a special Afterword by the author
Maisie Dobbs got her start as a maid in an aristocratic London household when she was 13. Her employer, suffragette Lady Rowan Compton, soon became her patron, taking the remarkably bright youngster under her wing. Lady Rowan’s friend, Maurice Blanche, often retained as an investigator by the European elite, recognized Maisie’s … elite, recognized Maisie’s intuitive gifts and helped her earn admission to the prestigious Girton College in Cambridge, where Maisie planned to complete her education.
The outbreak of war changed everything. Maisie trained as a nurse, then left for France to serve at the Front, where she found — and lost — an important part of herself. Ten years after the Armistice, in the spring of 1929, Maisie sets out on her own as a private investigator, one who has learned that coincidences are meaningful, and truth elusive. Her very first case involves suspected infidelity but reveals something very different.
In the aftermath of the Great War, a former officer has founded a working farm known as The Retreat, which acts as a convalescent refuge for ex-soldiers too shattered to resume normal life. When Fate brings Maisie a second case involving The Retreat, she must finally confront the ghost that has haunted her for over a decade.
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Have been reading this series. Am enjoying it very much.
Jacqueline Winspear does such an excellent job creating the world of Maisie Dobbs. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in her books. This was a great introduction to the series!
I’m not sure why it took me so long to start this series.
But I am very glad I did!
This is a well thought out, researched, and developed story, with fascinating characters.
The human aftermath of WWI is made quite clear.
Masie is an intriguing person who has managed to go from lower class serving person to independent self-employed person due to …
I loved this extremely interesting series that takes place from WWI to WWII. Deeply felt stories and wonderful characters.
I love this whole series. It is a well written cozy mystery with the side benefit is a little World War I History.
A wonderful heroine is Maisie Dobbs! This first book lays out her backstory while the rest of the series develops terrific mysteries set in the years between the Great War and the coming trouble in Europe with Germany as the 1930s begin. Still scarred by the events and memories of the Great War, Maisie leads forth, an intrepid investigator as she …
This is a good book. It’s the start of a series of good books; some stronger than others. The story follows the life of the title character, Maisie Dobbs. Even though they are shelved and sold as mysteries, the whole series read more as historical novels to me. Miss Dobbs was born at the turn of the last century in Great Britain and most of …
Well-researched & touching. It was so satisfying to re-visit Maisie’s history. What a fabulous series this turned out to be!
How lucky you are to just be discovering Maisie Dobbs! I love all of her books and look forward for the next one to come out.
Another great book in the Maise Dobbs series.
I love this series. Highly recommended.
New to me but you can’t help but love Maisie and Billy. But I did cry. Never thought much about WW I.
I’m a huge fan of the Maisie Dobbs series! The characters are wonderful, the details of the setting and time period are perfection, and the plot is intriguing. I highly recommend!
This is a wonderful series that offers an interesting cast of characters.
The first in a great mystery series. Maisie Dobbs was a nurse in WWI. She returns to England and trains to become a private investigator. Read these in order! Really good character development, interesting stories. One of my favorite series.
I have not read this anniversary edition; however, Maisie Dobbs is one of the best characters I’ve ever encountered. Winspeare has given us a tremendous gift with this series. Read them in order! May it never end.
My favorite part of this book is the setting, World War I England. The characters are realistic but a bit quirky. As this is the first in a series, U eagerly look forward to reading more about them and participating in their future endeavors.
Can’t wait to read the rest. Believable protagonist.
One of my favorite series. Maisie grows in intelligence with each novel. She’s delightful.
Masie Dobbs is a complicated character that you will want to follow. She has a unique way of solving mysteries.