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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Any Maisie Dobbs book is excellent.
Love this series
Maisie Dobbs is a strong character with depth.
Well written, very interesting characters, good mystery.
The first of an awesome mystery series. Maisie Dobbs is amazing.
I read the second Masie Dobbs novel first and enjoyed it so much that I bought the initial book. I’ve read a lot of WWII books, but not so many re WWI. It was a fascinating story. How far women have come in the last hundred years.
Maisie Dobbs books are favorites of mine. I like the historical details, the intrepid heroine, the challenges of the times and the storyline that continues and weaves through each book. I wish there were more Maisie Dobbs books to read.
Loved. loved. loved Maisie Dobbs. I find the period between the two World Wars fascinating. I also love British mysteries. Maisie is a great character and this introduction to her is hard to put down. I am anxiously awaiting the 4th in this series from my library. I can’t get enough Maisie Dobbs!
The first in the Maisie Dobbs series set in England in the early 20th century. Maisie Dobbs is the daughter of the stablemaster on a estate in the English countryside, with the division of class prevalent at the time. Because of her bright inquisitive mind and the generosity of the family of the estate, she is able to change her future and to …
Set in England both during and after The Great War, Masie Dobbs is intorduced to the reader from her humble beginnings and follows her as she exhibits her unusual talents. It’s a story of Upstairs and Downstairs, merging them in a cast of wonderful characters with heartwarming depth.
Series is wonderful
Wonderful book.
Love all Maisie Dobbs books. They need to be read in order because of character growth and times in history. I love all of the characters and when I’m through with a Maisie Dobbs book I actually feel homesick for some old friends. I look forward to all of her books.
This one got me hooked on the entire series. Love Maisie!
A terrific book in a terrific series! Great historical – wonderful writing.
For those people who love historical fiction it is a great mystery that incorporates history.
Captivating story demonstrating tragedies of War for a wide range of those involved. Good characters. I look forward to following the series.
Loved it! Great writing, character development, and story line.
One of the finest dramatizations of the era of WW2 I know of, on the level of the Spielberg movie “War Horse”! We know WW2 happened, in this book it happens!
Wonderful start to an amazing series.