Comments (49)

Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of Fraser Valley Regional Library.
What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 49 items
Dec 19, 2023SarahTink rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I'm not well-versed in the mystery genre to begin with, but honestly I feel this story is better as a general period piece/character portrait than mystery. Maisie herself is fascinating as a character, as is her whole backstory, but the…
Jul 10, 2023sgan1 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I found it boring to read but the mystery of the story kept me reading to the last page.
Jul 10, 2023candyswart rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
It was recommended by someone reading Louise Penny. I'm afraid I found it trite from the first page. However it may keep some people very happy. I really do need quite a lot more intelligence in the books I read. But happy reading to…
Jul 05, 2023Elsda5 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This series was recommended to me by my sister who is an avid Maisie Dobbs fan. I was pleased to get the first book in the series and look forward to reading the others. The book is well written, maintains an interesting theme…
Jun 25, 2023grouchykitty rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Personally I found it very boring but I recognize that the book is well received by other people.
Jan 25, 2023hikerhi rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Read the review by @wyenotgo (below) as I couldn’t articulate it better as to why I loved this book (I gave it 5 stars vs their 4 but that’s a quibble). I’m very much looking forward to the next book in this series.
Jan 13, 2023Passenj rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Love reading the Maisie Dobbs series. A little slow at the beginning of this first book in the series, but the remainder of the books just carry on. They are great.
Jul 31, 2022jlittrell rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
such a wonderful novel, Maisie Dobbs is a remarkable woman. A very good read.
Jun 29, 2022wyenotgo rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Those who, like myself, have always admired the work of Nevil Shute are likely to love this book. As did Shute, writing mostly in the 1940s about people impacted by WW2, Winspear writes about the often unsung individuals who, impacted by…
Nov 01, 2021Liber_vermis rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
As an Associated Press reviewer commented, as quoted on this book's cover, "The reader familiar with Alexander McCall Smith's 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' might think of 'Maisie Dobbs' as its British counterpart". This reader…
Sep 17, 2021
If you like historical crime and a strong female protagonist, you will love Maisie Dobbs. First, in a series of well researched but entertaining and imaginative narratives, Winspear introduces Maisie, a poor but extremely intelligent young…
Jan 03, 2021wcbind421 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This first Maisie Dobbs novel opens in 1929 London as Maisie sets up her first office as a "psychologist and investigator. " An early case involves an apparently unfaithful wife but Maisie discovers that instead of afternoon…
Jan 02, 2021IndyPL_JillL rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I found this to be a sweet story with a fun cast of characters. I look forward to seeing how these novels grow as I read along the series.
Oct 17, 2020
I am ready to check this book out. How do I get it from “later “ to place on pickup table? Thank you. Nancy Bartholomew
Jul 14, 2020mcody rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
This as just ok. Not compelling. About a woman’s experience with war, and how it affected soldiers, and their relationships.
JCLS_Ashland_Kristin
Apr 08, 2020JCLS_Ashland_Kristin rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoy the detailed WWI and 1920s setting, the strong female heroine, and the mystery combined with origin story format. I'll be checking out the sequel!
Feb 10, 2020
This is the first book in a very enjoyable series! I've read the whole series and really enjoyed them. Set in England after the first World War, these books combine the best of historical fiction and mystery genres! Maisie is intelligent…
Jan 15, 2020
I thought this was a pretty good book, though it is clear that this first book is setting a foundation for a series with it's slow build and great deal of flashback history. *small spoiler* I thought the gradual reveal of a…
Aug 20, 2019
This is obviously more of a character buildup than a well sustained story. It jumps back in time and, if you are a Downton Abbey fan, you see many things the author got wrong about being in service. Then the day to day life of a nurse…
Jul 15, 2019
All ready to get deep into a historical mystery, I picked up Maisie Dobbs by author Jacqueline Winspear. And in a strange turn of events, after getting more than 200 pages through it, I can't say I ever got a good grasp on it. Maybe…
Jan 31, 2019
The first book in a very popular series stars the eponymous nurse-turned-investigator. Maisie returns to London after serving in WWI and begins investigating wrongs, eventually opening her own agency. She's spunky, warm hearted and smart!
Apr 07, 2018mimimcl rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Better to read "Pardonable Lies" and "To Die but Once" to get the feel of the character, then go back and read this to get Maisie's background before WWI. The person who thought it was boring, might have started here, but once you have…
Apr 07, 2018
I thought this book was boring. Not enough conflict for me. Where is the mystery? It seems like a lot of people liked the book, but I didn't. The only thing I liked about the book was the historical details on the war. I have no desire to…
Sep 20, 2017ArapahoeMarcia rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this book - the first in a long series. The author has woven a wonderful story with incredible characters. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
May 02, 2017Rubicat rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I've found another favorite series, author and detective. An extremely enjoyable book and I can't wait to get the next in this series. I look forward to weeks of enjoyment with Ms. Winspear's novels.