“As with a tapestry, some crimes proved to be true masterpieces of deception. And she knew from experience that when a life had been taken in the act of murder, there were few black and white places, only gray shadows in which the truth lingered—and truth sometimes held only a passing connection to fact.”

Book Review:

Review by Eleanor Bukowsky  (APR 23, 2011)

The year is 1932 and the scars of World War I are far from healed. The specter of Nazism has begun to cast its shadow, and England  has its share of “homegrown Fascists” who enthusiastically promote the aims of the National Socialist German Workers Party. Government officials are even more leery of pacifists, whose desire for peace at any price could undermine the morale of “the men in the ranks.” Against this backdrop of political and social turmoil, Maisie Dobbs keeps busy running her successful private inquiry agency, ably assisted by the conscientious Billy Beale. She is a professional by choice, since she has “a good measure of financial independence, having inherited wealth” from her former mentor, Maurice Blanche. Although Maisie has more than enough to do, Brian Huntley of Special Branch asks her to undertake a top secret mission. She will teach philosophy to undergraduates at the College of St. Francis in Cambridge, while being on the lookout for any activities that are “not in the interests of the Crown.”

When one of the college’s most prominent individuals is murdered, Detective Chief Superintendent Robbie MacFarlane warns Maisie to steer clear of the investigation. However, she cannot resist using her formidable investigative skills to find the killer. In addition, the generous Maisie plans to help Billy and his wife, Doreen, get settled in a new home. Another person she would like to assist is Sandara Tapley, a twenty-four year old widow whose husband died under mysterious circumstances. To make matters even more complicated, Maisie frequently thinks about her absent lover, James Compton, and wonders if they are really meant to be together.

A Lesson in Secrets is another strong entry in this outstanding series. Not only does Ms. Winspear capture the atmosphere, language, and climate of the early thirties in England, but she also manages to create an involving and complex plot with a large and varied cast of characters. She does all this with consummate grace and style, effortlessly balancing at least three or four subplots without confusing or irritating the reader.

This book has something for everyone: romance, espionage, and intrigue, all packaged entertainingly for those who enjoy intelligent and literate works of fiction enhanced by excellent descriptive writing. What a pleasure it is to observe Maisie compassionately and conscientiously fighting for women’s rights, the oppressed, and those who need a tireless advocate to champion their cause. And of course, she tracks down villains, most of whom do not stand a chance against this intrepid, highly intelligent, and determined woman.

AMAZON READER RATING:	from 99 readers
PUBLISHER:	Harper; First Edition edition (March 22, 2011)
REVIEWER:	Eleanor Bukowsky
AVAILABLE AS A KINDLE BOOK?	YES! Start Reading Now!
AUTHOR WEBSITE:	Jacqueline Winspear
EXTRAS:	Excerpt
MORE ON MOSTLYFICTION:	Read our review of: Pardonable Lies Messenger of Truth Among the Mad The Mapping of Love and Death

Bibliography:

• Maisie Dobbs (July 2003) /
• Birds of a Feather (2004)
• Pardonable Lies (2005)
• Mesenger of Truth (2006)
• An Incomplete Revenge (2008)
• Among the Mad (2009)
• The Mapping of Love and Death (2010)
• A Lesson in Secrets (2011)
• Elegy for Eddie (October 2012)

“She was thinking about lies. About the many times in the course of her work she had been lied to. It was a hazard of her occupation. She rarely missed a lie, seldom overlooked the sense of doubt that assailed her when she had been offered less than the truth. Indeed, she thought it was the presence of doubt—rather than certainty, perhaps—that led to cracking open many a case.”

Book Review:

Review by Eleanor Bukowsky (APR 3, 2010)

In August of 1914, twenty-three year old Michael Clifton had a vision. He stood with his surveyor’s equipment in California “on a hill burnished with gold in the summer sun,” and decided that this oil-rich land would be his. As he prepared to travel back east to rejoin his family, he heard that England and Germany were at war, and he impulsively decided to enlist. Even though Michael was American, his father, Edward, was born in England, and Michael believed that his skills as a cartographer would help the British. Sadly, he never returned home. Michael’s parents hire Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and private inquiry agent, to look into their son’s last days.

It is 1932. Londoner Maisie Dobbs has been a private inquiry agent for three years and she relies greatly on her trusted assistant, Billy Beale. Their new clients are Michael Clifton’s parents, Edward and Martha. A farmer in the Somme Valley was digging when he and his men unearthed the remains of a surveying team. One of the bodies was that of Michael Clifton, who was found along with his personal effects, letters, and a journal. Maisie’s task is to find the mystery woman whom Michael fell in love with during the war and to look into the questionable circumstances surrounding Michael’s untimely death. Michael’s correspondence and written reminiscences as well as the interviews that Maisie conducts with various individuals ultimately clarify what really happened to this unfortunate young man during his final days.

Maisie Dobbs is a refreshing and energetic character, an emancipated woman who, in spite of her humble roots, received a fine education thanks to her intelligence, tenacity, and the sponsorship of generous benefactors. Although at times she feels lonely and vulnerable, Maisie never allows herself to lose sight of all that is good in her life. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and is not easily intimidated. She and Billy put a great deal of effort into the Clifton case, which proves to be “a bloody maze.” In addition, a shocking act of violence leads Maisie to believe that someone is desperate to cover up his past misdeeds.

With her consummate mastery of historical detail, the author skillfully evokes the uneasy atmosphere in Britain in the era following the First World War, a tumultuous conflict that wreaked havoc on so many. Not only did a generation of young men sacrifice their lives, but even those who returned were often gravely wounded both in body and spirit. Maisie, who was a nurse during the conflict, still has painful memories of that difficult time.

The Mapping of Love and Death resonates more as a psychological study than it does as a mystery. Although Maisie’s skills are put to the test, she has amazingly good luck at every turn. Some useful contacts plus one or two coincidences yield key evidence that helps her connect the dots in a rather tidy way.

What is most memorable about this novel are the well-drawn relationships. Maisie is fiercely protective of Billy, a resourceful and hard-working man whose wife is slowly recovering from a breakdown following the death of their young daughter. In addition, Maisie cautiously embarks on a romance with an unlikely suitor. Will this woman who has been so unlucky in love find her soul mate at last? Alas, all is not sweetness and light; Maisie is distraught that her dear friend and mentor, “parent to her intellect, to her understanding of the world,” becomes seriously ill.

Whether she is comforting a poor and sickly woman who needs a shoulder to lean on, putting an officious detective inspector in his place, or courageously confronting a villainous foe, Maisie is always up to the task. The Mapping of Love and Death is, above all, about the importance of self-respect, family ties, friendship, and integrity. Maisie Dobbs consistently stays true to these ideals; that is what makes her such an admirable and appealing heroine.

AMAZON READER RATING:	from 116 readers
PUBLISHER:	Harper; 1 edition (March 23, 2010)
REVIEWER:	Eleanor Bukowsky
AVAILABLE AS A KINDLE BOOK?	YES! Start Reading Now!
AUTHOR WEBSITE:	Jacqueline Winspear
EXTRAS:	Excerpt
MORE ON MOSTLYFICTION:	Read our review of: Pardonable Lies Messenger of Truth Among the Mad A Lesson in Secrets

Bibliography:

• Maisie Dobbs (July 2003) /
• Birds of a Feather (2004)
• Pardonable Lies (2005)
• Mesenger of Truth (2006)
• An Incomplete Revenge (2008)
• Among the Mad (2009)
• The Mapping of Love and Death (2010)
• A Lesson in Secrets (2011)
• Elegy for Eddie (October 2012)