Maisie Dobbs the novel introduces Maisie Dobbs the private investigator who opens her new office in England in 1929. One of Maisie’s first cases requires her to pursue a case of presumed infidelity which leads her to investigate a countryside facility for returned soldiers who are injured or disfigured. There’s not much else in the way of mystery as the rest of the book is consumed with recounting Maisie’s back story including her years ‘in service’ and the time she spent as a nurse during the war.
In the main I like my crime fiction to focus on crime and if it doesn’t then the story has to be compelling in some other way. Maisie’s story centred too much on the ultimately hum drum details of her near allegorical journey from scullery maid to psychologist for my taste and Maisie herself was a bit too like Forrest Gump (everything that could have happened to someone during the period in which the book was set happened to Maisie) for me. Almost all of the other characters seemed far to good to be true (not even the villain had a drop of evil in him) and so were fairly forgettable. The details of the time period were very accurate and Winspear does depict the social changes that were happening well but my personal preference for crime fiction set in post World War One Britain would be Charles Todd’s Ian Ruteledge series. However if you like romance mixed with your well-researched historical crime fiction then I think you’d enjoy this book and, possibly, the following five in the series.
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My rating 2/5
Publisher: Penguin [2003]; ISBN: 0-14-200433-2; Length: 292 pages
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I always feel awkward posting a review of a book that I don’t think is bad but just isn’t to my taste so I make an extra effort to find other reviews from people who enjoy the kind of book so you should check out Karen’s review at Over My Dead Body and the reviews at BookBlog.Com and A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy. Maisie Dobbs was also nominated for an Edgar Award in 2004 (being beaten by and Ian Rankin novel) and won the Agatha Award for best first novel in 2003
I remember that episode of Seinfeld where everyone except Elaine raved over The English Patient. I’m so glad I’m not alone in not being overly impressed with Maisie Dobbs. I had similar feelings to you.
I agree with your review and with Sunnie. I read this novel a few years ago now (pre-blogging) and found it dull. I did hear subsequently that it is in some sense a Young Adult book which explains a lot. But my main issue with this one was the problem you identify – it was really a book for people interested in the personal stories, and not one for those interested in crime/mystery. I know this series has many fans and they say that it gets better, but I’m not tempted.
I was similarly disappointed in Denise Mina’s first Paddy Meehan book. I loved her earlier novels (the Garnethill trilogy and a couple of standalones after that) but Paddy – no! (I only read the first – Field of Blood I think it was called). Apparently that was YA also, I read somewhere. Anyway, I’m pleased that the author has now returned to “mainstream crime” with her latest novel, out in the UK quite soon if not already, and am hoping she is back to her earlier, gritty form.
PS why are the little icons next to comments on your blog little geometrical shapes with eyes and sticking plaster (?) over their mouths?
Maxine I was playing around with my blog settings t’other day and seem to have clicked something that gives everyone without their own avatar a “little geometrical shape with eyes and sticking plaster over their mouths”. I can’t seem to find that particular ‘feature’ again to un-click it (I will find it eventually but each time I look under the word press hood I get sidetracked).
I recommend never being afraid to admit not liking a book. As long as you strive to be fair in your review and explain what it was you didn’t like about the book (which you do), I don’t think anyone would fault you for writing a less-than-glowing critique. After all, none of us can like every book that comes our way and all of us have different tastes. I’m with the “no love for Maisie Dobbs” crowd. I found the one I tried to read utterly boring. I never knew they were YA books–but, even if I were a young adult (which I’m definitely not), I don’t think those books would appeal to me.
Follow-up–regarding the “avatar.” This is the same one I was assigned when I used to comment on John Self’s sadly-missed Asylum blog. Coincidence–or a more sinister technological explanation?