i found the eastern mysticism a bit abrasive in this book and I didn't like the use of imitating body posture to guess what a person is feeling , but I enjoyed it enough to try another ( )

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't stay very interested. Maisie, in the end, was just too perfect to be likeable, and there were no real villians at all. Even the Major turned out to be just a man driven mad by the damands of the war, and his henchman similarly twisted and confused. Her love interest had been conveniently disposed of with a heroic death, all the characters were saved at the last minute, etc. Even Disney cartoon characters are more interesting. But there were several bright moments that rescued this book. I was moved by Maisie's experiences and observations as a field nurse during the war. Until he was revealed as a sad lunatic who only needed Maisie's understanding to be stopped in his tracks, I found the mystery of the Major and The Retreat intriguing. Those bright moments held me to the story, kept me slogging through the dull parts. At the very least, this story kept my mind otherwise occupied while getting my chores done over the weekend. That's worth something. ( )

Engaging characters, good plotlines ( )

I would really like to give this book 3.5 stars. It kept my interest and the writing was enjoyable, but a bit slow. I think one Maisie Dobbs book will be enough for me. I'm glad I gave this series a try. ( )

When I first started reading this, I thought it reminded me a little bit of the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series, how it is the story of a young woman who decides to start her own little investigation business. And then I noticed that a reviewer is quoted on the back of the book, making that exact comparison. But really, that's pretty much where the similarity ends. This book is set between the World Wars, and Maisie Dobbs is a veteran of WWI. She is described as having a particular gift, for creating an environment where people will confide in her and almost help themselves to the conclusion of whatever woe led them to seek her services. Part of this is her natural personality, and part of it is the training she received from her mentor. The first part of the book describes the "mystery of the week," and is almost inconsequential, except that is leads Maisie to a much bigger and more sinister issue, and opens the door for the reader to understand Maisie's personal story. The second part of the narrative is that story. The last part of the book concludes the mystery and sets up the future of the series. It felt very much like the first episode of a police procedural television series, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The writing is good and the characters are likable. I'll definitely go back and read more of Maisie's exploits. I have no doubt that WWII will become a character as the series continues (no spoilers here, just speculation), since it is hinted at in the last few paragraphs. I'm happy to have a new mystery series to pick away at. ( )