Pardonable Lies: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear

Books Completed: 29
Completion Date: February 3, 2009
Pages: 384
Publication Date: June 27, 2006

Reason for Reading: Third book in the Maisie Dobbs series.

Agatha Christies Miss Marple. Sue Graftons Kinsey Millhone. Alexander McCall Smiths Precious Ramotswe. Every once in a while, a detective bursts on the scene who captures readers heartsand imaginationsand doesnt let go. And so it was with Jacqueline Winspears Maisie Dobbs, who made her debut just two years ago in the eponymously titled first book of the series, and is already on her way to becoming a household name. A deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her not only to the edge of madness but to the doors of those who practice the dark arts and commune with the spirit world. In accepting the assignment, Maisie finds her spiritual strength tested, as well as her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. The mission also brings her together once again with her college friend Priscilla Evernden, who served in France and who lost three brothers to the warone of whom, it turns out, had an intriguing connection to the missing Ralph Lawton.

For those that read my blog, you would probably have noticed two things about me that I feel like mentioning. Firstly, I don't read a lot of mystery novels. They enter the picture from time to time, because I try not to be close-minded, but generally I don't read a lot. Secondly, I am terrible with finishing series. I start them and then months later might read the next book! This book is an exception to both of these commonly held opinions about me, though. This is a mystery book and I only read book two in the series last month! I am breaking rules this reading year, apparently.

I really like this series, though. This book takes place about 12 years after the end of the First World War. Maisie Dobbs was a nurse in the war and she knows many people that served in the war and were touched by the effects of the war. So, even though this book doesn't take place during the war itself; it is still necessary to draw on the events of the past. The first book set up what life was like for Maisie during the war, and then each successive book has built on it. In this novel, Maisie actually has to go back to France for the case that she is working on and finds herself facing the terrible place where she almost lost her life. I think the mentioning of the war is the main reason that I stick with this series, but I also really like Maisie. For her times she is considered a spinster, but she really does not let her unmarried status or the fact that she is female stop her from living her life. It makes her a very likable and intriguing character; which makes you want to read more about her.

There are three cases on the go in this book. Two of them are directly tied in with the First World War, so I enjoyed learning the details while Maisie worked to track down the information that she needed. Obviously I have read a bit on what it was like during the war, but these men lead lives that I had never really read anything about before. They were very brave, not that everyone wasn't back then, and lead very interesting lives. Since they were not your typical wartime stories, though, it left me wondering if there are not more books on the subject. In any case, this was another good addition to the series and I cannot wait to read more!

HT News

I've mentioned before that one of my favourite HF blogs is Sarah's Reading the Past. This week she has posted about recently announced HF deals, and there are some really interesting sounding books on there!

Is it a bit premature to be excited about a book that doesn't have a release date yet? doesn't matter, because I am! Rosina Donati AKA Sara Donati has posted that she is working on the edits of The Endless Forest, the final book in the Into the Wilderness series. I will be sad when the series ends, but I also can't wait to read the book! Yes, I am a bit conflicted!

There's another opportunity to win copies of The Terror. Alyce from At Home With Books has 5 copies to giveaway if you are lucky enough to live in the US or Canada. Click here for full details.

Birds of a Feather by Maisie Dobbs

Books Completed: 23
Completion Date: January, 2009
Pages: 360
Publication Date: June, 2004

Reason for Reading: Book Two in the Maisie Dobbs series. I read book one last year, but apparently never reviewed it.

Jacqueline Winspear's marvelous and inspired debut, Maisie Dobbs, won her fans from coast to coast and raised her intuitive, intelligent, and resourceful heroine to the ranks of literature's favorite sleuths. Birds of a Feather finds Maisie Dobbs on another dangerously intriguing adventure in London "between the wars." It is the spring of 1930, and Maisie has been hired to find a runaway heiress. But what seems a simple case at the outset soon becomes increasingly complicated when three of the heiress's old friends are found dead. Is there a connection between the woman's mysterious disappearance and the murders? Who would want to kill three seemingly respectable young women? As Maisie investigates, she discovers that the answers lie in the unforgettable agony of the Great War.

I can't believe I never reviewed book one in this series! I really was slack on the reviewing front last year. Anyway, I actually really like this series, even if it is a mystery series. I am not big on ones set in a more modern period, but I have enjoyed several with historical settings. This series takes place in between the First and Second World War. The Depression years were just about to set in, actually, which is something that was mentioned throughout the book.

My favourite thing about this series, so far, is how there is of course the mystery, but Winspear also works a lot of historical elements into the novel. Maisie might be a bit revolutionary for her time: being a detective and having her own business, but she also is plagued with the same problems that other women of her age and class experienced during the early to mid-twentieth century. Things were going to change again with the declaration of war, but for now, everyone is trying to come to terms with what happened during the first major war and get on with their lives. To solve this case, though, Maisie has to go back to the events of World War I, which I found really interesting.

So, maybe I should mention the case a bit. A local businessman has employed Maisie's services to search for his missing daughter. She has run off before, but this time he really has no idea where she is and wants her back safe and sound in his house. Maisie is not sure what to make of the case or the missing heiress, but it turns out to be quite the chase when other wealthy women starting turning up dead. Could the missing heiress be next, or has she already been murdered? These are just some of the things that Maisie has to wonder as she chases down the truth.

I really like this series so far. There are lots of interesting return characters, not just Maisie. Maisie also is shown to have a life, it is not only about the case with no character development. The same could be said for many of the secondary repeat characters, they also are given time to develop. It makes for a really interesting series, I must say! I am looking forward to reading more!

HT News

A couple of interviews and a giveaway today!

Michelle Moran interviews Karen Harper about her new book, Mistress Shakespeare.

Jen Black is being interviewed at Historical Novel Review, Keep an eye out for excerpts during the week. Jen's book, Far After Gold, looks like it could be really good, especially for historical romance fans!

Stephanie from Stephanie's Confessions of a Bookaholic is giving away 5 copies of The Terror by Dan Simmons, a book that I really want to read!

The Poisoned Serpent - Joan Wolf

Norman England has little to celebrate in the new year of 1110. The country is immersed in a bitter civil war from which no one is immune, including Hugh de Leon, heir to an earldom. His Uncle Guy has arranged his marriage to the spoiled daughter of the newly named Earl of Lincoln. It is a merger that will combine two of the land's largest fortunes--and give the de Leons unparalleled power. Hugh's heart; however, belongs to the Lady Cristen, and he will do everything he can--including eloping--to make her his own.

His plan is simple enough--until the new Earl of Lincoln is murdered, and a friend of Hugh's is accused of the crime. Though he has little time in which to foil his uncle's arrangement, Hugh cannot see an innocent man wrongly hanged. To save his friend and marry the woman he loves, Hugh must work fast to track down a deadly--and wily--serpent. But when he grabs it by the tail, can he avoid its poisonous bite?

Following the first book where Hugh has to find the truth about his past we find him again when he has already been established as the Earl of Wiltshire rightful heir. This doesn’t bring him only joy because he has just been told by his uncle that he has betrothed him to the daughter of the Earl of Lincoln. The plan is to join the two most powerful families in the land and gain more power and riches. But Hugh is set and determined to marry only Cristen, his long-time love, although she doesn’t belong to a rich and influential family.

The plot thickens when the Earl of Lincoln is murdered and one of Hugh’s friends is suspected of being the killer just to help Hugh become the next Earl and get all his riches through his marriage to his daughter.

Hugh is alerted to Bernard Radver’s arrest and decides to travel to Lincoln and see if he can unravel the mystery of who killed the Earl of Lincoln. There he meets again Richard Canville, the son of the current Sheriff, whom he has known from childhood. It is apparent from the beginning that there’s past history between Hugh and Richard. Hugh evades Richard’s attempts at friendship trying to keep him at arm’s length. In Lincoln is also Elizabeth de Beauté, the young daughter of the murdered Earl, who seems as determined as Hugh not to have their betrothal be valid. Finally, Cristen proves that she is also a strong woman as she sets to Lincoln determined to help Hugh and stay with him till the truth is discovered.

Although there is a strong historical background I think in this book the attention is centered more in the detective story. Through his interview of witnesses and his deduction skills Hugh attempts to prove that his friend is innocent and that the guilt lays elsewhere. It does provide an interesting look into a medieval city’s life with its castle and its inhabitants but also with the common people going about their daily activities of selling and buying goods, attending fairs, playing games or just caring about family.

As the previous book of the series this The Poisoned Serpent is a compelling read even if at times Hugh seems almost too perfect to be true. I thought Wolf was planning a series but it seems there are just these two books. I wish she had written more because I think they were great reads.

Grade: 4/5

HT News - Giveaways

Bookfool has got a big box of books to give away, and they are all history related! I've read several of the books in the box and enjoyed them, and then there are a couple that are on the wishlist so hopefully there will be something there for everyone. You have to work a little bit for the prize, but it's not too hard. You can find the list of all the books, and the details by clicking here.

Our very own Teddy is giving away a copy of The Terror by Dan Simmons to anyone in the US or Canada. I have this book out from the library at the moment, and have heard plenty of good things about it. For all the details, click here.

Stealing Athena by Karen Essex

Captivating

Stealing Athena is about two influential and custom defying women in history. Both caught between the conventions of their time and trying to help the men they loved.

At 21, newlywed, Mary, the countess of Elgin used her charm and influence with the Ottoman Empire to gain permission for her husband Elgin to deconstruct what was left of the Greek Parthenon and bring it's amazing sculptures back to England, during the Napoleonic wars.

Two millennia earlier, Aspasia, courtesan to Perikles and philosopher, used her charm and influence to get Athens to allow the building of the Parthenon and all of its amazing monuments.

The flow of the book going from one time and place to the other was weaved in perfect synchronization by Karen Essex. Her descriptions of both the construction and deconstruction of the Parthenon made me feeling like I was there, witnessing it for myself. Essex poet pose made me race through the pages, but not wanting the book to end.

This is historical fiction at its finest! Highly recommended!

5/5

Thanks to Adrienne C. Sparks of Doubleday for a copy of this book!