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Book Review of Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, Bk 1)

Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, Bk 1)
perryfran avatar reviewed on + 1185 more book reviews


Maisie Dobbs is a young woman who in 1929 is able to open a business as a private investigator or as she decided to call herself, a "Psychologist and Investigator." At a young age, she is fortunate to be placed as a house servant and maid in the house of Lord Julian and Lady Rowan Compton. While there she is found early one morning by Lady Rowan in the library reading and taking notes on a book on philosophy. This leads to her tutelage under a good friend of Lady Rowan, Maurice Blanche. Maisie ends up taking over Blanche's investigative business. Her first case seems to be quite routine looking into a possible marital betrayal but this leads to a mysterious home for disabled and disfigured veterans of the Great War. Maisie had spent time as a nurse in France during the war and her experiences there come back to haunt her as she investigates the home for veterans.

The novel was obviously extensively researched especially the details of the horrors of trench warfare in WWI including descriptions of injuries of soldiers who have lost noses, jaws, and eyes making them want to get away from society. England in the 1920s is also depicted well and the characters in the books are all well-portrayed. Overall a very enjoyable read. I have some others in this series that I hope to get to soon.