Elegy for Eddie Blog Tour and Review

Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
Publication date: March 27, 2012 by Harper
Source: publisher via TLC Book Tours for an honest review
Description:
Early April 1933. To the costermongers of Covent Garden—sellers of fruits and vegetables on the London streets—Eddie Pettit was a gentle soul with a near-magical gift for working with horses. So who would want to kill him . . . and why? Maisie Dobbs's father, Frankie, had been a costermonger, and she remembers Eddie fondly. But it soon becomes clear that powerful political and financial forces are determined to prevent her from learning the truth behind Eddie's death. Maisie's search for answers on the working-class streets of Lambeth leads her to unexpected places and people: to a callous press baron; to a has been politician named Winston Churchill; and, most surprisingly, to Douglas Partridge, the husband of her dearest friend, Priscilla. As Maisie uncovers lies and manipulation on a national scale, she must decide whether to risk everything to see justice done.

My Take:

As anyone familiar with my blog knows, I really enjoy the Maisie Dobbs books, so I was happy to participate again in the latest tour in anticipation of the newest book in the series which will be published later this month. This time I read Elegy for Eddie, which takes place right before Leaving Everything Most Loved.

Eddie Pettit was quite a legend in London for his amazing way with horses. He was born in a stable and seemingly since birth has been able to understand horses and is able to calm them in any situation. He was often thought to be a bit "slow", but was loved by his mother and many people who knew him. When he dies in a freak accident that many are suspicious about, several of the men he worked with ask Maisie to look into it. Of course Maisie agrees to help - she knew Eddie and is anxious to get to the bottom of the suspicious accidental death. What seems like a fairly simple investigation soon becomes very dangerous for those around Maisie and appears to have far reaching connections to a much larger political situation. 

As always, Winspear is able to show Maisie unraveling the mystery while she deftly details the political and economic situation of the period. I really love how she is able to bring daily life and economics seamlessly into the story. Without belaboring the point, the author makes sure the reader understands exactly where in history the story takes place so the importance of certain actions within the drama becomes clear. I also enjoyed seeing how Winspear was setting up the historical background for the next book. 

I seem to have a habit of reading and reviewing the books out of order, but fortunately, they can all be read as either stand alone books or as a series. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series will be adding it to my book collection.

As usual, I can enthusiastically recommend any Maisie Dobbs book, including Elegy for Eddie. I usually specifically recommend the books to my teenage daughters and their friends because I think Maisie Dobbs is a good fictional role model in a lot of ways. I would say that anyone who enjoys historical mysteries, historical fiction taking place during the lead up to World War II, or taking place in England in the 1930's would enjoy the book.

Goodreads link for all the Maisie Dobbs books.

About Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Leaving Everything Most Loved, Elegy for Eddie, A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, Among the Mad, and An Incomplete Revenge, as well as four other national bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. Her standalone novel, The Care and Management of Lies, was also a New York Times bestseller. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha, Alex, and Macavity awards for the first book in the series,Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel and was a New York Times Notable Book.

Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.

Jacqueline’s Tour Stops

Monday, March 2nd: A Chick Who Reads – Birds of a Feather

Monday, March 2nd: Reecas Pieces - Birds of a Feather

Tuesday, March 3rd: Olduvai Reads – Pardonable Lies

Tuesday, March 3rd: Reecas Pieces – Pardonable Lies

Tuesday, March 3rd: A Utah Mom’s Life – Messenger of Truth

Wednesday, March 4th: No More Grumpy Bookseller – An Incomplete Revenge

Wednesday, March 4th: Too Fond – Among the Mad

Wednesday, March 4th: Lavish Bookshelf – Among the Mad

Thursday, March 5th: The Road to Here - The Mapping of Love and Death

Thursday, March 5th: A Bookish Way of Life – A Lesson in Secrets

Friday, March 6th: A Book Geek - Elegy for Eddie

Monday, March 9th: Bell, Book and Candle – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Tuesday, March 10th: Wordsmithonia – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Wednesday, March 11th: Reading Reality – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Thursday, March 12th: Book Loving Hippo – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Friday, March 13th: bookchickdi – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Monday, March 16th: Dolce Bellezza – A Dangerous Place

Monday, March 16th: A Bookworm’s World – A Dangerous Place

Tuesday, March 17th: Reading Reality – A Dangerous Place

Tuesday, March 17th: Broken Teepee – A Dangerous Place

Wednesday, March 18th: A Patchwork of Books – A Dangerous Place

Wednesday, March 18th: M. Denise Costello – A Dangerous Place

Wednesday, March 18th: Lavish Bookshelf – A Dangerous Place

Thursday, March 19th: Dwell in Possibility – A Dangerous Place

Thursday, March 19th: Wordsmithonia – A Dangerous Place

Thursday, March 19th: A Chick Who Reads – A Dangerous Place

Thursday, March 19th: Jorie Loves a Story – A Dangerous Place

Thursday, March 19th: A Bookish Way of Life - A Dangerous Place

Friday, March 20th: Joyfully Retired - A Dangerous Place

Friday, March 20th: Tina Says … – A Dangerous Place

Friday, March 20th: History from a Woman’s Perspective – A Dangerous Place

Leaving Everything Most Loved Blog Tour and Review

Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
Publication date: Reprint edition April 8, 2014 by Harper Perennial
Source: Publisher via TLC Book Tours for an honest review
Synopsis:
London, 1933. Two months after Usha Pramal’s body is discovered in the waters of a city canal, her brother, newly arrived in England, turns to Maisie Dobbs for help. Not only has Scotland Yard made no arrests, but evidence indicates they failed to conduct a full investigation. Usha had been staying at an ayah’s hostel, a refuge for Indian women. As Maisie learns, Usha was different from the hostel’s other residents. But with this discovery comes new danger, as a fellow lodger who was close to Usha is found murdered.
As Maisie is pulled deeper into an unfamiliar yet captivating subculture, her investigation becomes clouded by the unfinished business of a previous case, and by a growing desire to see more of the world. At the same time, her lover, James Compton, gives her an ultimatum she cannot ignore. Bringing a crucial chapter in the life and times of Maisie Dobbs to a close, Leaving Everything Most Loved signals a vital turning point in this remarkable series.

My Take:

As usual, I was happy for the opportunity to read and review a new Maisie Dobbs book. I really enjoy reading about the character - an intelligent, well-educated female detective who places importance on taking the time for deep thought and bettering herself throughout her life.

A young woman from India named Usha Pramal is murdered and the investigation into her death becomes stagnant and almost forgotten until her brother arrives and asks Maisie Dobbs to look into it. Maisie is up for the challenge even though she is also dealing with other issues. Billy Beale, Maisie's assistant, hasn't fully recovered from an injury received on a different case. He is displaying erratic temper and a worrisome lack of concentration. On top of this, Maisie is feeling pressure from James Compton to make a decision about his marriage proposal, but Maisie has a desire to travel and explore more of the world.

It is in the midst of this turmoil that Maisie must pursue the evidence to find the person who killed Usha. The investigation not only eventually reveals the murderer, but it also deals with prejudice, people who profess to be doing God's work but are actually profiting from the misfortunes of displaced Indian women, broken families and a certain mystical aspect to Usha herself.

Leaving Everything Most Loved seems to be a sort of wrap up of a certain period in Maisie's life and there are transitions for her and for Billy. I felt the relationship between Maisie and Billy had changed over time and their lives are about to change in major ways.

I did wonder how common or accurate the depiction of the relationship between Maisie and James was. Would their cohabitation be frowned upon or would their high social and economic status quiet any possible scandal? I don't know, but I found it interesting. And  I was glad to see Maisie contemplating big changes in her life and following her own path. It feels like the time is right for her to attempt a new venture. I am curious to see where their relationship goes in the future.

I look forward to reading about Maisie's new adventures and I feel certain that there will be many interesting and possibly exotic locales for her to explore.

About Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Leaving Everything Most Loved, Elegy for Eddie, A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, Among the Mad, and An Incomplete Revenge, as well as four other Maisie Dobbs novels. Originally from the United Kingdom, she now lives in California.
Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.

Jacqueline’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, April 8th: Broken Teepee
Wednesday, April 9th: Col Reads
Thursday, April 10th: Book Addict Katie
Monday, April 14th: My Bookshelf
Wednesday, April 16th: A Book Geek
Thursday, April 17th: A Bookish Way of Life
Monday, April 21st: Book Dilettante
Tuesday, April 22nd: Peppermint PhD
Wednesday, April 23rd: The Reader’s Hollow

Thursday, April 24th: Mel’s Shelves

A Lesson in Secrets - Month of Maisie Blog Tour

A Lesson in Secrets (Maisie Dobbs #8) by Jacqueline Winspear
review copy provided by Harper Perennial via TLC Book Tours
Description from Goodreads:

In the summer of 1932, Maisie Dobbs’ career goes in an exciting new direction when she accepts an undercover assignment directed by Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and the Secret Service. Posing as a junior lecturer, she is sent to a private college in Cambridge to monitor any activities “not in the interests of His Majesty’s Government.”

When the college’s controversial pacifist founder and principal, Greville Liddicote, is murdered, Maisie is directed to stand back as Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane and Detective Chief Inspector Stratton spearhead the investigation. She soon discovers, however, that the circumstances of Liddicote’s death appear inextricably linked to the suspicious comings and goings of faculty and students under her surveillance.

To unravel this web, Maisie must overcome a reluctant Secret Service, discover shameful hidden truths about Britain’s conduct during the war, and face off against the rising powers of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei—the Nazi Party—in Britain.

A pivotal chapter in the life of Maisie Dobbs, A Lesson In Secrets marks the beginning of her intelligence work for the Crown. As the storm clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Maisie will confront new challenges and new enemies—and will engage new readers and loyal fans of this bestselling mystery series.

My Take:

A Lesson in Secrets is another fine addition to the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. We find our heroine, Maisie Dobbs little a bit older, a bit wiser and ready for some new challenges.  Her main new challenge is working undercover for the British Secret Service at a small private college whose founder is a controversial pacifist. Things take an interesting turn when the founder of the college, Greville Liddicote turns up murdered soon after Maisie starts working at the college as a lecturer. While Maisie is supposed to leave the murder investigation to Scotland Yard and focus on her own assignment, she is pretty certain the cases overlap and thus has to tread carefully between the two different  departments. 

Naturally, Maisie is able to spot several different paths for the investigation and manages to follow up on each of them while maintaining her teaching schedule and running her own investigation business in London with the help of her assistant and friend, Billy Beale. 

There are actually several different issues that Maisie must deal with in this novel. She is quite capable and her perceptive nature and special training help her stay several steps ahead of the police investigators. I always love the detailed descriptions of all the work Maisie and Billy put in while working on their cases. Their methods seem quite advanced and intuitive. 

Although some of the things Maisie finds out trouble her, the Secret Service seem less inclined to be concerned. There is an attitude of dismissal regarding the activities of the Nazi party that is puzzling but interesting considering their very different attitude about pacifists and conscientious objectors.

There are so many secrets in this book, hence, I would assume, the title. It isn't just the individual people who have their secrets, the government and military have theirs too. There is much to consider in A Lesson in Secrets, as there are in the other Maisie Dobbs books. I often find myself thinking about certain ideas or issues that came up in the book long after finishing the book. That is one of the things I love about Maisie Dobbs books -- they are never simple even though they are easy to read, there are always many issues to contemplate after closing the book.

A Lesson in Secrets deals with the ideas of peace and pacifism and what the motivations for both are. It also looks as the way others, including governments, look at these ideas and touches on some of the implications of war, peace, profits to made on wars and the conflicting motives of the players involved. Of course, it also deals with secrets - personal, government, commercial -- the effects of secrets, both benign and extremely bad. 

I was struck again while reading A Lesson in Secrets by how much effort Maisie had to put  into finding out information and the seemingly long wait for the information to arrive. I think this acceptance that things take time and not expecting instant information contributes to the much more relaxed pacing of the book and yet doesn't detract from the interest or urgency of the story. I really enjoy letting the mystery unfold at a leisurely pace instead of the rushing, headlong, mad dash that characterizes so many modern mysteries. Reading Maisie Dobbs books are always enjoyable and help me to slow down and consider things a bit more carefully - at least for awhile.

About Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in the county of Kent, England. Following higher education at the University of London’s Institute of Education, Jacqueline worked in academic publishing, in higher education, and in marketing communications in the UK.

She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and while working in business and as a personal / professional coach, Jacqueline embarked upon a life-long dream to be a writer.

Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Elegy for Eddie, A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, and Among the Mad, as well as five other national bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha, Alex, and Macavity awards for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel and was a New York Times Notable Book. She now lives in California and is a regular visitor to the United Kingdom and Europe.

Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.

Jacqueline’s Tour Stops:

Monday, March 4th: The House of the Seven Tails – Maisie Dobbs

Monday, March 4th: BookNAround – Birds of a Feather

Wednesday, March 6th: Peppermint PhD – Pardonable Lies

Thursday, March 7th: Melody & Words – Birds of a Feather

Thursday, March 7th: The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader – Messenger of Truth

Thursday, March 7th: Anglers Rest – Messenger of Truth

Thursday, March 7th: Lavish Bookshelf – An Incomplete Revenge

Friday, March 8th: Olduvai Reads – Maisie Dobbs

Friday, March 8th: 5 Minutes For Books – Pardonable Lies

Friday, March 8th: Anglers Rest – Among the Mad

Friday, March 8th: The Road to Here – Among the Mad

Friday, March 8th: A Bookish Way of Life – The Mapping of Love and Death

Friday, March 8th: The Book Garden – The Mapping of Love and Death

Monday, March 11th: The House of the Seven Tails – A Lesson in Secrets

Tuesday, March 12th: Starting Fresh – A Lesson in Secrets

Wednesday, March 13th: A Book Geek – A Lesson in Secrets

Thursday, March 14th: Lit and Life – A Lesson in Secrets

Friday, March 15th: Nonsuch Book – A Lesson in Secrets

Monday, March 18th: Short and Sweet Reviews – Elegy for Eddie

Tuesday, March 19th: Veronica M.D. – Elegy for Eddie

Tuesday, March 19th: Helen’s Book Blog – Elegy for Eddie

Wednesday, March 20th: guiltless reading – Elegy for Eddie

Thursday, March 21st: Booktalk & More – Elegy for Eddie

Friday, March 22nd: Library Queue – Elegy for Eddie

Monday, March 25th: A Bookworm’s World – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Monday, March 25th: cakes, tea and dreams – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Tuesday, March 26th: Oh! Paper Pages – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Wednesday, March 27th: The Written World – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Thursday, March 28th: Quirky Bookworm – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Friday, March 29th: nomadreader – Leaving Everything Most Loved

Messenger of Truth

Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear
Review copy provided by TLC Book Tours via Picador
Description from Goodreads:
London, 1931. On the night before the opening of his new and much-anticipated exhibition at a famed Mayfair gallery, Nicholas Bassington-Hope falls to his death. The police declare the fall an accident, but the dead man's twin sister, Georgina, isn't convinced. When the authorities refuse to conduct further investigations and close the case, Georgina - a journalist and infamous figure in her own right - takes matters into her own hands, seeking out a fellow graduate from Girton College: Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator.
The case soon takes Maisie to the desolate beaches of Dungeness in Kent, as well as the sinister underbelly of the city's art world. And while navigating her way into the heart of the aristocratic yet bohemian Bassington-Hopes, Maisie is deeply troubled by the tragedy of another, quite different family in need.

In Messenger of Truth, Maisie Dobbs again uncovers the dark legacy of the Great War in a society struggling to recollect itself in difficult times. But to solve the mystery of the artist's death, she will have to remain steady as the forces behind his death come out of the shadows to silence her.

Following on the bestselling Pardonable Lies, Jacqueline Winspear delivers another vivid, thrilling, and utterly unique episode in the life of Maisie Dobbs.

My take:

March is Maisie Month and I am reviewing Messenger of Truth, the fourth Maisie Dobbs book. I had read the first Maisie book and absolutely loved it, so I was eager for the opportunity to read and review another Maisie book.

Messenger of Truth takes place in 1931 in London and Dungeness in Kent. When a controversial young artist, Nicholas Bassington-Hope, falls to his death, his twin sister, Georgina doesn't believe the official police finding of accidental death. She hires Maisie to look into his death and find out what really happened. It sounds simple enough. Things get much more complicated as Maisie begins her investigation. The plot slowly unfolds with the numerous characters divulging their stories and eventually their secrets. As usual, Maisie uses her own special methods most of which she learned while apprenticing with her mentor, Dr. Maurice Blanche. Maisie has recently broken away from Blanche due to a rift and an emotional episode she experienced in an earlier book.  Maisie continues to try to be strong and independent while creating a challenging, interesting career for herself.

As I read the book, I was struck by how appropriate the title of the book was. The artist, Nick, uses his art to tell the truth as he sees it. His art has become controversial because he uses real people’s faces in his pieces and refuses to water down what he sees to be true. Maisie also is a messenger of truth in her work, by finding out the truth in her cases. Georgina, Nick's sister is a journalist who also seeks to tell the truth she saw during war time.

The plot of the book kept me interested, but the way the story unfolds piece by piece, with Maisie methodically uncovering stories, secrets, hopes, fears, really held my attention. I don't want to give too many plot points away, but the story worked for me. I wasn't completely surprised by the conclusion, but it was satisfying. 

 As with the first Maisie Dobbs book, I really loved how Maisie always holds herself to a high standard and holds herself accountable to herself. She examines her own emotions, the causes of them and faces them even if she might be more comfortable not facing them at all.

There are many recurring themes in the Maisie Dobbs books.  In Messenger of Truth, the contrast between the classes is handled quite well. Billy Beale, Maisie's assistant provides a strong counterpoint to the wealthy Bassington-Hopes. Billy is struggling to feed his own family as well as his wife's sister's family because of lack of work. Billy’s young daughter is gravely ill and he can barely put food on the table.  The strong contrast between his situation and the wealthy, eccentric, artistic Bassington-Hope family who can spend their time painting and writing while he can’t afford to treat his daughter’s illness is quite poignant. To bring it even more to the forefront, the wealthy American who can pay a fortune for a painting when Billy can't put meat on the table helps to bring out the reality and gravity of the situation of the lower economic class.

Another theme is, naturally, the after effects of war - on Billy, on Maisie herself, on the artist Nick, on his sister Georgina - on the entire country. This theme is dealt with in each of the books and is always done well and with sympathy and understanding.   Finally, Nick forces everyone to face some very stark and ugly truths about war and how it affected his own family.

I found this book to be very enjoyable and I would highly recommend the Maisie Dobbs books to everyone.  I am quite anxious to read the rest of the books in the series.

About Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in the county of Kent, England. Following higher education at the University of London’s Institute of Education, Jacqueline worked in academic publishing, in higher education, and in marketing communications in the UK.
She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and while working in business and as a personal / professional coach, Jacqueline embarked upon a life-long dream to be a writer.
A regular contributor to journals covering international education, Jacqueline has published articles in women’s magazines and has also recorded her essays for KQED radio in San Francisco. She lives in California and is a regular visitor to the United Kingdom and Europe.
Jacqueline’s novels thus far—Maisie Dobbs, Birds of a Feather, Pardonable Lies, Messenger of Truth, An Incomplete Revenge, and Among the Mad, The Mapping of Love and Death, and A Lesson in Secrets are set in the late 1920s and early 1930s, with the roots of each story set in the Great War, 1914–1918. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards.
Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.