I have never met another character like Maisie Dobbs. She’s kind, compassionate, hard-working, brilliant, family-oriented and just so darn likable! Yet with a mysteriously complicated past, Maisie makes for an intriguing heroine that readers will be eager to learn more about. In this first novel of the nine-book series, Winspear creates a deep and poignant tale that is much more than your typical “mystery novel”. Danger, intrigue and romance fill many a page, and there’s even a few scenes reminiscent of PBS’s Downton Abbey. With easy readability, rich details and authentic British accents, Maisie Dobbs is a fantastic series starter.
Content Analysis:
Language/Profanity: 19 religious exclamations, 6 mild obscenities, 1 derogatory name
Violence/Gore: Secondhand reports of violence from a character’s memories of World War I; secondhand report of a man being shot; secondhand report of two characters’ deaths; an incident of an attempted hanging; non-detailed scenes of violent death involving suicide, explosions and working as a nurse.
Sex/Nudity: Several incidents of kissing
Mature Subject Matter:
Death of a family member; death of a friend; war; murder; socioeconomic conflict; mental health issues.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
A few characters smoke.
