Hello!
On Writer Wednesday, I discuss another author and his or her book. Today’s pick is a series: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear.
Ah, Autumn! Apple cider simmering on the stove, a nip in the air, and a good mystery! I often find myself drawn to reading mysteries in autumn. A couple of years ago, I read Sherlock Holmes during the autumn and now this year I’m delighted to have found the Maisie Dobbs books. This is an ongoing series that was first published in 2003, but was unknown to me until very recently. I have already gobbled up the first three books this
month.
What is so appealing about them?
Maisie Dobbs is a female detective in the 1920s and ’30s. She’s more than that though. She knows people, really knows them, and she cares about them. In fact, her shingle reads that she’s both an investigator and a psychologist. How does Maisie understand people so well? She’s lived among them. From being a maid, to a nurse on the western front during WWI, Maisie has been exposed to much.
Befriending all classes, because she herself has been among them, she intuitively solves mysteries, leaving not just the answers found but the people affected in a cared for position. It’s a refreshing take on a detective. Rather than aloof, like the beloved Sherlock Holmes, Maisie Dobbs really connects to her clients and the people involved.
Another feature of the books I like is that the past always informs the present. In addition, these stories are multi-layered. There is no single big reveal. In other words, one can’t cheat by jumping to the end. I love that! Each mystery must be uncovered through the pages of the story. Maisie Dobbs is fascinating and I look forward to getting to know her better as I continue reading her series. She’s the kind of character that I enjoy writing as well as reading about.
My best to you all,
Megan