Excellent book!

I'd never heard of the author or 'Maisie Dobbs' before, but since the locale and time period are of interest, I decided to take a chance.

Lucky decision.

There's so much of value in this book, all in addition to the perfectly acceptable plot and complex, well-formed characters.

Maisie Dobbs is one of the newly-independent women in England, forced to become so because so many millions of men were killed or damaged during the Great War, they had no alternative to supporting themselves. She becomes an inquiry agent -- and this is one of her cases. She's also a psychologist, and througout the book, her psychological insights help her find the answers she was hired to find.

If you like 'period' mysteries -- Anne Perry, Charles Todd, Victoria Thompson, Michael Cox -- you'll like this series.

I like the detection alpects of these books, of course I do. But beyond that, it's all the tidbits of information the author includes -- how people lived, dressed, spoke, thought and interacted -- that adds to the charm.

A bunus in the audio version is a half-hour interview with the author, who tells how hard she works to keep the books technically accurate. Of particular interest were her comments about how words bounce back and forth between the continents, coming into vogue here or there, at various times throughout the centuries. For example, the word "smog" was in use in 1904 London -- we just think it's a modern term.

I'm looking for more "Maisie Dobbs" books -- and hope they're all narrated by Orlagh Cassidy, who gave a marvelous performance. I was sorry to see the book end.

"Messenger of Truth" is a fine book in every sense. You won't be disappointed.

25 people found this helpful

Excellent audio!

The Maisie Dobbs series is absolutely wonderful -- a great combination of the "traditional British mystery" and the ugly bits of truth and progress that World War One brought to the surface -- the aftermath of war, unemployment, poverty, disease. The fallout from the explosion of the old myths is expertly and interestingly examined through characters that become friends, and complicated story lines. Cassidy's narration is terrific, I've searched for other titles she's done, simply to hear her lovely voice, and crisp, clear narration.

20 people found this helpful

Paint the Truth

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if the friend enjoys British stories concerning the difficulties in England following WWI.

Who was your favorite character and why?

In this story, I was touched by the character, Billy, Maisie's assistant who suffers a great personal tragedy. He continues on in the face of great emotional pain.

Have you listened to any of Orlagh Cassidy’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She always does a perfect job reading Maisie, Billy, and all the other characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This is my second listen to this book. I enjoyed it more. After a year or so, I might listen again.

Any additional comments?

This is one of my favorite Maisie Dobbs stories. Jacqueline Winspear's talent as a writer shines through.

5 people found this helpful

liked the narrator

Nice characterization. Descent mystery well read. I'll look for this reader again. This book is aimed at a female audience.

5 people found this helpful

Fun Listen

The series takes place in post WWI England, and is informative in capturing both time and place. Maise Dobbs is a unique personality, easy to like. The story is well-paced and intelligent. The narrator is excellent. I really enjoyed this one!

5 people found this helpful

I love Maisie Dobbs!

I do. The books are well written. The characters have lives and growth yet this is all part of the story/mystery rather than extra. This particular mystery is a little sad. Sometimes good people do bad things for the wrong reasons. Excellent narration as usual. Highly recommended!

4 people found this helpful

Great period piece

I very much enjoyed this period piece. This is set in the aftermath of The Great War, WW1, in England. It is so rich in details, you feel immersed. Great read.

3 people found this helpful

A Pleasant Surprise.

Very well done. Most believable. The author shows a very good deal of intelligence, and a good researcher. Overall a very pleasant surprise. I'm buying my second one now.

3 people found this helpful

Jacqueline Winspear and Orlagh Cassidy do it again

My copy of Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear is an audible book through my Kindle. I am a huge fan of the Maisie Dobbs series and of author Jacqueline Winspear. The production of the audible books in this series is fabulous and at the end of the book is an interview with the author – which was a great bonus! Jacqueline Winspear is an amazing author and listening to the interview at the end of the book was a real pleasure. She is passionate about her research into the time-period and history for this series. The narrator, Orlagh Cassidy, once again delivers an amazing performance as Maisie Dobbs.

In Messenger of Truth, Maisie takes a case brought to her by Georgina Bassington-Hope who wants the apparent accidental death of her brother, Nicholas, investigated. Georgina is a journalist who made her mark during the Great War and also attended Girton College like Maisie. Maisie soon discovers that the entire Bassington-Hope family are unusual and all of them have secrets. The majority of the family are artists of some type and their family home is filled with their art creating an unusual “country” home.

Maisie sets about getting involved in the art world to discover truth, but encounters dark secrets instead. Tragedy surrounds many of the artists she meets that points back to their time of service in the Great War. Georgina, herself, is still struggling to find her passion for writing again and seems adrift at the loss of her beloved twin brother.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the lonely, cold beaches in Kent where Maisie must journey several times during her investigation. The reader can feel the isolation and the cold wind from the author’s description. Along these journeys, Maisie’s personal life has some heartache as well as self-discovery. This reader was sad for her doing this book, but hopeful that she will find what truly makes her happy in the books to come.

3 people found this helpful

truth

The author's books are interesting and entertaining but not so much thrillers. Rather I think of the series as intellectual not suspenseful. I enjoy listening to the story of life in England starting in WWI and now progressing to 1930. Post war 'the Great War' and another big one brewing but only a few thinking it will be a reality. Into this setting Maise Dobbs has insights into life, she thinks about things, about life, something I do as well.

In this story Maise is caught up in a case where the question is asked whether a man died accidentally or was it murder? The dead man came from a well to do family but had been in the trenches of WWI and seen terrible things. He had come home a broken man, as many came home, but he had put it all behind him and his work as an artist reflected his views on life. He had put the war in its proper place and was moving on.

Life is for the living

There is an interview with the author at the end of the book, it puts a lot of the characters and setting into perspective..

2 people found this helpful