Birds of a Feather

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Mystery / Winspear, Jacqueline	4-week checkout	Due 05-24-2024
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Mystery / Historical / Winspear, Jacqueline	4-week checkout	Due 05-24-2024

Maisie Dobbs is back and this time she has been hired to find a wealthy grocery magnate's daughter who has fled from home. What seems a simple case at first becomes complicated when Maisie learns of the recent violent deaths of three of the heiress's old friends. Is there a connection between her mysterious disappearance and the murders? Who would kill such charming young women? As Maisie investigates, she discovers that the answers to all her questions lie in the unforgettable agony of The Great War.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

sophomore slump? submitted by camelsamba on July 7, 2013, 1:46pm Some things I liked about the book:
- in general, I like Maisie as a character (flaws and annoying habits included; after all, who among us is perfect?). I like that she uses insights into psychology and past history to help figure out what might be happening.
- the setting is interesting. I especially like the insights into the effect WWI had on Britain. I had read previously about the effects of gas on soldiers (Madeleine L'Engle's father suffered greatly, for example), but didn't know much more.
- the plot was intriguing. I was able to figure certain things out, or had inklings, but not at a level that was annoying.
- the writing style is engaging.

Some things I didn't like:
- all the mystical / spiritualist hoo-hah got to be too much. Asking to be alone in a room to sense the aura? Whatever. I'm okay with insights gained from talking to / about people, but the skeptic in me raises an eyebrow at the more extreme parts.
- sometimes the writing seems to go on about certain details for no reason. Seems like at least 10% could be edited out with no ill effect. And every now and then I thought "wait, didn't she say something different earlier?" (minor inconsistencies, but enough that I noticed)

Overall, I enjoyed the first book more - I don't remember it suffering from these same flaws. Hopefully the third will return to the higher standard.

Turns on Turns submitted by elsbetherin on August 17, 2016, 10:26am This book brings Maisie alive again. It was a different look at WW1 in a way that many of us don't know anything about. Her story telling is fun and easy to follow!

re mystical/spiritualist hoo-hah submitted by DianeHall48 on February 16, 2017, 4:36pm This is in response to camelsamba: I understand. However I respect the historical correctness. During the time period of the book, spiritualism was popular and credible in this setting. It is authentic to the time period and geographic location.

Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series is a good read. Well written, good character development that gradually unfolds. A welcome change from all the extreme violence and exotic characters (i.e., sociopaths, vampires, etc). I recommend, if at all possible to read the series in order of original publication. Each book can stand alone, but they do build on each other.

cest la viee bounjour bon compat paix mondiale submitted by angie. on July 30, 2021, 3:04pm j'adore ça ! c'est la vie. Je veux dire que je l'ai aimé mais je ne sais pas pour les autres parce que nous avons tous des goûts différents pour les livres, n'est-ce pas ? mais ou les amateurs de livres, les mélomanes ou les amateurs d'art, je suppose que c'est plutôt cool, tellement sympa ! Elle est bonne! c'est plutôt bien ahh. Les modèles sont si bons ! Je les aime! héhé bien, bonne fin de journée ! bon :) beaucoup d'amour à tout le monde. nous avons besoin de la paix mondiale, pas de combats.j'adore ça ! c'est la vie. Je veux dire que je l'ai aimé mais je ne sais pas pour les autres parce que nous avons tous des goûts différents pour les livres, n'est-ce pas ? mais ou les amateurs de livres, les mélomanes ou les amateurs d'art, je suppose que c'est plutôt cool, tellement sympa ! Elle est bonne! c'est plutôt bien ahh. Les modèles sont si bons ! Je les aime! héhé bien, bonne fin de journée ! bon :) beaucoup d'amour à tout le monde. nous avons besoin de la paix mondiale, pas de combats.

Interesting submitted by desuka81 on August 1, 2021, 9:57am Interesting and brilliant