A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear
Published by Harper Books, an imprint of Harper Collins
My reviews of the first seven books in the series: Maisie Dobbs, Birds of a Feather, Pardonable Lies, Messenger of Truth, An Incomplete Revenge, Among the Mad, The Mapping of Love and Death.
It is the summer of 1932, and Maisie has entered a new phase of her professional life, working her first case for the British Secret Service undercover as a professor at a small private college in Cambridge.
Please pardon me while I cry for a minute about the fact that now, after having read the first eight books in three months, I have to actually wait for more Maisie Dobbs books. I mean, for goodness sake, I couldn’t even wait until after the discussion of The Mapping of Love and Death in order to read this one, I started it almost immediately after finishing that book.
Once again, Winspear manages to keep her series remarkably fresh without it seeming contrived. Teaching at a small college is vastly different from anything that she has done before, but at the same time it seems completely natural for her. The most interesting part of the case, however, was how much it foreshadowed what was to come in the lead up to World War II.
Another fabulous entry into the Maisie Dobbs series! If you haven’t started this series yet, what are you waiting for?
Buy this book from:
Powells | Indiebound*
* These links are all affiliate links. If you buy your book here I’ll make a very small amount of money that goes towards hosting, giveaways, etc.
Winspear was pretty sneaky in the way she kept the Maisie/James romance simmering on the back burner without having to make a major change for drama’s sake, no?
Definitely. It all worked perfectly without seeming TOO perfect, as per her usual.
I’ve read the first one! I need to get the second one from the library again – I checked it out, renewed it three times, and returned it unread. Sad.
I am not sure whether it is due to my blogging break, but I haven’t even heard of these books! Off to download a sample to my kindle!
Nice review, I am right with you on this series. I love the character and really enjoy this historical time period. I think the way she is building the sense of dread with the rise of Nazism and WWII on the horizon is great. My review is here
http://bookdiary2010.blogspot.com/2011/03/lesson-in-secrets.html
How funny you couldn’t wait. I actually missed the Mapping of Love and Death discussion because I slowed down reading it. I’m so sad about having to actually wait for a Maisie book. But I will finish Lesson in Secrets in time for Jacqueline being on Book Club Girl. I’m so excited.
I absolutely love this series! It is so refreshing to have a female character that is feminine, perceptive, and has the skillful means for when to take action or just listen. What is Book Club Girl BTW?
Jo – Book Club GIrl is an employee of HarperCollins who has a great blog:
http://www.bookclubgirl.com/
I can’t believe you have read all of these already. You definitely make it appealing to jump into the series. But I hate waiting.
I really need to read this series! I was waiting until I had finished another series with a similar setting but I seem to have stalled on that one!
When I read this series I read the first one in 2008 and then stalled. In 2009 I rejoined the library and the next thing I knew I was all caught up in this series. Now I eagerly await a new one each year.