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I hate to admit this but I can be an impatient person, especially when it comes to watching a TV series or, occasionally, reading a book. Oh how I wish I could say I always read every single page before discovering what happens” in the end.” I can’t. I don’t. However, for some reason, I actually enjoyed reading Maisie Dobbs, the first in a series of 16 novels, by Jacqueline Winspear, from start to finish!
For a bit of background… Maisie is an only child, and very young, when her mother passes away unexpectedly. Her father, a costermonger, fearful he cannot truly care for her properly, sends Maisie to work as a maid when she is just thirteen years old. Fortunately, the couple she works for recognizes her intelligence and becomes her patrons. They hire a dear friend and polymath, Dr. Maurice Blanche, to act as her tutor/mentor, and later, send her to Cambridge. While at university, she takes a leave of absence to become a field nurse during World War I. Ten years later, she opens her own detective agency.
The books are classified as Historical Mystery/Crime Fiction and are set in London, during the decade from 1920-1930, with flashbacks to 1910. What made me so patient while reading this book?
For starters, I love historical fiction. The best way to learn about dates, facts and figures (sorry history buffs!) is to spice it up with characters who have relatable experiences and a full cadre of emotions to keep us entertained while being informed. As an unabashed Anglophile, there were many English terms and references I had to look up. What the heck is a “costermonger”? These sorts of literary tidbits intrigue me, keep me immersed and help me to get a better feel for the time and place.
Flashbacks play an important role in this first book. They help us understand Maisie’s past and how it shapes the detective she becomes. In many ways, the book tells two stories at once, which may be the biggest reason I couldn’t skip ahead. I wanted to know the full sequence of events to appreciate both narratives.
Characters were enjoyable and well fleshed. Plots were great. Writing was lovely. Most importantly, the story was simple and straightforward. I feel juggling character development, timelines and narrative with flashbacks can be a significant literary challenge, but Ms. Winspear did so with impressive ease.
The author wrote her characters with a certain level of imbued empathy. Even the “villains” were offered a bit of subtle kindness. I was genuinely surprised how much I cared about what happened to characters in this book.
I have yet to start the next book in the series, but after writing this review, I think I will!
Although, as of early 2026, the rights for a screen adaptation of this 16-book series has been acquired by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s production company, HiddenLight Productions, for development. I had never heard of HiddenLight Productions! That could be another article entirely, but the good news is that IF I grow tired of reading this series, I can always wait for the TV or movie series to come along!
