This is one of the best mysteries I have ever read, mostly because it is as much about the psychology of the characters as the mystery itself. I'll have to admit, at first I found Maisie a bit off putting as she was so darned smart and insightful, but by the end, when her essential messy humanity is revealed, I came to like her very much.

RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing at the Ventura Meet Up.

I caught this at the August meet-up. I''m always look for new female writers and protagonists, so I''m looking forward to reading this one.

It took me ages to pick up this book, but once I did so I couldn't put it down. It won the 2003 Agatha Award for Best First Novel and it's easy to see why. In fact, every book in this series has either won or been nominated for an Agatha or a Macavity. I must concur with Lucinda that this is a truly excellent mystery. Both Maisie and Maurice are shades of Sherlock Holmes, but shades of the first water. They delve into the psychology behind an action far more than was ever visible in Doyle's venerable duo.

RELEASE NOTES:

I'll bring this to the Ventura County BC meeting tonight. There will be a couple mystery fans in attendance that this should appeal to. If it doesn't though, you'll find it on the bookshelf afterward.

Nice quiet low key read, interesting descriptions of the times and people of post WWI London.

RELEASE NOTES:

Back to Latte 101

My virusus are no more, so I caught this at the June '08 meet & greet, where it was just 'Kat' & I there !I'll check it out and get back later on this book!
'Lucinda', 'Kat..', & 'Steelknee' all local BX-ers gave it high marks! a must read!

A private eye and a psychlogist!! Maurice taught Maisie so well! To not only delve into the what but also the why and what will client choose to do once they get the information they asked for? all of these questions are posed to a young client who believes that their spouse is probably 'cheating' on them!
Maisie and her teacher/benefactor, Maurice seem
to be so smart, that I wasn't sure what to think, but I couldn't stop reading!
another interesting twist was to introduce Maisie to an aquaintance from her distant past, a past that Maisie has tried to leave behind, but is glad, later that she didn't ! The duo of Holmes and Watson would like this team of P.I's !! I'll look for the 2nd book on Maisie Dobbs, "Birds Of A Feather" and read it soon!
I'll send it to 'sherlockfan' & family when they come off their vacation in London and the Continent!!
The author, Jaqueline Winspear is now or has recently lived in Ojai, CA! She is a Ventura County writer! She, Sue Grafton, and some other local authors had a writer's seminar in July '08 at Cal State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), or Cal Luthern University (CLU)! See "www.VenturaCountyStar.com/news/lifestyle/books" column 'Literary Happenings' by Jo Ellen Heil dated either July 13 or July 20, 2008!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Back to Latte 101 on Telephone Road in Ventura, CA ! come to the meetup on 09/15/08 at 7-ish(6:45 on). come and look in the back for some crazies passing books around the table!!
If no one takes it, then I'll send it on to 'sherlockfan' in Wellington, New Zealand !!
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Will send a surprise off somewhere !!
02/02/09:Sent this off to 'liz-z' in Ohio! I'll get another copy to send to 'Sherlockfan' later! this is a local author that lives in Ojai(like Ohio, except no "o"), about 10 miles from Ventura, CA!! Jacquline Winspear writes a different style of detective story !

This was a surprise RABCK from vc-mike. Thanks so much! I am looking forward to reading it, I always love finding new authors.