Fun period mystery. Kinda just want I fancied reading at the time, but not high art or anything. One thing I found annoying: often the detective, Maisie Dobbs, would uncover some evidence, but it's not shared with the reader - felt a little bit of a cheat in a mystery novel. Still, pleasant enough. Good reading when ill, I'd imagine. ( )

In this Maisie outing, Winspear channels a bit of "The Count of Monte Cristo", and reveals some surprising details regarding Maisie's heritage. A good one. ( )

An Incomplete Revenge: a Maisie Dobbs Novel is written by Jacqueline Winspear.
This title is Book 5 (of 17).
Maisie Dobbs, an extraordinary psychologist and private investigator, looks into a very strange and mysterious series of crimes in a small rural community in Kent.
The meticulous attention to detail and historical and cultural references of the time period make this my ‘go to’ mystery series.
Ms. Winspear is an outstanding author and researcher. Her books are atmospheric, well-plotted and very emotional.
*I would advise starting with Book #1, simply titled Maisie Dobbs.
***** a very special title & series ( )

My favorite of the series so far! Maisie heads to a small town during hop picking season and finds herself in the middle of a dark secret held since the war. With traveling gypsies, a wealthy cruel landowner, and a rogue arsonist, there’s so much story to unfold. I loved her relationship with the matriarch of the gypsies and having the chance to learn more about Maisie’s history. The story unfolded beautifully & foreshadows the growing prejudice during the ‘30s. ( )

Maisie Dobbs is asked by James Compton, son of her patron and an old friend, to look into matters at Heronsdene in Kent. His company wants to buy property from the local landowner, Alfred Sandermere, but he is troubled by tales of petty crime and odd small fires that seem to plague the village. As it happens, Maisie’s assistant Billy Beale and his family are about to go to the area to join in the seasonal hop-picking, along with many East End London families and an annual pilgrimage of Roma; the villagers dislike both groups of strangers, but concede that their labour is needed for the month or so during which the harvest must be completed. While Billy picks up information from his co-workers and others, Maisie endeavors to learn what is behind the village’s general reticence, and before too long she finds herself once more immersed in the fall-out of wartime events…. This is the fifth Maisie Dobbs story, and in it we learn a bit more about her ancestry in addition to receiving an education in post-World War I attitudes in England toward so-called gypsies, both from city folk and the country villagers who reluctantly interact with them. As well, some part of Maisie’s own personal history reaches a resolution, which is satisfying even if feeling a bit of an after-thought. I continue to enjoy this series, with its exploration of various facets of English life between the wars, and am looking forward to reading more; recommended! ( )