Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Leaving Everything Most Loved: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear

Leaving Everything Most Loved: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear
Published April 2014 by Harper Collins Publishers
Source: the publishers and TLC Book Tours

Publisher's Summary:
London, 1933. Two months after Usha Pramal's body is discovered in the waters of a city canal, her brother, newly arrived in England, turns to Maisie Dobbs for help. Not only has Scotland Yard made no arrests, but evidence indicates they failed to conduct a full investigation. Usha had been staying at an ayah's hostel, a refuge for Indian women. As Maisie learns, Usha was different from the hostel's other residents. But with this discovery comes new danger, as a fellow lodger who was close to Usha is found murdered.

As Maisie is pulled deeper into an unfamiliar yet captivating subculture, her investigation becomes clouded by the unfinished business of a previous case, and by a growing desire to see more of the world. At the same time, her lover, James Compton, gives her an ultimatum she cannot ignore.

My Thoughts:
I've been enjoying Maisie Dobbs for a few years now, thanks to the ladies at TLC Book Tours, and, since I like to try to read mysteries in March, I didn't hesitate to jump on board for March 2016 Month of Maisie Readalong to celebrate the release of the 12th book in the series. Unfortunately, because of a mailing mixup, I only received the book a few days ago and haven't had time to finish it yet.

Still, I've gotten far enough in to be able to tell you that this one is not only giving me exactly what I want and expect in a Maisie Dobbs mystery, it's got the connection to India and you all know how much I love novels about India. Over the past few years, I've tended to pick up books here and there throughout the series and it can be a little jarring to go backwards in Maisie's story or jump well ahead. This time, though, this one immediately follows one I have read and I'm better able to enjoy the arc of Maisie's life. I'm also impressed by Winspear's ability to pull in just enough of the history of the characters to introduce them to new readers without boring those for whom these characters are already old friends.

All that being said, I'll be back later this week for a full review of the book once I've had time to finish it. Thanks to the ladies of TLC Book Tours for once again including me in the Month of Maisie Readalong! For the full list of the books being reviewed, including a month of reviews for the new book, Journey To Munich, check out the full tour schedule.


Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Leaving Everything Most Loved, Elegy for Eddie, A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, Among the Mad, and An Incomplete Revenge, as well as four other national bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. Her standalone novel, The Care and Management of Lies, was also a New York Times bestseller. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha, Alex, and Macavity awards for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel and was a New York Times Notable Book. Originally from the United Kingdom, she now lives in California.

Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.

13 comments:

  1. I'm glad Maisie Dobbs is still a winner. I need to read more of her series.

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    1. It's one of those series that you will always get something new to think about while also getting what you expect from one of the books.

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  2. That rots about the mailing mixup, but at least you are enjoying the book so far. I love this series and was so excited to read the newest one for this tour. Can't wait to post about it. And I can't wait to read your full review of this one - its such a good story!

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    1. I am looking forward to the new one and seeing if Winspear's taking Maisie in a new direction.

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  3. I haven't yet read this series, I'm afraid. My husband wasn't a big fan of the first book and never continued with the series. I still want to give it a try. I look forward to reading it.

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    1. I find them to be somewhere in between a cozy mystery and a more contemporary mystery. There's not a lot of focus on the physical details of the crimes, no forensics really, but there's definitely more darkness than a cozy. But I can see where some fans of mysteries might find the series a little slow.

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  4. I'm becoming a Maisie fan myself and I also like stories set in India. Must get a copy for a future comfort read!

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    1. I think the next book is skipping ahead in time but I was hoping to join Maisie on her travels to India.

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  5. I haven't read this one yet but the India connection really appeals to me too - I need to catch up with Maisie!

    Thanks for being a part of the tour.

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  6. I'll be curious to know what you think once you are done.

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  7. I love the Maisie Dobbs series! All the books seem to get mixed up in my head and I can't remember which was which, but the India factor in this one stood out. Then next one for me to read is A Dangerous Place, and then #12.

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