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Maisie Dobbs #9
Jacqueline Winspear
Harper
March 27, 2012 / ISBN 978-0062049575
Fiction/Mystery Detective
Amazon
Reviewed
by Linda Morelli
Maisie Dobbs is a woman of means. Though from a poor background,
she inherited funds and property from her old mentor and has established
herself as a psychologist and private investigator. When her father's
friends ask for Maisie's help in solving the suspicious death of
Eddie Pettit - a simple and illegitimate man who had a knack with
horses - Maisie quickly obliges.
Elegy for Eddie is as much a character study as it is a period piece.
Set prior to WWII, when English society is still recovering from
the previous war, concern abounds that the German chancellor Hitler
may wish to expand his country's borders. This is a fear shared
by several characters of standing, including Maisie's lover, James
Compton.
Jacqueline Winspear has written a solid mystery involving several
characters Maisie knows from her youth, and her assistants Billy
Beale and Sandra Tapley, who help Maisie prove that Eddie Pettit
was murdered. The plot's twists and turns certainly kept me intrigued,
but what truly enthralled me was the author's characterization of
Maisie and her relationship with James.
Though James wishes to make their relationship permanent, he hasn't
asked for Maisie's hand in marriage, because she has shown no desire
to be asked. Maisie's conflict regarding marriage carries throughout
the novel. On one hand, marriage would mean happiness and security,
but it would require her to socialize with the upper crust. Except
for her friend Priscilla, Maisie is uncomfortable mingling with
the rich and famous. Furthermore, if they married, would James give
Maisie the freedom to do that which she holds dear and investigate
those cases that interest her?
The richly vibrant descriptions, the intriguing mystery and solid
plotting reminded me of Christie and Dickens. Though the first I've
read in her series, Elegy for Eddie stands on its own as an excellent
read.
Reviews of other titles in this series
Pardonable
Lies #3
Messenger
of Truth #4
An
Incomplete Revenge #5
A
Lesson in Secrets #8
Journey
to Munich #12
Reviewer's
Note: Jacqueline Winspear is a New York Times best selling
author who has won numerous awards, 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.
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