Pardonable Lies
Ratings15
Average rating3.9
A deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her not only to the edge of madness but to the doors of those who practice the dark arts and commune with the spirit world.
In accepting the assignment, Maisie finds her spiritual strength tested, as well as her regard for her mentor. The mission also brings her together once again with her college friend Priscilla Evernden, who served in France and who lost three brothers to the war -- one of whom, it turns out, had an intriguing connection to the missing Ralph Lawton.
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15 primary booksMaisie Dobbs
Maisie Dobbs is a 15-book series with 15 primary works first released in 2003 with contributions by Jacqueline Winspear.
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In this the third book in the series, Maisie Dobbs takes on three new cases. Two of them intersect with each other and have troubling links to Maisie's WW1 experiences. She must return to France and face her own inner demons. In addition to that, someone is stalking her and seems to wish her harm. Maisie must watch her back.
Good book. Rather more than just another cozy mystery.
(Aside: Looking over the reviews, it seems that almost all the readers of this series are women. I suppose I must be a rare exception.)
Best of the series so far with regard to plotting and character development. Still, I am going to take a break because, while I enjoy these books, they are very serious and morally righteous. In some ways, that is a refreshing change for detective stories, but I get tired of Maisie always, without question, taking the high road. I want to see her struggle to choose what's right sometimes. Also, I agree with others that her method of “psychology” (which relies mostly on new-age theories about intuition and feelings ((female stereotypes)), rather than science) irks me.
Another little gem. These are a good lesson when I need a pleasant and interesting distraction. I appreciate the strong female main character, and the writing takes me back to England and France between the wars. I'm looking forward to number four.
