This book, the fourth in the series, is a failure as a mystery. Maisie Dobbs is asked to investigate a death that might be murder, and eventually she uncovers not only the truth but also a smuggling ring. Unfortunately, although the reader can follow the trail of the smugglers, the resolution of the central death seems to depend on Maisie's psychic abilities--abilities that the reader doesn't have. The resolution makes sense, but it seems to come out of the blue.

There are, however, a number of reasons to read this book. Maisie herself is an interesting character. She has now moved into the flat she bought at the end of the third novel and is struggling to recover from the aftermath of an emotional breakdown. Her relationships with her mentor and her "young man" are changing. And everyone is still haunted by WWI. The book is very good at using both the war and the difficult economic and political situation, although Maisie does preach a bit. The book's end implies a new direction for Maisie's life.

Jacqueline Winspear’s books regarding Maisie Dobbs get better with each one. I like to start a series from the beginning to see the author setting the stage for their character. This author does not disappoint. I also like the “discernment” or “intuition” that the author gives her character. It is hard to write about intent and thought processes and I believe Ms. Winspear does an excellent job with it.

I quite enjoyed this! A very different type of murder solved in this, with high society and family drama at the forefront. I just wish there was more Maisy/Stratton action, but I don’t think that’ll be a thing for a long while (I’m predicting). I loved the interview the author gave at the end of the audio book, it was fascinating to hear her process of writing each Maisie book. Looking forward to the next!

At least 2.5 stars, but I can't really rate it as a "good" read. Enjoyed it well enough, but it certainly wasn't one of Winspear's best. In places, it really flagged and I just found my attention wandering.

Good writing, an extraordinary female main character, but not my type of book or story. Too much talking and divagations, and few thrilling scenes for a "mystery" book.

SUMMARY: "London artist Nicholas Bassington-Hope is found dead in his gallery, where he had been erecting scaffolding for the mysterious pièce de résistance of his upcoming show. Scotland Yards rules Nick’s death an accident and closes the case.

But his twin sister, Georgina, is convinced that there was foul play and hires psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs to look into the matter. Maisie spends the next several days acquainting herself with Nick’s high-brow family, his loyal friends, and the rich patrons who were interested in buying his work.

She learns that Nick, while universally respected as a talented artist, also produced a body of evocative and even offensive work. Did his latest masterpiece, which he had kept hidden from even close family and friends, have the potential to shock and anger someone into murder?

As Maisie flits among the moneyed gentry of the Bassington-Hopes, she is all too aware of the growing chasm between their world and the rest of London. Her own assistant, Billy, can hardly pay for a doctor for his dying toddler." (Kirkus Reviews)

I usually try to avoid books that are part of a series because I’ve got so many other things on my reading list. But I can’t seem to get enough of Maisie Dobbs, “psychologist and investigator,” so I’ve had to make an exception to that rule. This is #4 in the series and finds Maisie investigating the death of Nicholas Basssington-Hope, an artist who fell from the scaffolding as he was installing a painting. Maisie is hired by his grieving sister to find out whether the fall was accidental or the result of murder.

As in all the other books in this series, this one is rich in period detail. It’s one of the things I enjoy about every Maisie Dobbs mystery, along with Jacqueline Winespear’s gift for creating complex and often endearing characters – like Maisie herself along with her lovable and devoted assistant, Billy Beale.

This book is set in London in 1931 and like all the others in this series, the aftermath of WWI is a key element in the plot. This time the focus is on the effect it had on artists who had been sent to the front to create propaganda posters only to return with horrifying images of the atrocities they had witnessed. Having seen many of those WWI propaganda posters several years ago when I visited the Imperial War Museum in London, I was particularly interested in the way Jacqueline Winespear incorporated them into the plot.

I listened to this book which was superbly narrated by Orlagh Cassidy and included an interview with Jacqueline Winsepear talking about her grandfather who was badly wounded and shell shocked at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. She also described the research that goes into each of her books. Much of it is conducted while lingering over exhibits and sifting through archival materials at the Imperial War Museum. She also has visited many WWI battlefields in France and Belgium, and spends time walking the streets of London where many of her scenes take place. No wonder her books are full of so many fascinating details that make for such interesting reading.

I found Maisie charming in the previous books, but in this one she just annoyed me--and the mystery wasn't particularly mysterious. (Or maybe I've just caught on to Winspear's clues after reading four books in quick succession.)

I love this series so much - this one was tough and sad and I never saw the end coming. I think I have said that before with this series. ;-) But it is so true. And I am totally and completely sucked in and just want to read nothing but this series.

Very much enjoyed Maisie again! She is intelligent, kind, courageous and strong. This story centered around the death of artist, Nick Bassington-Hope. . . supposedly an accident. Maisie once again uncovers the truth in her unique way. There are lots of characters to keep track of and a few different storylines, but Winspear always skillfully weaves them together for a great mystery with a satisfying ending.

I had given up on a previous Maisie Dobbs, why did I try again? The result is the same, abandoned halfway through!

It must be me I imagine but I found the plot utter tosh and it was going nowhere. I was determined to continue reading it until I decided that it was a few hours of my life that would have been wasted so I gave it up.

Sorry, Maisie but you are just not for me.

As I wrote in my review of the 1st novel in the Maisie Dobbs series,

n  From the moment I met the character of Maisie Dobbs, I loved her and couldn't wait to see her succeed in the opening of her very own office on Warren Street, "M. Dobbs, Trade and Personal Investigations" and to learn her backstory.n

The year is now 1930, and readers of the series have known Maisie since Jacqueline Winspear introduced her to us as a woman that became a psychologist and investigator in the late 1920s following her service for England as a nurse on the battlefields of WWI France.

After reading "Messenger of Truth" at the end of March-beginning of April of this year I was so deeply touched by Maisie's experiences as she investigates a case for client Georgina Bassington-Hope that I could not write my review right away. As time continued to pass regardless of the times I passed the title on the list I couldn’t write the review. I finally realized that in order to write about the novel I needed to read it again. It truly was a necessity for me as I felt the call to read the author's descriptions of this time period of Maisie's life again of both her personal growth and also her progression of solving the inquiry for fellow Girton graduate Georgina.

Anyone that knows me well is aware how rare the occasion for me to re-read any book as there are so many novels that are always on my wish-to-read list and by the authors that I’ve yet to discover. That said, time spent with the writing of Jacqueline Winspear is always an enlightening experience. The series of Maisie Dobbs not only opens a view of history to life in England after World War I but conveys with exquisite writing the complexities of life from its beauty to its horrors and for me has touched some of the deepest parts of my heart and soul and at times putting into words thoughts felt but always left unspoken.

"Messenger of Truth" conveys Maisie’s humanity as well as recognition of her own fragility after recovery from a breakdown that occurred after she returned to the site in France of her most painful WWI memories. This story also shows that as part of Maisie’s recovery she becomes more determined to move forward not only in her personal life but to give her best to her investigations using all of her life experiences, the teachings of her father to those realized as a household maid for employer and suffragette Lady Rowan Compton, studies at Girton, and under the mentorship of Maurice Blanche. It is beautiful to read of the way in which she mentors her employee Billy Beale and a young woman named Sandra. I have found the character of Maisie Dobbs to be very insightful but particularly in this novel as she recognizes qualities of herself and accepts herself for who she has become and needs to be going forward. There is also insight to Georgina the journalist expressing herself with words and her twin brother Nick the artist expressing himself with the color, texture, and light of his art.

To be sure Jacqueline Winspear is an artist of her own merit and talent with words and I am profoundly touched by perceptions shared through her writing. I look forward to reading more about Maisie Dobbs.

Personal difficulties with cozy mystery type series so really a 2.5 but as it doesn't seem fair to give a 2 as it's probably a well-done cozy, I've bumped the rating up to 3.