I am sold on the Maisie Dobbs series! A book club started me on this, the first in the series, and I've been propelled into the subsequent books ( as of 9/7/2017 I am starting book # 7!). This first book sets the stage and makes the subsequent books more understandable. Maisie, the daughter of a London produce vendor pre WW I, takes a position as an undermaid in an upper class residence. Caught reading in the library after hours, she is taken under the wing of the lady of the house who sets her on a course of education and socialization which leads to her schooling at a prestigious college. But war gets in the way. Maisie trains as a nurse and finds herself on the edge of the battle lines in France, working with Simon, the young doctor she has fallen in love with. The rest of the books tell of her subsequent adventures as a Psychologist and Investigato in post WW I and pre WW II England and Europe.

It was a slow pace but that is what I liked. Since it was after WW1 and times were changing but the pace was slow.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and I will read a few more books since I want to see how they develop.

This is the second, and my second, of the Maisie Dobbs series. Well done. Good story.

A continuation of Masie’s story as she continues her work through Cambridge which results in a degree psychology and then she begins her studies with Maurice Blanche who becomes more than her teacher, becomes her mentor.

Read separately.

I only read Maisie Dobbs and had a hard time finishing it. Maybe because I had other things going at the time.

Jacqueline Winspear has a deep and thorough grasp of the history of WWI in Britain. The war combined with the Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on class life in Britain. Winspear weaves this knowledge into her mysteries and creates a view into this era. I love her heroine, Maisie Dobbs for her sensibility, intuition, compassion, and humility.

Maisie Dobbs--3 stars. Birds of a Feather--4 stars.
Winspear's mystery set in post WWI is very well written. Her compassion for those who suffered physical, emotional, and mental injuries in WWI is almost unsettling in its intensity. In the first book, there is a large flashback to Maisie's youth and then her time spent nursing on the front. The flashback, while setting the stage for the series, was a bit long and drawn out.
Birds of a Feather picks up the pace while still looking at the specific WWI experience. Winspear's books are thoughtful and there are no easy, evil villains.

starts out slow, but gets much more interesting as it goes along

Maisie did not grab me....sorry

Classic mystery. I enjoy this series and the development of Maisee's character.

very nice book...a crime solved because of "ORDER OF WHITE FEATHER".... first war .....started by some women!