I continue to have a lukewarm relationship with the Maisie Dobbs series. Winspear sets up excellent mysteries, and Maisie is a well crafted and interesting character. She gets personally involved in the cases that she investigates, giving them an extra layer of interest. My only complaint about her is that she's too perfect. Everything she does is exactly right and she never seems to make a mistake in judgment.

But what made this novel a three instead of a four is mostly a quirk in my own reading taste. I was along for the ride with this story when Maisie is following up on Freddy Hackett's testimony and his dangerous father. However, and I think I can say this without giving too much away, the story gets caught up in larger geopolitical forces that made it less personal and interesting, at least to me. I guess I'm more interested in the microdrama of Freddy and his unhappy household and poor neighborhood than political symbolism. By the end, I had stopped trying to keep track of the wartime cat and mouse game that Maisie was tracking down.

I adore this series and very much enjoyed this installment. The danger of overhearing something dangerous to know is even more significant during a war. In this case, a young boy running messages witnesses a crime and then later runs into the perpetrator. When the police dismiss his report he turns to Maisie Dobbs, someone he once met during the course of his work. As always in these stories, the threads become tangled and Maisie must tease them apart to learn the truth. I always love how we get to dive deeper into motive and the ways characters history can follow them from decade to decade and what happens in one war doesn't always remain forgotten during the next. These books are stories that I look forward to every time a new book appears. Thought-provoking and great fun.

Fabulous as always. This series is a must-read for me and I constantly recommend it to library patrons. While the book ended on a negative spot in the war, I was so happy to see Maisie's personal life been in such a good place. I'm still recovering from losing James, so there better not be that kind of heartbreak again.

Exciting, adventurous, beautifully written, and, ultimately, satisfying and romantic. Another winner in the Maisie Dobbs mystery series.

The Maisie Dobbs series has to be one of the best historical mystery series ever written. Jacqueline Winspear has built a solid-as-stone world around Maisie and the people in her world that is so detailed and well-researched that the reader is enveloped by it.

Fans of the series will find a much-tested, more mature Maisie who is finally figuring out what really matters. She has made her peace with the past and laid to rest old ghosts while preparing to launch herself into a whole new chapter of life. This Maisie is a little less brittle, a little less compliant, and a lot more sure of herself and of what’s right.

We see a few peripheral characters turn up in new roles, and see some old favorites in a new light as Maisie “does her bit” for the war effort while trying to help a young lad who witnessed a murder during an air raid in London. The story moves along at a good clip and keeps the reader invested.

Series fans will slurp this up in one sitting. If you haven’t read Maisie Dobbs, get you to a library right now and start with number one!

Another great installment in the Maisie Dobbs series. Maisie is working on a murder case that conflicts with her work for the war office.. Her work with Macfarland is leaving her drained as she sends people she loves off to spy in France. She also is having conflicting feelings about the course of her relationship with Mark and her stepmother is on her case about the propriety of it. These cerebral, historical mysteries never fail to delight.

This is book 16 in the Maisie Dobbs series and it's hard for me to believe how wonderful they all are. I would recommend reading them in order, with book 1 starring Maisie as a young woman at the beginning of WWI to her a widow with a young child now in the midst of WWII. The historic content is accurate and well researched but blended into the story so well. Maisie helps a young boy who is a messenger in London and swears he witnesses a murder. Scotland yard can't find a body so they think he's making it up. When the body of a Frenchman is found in the river Maisie starts her investigation. A page turner for sure, enjoy keeping up with all your favorite side characters. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review;.

I always enjoy the Maisie Dobbs series and this was equally good as the earlier books. Going from the WWI era to WWII is challenging I'm sure, but more and more of the different characters are revealed which makes each book more enjoyable.

This is the 16th in Jacqueline Winspear's long-running series starring resourceful psychologist/investigator Maisie Dobbs, now in a romantic relationship with American diplomat Mark Scott.

This episode begins in October 1941 and follows young Freddie, a government message runner who witnesses a murder from hiding. Having previously met Maisie, Freddie asks for her help.

This episode ends on a major new development in the series - as well as news of Pearl Harbor, a game changer in the war.

Freddie Hackett is a message runner for a government office in London in 1941. The job is not without its dangers given the German bombings, but what Freddie didn't expect was to see was an argument ending in murder down at the docks. An air raid delays Freddie, but when he gets to the delivery address he comes face to face with the killer.

Freddie goes to the police but they don't take him too seriously (there's no body found in the location) so Freddie seeks out a woman he met once when delivering a message ... Maisie Dobbs. Maisie believes the boy but has to tread carefully as she's currently working, secretly, for a special government agency to assess potential recruits for the French Resistance.

Maisie's worlds collide when she spots the killer amidst a power struggle between British Intelligence and French agents.
This is the 16th book in the Maisie Dobbs series, but it's the first one I've read. My wife is a fan of the series and has read them all and has encouraged me to read some, so when this ARC became available I was eager to read this.

First, I really appreciate a series that isn't greatly dependent on the reader having to have read the early books in the series. I never felt as though I was missing key information about the characters or their relationships. It's clear that Maisie has a history but i never felt that I needed to know something from her past to understand what was happening in the present. Anything I needed to know was brought to light.

The historical aspects here are quite strong and it probably goes without saying that author Jacqueline Winspear has done a great deal of research to be able to present this historical fiction. I'm personally not real familiar with the British and the French WWII history, but I do feel that this has given me some better insight, to what it was like to be in Britain during the early days of the war.

There is a relationship between Maisie and an American diplomat, Mark Scott, which plays a key role toward the end of the book. While I never felt I missed anything, the relationship is the one area where I would like to have a little more background information, just out of curiosity.

The mystery (mysteries) are well considered and well delivered and I can see why this series has lasted so long and been so popular. I'm definitely interested in going back to read more in the series (and my wife has them all).

Because of the way that this book ends, it seems pretty clear that there are more volumes in the works, but I suspect that the next one at least will be a very different adventure for Maisie and I look forward to it.

Looking for a good book? The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear is the 16th book in the Maisie Dobbs series. It is a powerful historical story and well-written mystery.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

It's October 1941, Britain has been at war with Germany for two years with no end in sight, and Londoners are still being bombed and dealing with the aftermath. For 12-year-old Freddie Hackett, the fastest runner in school, it means running messages to and from agents all over London, to earn a few shillings that his cruel father will spend in the local pub. But when Freddie witnesses a murder one night while running a message, only to deliver the message to the man who had done the killing, he's terrified and needs to tell someone about what he saw. And he knows just who to talk to.
Meanwhile, Maisie Dobbs has been enjoying motherhood ever since adopting Anna, the young evacuee who has been staying with Maisie's father and stepmother in Kent. But Maisie is also realizing that she has fallen in love with Mark Scott, the American agent from the Department of Justice that she worked with for the British Intelligence services under Robbie MacFarlane, senior detective with Scotland Yard's Special Branch. Yet, as much as Maisie might want to spend most of her life in Kent taking care of Anna, she decides to take Freddie Hackett's case pro bono, after finding out that Scotland Yard doesn't believe him and discovering blood at the site of the murder.

In the midst of her investigation, Maisie accompanies MacFarlane to Scotland where they are to test and evaluate twenty British recruits and a few French volunteers, all wanting to become overseas intelligence agents. But when Maisie meets Major André Chaput, there to observe the French recruits, she is sure that he is the murderer that Freddie Hackett described in such detail, including the deep ridges on either side of his face and the patch of pale skin under his eye. Could it possibly be a coincidence? MacFarlane has been annoyed at Maisie for taking on the Freddie Hackett case to begin with, but when she brings up her thoughts about Major Chaput, he immediately sends her back to London.

Once again, Maisie has a lot on her plate, but now that Anna and Mark have come into her life, you can really feel how torn she is between them and the happiness they bring her and her work, which brings its own satisfaction. Added to all that is Freddie Hackett, a child with a cruel alcoholic father who has had to grow up to fast in order to take care of his mother and younger sister, Grace, who has Down Syndrome. We all know Maisie is a softy when it comes to children and so, not surprisingly, she also manages to find the Hackett family a safe place to live away from Mr. Hackett while things are sorted out.

I have a feeling this may be a pivotal novel in the life and career of Maisie Dobbs. Throughout the novel, she contemplates the possibility of turning her business over to Billy, her right hand man, marrying Mark Scott and being a full-time mother to Anna. Maybe that's why this novel wasn't as exciting as previous novels. Which is fine, I still enjoyed reading it. But now I really wonder what's in store for Maisie. I have to admit, I was crushed when Alan Bradley ended his Flavia de Luce series, but there are a few more war years left, so hopefully we aren't that close to saying good-bye to Maisie.

This book is recommended for readers age 14+
This book was an eARC gratefully received from NetGalley

I've read the entire Maisie Dobbs series thus far. With so many good books out there to read, it's rare I find the time to commit to a full series by an author, but this has consistently held my attention. This book didn't fail and kept me in suspense to the end. This book seemed to bring a lot of closure to ongoing story lines in the series, so could be the last in the series? I don't know if I'm ready to say good bye to Maisie, so hoping it's not.

Maisie Dobbs is investigating a possible murder while helping the SOE evaluate potential agents and trying to focus on her family and personal life. Having read Winspear's memoir This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing and knowing that Freddie is based loosely on her father's experience adds urgency and familiarity to the characters.

Another great addition to this long running series. This 16th installment in the Maisie Dobbs series is set in London, 1941. Amidst the Blitz, Maggie must help a young boy, Freddie Hackett, prove that he saw a murder take place. Freddie is among the many youths employed as messengers, running through the streets of London, helping the war effort, all while dodging bombs and falling buildings. Did he see a murder, or was it the psychological stress of his job and home-life playing tricks with his mind?

Meanwhile, war-weary Massie is torn between her work and the need to protect both herself and her family. She is also unsure of her relationship with her handsome American beau Mark Scott. Pulled into the intrigue of war-time government espionage, she comes to see that there is a fine line between what is necessary for war and what is actually criminal. If someone is useful to the cause, should they be allowed to actually get away with murder?

If you aren't already familiar with this series, you are missing out!

The year is 1941 and Britain is in the throes of the second World War. As Maisie is hard at work with the war office vetting recruits for dangerous undercover work, 12 year old Freddie Hackett spends his days as a message runner for the government. While delivering a message, Freddie witnesses a murder take place however the police are suspicious of his story as they are unable to locate a body at the supposed crime scene. Desperate for help, Freddie searches out other avenues of assistance until her runs across Maisie. Maisie of course is a willing listener and takes Freddie at his word. As Maisie digs deeper into the case, her two worlds become dangerously intertwined. While her superiors at the war office are insistent that Maisie drops the case, she knows Freddie, his mother, and sister are counting on her to not only solve the murder but also keep them safe, as the murder has placed a target upon their backs.
Set against the backdrop of the second World War, The Consequences of Fear is a masterful blending of wartime politics, mystery, and dangerous espionage. The story itself is engrossing and full of rich details depicting life in war torn Britain that successfully bring the tension and fear many individuals experienced during that time to life. Maisie's work with SOE provides a fascinating look into the department and the dangerous work real life agents undertook in sending agents to take down the Nazi regime. The first book in the series, featuring a young Maisie Dobbs is set in WWI and it has been an entertaining journey seeing Maisie and Billie grow other the subsequent years. I highly recommend The Consequences of Fear to fans of historical mysteries, especially those set against the backdrop of war.

I finished the 16th book in the Maisie Dobbs series and did not feel satisfied. Winspear seemed to be weaving several storylines together to set the stage for a new direction. In 1941, Maisie Dobbs not only has her detective agency, but she is actively involved in in helping the British government decide if new recruits have the personality to be a spy in World War II. She finds herself helping a young, impoverished boy and his mother and sister. Of course, she is concerned about finding time to spend with her adopted daughter. While doing all this she is trying to keep a romance going with a US Air Force officer. I have no doubt that Winspear knows where she is going with this story and I look forward to what she has planned for Maisie in the next book.

Consequences of Fear is a worthy addition to the Maisie Dobbs series. It is now 1941, the bombing of London is underway, and once again Maisie in entangled in mysteries of all sorts, including mysteries of the heart. While neither this book nor the series is great literature, they are great reads. Winspear continues to explore Maisie's character while bringing her readers interesting interwoven stories that involve complex characters. Some of the more minor players are given short shrift and Maisie's circumstances afford her opportunities to be generous to people in need while being able to move about freely with little concern for shortages or safety. But that hardly matters. I'm sure there's much more ahead for Maisie and Winspear's readers will be eager to see what she has in store for them.

have loved the Maisie Dobbs series since the very first named title that was simply called Maisie Dobbs. That first in the series took place during WWI. By the time of the newest novel, Britain is heavily involved in WWII and Maisie is involved in her sixteenth investigation. Over the course of the books, all of which are excellent, Maisie evolves and grows. She goes from being a very bright housemaid to an independent woman who investigates a wide variety of cases, both those that are private and those that are for the government. While most of the books take place in England, Maisie has also been to Gibraltar and Germany. Her relationships deepen and grow and this is one facet of the stories that always brings me back. There are also love, loss and a little girl called Anna as one makes their way through the series.

In this entry, a young boy witnesses a murder. However, he is not believed by everyone. Maisie becomes involved in trying to determine what exactly happened. The concept of honor becomes important to the solving of the case. At the same time, Maisie is interviewing potential agents who, if approved, will be dropped into France as saboteurs and intelligence agents. How will she make decisions when some of the candidates are people she knows? How strained will she be by the constraints of the official secrets act? What will happen with the romantic relationship that has more recently come into her life?

Ms. Winspear has a talent for creating engaging characters. The setting of wartime London also is quite evocative. These are just some of the pleasures that are here for the reader.

This title will be eagerly welcomed by fans of Ms. Dobbs. New readers can jump in too but they may then want to go back to the beginning to see how Maisie evolves and to fully enjoy and engage in her life.

I very much enjoyed this novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

In 16 books we have followed Maisie Dobbs from 1929 to 1941. She has come so far and each book is a great read. Now World War II is hammering London with The Blitz and Maisie is secretly working for the Special Operations Executive and her work connects her to the French Resistance. On the home front a murder is committed and soon her worlds become entangled. While out on a delivery for the government, messenger Freddie Hackett witnesses a murder. When he reports the event to the police nothing comes of it. Freddie decides to contact a person he met while on the job - Maisie Dobbs. Yes, Maisie believes his story but has to be careful because of her own war work. Well one thread crosses the other and soon things become complicated and dangerous.
From my discovery of Maisie Dobbs back in 2004 while browsing in my corner bookstore and hoping to find a new mystery escape, I have never been disappointed. The series can be read out of order but read in order is always best in my opinion. Each is a solid puzzle with a well developed cast of characters and carefully researched historical settings. For fans of historical mysteries it's one series that should be on every mystery readers must read list.
My thanks to the publisher Harper and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

It's 1941 and Maisie Dobbs is bone-weary. She is compartmentalizing her life between her investigative business in London, her family and daughter in the British countryside, and her secret work for British intelligence. When we first met Maisie, it was the mid 1920s and she (and the rest of the world) was still dealing with the aftermath of the first World War. It's interesting that this book is coming out when our modern society is dealing with a pandemic. This isn't war, but there are a few parallels -- societal confusion, personal isolation, disruption of normal daily life and celebrations, and the surrounding mood of death and a bit of hopelessness.

Maisie is busy on all fronts. Her young adopted daughter has already been through a lot, and Maisie is needed at home to provide solid support. But her special skills also are on demand for the war effort and that work is emotionally grueling. And of course, Maisie also winds up investigating a murder witnessed by a young boy. As if that weren't enough, Maisie has a man in her life and they are trying to build happiness together in the midst of all this madness.

Given the historic context, none of the books in this series are light entertainment, but this one in particular seems dark. Some of the interior monologue harks back to the very early books. The last book was set during the Blitz, and this one is later, but London and England are still besieged and wondering how long they can hang on. And the reader knows that it is only 1941 and there is still a lot of pain ahead for everyone.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.