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.

I received an advance Kindle copy of this book from NetGalley for a fair and honest review. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity.

We meet young schoolboy Freddie Hackett during the London Blitz in 1941 as he is about to deliver a message to a government office just as Hitler who now occupies Europe is luring the United States into the war. During this nighttime delivery Freddie witnesses a murder but continues on to deliver the message only to find the murderer answering the door! He reports it to the police at Scotland Yard but his concerns are dismissed. A few days later Freddie attempts to contact Maisie Dobbs, a female investigator who is also a psychologist. It is now up to Maisie and her assistant, Billy Beale, to take on the case of discord between the opposing British War Department and the Free French agents now located in London as well. Maisie and Billy are also looking for a new home for Freddie, his mother, and his sister, Iris, to free them from his abusive father.

Since 2003 I have noted every Maisie Dobbs book that has been published. However, The Consequences of Fear is #16 in Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series and I have just now read my first one! I will celebrate this new discovery by heading on over to Maisie Dobbs #1!

Have I really been reading Maisie Dobbs books since 2013. Wow. As I was reading, I thought how fast things happened in Maisie's life--from poverty to aristocracy to marriage to widowhood to motherhood to marriage again.

The books started with the aftermath of World War I and post-war England c. 1918. The current book takes place in 1940. I guess all those things can happen in 20 years.

Maisie Dobbs is an engaging character, and the mysteries she solves are not run of the mill. The books are filled with all sorts of characters and minutiae about life in England at the start of the 2nd world war.

Great on atmosphere. Highly recommended.

WOW! What a wonderful new-to-me series to find. I had been reading the book blurbs on each new book as it was released – and they sounded like great stories – but I put off trying one because I thought it was still too close to ‘contemporary’ to suit me. I read very little that isn’t set in the Victorian or earlier eras. As I am becoming more and more disillusioned with the ‘woke’ historical romance books that are being written, I decided to branch out with more and more historical mysteries. This one is absolutely wonderful. I loved Maisie Dobbs – and YAY for me – I started with the book where Maisie gets married. The writing is excellent and the story and plotting are near perfect. What really brings the story home though, is the descriptions of life in WWII London during the blitzes. I absolutely felt as if I was running right along with Freddie as the bombs were dropping.

Freddie Hackett is twelve-years-old and is proud that he has been chosen as a message runner for the government. He is, of course, afraid of the bombs dropping, but those aren’t any scarier than his home life. If he keeps his father in enough coins to stay at the bar, maybe he and his mother won’t be beaten tonight. Freddie is a gifted runner who might be in the Olympics someday and as his feet are flying and he turns a corner toward his destination, he sees something unthinkable. Two men are in a fight, so he backs into a small doorway of a bombed-out home so the men cannot see him. When one takes a knife out and murders the other, Freddie loses his stomach contents. He remains quiet and still long after it is over – and then, shaking, he goes on his way to the delivery. He gets a really good look at the murderer – and guess who answers the door.

The police aren’t particularly interested in the murder Freddie reports, but Freddie is frightened, so he looks elsewhere for someone to help. That person is Maisie Dobbs. Maisie immediately believes the story Freddie is telling and begins an investigation despite her government office boss telling her to leave it be. As Maisie digs deeper and deeper into the case, she comes to learn that there are political implications to solving the crime. That, of course, doesn’t deter Maisie and she keeps going. She not only has to find the murderer, but she also has to keep Freddie, his mom, and his sister safe.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m so sorry I took so long to decide to give the series a try. Now, I just have to make time in my schedule to go back and read the first fifteen books. I can’t think of a single thing I’d change about the book – except I think it might be fun to have Mark more involved in Maisie’s case. I’m very happy to recommend this book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear is the 16th book in the Maisie Dobbs series. Maisie continues to work for the British War Department, evaluating men and women who will be operatives in Europe. Many will give their lives to help Britain fight the Nazis.
This all takes place in October 1941; before the United States enters the war. Maisie helps a young boy who is a runner delivering messages for the British Government. Freddie Hacket runs throughout London, dodging bombs to do this job. One night Freddie witnesses a violent murder and the police dismiss his story. Freddie seeks help from Maisie, who uncovers a very entwined allegiance for the British and the Free French agents. I have read all the books in this series and look forward to the next book. This was an ARC from NetGalley.

Dodging Nazi dropped bombs as he runs with government messages through the ruined buildings of war-torn London, young teen Freddie Hackett witnesses a murder. Even worse, when he delivers his message he comes face to face with the murderer. When the authorities don’t believe him, he takes his case to Maisie Dobbs. As Maisie, works on Freddie’s case she finds an overlap with the undercover work she does for British intelligence.
Jacqueline Winspear’s latest in the series does not disappoint and leaves us wanting more of Maisie.

I have loved all the Maisie Dobbs books, and this one was no exception. As usual, this one had just the right mix of detective work and Maisie's personal life.
Beautifully written, excellent character development and great pacing.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this title-I look forward to recommending it to our patrons.

It's been two years since we've seen Maisie Dobbs but her investigative abilities haven't waned. Freddie, a young message runner in London, witnesses a brutal murder, or did he? The body disappears and Scotland Yard does not believe him, but the terrified young man touches Maisie's heart and she takes up the investigation. She must tread carefully when she learns the free French in London and her contact at SOE appear to be involved but she gradually unravels the threads of the crime and its roots in the past and brings the case too a satisfying conclusion.

Maisie's adopted daughter and her father are safely tucked away in Kent along with several other friends and their families, and Maisie's ability to achieve all this seems unlikely, especially when she is also able to separate young Freddie and his family from his abusive father and find them a new living situation, but longtime readers of the series will rejoice that Maisie finds happiness and her family and friends are all safe, at least for the present.

As if she isn't busy enough with raising her adopted daughter, dodging the bombs that German aircraft are dropping on London, and assessing undercover agents for the Special Operations Executive, Maisie Dobbs takes on a job investigating a murder that a young delivery boy saw late one night. Not long after witnessing the murder, Freddie Hackett came face to face with the murderer. When Scotland Yard fails to take the boy's statement seriously, it falls to Maisie to prove that the boy did indeed witness the crime. As Maisie digs deeper, she gets caught up in a power struggle between British intelligence agents and the Free French who are stationed in England.

 I am always excited for a new installment in the Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series. In sixteen books, Maisie has come a long way. And the readers have come a long way with her. England is now fully engulfed in World War II as they hold the line against Germany. Maisie is caught up in important war work—work that she does not enjoy and really does not want to be a part of since it involves sending undercover agents into occupied France where they face almost certain death. Consequences of fear is a very exciting novel. Maisie figures out the identity of the murderer earlier on. The problems she faces is proving that the murder took place and determining the motive behind it. She also has to keep a young boy and his family safe as the Germans drop bombs indiscriminately across London.

 I felt like the last few novels in the series were not quite up to par with earlier books—especially THE AMERICAN AGENT. Consequences of fear brings back the excitement and intrigue to the Maisie Dobbs series.

It is fall of 1941 and Maisie Dobbs continues to work part time for Robbie MacFarlane and his secret organization tasked with putting operatives in wartime Europe as well as continue with her personal investigation business. As she notes later in this story, she has been able to draw all those whom she loves down to live in the country in hopes of keeping them safe. This includes her adoptive daughter Anna and at least on weekends the American diplomat Mark Scott, a man she is becoming closer to. Nevertheless London in 1941 continues to be bombed regularly and that is where she must often go for her work.
Many people continue to live in London and that includes a young boy Freddie Hackett. Only 12 years old but a fast runner, Freddie goes straight from school every day to run messages for government officials. One evening he witnesses a murder and no one seems to believe that it actually happened. As Maisie looks into this, she finds that it involves people that are protected by Robbie MacFarlane's office for the greater good of the war. Nothing is ever simple for Maisie but she never seems to think of giving up.

This is a series that just gets better with each book. Masie and her supporting cast of characters are all here and do their bit to advance the story which is touching and
enlightning.

Days of Infamy are the words I thought about as I finished reading this timely historical story.

Thank you NetGalley, Jacqueline Winspear and Harper Collins Publisher for this opportunity to read this wonderful historical story of pre WWII Britain

To share with new and existing followers I copied this passage into this review to show the level of detail that brings me back to Jacqueline Winspear time and again.
“the steward would come to check the blackout curtains were in place. At the front of the train, the locomotive would have a canopy across the engine that was required to be fitted onto all trains now, so that after dark sparks from the furnace would not be visible from the air, marking it as a target for any Luftwaffe pilot looking for an opportunity to add another notch to his Messerschmitt’s tail. “

I consider this a timely story as currently our world has changed by the pandemic and the political and civil strife being carried out in our cities, capitals and nation. In, Consequences of Fear, honor, hatred and revenge—play out - breaking the brittle, as Maisie Dobbs puts it. One way or another, you break.

Cause and effect are so much clearer in novels than they are in life, history has spoken it’s words, acted it’s deeds, life just goes on.
“ The war will be over one day, Maisie—what you do now will pave the way for how you will live in peace. History teaching history, peace is peace no matter what from.” So on point for today’s political noise. Getting on with it. This is a true representation of how history teaches the path the past has taken and enlightens the way for future histories to be written.

Maisie Dobbs seemed a little unsure of herself. A little out of routine, but she is a woman with great bearing. If you go back and follow her path you will see this remarkable character grow more and more.

With much more to come with this young woman, I can’t wait for Ms.Winspear’s next novel the continue Maisie Dobbs story. This is truly a five star rating. Exceptionally written with firm kindness called for at the time of great upheaval, new maternal love for Anna and romantic love as well as love for country. Jacquline Winspear stories are woven with her memories to be adored and cherished.

It has been a LONG wait for the 16th book in the Maisie Dobbs series. I am happy to say that the wait was worth it! The release date isn't for a few months but I have already been telling friends that they need to mark the date on their calendars because I am so excited to discuss the Consequences of Fear with them.
As always there are many layers to these books, this one has an excellent mystery and we see Maisie grow in ways that I wasn't expecting. At it's heart this is a book explores relationships; how we are connected to others and what we would do for those we love...and those we fear. ( I don't want to so much as drop a hint of anything that might spoil the fun for anyone so I'll be vague) As Maisie has grown older we see her relationships change with her father, others in her circle, and also her relationship with herself.
This is an absolute must read! March 23rd 2021, mark it on your calendars!

Another great addition to the Maisie Dobbs series - really well done, especially showing some of the direct links between the Great War and WWII.

I thought this series hit a slump around book 12, but imho it's fully recovered from said slump! This Maisie really reminds me of Maisie from the early books. I definitely hope the selector for my library's popular reading collection purchases this.

Winspear consistently delivers in this superb and long-running series spanning the aftermath of WWI, the tense period before WWII, and now, in this story, well into the throes of the new war - WWII. The many fans of Maisie Dobbs will welcome another thoughtful, deeply engaging spying puzzle for her to sort out. The story highlights the complexities of allied intelligence operatives working together and often competing against one another in the midst of bombings in London and surrounding areas. A very young message runner gets caught up in the conflict after witnessing what appears to be a murder. It's fascinating that author Winspear uses her own family history to tell the forgotten role that young boys played in running messages in London at great peril. Another absolutely stellar story in this series! Fans will surely love this one.

Be advised, I have read all of Jacqueline Winspear’s books as well as her memoir. Maisie Dobbs is one of my very favorite heroines because of her strength, insights, and willingness to push boundaries while at the same time being conscious of her heart and mind.

This latest entry takes place just before the United States enters WWII. During the blitz, Freddie Hackett witnesses a murder in the middle of the night while delivering a message for a government office. The police dismiss him. Enter Maisie Dobbs who already knew young Freddie. She takes the necessary steps to solve the crime. During the investigation, Maisie runs up against Special Ops Executive (SOE) where she also continues to work. Maisie questions Freddie’s state of mind and the meaning of honor.

I have always enjoyed Maisie’s references to her training with Maurice Blanche. This most recent entry in the series was highly satisfying in that respect. My only regret with these books is that they end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler alert!!!! I absolutely love Maisie Dobbs!!! I loved most of this book. Thanks NetGalley for letting me read this early! However this is one of the darker storylines. I feel that Maisie is getting pulled deeper into the espionage side of WWII and she is not liking it. Finally there is a hint of happiness with Anna and Mark Scott. Until you read the book and understand the dates. I will eagerly await the next installment. I still love Maisie Dobbs.

One of the best parts of my year is my annual visit with Maisie Dobbs. From her youth as a naive young nurse serving in WWI to her secret work for the English government during WWII, Maisie’s life has been marked by love and loss, courage and conflict, making her an exceptionally accessible and relatable character.

Maisie is at a crossroads in The Consequences of Fear; her obligations to her country are putting considerable stress on her familiar and personal relationships, and she knows that the time is coming when she may have to make difficult choices. These conflicts come to a head when she a young boy, a runner who carries messages for the war effort, claims to have witnessed a murder. While Maisie is inclined to give his story credence, others are doubtful, including Robbie McFarland who has his own reasons to be reluctant to believe that one of his French counterparts is a coldblooded killer. As always, Maisie’s empathy and integrity propel her quest to discover the truth no matter what the cost.

Series fans will be gratified by the turn of events in Maisie’s private life as well as enthralled by an intelligent and well told mystery.

Verdict: Author Jacqueline Winspear never disappoints, but this 16th entry in the Maisie Dobbs series is sure to please.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

Jacqueline Winspear continues to impress with her beloved character, Maisie Dobbs. Now in the middle of WWII and the London Blitz, Maisie still finds time to solve what seem to be minor cases, but prove to be so much more. Along the way, she saves lives by improving circumstances for those people that feel like all hope is gone.

In The Consequences of Fear, Maisie has begun to truly make a new life for herself and work toward her own happiness after so much heartache. After losing a husband and child years before, can she have a second chance at a family?

Every ending of a Maisie Dobbs book leaves the reader wanting more..