Another of my favorites comes to a close with Winspear's final entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. As expected, the writing is exquisite and the characters richly drawn and developed. While there's less of a mystery here and more tying up loose ends, the story hangs together nicely and is peppered with references to earlier books and events. The last part of the story focusing on James Compton was wonderful to read and full of hope, which has been the red thread tying all of the Maisie books together.

While Maisie experienced some terrible things during this series, she always carried hope with her or found it again. The scenes described here of the devastation the British people faced after World War II are awful to read, but so important to the arc of Maisie's story. Winspear takes Maisie back to Ebury Place, where it all began in that first book. Everything is different except Maisie's capacity to believe in the goodness of people.

This series is a masterpiece and is one I will continue recommending for a long time to come.

Masie is now middle-aged, remarried and mother of an adopted daughter. Billy is no longer just her assistant , but a partner in the private investigation business. Masie's mother-in-law, Rowan is now a widow The war has officially ended but it's effects are long lasting. The whereabouts of Billly's son is unknown and thousands of returning military are returning home.
When Masie hears that there are squatters in the Ebury Place house she knocks on the door to find 4 young people living in her childhood home where she was in service long ago. Discovering the identity of the four and the role they played in the war constitutes the mystery this eighteenth title in the series hinges on. The actual central plot is to reminisce over Masie"s life and to unearth a secret. This is nicely done and the faithful will enjoy revisiting the past and the characters who have been part of the series .
Winspear says this is the final chapter but she leaves the door open for future developments so I take that with a big grain of salt.
Thanks to Netgalley and Soho Crime for the ARC.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

Net Galley EARC
Thank you for the opportunity to read this - I can't believe I'm saying it - the LAST Maisie Dobbs book!

As others have said before me it was a true joy that I wanted to savor and enjoy slowly but all too soon it came to a picturesque end. The imagery of Chelstone, and all the landmarks created for Maisie's memories, hung like a case map in my mind as I read.
This was truly a final accounting of two world wars, families and friendships and the ghosts that shaped them. Maurice Blanche would be proud.

There are so many books written regarding the bombings, the resistance and the cruelty of the second world war, however, very few address how individuals began their lives after the war, but before the reconstructions and ending of rations. For me, this was an educational viewpoint and made me wonder how I would attempt daily life and helping my community.

In this final installment we find Maisie and some new characters - teenagers from a children's home that were trained as spies in the case of a German invasion. This actually was a fact; there were not only teens but adults trained to "keep their community safe from fascism". This was a great historical fact to discover and see from the childrens point of view as well. They were privy to a classified crime that took place and Maisie along her ever present best friend Priscilla Partridge (who in my opinion always steals the show), not only shepherd them through solving the case, also find Billy Beale Jr back from a Japanese POW camp, and; uncover a relation of Lady Rowan with a heavy weight with which they must come to terms. Along the way memories of those passed in other books and this remind the characters how lucky they are to have survived and to live for each other.

This story will stay with me forever and I will reread it when I need that warm comfort book.

3.5 stars

It's hard to believe we've come to the final book of Jacqueline Winspear's iconic Maisie Dobbs series. We started after the Great War and the series ran all the way through World War II following Maisie, an investigator and a psychologist of sorts. We have been through a lot of personal trauma for Maisie, and many cases where she looked into the emotional motives to find out who committed a crime.

The "case" this time involves 4 older orphans who were recruited into special ops at the end of the war. They witnessed a murder and Maisie wants to make sure they are not being targeted and also is curious about the murder. We also learn a lot about the housing problems in Britain during the end of the war and after the war with so many homes destroyed by bombing.

This has been a terrific series. I admit I didn't love the ending this time. There was some personal melodrama thrown in which I didn't think added to the story, but still, a fitting finale. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

So sorry to hear this is the last book. So many pieces in each story that get solved. I enjoyed this book and glad the characters always moved forward.
Thank you Jacqueline Winspear for sharing Maisie with us.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

In the final installment of the Maisie Dobbs series Jacqueline Winspear has tied everything together with nostalgia and care. With references to former cases and plans for her future life, Maisie Dobbs has two mysteries to solve - one that is extremely personal and came as a surprise to me as a reader. It has been a pleasure to watch Maisie grow from her humble beginnings, learn, and come into her strength. This book feels like a final accounting.

It is poignant to realize that I can no longer look forward to a new Maisie Dobbs book in my future. Thank you, Ms. Winspear for many hours of enjoyment over the years. I look forward to your next book and anticipate more reading joy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the privilege of reading this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Maisie Dobbs #18. London 1945 is struggling in the aftermath of the two world wars with thousands homeless due to the bombing and rationing still in place due to shortages. When Maisie checks on the closed London mansion of her long time friends Lord and Lady Compton she discovers four teen orphans squatting there as well as an injured veteran. She soon realizes that the soldier is her colleague Billy's son Will and returns him to the safety of his family. When the teens show skills that lead her to suspect they were members of an underground resistance group trained in defense if an invasion occurred she begins to dig deeper. She discovers the coverup of the unreported murder of a Nazi sympathizer which the group witnessed. Her resolve to protect and provide a future for the four young people draws fire from former associates in Scotland yard and government groups. This entry draws the award winning Maisie Dobbs series to a close with 17 previous adventures that have been well received and enjoyed world wide. Maise and her cast of supporting characters were resilient and engaging The portrayal of a strong female protagonist who had risen from service to independence was inspiring. The heart warming attention to the challenges faced by a nation at war and historical details were engaging. This has been one of my favorite series and I will be sad to see it end but look forward to this talented author's next story..

The end of the Maisie Dobbs era and it’s the perfect book to say goodbye. Our readers will miss this series. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read the ARC.

Fans of Maisie Dobbs will be glad of another addition to the series, but may regret that this is her final story. Her partner Billy and his family play a part in this story, because Maisie encounters Will, Billy's son who is suffering ptsd from his POW experience in Japan. At the same time, she meets four youth who are squatters taking care of Will, who are damaged in their own ways. Maisie determines to make things right for all of them, but must first uncover their secrets. As it turns out, she uncovers a major secret that will clarify her own past and enrich her future.

This claims to be the last Maisie Dobbs book. Lord Julian Compton (the father of her previous husband James) has just died, and Lady Rowan hears there are squatters at Ebury Place, their London house. Maisie goes to the house and talks with young Mary through the letter slot, and Mary tellls Maisie about a man who is in the house and not well. When Maisie finds out that Will Beale has disappeared after being demobbed from the army, she gets food and goes back to Ebury Place and asks to see the man. She gets in with the food and finds Will. She takes him to her friend Priscilla. She also finds a place for the four children, who are afraid they will be blamed for a murder they witnessed. Before the children leave Ebury Place, Mary discovers a packet of love letters hidden under a floorboard. Maisie recognizes her former husband's writing and takes the letters home. She discovers that her former husband James fathered a son with the maid who was Maisie's roommate a long time ago.

Maisie has a lot of work to protect the children, discover what they are afraid of, and find out what happened to James' son. This is an interesting picture of London and surroundings as WWII ends. It is also somewhat of a review of Maisie's earlier life.

I thank Soho Press and Netgalley for the ARC for me to read ahead of publication.

The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear
This is the last of the Maisie Dobbs series as Maisie navigates the death of her father-in-law and uncovers family secrets that may lead to healing and family connection.
Maisie discovers 4 kids squatting in the house she was a young maid in, and she is compelled to investigate the reasons behind their behavior.
She also works to reunite her assistant Billy, with his son, fresh from war and shell-shocked and malnourished.
Britain is trying to look to the future after the war, but with food and housing shortages and injured soldiers returning home, morale is low.
Amidst a murder investigation and old associates re-entering her life, Maisie must stay centered and focused on what is important in her life- her family and loved ones.
#netgalley

While I am so sad to see this series come to an end, this book was the perfect conclusion. As always, it was beautifully written, had an intriguing plot and excellent character development. I look forward to recommending this one to our patrons.

I thoroughly enjoyed the last book in this series! It will be had to let her go. A must read for historical fiction fans! I hope the author continues to write, she has a wonderful style!

It is with a heavy heart that I review the last Maisie Dobbs book. The last installment in this series still gives the reader the warm and calming feeling that all of the other books in the series conveyed. I will miss you Maisie.

Jacqueline Winspear drew on her British parents and grandparents' memories of the world wars to write the Maisie Dobbs series.. This is the final volume.

As with many of the previous seventeen books, Winspear reveals an aspect of war not commonly known. This time, the reader learns that school students were drafted to serve as eyes and ears in the community during World War II. The teenagers were even issued cyanide pills to swallow if captured.

Maisie calls on all her friends to help four teens who were in the program. Her partner Billy and friend Priscilla and mother-in-law Rowan come to her aid.

Ghosts also play a role. Her late husband and friends she lost during the wars have left loose ends. Winspear ties them up beautifully.

A lovely fullstop to the Maisie Dobbs series - I took a long break in the middle there (other Maisie readers will know why - ENOUGH WITH THE TRAGEDIES), but I'm glad I returned and followed the rest of her experiences.

I've read all the Maisie Dobbs books. This is an excellent finish to the series. I recommend all of her books.

It's very hard to see this long running series come to an end, but for those of us who have followed Maisie Dobbs since she was 13, there's a lot of satisfaction in seeing all the threads come together, allowing us to picture the future of so many characters we have come to know and love.

This book is very light on the central mystery which is easily resolved with over 100 pages left to read. I don't think this would be a satisfying stand alone read, but for long time followers of the series it provides resolutions for the central characters and hints at the future that awaits Maisie and her family.

While I am sorry that there won't be further Maisie Dobbs stories, I have appreciated and loved reading about her life and exploits. She was a modern woman who changed with the times and I felt empowered as woman to do my best in my own life.