At first, Maisie Dobbs thinks that the Charlotte Waite case involves nothing more than a strict father and a runaway heiress. But that first impression dissolves instantly when the lifeless bodies of three of Charlotte's closest friends turn up; each of them poisoned, bayoneted, then left in a crime scene decorated by a white feather. Who committed these mocking murders? Is Charlotte Waite the culprit or merely the next name on the hit list? Maisie Dobbs's second case exhibits her powers of ingenuity and her author's narrative gifts.

What makes Maisie such a remarkable operative is the holistic philosophy that informs her humane methods. Trained in Freudian psychology and conscious of the interaction of mind and body (she even follows the exercise regimen of Joseph Pilates), Maisie insists on tracing a crime to its psychic roots -- and makes her clients sign an agreement to that effect.
— The New York Times

The eponymous heroine of Winspear's promising debut, Maisie Dobbs (2003), continues to beguile in this chilling, suspenseful sequel set in England a decade after the end of the Great War. Maisie, "Psychologist and Investigator," as the brass nameplate on her office door declares, gets hired by a wealthy industrialist to find his only daughter, Charlotte Waite, who has gone missing. With the help of her cockney assistant, Billy Beale, Maisie sets out to learn all she can of Charlotte's habits, character and friends. No sooner has Maisie discovered the identities of three of these friends than they start turning up dead-poisoned, then bayoneted for good measure. At each crime scene is left a white feather. Increasingly preoccupied with these tragedies, Maisie almost loses sight of her original mission, until it becomes apparent that the murders and Charlotte's disappearance are related. As in her first novel, the author gives an intelligent and absorbing picture of the period, providing plentiful details for the history buff without detracting from the riveting mystery. Readers will be eager to see more of the spunky Maisie, with her unusual career as a one-time maid, nurse and university student. Agent, Amy Rennert. (June 15) Forecast: A Top Ten Book Sense 76 pick for 2003, Maisie Dobbs has been nominated for both Agatha and Edgar awards. A win of either of these in late May, followed by a national author tour, will help propel sales of Birds of a Feather. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

In this historical mystery set in 1930s England, psychologist-detective Maisie Dobbs is hired by self-made grocery tycoon Joseph Waite to find his thirtysomething runaway daughter. As Maisie painstakingly follows leads, she discovers that Charlotte Waite's friends are dying of suspicious causes and the only clue is a white feather. This carefully plotted mystery also offers glimpses of the political, social, and economic climate of postwar England. Secondary characters and plot lines enhance the novel without detracting from the main story. Kim Hicks's narration complements the text and adds atmosphere; her dialectical skill captures the range of British social classes. While this is a standalone mystery, Maisie Dobbs-the first book in the series-gives listeners insight into who Maisie and the recurring cast of characters are. Recommended for libraries with diverse mystery collections or whose patrons enjoy British mysteries or procedurals featuring women detectives.-Gwendolyn E. Osborne, Evanston, IL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Adult/High School-The spirited heroine of Maisie Dobbs (Soho, 2003) is back to solve another puzzle in post-World War I London. Having been trained by a master detective, the former serving girl now a Cambridge graduate is hired by grocery magnate Joseph Waite to find his wayward daughter, Charlotte. What begins as a simple missing-person case evolves into the investigation of three murders, all of young women who were friends during the war. Charlotte may be the next target. Chock-full of period details such as how to start a 1920s-era MG, what to buy at the grocer's, what to wear in the country, soup kitchens, and heroin use, the novel follows Maisie's progress as she uses detection, psychology, and even yogalike centering to clear her mind. There is much substance to this mystery, which mines the situations brought about by the horrors of the war-both on the front and at home, and its still simmering aftermath-plus a hint of romance and the beginning resolution of two father-daughter rifts. The story flows easily, descriptions are vivid and apt, and character is limned quickly, with each an individual. This is an utterly enjoyable and painless history lesson and a well-plotted and consistent mystery that will appeal to teens looking for more than just historical fiction.-Susan H. Woodcock, Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly, VA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

It's 1930s London, and sleuth Maisie Dobbs is coping with painful personal woes while tracking a devious multiple murderer. A year after hanging out her shingle as a private investigator (Maisie Dobbs, 2003), Maisie is relieved to have a thriving business in new and nicer quarters. Still, memories and flashbacks of her heroic days as a WWI nurse frequently interrupt her current pursuits even as war veteran Billy Beale, Maisie's hard-working assistant, puts a brave face on the persistent pain he still suffers from a battle injury. When London is gripped by the unsolved murder of a young woman in Coulsdon, Maisie verbally spars over the case with courtly Inspector Stratton, who displays both professional and romantic interest in her. Meanwhile, she's hired by wealthy Joseph Waite to find Charlotte, his missing daughter, with whom he's had a stormy relationship. Sensing unhappiness in clues left behind by the young woman of her own age, Maisie feels a special affinity for her. The search gains urgency when Charlotte's friend Lydia Fisher is found murdered and both women are tied to the Coulsdon case. And there are further unwelcome complications. The drugs Billy takes for his pain lead to erratic behavior that concerns both Maisie and his devoted wife Doreen and makes him a suspect in Miss Fisher's murder. And the sudden death of Maisie's vigorous father further tests her mettle and endangers the investigation. A standard-issue mystery enhanced by elegant prose and a strong period flavor. Agent: Amy Rennert/Amy Rennert Agency

Praise for Birds of a Feather

Winner of the Agatha Award for Best Novel

“Haunting . . . What makes Maisie such a remarkable operative is the holistic philosophy that informs her humane methods . . . A heroine to cherish.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Birds of a Feather succeeds both as a suspenseful mystery and as a picture of a time and place . . . Maisie’s liveliness of mind, good sense, and kind nature make her a heroine a reader can enjoy spending time with.”
—The Boston Globe

“If you like classic mysteries . . . you’ll love Winspear’s Birds of a Feather.”
—The Denver Post
 
“The eponymous heroine of Winspear’s promising debut, Maisie Dobbs (2003), continues to beguile in this chilling, suspenseful sequel . . . As in her first novel, the author gives an intelligent and absorbing picture of the period, providing plentiful details for the history buff without detracting from the riveting mystery. Readers will be eager to see more of the spunky Maisie.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review


Praise for Maisie Dobbs
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
Agatha Award Winner for Best First Novel
Macavity Award Winner for Best First Novel
Alex Award Winner

“Compelling . . . powerful. [Maisie Dobbs] testifies to the enduring allure of the traditional mystery . . . even though I knew what was coming this second time 'round, its final scene is still a punch in the gut.”
—Maureen Corrigan for NPR’s Fresh Air, speaking on the 10th Anniversary edition of Maisie Dobbs

"[A] deft debut novel . . . Romantic readers sensing a story-within-a-story won't be disappointed. But first they must be prepared to be astonished at the sensitivity and wisdom with which Maisie resolves her first professional assignment."
—The New York Times

"The reader familiar with Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency . . . might think of Maisie Dobbs as its British counterpart . . . [Winspear] has created a winning character about whom readers will want to read more."
—The Associated Press

"[Maisie Dobbs] catches the sorrow of a lost generation in the character of one exceptional woman."
—Chicago Tribune

“A fine new sleuth for the twenty-first century. Simultaneously self-reliant and vulnerable, Maisie isn't a character I'll easily forget.”
—Elizabeth George, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of the Inspector Lynley series

What's the connection between the disappearance of a grocery chain heiress and the murders of three women? It is 10 years after the Great War, and the 1920s' era detail forms a perfect backdrop for this Maisie Dobbs mystery. Kim Hicks has a voice to listen to all day without tiring of the sound. Her rich, lush, mellifluous narration is a terrific fit for P.I. Maisie's newest adventure. Jacqueline Winspear, winner of the 2003 Agatha Award for Best First Mystery Novel, provides a cheery, intelligent heroine, as well as an assortment of believable types, while Hicks delivers clear, deft characterizations, excellent accents, and a strong sense of place. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine