A Lesson in Secrets: Sleuth Maisie faces subterfuge and the legacy of the Great War (Maisie Dobbs Mysteries Series Book 8)

In this, the eighth book in the series, Maisie is sent undercover to a Cambridge college to look for possible activities "contrary to the interests of the Crown". Within a short time of her arrival the founder of the college is murdered. She calls in two friends from Scotland Yard to investigate the death. She is told to concentrate on the task she was given and not to involve herself in investigating the murder. Needless to say she does both successfully, while Billy looks into the death of her friend's husband in a work "accident" .I wasn't sure what to expect when I read that Maisie would be working for the "Secret Service", but it was no surprise to find her investigating a murder. I felt her frustration when her concerns over a pro-Nazi group were dismissed, but that's the benefit of (or problem with) living after World War Two and knowing what's coming. It felt strange for her not to be working with Billy after they've tackled so many cases together, but he's developed enough to work on his own, which is good. I thought that the ending was a bit rushed, which is why I only give the book four stars.

Maisie is coming to terms with the death of her mentor Maurice Blanche and her inheritance of his properties, papers and wealth. She's come a long way from the maid who used to work there. Her love affair with James is progressing well, although he's currently in Canada wrapping up his business interests. Then Maisie is approached by the Secret Service who want her to go undercover as a philosophy lecturer at a small, relatively new, Cambridge College to report on any activities "not in the interests of His Majesty's Government.". The college is founded on the idea of international peace and cooperation and encourages young people from all over the world to study together. The founder of the college, Greville Liddicote wrote a series of children's books, although three books written during WW1 were withdrawn from publication and all copies destroyed.When Mr Liddicote is found dead at his desk, his secretary calls Maisie who immediately realises this is not a heart attack, but murrrrderrrrr. While MacFarlane and Stratton are brought in from Special Branch to investigate the murder, Maisie is embroiled in yet more fall-out from WW1, including alleged mutinies, the murder of conscientious objectors, and the use of women in espionage. Add to which the rise of politics and admiration of Germany's National Socialism Party and Cambridge is fast becoming a hotbed of political intrigue.This feels like a readjustment book. I feel Maisie/Jacqueline Winspear is finally letting go of WW1 and anticipating WW2, similarly Maisie's new wealth and lover have changed her from the young woman suffering from (I suspect) PTSD of the earlier books. Also, Maisie has gone from police procedural to assisting the Secret Service, what is next spying in Germany (I've seen the later covers so I assume yes). Whether this change will get her out of the WW1 rut I don't know.

I have read this on the KindleThis was the 8th book in the Maisie Dobbs series, while it was a Good read i didn't think it was as good as previous onesI think it was because she was doing work for the Secret ServiceIt still had the main people in it as you follow their livesI think that the story in this one was not so smooth as in others & i think the reason that Maisie was in Cambridge didn't gel as what she finds out the secret service seems to not be interested in so if they not taking notice of her why did they send her there i found that the subplots more interesting that what she was suppose to be looking atAll that said it was still a good read just not as good as her others

Another Maisie Dobbs Novel , but sadly it seems wealth and happiness do not make Maisie more interesting. I feelWinspear was not sure where to take Maisie and felt she should move forward, I am just not sure if this is the right direction.I preferred Maisie as an independent and slightly flawed emotionally, making her living and being involved in the life of Billy and his family. Now she is suddenly" Lady Bountiful," with an Aristocratic lover, I think perhaps Ms Winspear has written herself in to a corner by heading in this direction, also the storyline with its mix of spies etc is not the Maisie Dobbs that this reader has come to love: the working class girl made good by her own hard work and intelligence was more appealing; I hope she returns

The latest Maisie Dobbs offering from Jacqueline Winspear moves us into the early 1930s, 1932 to be exact. The menace of Hitler is beginning to loom and Maisie goes undercover back at Cambridge. It is very much up to Winspear's high standards, my only complaint is that to get it at a good price I've had to buy it from the States, their hardback version is cheaper than the UK paperback, but once over the irritation of color and favor without the letter u, I have coped. Definitely a very good read - I'm looking forward to seeing how the series continues towards WW2. KP

I've read quite a number of these now. I like the mysteries and the crime solving, but, I have to admit, I sometimes want to shake Maisie and tell her to pull herself together and stop navel gazing.

this was a great mystery. I am reading the whole series in chronological order, and they seem to get better and better. Characters are engrossing and developing with each book.

I am a fan of Maisie Dobbs , having bought a number of them. I like the quaint of the period and the settins of the individual stories. Maisie has a great appeal with a foot in each class of the social divide, which sustains interest in the social mores of the period.