Tue 6 Mar 2012
Reviewed by LJ Roberts: JACQUELINE WINSPEAR – An Incomplete Revenge.
Posted by Steve under Bibliographies, Lists & Checklists , Characters , Reviews[7] Comments
Reviews by L. J. Roberts
JACQUELINE WINSPEAR – An Incomplete Revenge. Henry Holt & Co., US, hardcover, February 2008. Picador, US, trade paperback, November 2008.
Genre: Historical Mystery. Leading character: Maisie Dobbs; 5th in series. Setting: England, 1931.
First Sentence: The old woman rested on the steps of her home, a caravan set apart from those of the rest of her family, her tribe.
An old friend hires investigator Maisie Dobbs to look into matters relating to a potential land purchase. Petty thefts have been blamed on boys from London there to help pick hops, but the residents distrust the Gypsies in the area as well.
Maisie discovers that small fires have occurred every year but no one ever reported them to the fire departments or police. A family was killed during the war by a Zeppelin attack, yet no one will talk about it. Maisie must put together the pieces together while also dealing with her feelings about the soldier she loves who has been in a coma since the war.
This is my second foray into Maisie Dobbs. I didn’t care for her the first time and, I must admit, nothing much has changed. Winspear does include information on the gypsies that I found interesting until it became redundant. She also includes details to the point of minutia on things that aren’t particularly important. Her descriptions are informative but not evocative, so that a feeling for the sense of place is missing.
As a character, Maisie is the sort of person who would annoy me if I knew her. Yes, I can justify some of it by remembering she’s experienced the trauma of war, but not all. There is arrogance to Maisie that surpasses self confidence and is somewhat unappealing as it borders on arrogance. Her friend, Priscilla, is the complete antithesis to Maisie and annoying in her own way. In fact, the most interesting characters in the book are Maisie’s father, followed closely by the dog.
The story itself is just not gripping. There’s no real suspense or emotion; everything is at a distance and somewhat dispassionate. The number of coincidences is overwhelming; Maisie’s perfection at everything becomes tiring. Everyone is willing to talk to her. There is no struggle or effort really required; it’s all quite neat and rather placid.
For those who like cozies; no violence, no real threat, no swearing, no sex, no real evil, this would be perfect. Unfortunately, that’s just not my taste so although there were parts that were interesting, it was not really my cup of tea — single malt whiskey, please.
Rating: OK.
The Maisie Dobbs series —
1. Maisie Dobbs (2003) Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (2004)
2. Birds of a Feather (2004) Agatha Award Best Novel winner (2004)
3. Pardonable Lies (2005) Agatha Award Best Novel nominee (2005)
4. Messenger of Truth (2006) Agatha Award Best Novel nominee (2006)
5. An Incomplete Revenge (2008)
6. Among the Mad (2009)
7. The Mapping of Love and Death (2010)
8. A Lesson in Secrets (2011)
9. Elegy for Eddie (2012)
March 6th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
There are two reasons I have been buying the books in this series, no, make that three. I like the time period, essentially that of the early Golden Age of Detection; I like the fact that Maisie Dobbs is a private investigator, unlikely as that migt be for the time period; and thirdly, I love the cover art work — well nigh perfect for the books, to my way of thinking.
What I hadn’t realized is how “cozy” the books are in nature. Not only was this your complaint, LJ, but note the successive nominations for the Agatha award, four in a row, including one winner.
Not that I won’t read these when I get around to them, but I’ll definitely approach them with a slightly different mindset.
March 6th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
So, essentially, Masie Dobbs is for cover art collectors and people who like to be bored to death by an arrogant, unlikely, detective-woman.
The Doc
March 6th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
That’s how it is, Doc, until I read one for myself. Though I have a strong hunch that LJ is right on target, as usual.
March 6th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Wow, L.J. If the contents of that near-scathing review add up to “okay”, you are a very easy (letter) grader.
🙂
I remember reading the first one in the series and not liking it at all. But as you say, Steve, very stylish cover designs.
March 6th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Time to print out LJ’s grading scale again, it looks like:
Ex A top read; lacked any noticeable flaws.
VG+ Close to excellent; only one or two small quibbles
VG Enthused about it; very well done for its genre
G+ Enjoyed it very much
G Enjoyed the book
Okay Enjoyed it but with significant reservations. Only okay.
Poor Wasn’t awful, but wasn’t good. Finished it with difficulty.
NR Did not work for me. Would not recommend to others.
DNF Awful. Read more than 50 pages but did not finish.
DNS So badly done it did not even survive the 50-page test.
I don’t know how these would transfer into Letter Grades, but maybe OK is something equivalent to a “C” or “C Minus”?
Time for a confession. Even by skipping some of her lower rated ones, I’m a year behind on posting LJ’s reviews. She wrote this one in March 2011.
March 8th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
What goes for Masie Dobbs, certainly doesn’t go for LJ.Roberts.
She puts it in clear terms, and is a real help in acquainting (or,not) new authors.
Keep churning ’em out, Steve !
The Doc
March 8th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Thanks, Steve, for re-publishing my ratings guide. An “Okay” from me is somewhat damning with faint praise.
Good cover art does not a good book make. I, too, love books set in that time period, but will take Kerry Greenwood’s wonderful Phryne Fisher series any day over Maise. Of course, I’ll also admit I want to be Phryne Fisher when I grow up and am delighted that Australia has just made a 13-episode series of the Phryne books. Now if only we can get them in the US.
Thanks, everyone.
LJ