Among the Mad

A Maisie Dobbs Novel

By: Jacqueline Winspear

Narrated by: Orlagh Cassidy

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

In the thrilling next novel by New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Winspear, Maisie Dobbs must catch a madman before he commits murder on an unimaginable scale.

It's Christmas Eve 1931. On the way to see a client, Maisie Dobbs witnesses a man commit suicide on a busy London street. The following day, the prime minister's office receives a letter threatening a massive loss of life if certain demands are not met—and the writer mentions Maisie by name. After being questioned and cleared by Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane of Scotland Yard's elite Special Branch, she is drawn into MacFarlane's personal fiefdom as a special adviser on the case.

Meanwhile, Billy Beale, Maisie's trusted assistant, is once again facing tragedy as his wife, who has never recovered from the death of their young daughter, slips further into melancholia's abyss. Soon Maisie becomes involved in a race against time to find a man who proves he has the knowledge and will to inflict death and destruction on thousands of innocent people. And before this harrowing case is over, Maisie must navigate a darkness not encountered since she was a nurse in wards filled with shell-shocked men.

In Among the Mad, Jacqueline Winspear combines a heart-stopping story with a rich evocation of a fascinating period to create her most compelling and satisfying novel yet.

Don't miss other titles in the Maisie Dobbs series.

©2009 Jacqueline Winspear (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Not only does [narrator Orlagh Cassidy] navigate nimbly through conversations featuring various British accents, but she also is skilled at capturing personalities through speech.... Between suspenseful episodes, Cassidy invests scenes like cooking a simple dinner with an almost- sensuous domesticity.” —AudioFile, Earphones Award winner

“Winspear creates real suspense set against the troubled social and political scene in early -1930s London and Orlagh Cassidy's superb performance creates the voices and the mood.” —BookPage

“Cassidy's British dialects and emotional eloquence make characters and events feel real, frightening and relevant to today.” —The Herald-Sun

Among the Mad

Another wonderful addition to this series. It is amazing the research this author does

As usual heartbreaking as realities of war are brought out. These are just slices but cannot imagine how terrible it really was and continues to be.

Once again great.

Among the Mad: A Maisie Dobbs Novel, by Jacqueline Winspear and narrated by Orlagh Cassidy.

Keep the stories coming!

A View of the Present from the Past

A gripping story of what war does to some of the men and women who are involved in it. I could help reflecting on the events of more recent conflicts and the emotional damage inflicted on many of the participants. The story was skillfully crafted and wonderfully produced. I look forward to more Mazie Dobbs stories.

Another Great One

Each book I listen to in the Maisy Dobbs series tops the previous book. This story was another great addition to the series. It's enjoyable to revisit the various "friends" from previous stories, this time especially dear Priscilla. Then there is a hint of a possible romance to come for Maisy. On to the next story to see what awaits our heroine.

I love Maisie Dobbs

This is such a well rounded story with excellent writing. Maisie shows compassion as well as exception intelligence and creativity. She is a modern woman who knows her own value and doesn’t allow men to intimidate her. The mystery keeps one’s interest throughout.

darker Dobbs

This Maisie Dobbs instalment is far from an English "cozy"; parts gave me the psychological shivers. Even though that's not an element I seek in a mystery, this listen still rates highly by me, as do all the novels in the series.

If you were bothered by elements like Maisie's dowsing in "Incomplete Revenge," this is a more rational Miss Dobbs. Also, she delves less into her own psyche than in the past instalments but observes the social devastation around her even more acutely.

This series has sent me to books on the post WWI era in Britain (both the politics and social history), and I am amazed at how accurately Winspeare weaves history into her narrative. There are some anachronistic concepts, but the author has cleverly given Maisie a license to be ahead of her time.

If you are new to Maise Dobbs but are an Anne Perry reader, think of the best elements of Hester/ Monk/ Pitt and Charlotte all in one character, move the story ahead to the early 1930s, make the social history more comprehensive, the prose and plot elements tighter (and, if you enjoy biting your nails, this one in particular may appeal - I hope for "cosier" listen in the next in the series)

Another Winner!

Another in the series of Maisie Dobbs that was as good as the first. This author has researched well and has a gift for putting history and humanity together in a compelling story.

love the history lesson

miss Dobbs has kept me company through the pandemic. I love the attention to detail

Brilliant

This author writes a thought provoking tale of the struggles of man; war, poverty and the consequences of a troubled mind. the narrator, Orlagh Cassidy makes every character stand out through amazing voice inflection.

Enjoying the series much more than I thought.

Enjoy the simplicity and quality of each story. This one really brought the specifics of the characters together and helped to prepare me for the next one. They just keep getting better.