Pardonable Lies

A Maisie Dobbs Novel

By: Jacqueline Winspear

Narrated by: Orlaugh Cassidy

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

In the third novel of this best-selling series, London investigator Maisie Dobbs faces grave danger as she returns to the site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the mystery of a pilot's death.

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone. Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe. Every once in a while, a detective bursts on the scene who captures readers' hearts, and imaginations, and doesn't let go. And so it was with Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs, who made her debut just two years ago in the eponymously titled first book of the series, and is already on her way to becoming a household name.

A deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her not only to the edge of madness but to the doors of those who practice the dark arts and commune with the spirit world. In accepting the assignment, Maisie finds her spiritual strength tested, as well as her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. The mission also brings her together once again with her college friend Priscilla Evernden, who served in France and who lost three brothers to the war, one of whom, it turns out, had an intriguing connection to the missing Ralph Lawton.

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

©2005 Jacqueline Winspear (P)2005 Audio Renaissance, LLC

Critic reviews

"Agatha-winner Winspear's engrossing third Maisie Dobbs novel maintains the high quality of its predecessors....Filled with convincing characters, this is a complex tale of healing, of truth and half-truth, of long-held secrets, some, perhaps, to be held forever. Winspear writes seamlessly." (Publishers Weekly)

Maisie and Untruth

I have come to like Maisie Dobbs and her humanness. I like the process the author takes Maisie through as she deals with the horrible outcomes of war, as well as her clients. She helps us understand that life is not always black or white. Sometimes it's grey. I like the suspense, the dabble into psychology, and that there isn't a bedroom scene around every corner.

kept me guessing to the end.

one of the most engaging books I've listened to! so glad I found this series.

Another great listen

I am enjoying the Maisie Dobbs series. This book is well written and up to par with the others. My only complaint is that the book down loaded in two parts that were not cohesive. The first part I am not sure started at the beginning of the book, but it did jump around and about half way through the story began to repeat. The second part seemed to be fine though it ended with nearly four hours left to go, which left me confused. On listening the story began to repeat, picking up in the middle of a chapter. This jumping around jumbled the story line a bit, but the book was still a good listen.

Love these books!

I love that this story is not predictable. I really enjoyed feeling like I was "there". The journey of discovering all the pain she internalized was neat. The unraveling of several cases as fun, adventurous and I had a hard time putting it down!

Anchored in Time

My title sounds like the title of a book. But for the author it is, perhaps, the title of the Maisie Dobbs series. A scrupulous researcher, having been a non-fiction author in the past, Winspear brings an authenticity to her stories. look at that sentence...author, authentic. A natural progression? Not often seen these days. Why study history? To learn, and apply the lessons to today. Why read? Or listen to Audible, in my case, same reason. And it's a pleasurable way to pass the time.

Such a rich read and listen

Maisie is just one of the best characters in detective fiction. So fully human and many-dimensional. I always appreciate how Winspear gives so much social history along with plot details. And I really enjoyed the reader, although the impression left is spotty French (she says “bonjeur,” not “bonjour,” and “une peu” where it should be “un peu.”) That’s pretty picky; overall, this should be on your list!

Lost in this book and loving it!

Few books have captured me and I so willingly go. I never know what to expect and always love the journey.

Outstanding

Love the character Maise Dobbs especially her strength and her vulnerability. Awesome creative honesty. Loved it 🥰

Problem with part 1

I believe there is file a problem with Part 1 of Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear. I burned this book to CDs and put it on iPod; same issue exists with both devices. I also re-downloaded the file - no change. At about the 293 minute point, the book integrity is lost - it starts repeating - the chapters make no sense based on previous content, previous sections are repeated until 264 minutes from the end of part 1, when it gets back on track.

The story is great; the electronic filefor Part 1 is the problem which Audible needs to fix.

Great Book

A good mystery, but also a brief and bittersweet account of the first World War from the viewpoint of a strong, no-nonsense woman. I love the main character and would like Audible to get more of Winspear's books.