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)

Readers must be required to listen to Book one!

Very disconcerting having Maurice from Books one and two now called Morris! Maurice is correct.

Get this series!

Another fantastic book. I love historical fiction and this environment, these characters are really just amazing. The narration is spot on and the material keeps you continually engaged. I just love this series.

Maisie Dobbs, better than candy

Detective and psychologist Maisie Dobbs is a fascinating character herself, but the mysteries she solves are complex, but understandable. This is my third (and far from last) and I have yet to be able to guess what the resolution will be. They are absorbing, well-written and addicting. Better than candy.

I love Maisie Dobbs

Why the BBC has not made a series based on these novels, I will never understand. Characters and costumes, victories and vistas. Marvellous female protagonist.

Great Narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have been enjoying the Maisy Dobbs novels. Although I enjoyed Rita Barrington's narration, it seemed to leave Maisy with no real emotions. The new narrator, Orlaugh Cassidy is fantastic. There is much more emotion in the series now. I'd have continued to purchase with Ms. Barrington's narrration. She is good and the books are great, but now there is no doubt I'll continue on with the Audible series, as long as Ms. Cassidy is narrating.

What did you like best about this story?

Emotion

Great storyline. Horrible pronunciation & French a

I love Maisie Dobbs. This is the first book narrated by Cassidy. Her British accent is passable, but her pronunciation of Maurice as "Morris" is so annoying and puzzling. How was this not addressed? I hope it was changed for subsequent recordings. Her French and Indian accents are grating. If I did not need the content to make sense of the story, I would fast forward.

Excellent

A great way to learn about WW1 - historical fiction written this way helps our generation learn about the atrocities of War. Real names could probably be substituted a thousand times!

Ghastly reading voice

I was really disappointed. The reader’s accent was terrible. People who grow up in Devon do not have cockney accents. People who grow up in Australia do not have cockney accents either. Many words were mis pronounced. I struggled to listen. How to ruin a good story!

The narration let me down.

I have really enjoyed these books, Maisie has not become the tittering damsel in distress as happens in so many of these types of books.
I was, however disappointed in this particular narration when they decided to keep calling Maurice, Morris. He is a Frenchman, and in the first 2 books his name was pronounced correctly. As I am listening and not reading, I am not sure if this is a narrator problem, or an author problem, but I cringed each time his name was spoken.

So Touching

As always, this story brings it all to life. The emotions overtook me at times. I’m on to the next in the series.