Promotional Information

The extraordinary Maisie Dobbs returns in her second case

About the Author

Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in England, and now lives in California. She frequently visits the UK to research her new book and see family and friends.

Reviews

'Heavy on charm' -- Bookseller 20041105 'Birds of a Feather reads like a gripping mixture of Vera Brittain and Dorothy Sayers so fans of both authors will enjoy Maisie's latest adventure.' -- Image 20050301 'Jacqueline Winspear reveals more adventures of the delightful Maisie Dobbs' -- Publishing News 'Quarterly highlights' 20040806 'Set in the 1920s, Winspear's books are strong on atmosphere, and her creation, Maisie, is perhaps the woman Miss Marple would have liked to have been when she was young' -- Publishing News 20041126 'A well-researched and beautifully written novel' -- Town & Village Times 20050301 'Maisie is, perhaps, the young woman Miss marple would have liked to have been' -- Sue Baker, Publishing News 20051125 'In Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear has given us a real gift. Maisie Dobbs has not been created - she has been discovered. Such people are always there amongst us, waiting for somebody like Ms. Winspear to come along and reveal them. And what a revelation it is!' -- Alexander McCall Smith 20060513 'A terrific mystery ... Both intriguing and full of suspense, it makes for an absorbing read.' -- Observer 20050306 'Maisie Dobbs continues to beguile in this chilling, suspenseful sequel... riveting' -- Publisher's Weekly 20050306 'A heroine to cherish ! Always open-minded, she bobs her hair, [and] drives a red MG.' -- New York Times 20050306 'A fine new sleuth for the twenty-first century' -- Elizabeth George 20050306 'A wry and immensely readable beginning to what promises to be a vivid new addition to crime fiction' -- Mail on Sunday on 'Maisie Dobbs' 20050306 'Full of evocative, atmospheric locations and vividly believable historical detail ...Jacqueline Winspear's second book fulfils all the potential shown in Maisie Dobbs and is a cracking mystery novel.' -- New Books 20050301 'Maisie Dobbs continues to beguile in this chilling, suspenseful sequel... riveting' -- Publisher's Weekly 20050301 'A fine new sleuth for the twenty-first century' -- Elizabeth George 20050301 'Winspear writes very well... [she is] set fair for a very bright future as a crime novelist' -- Praise for MAISIE DOBBS, Daily Mail 20050301 'She has crafted a terrific mystery ... Both intriguing and full of suspense, it makes for an absorbing read.- Peter Gutteridge. -- The Observer 20050306 'Think Sherlock Holmes crossed with Miss Marple's granddaughter, now add the atmospheric setting of 1930's London and a well-spun plot and you've the basis for the second in Jacqueline Winspear's delightful series of detective novels featuring the indomitable Maisie Dobbs ... Maisie is independent and deploys intelligence, charm and intuition to crack the case' -- Scottish Daily Record 20050205 'This thought-provoking mystery has a good plot, with plenty of action before it is resolved, and would provide much scope for discussion amongst reading groups.' - Susan Gibbs. -- New Books 20050401 'Equally as sharp and intriguing as its predecessor' -- Accent 20050501 'Maisie Dobbs is a welcome and unusual addition to the crowded world of literary detectives. ! A very readable whodunnit' -- Sainsbury's Magazine 20050501

The eponymous heroine of Winspear's promising debut, Maisie Dobbs (2003), continues to beguile in this chilling, suspenseful sequel set in England a decade after the end of the Great War. Maisie, "Psychologist and Investigator," as the brass nameplate on her office door declares, gets hired by a wealthy industrialist to find his only daughter, Charlotte Waite, who has gone missing. With the help of her cockney assistant, Billy Beale, Maisie sets out to learn all she can of Charlotte's habits, character and friends. No sooner has Maisie discovered the identities of three of these friends than they start turning up dead-poisoned, then bayoneted for good measure. At each crime scene is left a white feather. Increasingly preoccupied with these tragedies, Maisie almost loses sight of her original mission, until it becomes apparent that the murders and Charlotte's disappearance are related. As in her first novel, the author gives an intelligent and absorbing picture of the period, providing plentiful details for the history buff without detracting from the riveting mystery. Readers will be eager to see more of the spunky Maisie, with her unusual career as a one-time maid, nurse and university student. Agent, Amy Rennert. (June 15) Forecast: A Top Ten Book Sense 76 pick for 2003, Maisie Dobbs has been nominated for both Agatha and Edgar awards. A win of either of these in late May, followed by a national author tour, will help propel sales of Birds of a Feather. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

In this historical mystery set in 1930s England, psychologist-detective Maisie Dobbs is hired by self-made grocery tycoon Joseph Waite to find his thirtysomething runaway daughter. As Maisie painstakingly follows leads, she discovers that Charlotte Waite's friends are dying of suspicious causes and the only clue is a white feather. This carefully plotted mystery also offers glimpses of the political, social, and economic climate of postwar England. Secondary characters and plot lines enhance the novel without detracting from the main story. Kim Hicks's narration complements the text and adds atmosphere; her dialectical skill captures the range of British social classes. While this is a standalone mystery, Maisie Dobbs-the first book in the series-gives listeners insight into who Maisie and the recurring cast of characters are. Recommended for libraries with diverse mystery collections or whose patrons enjoy British mysteries or procedurals featuring women detectives.-Gwendolyn E. Osborne, Evanston, IL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.