I really like this mystery series set in England between the World Wars. Winspear does a really good job of showing the repercussions of WWI and the slow lead up to WWII. This installment had, as a backdrop, a group of young people interested in the ideas of Adolph Hitler.

But even with the rich historical detail, the center is Maisie and her growth as a person. The mysteries seem to enable this growth - everything is integrated so well in these books.

Maisie is a bit stuffy and formal, and I love her anyway. I'll keep reading these and I think there are 17 and this was number 8. ( )

I always love returning to Maisie's world. She goes undercover to teach at a school promoting peace when a famous author is murdered. This wasn't my favorite of the mysteries, but I loved seeing this slice of history. So many books cover WWI & WWII, but this part of the series focuses on the '30s when Europe was still reeling from the devastating effects of the first war and Nazis were beginning to rise to power. ( )

This, the eighth the book in this long-running series, is a a little different than the previous books. In this story Maisie finds herself working for Special Branch instead of for herself. It is the summer of 1932, and England is still reeling from the War to End All Wars, and is trying to get itself ready for the future. But Hitler is already rattling his sabre in Germany, and, although the powers that be in England do not think it's much to worry about, there is a lot of uncertainty In England at this time, especially among the young, idealistic students of colleges and universities in England. Maisie is recruited by Special Branch to investigate a small college in Cambridge which is known for its peace and tranquitility dogma as an alternative to the upheaval and uncertainty of just a few years ago. She arrives at the St. Francis College as an interim lecturer and finds herself drawn into the the scholarly life and she enjoys herself with the students who are all eager to learn. But the undercurrents at the College, and the history of the Principal, begin to cause an uproar within the ranks. And while she's there a murder happens. Maisie has to tread lightly in order to not reveal her real reason for being there, but she can't help herself from getting involved in the murder investigation. It's been awhile since I revisited Maisie Dobbs, and I enjoyed getting back into her world. I need to continue on with her story. ( )

I love the Maisie Dobbs character--very independent. The stories take place between WWI and WWII, and I always learn something interesting. ( )

This is the eighth in the Maisie Dobbs series and for me, the last. The years following the Great War was what attracted me to the series and now that the story has reached 1932 the appeal has faded. That could have more to do with the formidable Maisie herself than anything else. Maisie, who has been written as so close to perfection that surely she is beyond human. This effectively demeans the character and the story.

The audio version was narrated by American Orlagh Cassidy who frequently reverts to American pronunciation which, combined with a tortured attempt at a prestigious English accent, is exasperating and partly responsible for my low rating. ( )