Elegy for Eddie (Maisie Dobbs #9) by Jacqueline Winspear: A Book Review

Elegy for Eddie (Maisie Dobbs #9)
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 2012
Pages: 467
Source: My State Public Library
Synopsis: In this latest entry in Jacqueline Winspear’s acclaimed, bestselling mystery series—“less whodunits than why-dunits, more P.D. James than Agatha Christie” (USA Today)—Maisie Dobbs takes on her most personal case yet, a twisting investigation into the brutal killing of a street peddler that will take her from the working-class neighborhoods of her childhood into London’s highest circles of power. Perfect for fans of A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, or other Maisie Dobbs mysteries—and an ideal place for new readers to enter the series—Elegy for Eddie is an incomparable work of intrigue and ingenuity, full of intimate descriptions and beautifully painted scenes from between the World Wars, from one of the most highly acclaimed masters of mystery, Jacqueline Winspear.

My Review: Maisie Dobbs is contacted by her childhood friends to solve the murder of Eddie. Maisie had known Eddie since girlhood, for he was a simple and innocent boy, who loved horses. This case is very personal for Maisie and she revisits the place of her childhood, Lambeth. However, Eddie’s death may be more complicated because Maisie learns that a journalist is dead. Are the two deaths interconnected? As Maisie investigates the case, she realizes that there are higher-ups of London society that may be involved.

This was not my favorite portrayal of Maisie Dobbs. In this book, she is a very weak character. She lets people run all over her. She also complains about James and realizes that she doesn’t love him as much. However, she stays by him anyway and tries to make the best of their relationship. This book is so unlike Maisie. What really gets me is that she lets the bad guys get away with murder. I didn’t understand why she let them go on their merry way. As for her relationship with James, I did not like how James treated her. He is very controlling and temperamental. He pressures Maisie to quit her job. I thought they didn’t suit one another, but they stayed together anyway.

Overall, this book is about Maisie coming to terms that WWII is looming very near. I didn’t think the characters were very fleshed out. I did feel sorry for Eddie’s story and I liked learning about him. The mystery was predictable, and I was disappointed that none of the murderers got their just desserts. Thus, I wasn’t pleased with Maisie's story line and the mystery. I did find the historical details fascinating, and the writing was haunting and lyrical. Elegy for Eddie will be sure to appeal to those who are new to the series, but for the Maisie Dobbs books as a whole, this is one of the series weakest.

Rating: 2½ stars out of 5

Guest Post by Elisa DeCarlo: From Corsets to Chemises: Fashion as Liberation

Today's guest writer is Elisa DeCarlo. Elisa DeCarlo has published two novels, Strong Spirits and The Devil You Say as well as The Abortionist's Daughter . Her work is also in a number of anthologies. Elisa has also written and performed a number of solo shows across the country. In 2013, the Exit Press will publish an anthology of her stage work. Elisa was born in Westchester, NY, and grew up there and in New York City. As an actress, she has performed in television, radio and film. In her guest post, Elisa DeCarlo talks women's fashion in the 1910s. Be sure to check out my review of The Abortionist's Daughter soon. Thank you, Mrs. DeCarlo. From Corsets to Chemises: Fashion As Liberation In The Abortionist’s Daughter , which is set in 1916, the evolution of the main character, Melanie Daniels, is not only shown by her thoughts actions, but also her clothes. Since I am an obsessed fashion buff, I had to write about the clothes! Queen Victoria ...

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer by Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein: A Book Review

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer Author: Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Religion, Mythology Publisher: Harper Perennial Release Date: 1983 Pages: 256 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: With the long-awaited publication of this book, we have for the first time in any modern literary form one of the most vital and important of ancient myths—that of Inanna, the world’s first goddess of recorded history and the beloved deity of the ancient Sumerians. The stories and hymns of Inanna (known to the Semites as Ishtar) are inscribed on clay tablets which date back to 2,000 B.C. Over the past forty years, these cuneiform tablets have gradually been restored and deciphered by a small group of international scholars. In this groundbreaking book, Samuel Noah Kramer, the preeminent living expert on Sumer, and Diane Wolkstein, a gifted storyteller and folklorist, have retranslated, order...

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Chantal Gadoury: Allerleirauh

Today's guest writer is Chantal Gadoury. She is the author of Allerleirauh , a retelling of the lesser known fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. In this guest post, she explores the history behind the Grimm's fairytale. I have a lifelong passion for fairytales, and I look forward to reviewing Allerleirauh soon! I hope this guest post gives you some insight into her fairytale retelling. Thank you, Mrs. Gadoury! Allerleirauh There’s always a story behind a story, whether we as the readers know that or not. Behind every great fairy tale, there is a place where it made origin; an event or person that influenced the past cultures to create the stories that we all know and love today. Even the untold fairy tales, like “Allerleirauh,” have a place in origin. It’s hard to say, “Yes! This is exactly how this story came to be,” but it can give a general idea of how a story might have been created. ...

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