Journey to Munich (Maisie Dobbs Series #12)

The latest book in the series is much improved over the last book. Ms. Winspear is moving the series to the next world crisis of World War II. Massie Dobbs is sent to Germany to rescue a British subject. We meet characters that will most likely show up in the next book. Massie is back and more adventures.

A fabulous addition to the series!

This is a top notch story, a nd an excellent update to Maisie Dobbs.

Judging by the ending of this terrific book, she and Billy and Sandra will be a team again

Excellent story it took a bit of time to know the placement of all of the characters.

It is so nice to continue to read Maisie's journey in life. This is not just a story of the world on the brink of another war, but one of crossing the bridge from grief back into life with purpose.

Journey To Munich is the twelfth book in the Maisie Dobbs series by British-born American author, Jacqueline Winspear. After some time in Spain, tending casualties of the Civil War in an attempt to come to terms with her grief over the loss of husband James, Maisie Dobbs returns to England. She soon finds herself talked into a journey to Munich by Huntley and MacFarlane, on a mission for the British Secret Service. Maisie is to impersonate Edwina Donat, daughter of an engineer and international man of commerce, Leon Donat, who has been interned in Dachau for some two years. Donat is a boffin whose knowledge is valued by the British Government, and his release has been negotiated, but the Nazis will only discharge him into the care of a family member, and the real Edwina Donat is far too ill to go and claim him. One of her least favourite people, wealthy, influential industrialist, John Otterburn has learned of Maisie’s trip and implores her to find his daughter, Elaine, who has abandoned husband and baby son to live the high life in Munich. It’s a task that Maisie has no enthusiasm for as Elaine is the woman whom she blames for the death of her husband and unborn child. She makes no promises. This instalment sees Maisie wearing a wig, learning to shoot a revolver and trained in withstanding interrogation techniques. The Nazis play the expected games but there are twists that keep the story very interesting indeed. And before very long, Maisie decides she has no taste for Secret Service work and vows to be her own boss again henceforth. As always, Maisie’s intuition is unerring even if not all her decisions are sound. There is plenty of action leading to an exciting climax and a satisfying resolution. Excellent historical fiction!

I happened to pick this book up in the bookstore because I love WWII stories. I really enjoyed this character of Maisie Dobbs and her adventures. I look forward to reading more of Author Winspear's books.

Pleasant read, I'll read another.

The best Maisie Dobbs ever. Highly enjoyable

Journey to Munich is Jacqueline Winspear’s latest Maisie Dobbs novel. In this thrilling addition to the series, it’s 1938 and Maisie takes an undercover assignment to help in the rescue of a valuable businessman and inventor held in one of Hitler’s concentration camps. Nazi suspicions lurk at every turn. Her encounters with those resisting Hitler place her in imminent danger. And paralyzing memories of her late husband and stillborn child surface when she encounters the young woman whose lifestyle contributed to the death of the man Maisie loved. Maisie weaves a precarious line to complete her assignment, a line that forces her to rely on the young woman she has never trusted. It is fascinating to be with Maisie on this adventure as she must deal with her past, confront a present overshadowed by threats to her own life and the war looming over Europe. Finally, she must make decisions about her future, should she survive. As always, Winspear captures her setting and brings it to life through Maisie’s eyes, putting us in every scene. Munich comes alive as we walk its street with our heroine. The dangers and brutality of Nazism throb in every encounter. Winspear’s ability to put us in the world of her story never ceases to amaze me. The characters add richness and flavor to the whole journey. And we’re right with Maisie as she must decide whom she can trust. Her life and the lives of others depend on her making the right decision. Maisie is still growing and changing as a person and that plus the intricate plot keeps the reader engaged throughout.

The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear is the only series of books that I have read all the way through. When I was first introduced to the young nurse/psychologist/private investigator and her friends and colleagues in London just before WWI, I was hooked. I have followed Maisie and company, with all their ups and downs and truly feel like they are friends. Each spring I look forward to catching up with everyone in Maisie's world. When we left Maisie at the end of book 11, A Dangerous Place, she was returning home to England after a stay in Spain during their civil war. She had suffered two devastating losses and was grieving. It was a very somber and sad story, and we didn't see many of Maisie's friends and family. Book 12, Journey to Munich brings Maisie back home, trying to rebuild her life. She is living with her best friend Priscilla and Pris' family, who adore Maisie. Soon Maisie is recruited once again to help the British Secret Service. Maisie agrees to go undercover in Munich to help bring home a British businessman who is being held prisoner by the Germans. The year is 1937 and the Nazi party is growing in power. The man is believed to be in a concentration camp, and Maisie must impersonate his daughter to rescue him. Times are dangerous in Germany, and another world war is on the horizon. Memories of the horrors of WWI remain in Maisie's mind, and she fears for the future of Europe. Maisie has also agreed to help find the daughter of another powerful man in England, to convince her to come home. She has a connection to this young lady, one that she would rather forget, yet she agrees to try. Journey to Munich is a strong entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. Maisie has gone through so much, it's good to see her back on her feet and trying to move her life forward. The storyline is interesting, and as always, Winspear has done her research into what life was like at that time, in that place. We get to see more of the gang- Pris, Sandra and my favorite Billy- and the end of the book the readers are rewarded with the possibility that Maisie and company will be back together working to solve cases. As England moves closer to war once again, I expect that the next books in the series will deal with this. England lost so many young men in WWI, an entire generation, that the prospect of going through that again is a frightening one. Maisie Dobbs is an incredibly strong literary heroine, and these books are great reads for young women and for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries. For a woman in her era to do the things that Maisie does with such strength, compassion and intelligence is a wonderful example for girls. She has her flaws too, and that makes her human. I give Journey to Munich my highest recommendation and it is one of the best books in the series.

I read the first book in Jacqueline Winspear's wonderful Maisie Dobbs series back in 2003 - and was promptly hooked. The latest entry (#12) - Journey to Munich - is newly released. Maisie has been many things - housemaid, student, nurse, psychologist, private investigator and an agent for the British Secret Service. Maisie is such a wonderfully drawn character - her intellect, determination, courage, kindness, loyalty and stalwartness have all endeared her to me. Winspear has moved Maisie's personal life along from that first book - although not always in a direction I wanted - and I have happily followed along. But I also appreciate Winspear's plotting. She draws on historical fact, social mores and customs of the time periods and mixes in an always intriguing mystery. The series began in the years of WW1 and Journey to Munich finds us on the cusp of WWII. A British citizen has been held captive for two years in Dachau. The Germans have agreed to his release - but only to a family member. Maisie is sent in to facilitate that release, appearing as the man's daughter. I found the impetus for this plotline fascinating.... "Journey to Munich was inspired by a story told by my mother of a man she worked for in 1944, when she was seventeen years old.......told her that before the war he had been set free from a German concentration camp into the hands of the British government after they had paid for his release." A secondary plotline involving someone from Maisie's recent past tests her personally. There were a few plot points that thought were a bit unrealistic, but they didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. Winspear does a fantastic job of bringing time and place to life - the months just before all out war is declared again and the danger that was Nazi Germany. And the ending is just perfect - I can't wait for the next installment in this series. Although this book could be read as a stand alone, I recommend starting with the first book.

I just gobbled up this newest Maisie book. My ONLY complaint?! Now I have to wait for the next one to be published. Oh, woe is me. I loved this book. As always, Ms. Winspear grabbed my attention with the very first words - and kept me involved right up to the end. Maisie is great!

Jacqueline Winspear's _Journey to Munich_. Count on Maisie Dobbs to do what’s right, no matter what the obstacles and dangers, not always following instructions, because her sense of what’s right prevails. Winspear’s sense of place and attention to details made me feel as if I were in Munich, cold and horrified and in need of a warming and settling “cuppa" tea and perhaps some biscuits. Securing the release of a prisoner of the Nazis at Dachau would be enough to fear without adding a secondary mission on behalf of the Elaine Otterburn. Maisie reminds herself that fear can make you careful and help keep you safe as can knowing whom to trust to "have your six.” More wisdom: “If I do not move toward light, I will go in the opposite direction.” Lucky to be alive, make the most of it. “All the pages of information are as nothing against he measure of our experience . . . take to heart, trying to work out the why, what and how. One of the elements of life . . . is the wisdom to be found in forgiveness . . . setting me free.” “ . . . you could make yourself crazy, working it all out . . . a calm, cruel murderer, in the right place to get . . . satisfaction.” “The soil’s deeper than he thought.” “Should have left it for a finer day.” “I am not what I seem.” “You should not have come.”

This has been my favorite Maisie Dobbs novel in a while. She was more like her old self. Losing her child and husband was very sad but she needed to be more like her old self. It was nice to revisit all the old characters from other novels. She does a wonderful job in Germany as a spy. That would have been such a scary time. I look forward to many more Maisie Dobbs novels again. I received an ebook copy of this through eidelweiss for a fair and honest opinion.

Bravo! I love the Maisie Dobbs character, the journey she has been on and all of her supporting friends. This book was another great one in the series. It brings to light a horrible time in world history, but shows that in great darkness we still have hope. Jacqueline Winspear is an excellent writer, and she has brought to life a character with whom I would love to be friends. I hope there more books in this series to come.

Bland and sweet