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    Pardonable Lies: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
    Pardonable Lies: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
    Pardonable Lies: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
    Audiobook (abridged)11 hours

    Pardonable Lies: A Maisie Dobbs Novel

    Written by Jacqueline Winspear

    Narrated by Jacqueline Winspear

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    In Pardonable Lies, the third novel of this bestselling series from Jacqueline Winspear, 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.

    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.

    Following on the heels of Winspear's triumphant Birds of a Feather, Pardonable Lies is another compelling installment in the chronicles of Maisie Dobbs, "a heroine to cherish" (Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review).

    Includes a bonus interview with the author.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateAug 10, 2005
    ISBN9781593978136
    Pardonable Lies: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
    Author

    Jacqueline Winspear

    Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Consequences of Fear, The American Agent, and To Die but Once, as well as thirteen other bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels and The Care and Management of Lies, a Dayton Literary Peace Prize finalist. Jacqueline has also published two nonfiction books, What Would Maisie Do? and a memoir, This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing. Originally from the United Kingdom, she divides her time between California and the Pacific Northwest.

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    Reviews for Pardonable Lies

    4/5

    869 ratings70 reviews

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    • 4/5
      The third of the Maisie Dobbs series is just as delightful as the first two.In 'Lies' she is hired to find the location and if possible the burial place of a pilot who died in the war. During the upshot of this hunt several other crimes are solved and Dobbs finds herself being tailed, stalked with attempts made on her life. But she manages to come through with her usual aplomb.I highly recommend this series and gave Pardonable Lies a 3 1/2 stars out of 5.
    • 3/5
      It's an abridged version. Other than that it's okay. The story and writing are both good.
    • 4/5
      War leaves no one untouched. There are the dead and their grieving families. There are the wounded, physically or emotionally, whose lives and the lives of those who love them, will never be the same again. Casualties of war are not limited to those who fought though; so many people are touched by the horrors of war. And sometimes the questions left behind are as terrible and crippling as any bullet or bomb. But some of those questions will never be answered, either because the answers just can't be known or because there's a reason why they should be kept secret forever. In Jacqueline Winspear's novel, Pardonable Lies, the third in her Maisie Dobbs series, Maisie will come head on against the grief and secrets that tear at those left behind.In the years after World War I, when Maisie Dobbs was a field nurse, she has turned to investigations and psychology. She is a thoughtful, intuitively astute, and persistent investigator possessed of a keen intellect and despite the fact that many of the cases she takes on make her face her own painful war torn past, she is very good at what she does. In this third installment in the series, Maisie agrees to take on a case that requires her to confirm the wartime death of celebrated barrister Sir Cecil Lawton's only son Ralph. She has many misgivings about the case, especially as Sir Cecil is only pursuing this to fulfill his promise to his now deceased wife and not out of his own feelings for his son. But if Maisie takes on this case, she has the leverage to ask Sir Cecil to defend a 13 year old girl who stands accused of murdering her pimp. For young Avril's sake, she takes Lawton's case. She also agrees to look into the scant information available about her friend Priscilla's brother Peter's death to help Priscilla find some closure regarding his loss. Uncovering the truth of the loss of both young airmen will not only take Maisie back to France for the first time since the war, forcing her to face her own demons, but will put her life in danger from an enemy, and place her at cross purposes with someone she trusts and values deeply. These cases force Maisie to acknowledge her own traumas and the survivor's guilt she feels as she tentatively goes on with her life. And at least one of the cases threatens to expose people's work during the war, something that could prove dangerous as hints of another coming conflict start revealing themselves.As in the previous two books in the series, Winspear has done a wonderful job evoking the time period and she is a master at delving into the psychological underpinnings of each character, including Maisie herself. The novel is a delicate untangling of secrets still hidden, an examination of loss and family, a look at respect and what inspires or earns it, and a sensitive portrayal of homosexuality. Each of the characters in this novel has suffered losses and it is up to Maisie to help them come through those losses wiser and more accepting, if no less sad. There is a pervading sense of sadness, an elegiac feel almost, and the aura of continued damage wrought by the war that marked an entire generation is at play throughout the course of the novel. But there's also an honorable feel to it, that decisions, even if they remained secret, made during and immediately following the war were made thoughtfully and were well considered for their inevitable effect on those left behind. This is not a traditional mystery in the sense of a body, a crime, and the need to find the murderer; instead, it is a mystery that requires diligence and deep psychological dives and I found it all the more satisfying for that. I may not generally read mysteries, but Maisie Dobbs continues to have a fan in me.
    • 3/5
      Authors should not read their own works!
      The story is amazing, as per the other novels. However, listen to the other version. I beg you.
    • 5/5
      Another great offering in the Maisie Dobbs series. It is hard to explain why I have fallen so hard for this series, but it has become one of my favorites. I love the character of Maisie Dobbs and the supporting cast that surrounds her. This book showed a more human side to Maisie as she struggled to deal with her demons from her time as a nurse during World War I. I liked that it took a little bit away from how perfect she had been in the first two books. The mystery in this book kept me turning pages, and the character development was superb. Really well done.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this third novel in the Maisie Dobbs series. Maisie, having once been a nurse in World War 1, takes on a task to determine if a young English soldier lost his life in France. His father, a seemingly uncaring man, seems to prefer that the outcome be that his son did die in the war. While in France, Maisie is also able to spend time with an old friend who also lost someone in "the great war" (another mystery to solve). I really enjoy this series of cozy mysteries. Maisie is a very likeable character who has taken charge of her life to become a happy and successful woman.
    • 3/5
      Maisie's role as "psychologist and investigator" makes for an interesting combination and I enjoy the historical aspect, but the instances of her psychic abilities are hard to swallow and fit awkwardly. This was an audiobook read by Orlagh Cassidy who puts on a posh English accent but retains her American pronunciation, which is annoying, although probably not to American listeners. The Maisie Dobbs stories are a bit thin to start with so this will be my last.
    • 5/5
      Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear is Book #3 in the Maisie Dobbs series.Maisie is threatened and faces grave danger as she travels to France to try to unravel a young pilot’s death during the war.This is a very layered and intricate mystery with superb plotting, detailed character studies and locations.A rousing 5 Stars * * * * * and on to Book #4, Messenger of Truth.
    • 4/5
       This feels like the summer of Maisie to me. In book 3 we go deeper into Maisie’s relationship with her mentor, which is more complicated than she thought. She searches in France to discover what happened to two men killed during WWI. There’s a third plot with a young girl accused of murder and a fourth with a devious medium, both of which could probably have been cut. Still, I loved continuing the series.
    • 4/5
      In 1930 Sir Cecil Lawton approaches Maisie Dobbs so that he can fulfil a deathbed promise made to his wife. She believes that their son who died in the war is alive, Sir Cecil wants Maisie to prove that he is dead. And so Maisie returns to the area of her WWI memories to resolve the mystery of the pilot's death. But what else will she reveal.
      An interesting and enjoyable well-written story
    • 5/5
      Maisie Dobbs, book 3. I’m reading this series out loud to/with a friend.This one seemed to have less humor than the first two books in the series, but it did have some, and it seemed to have a lot more intrigue, and intricate and fun multiple mysteries. I love the shades of gray in these books, with the characters and with their circumstances. There isn’t a lot of black and white, nor are there definite heroes and villains. I really appreciate that.I’m thoroughly enjoying this series but now associate it with reading out loud to/with this one particular friend. We are reading them really, really slowly. I have book 5 as a loaner from another friend which will be great because so far they’ve been Kindle e-books from the library and not renewable and there has been a wait to get each book back each time. Now waiting for book 4 for the first of likely multiple check outs.At the end of the book proper this edition has the Acknowledgements section and a short author bio, and also an interview with the author and discussion questions. These books are great discussion books.I’m glad that I’m finally reading this series. I really like it.4-1/2 stars
    • 5/5
      A very deep and emotional read. These books are amazing.
    • 4/5
      From the moment I met the character of Maisie Dobbs, I loved her and couldn't wait to see her succeed in the opening of her very own office on Warren Street, "M. Dobbs, Trade and Personal Investigations." I love her grit, determination, and kind manner to all regardless of socio-economic differences. I also enjoy reading the different reactions to one of Maisie's trademark styles of talking to everyone in a quiet and respectful way without need to raise her voice or yell to garner attention.New cases for investigation lead Maisie to confront memories of her own service as a nurse in WWI serving in France and now it appears the cases cannot be solved without a physical return to France as well. Can Maisie solve the cases without endangering her own physical and mental health? This novel is a poignant reminder that anyone that serves on the front lines of war may suffer from PSTD for years after the service they have given to their country. We cannot minimize this suffering. We should not forget that all who suffer may look fine "on the outside" but "on the inside" their pain is indescribable and that's why so many remain silent and don't even try to explain what they feel and what they are going through. Let us not ignore their pain. Let us not forget they suffer today because "yesterday" their service was on behalf of all of us.Maisie Dobbs has become one of my favorite sleuths and I can't wait to read more of this series!
    • 2/5
      This book was a lot slower read than the previous books in the series.
    • 4/5
      This is a very well written, enjoyable, and thoughtful series. I recommend it!
    • 4/5
      Maisie Dobbs is back, and her private investigation business is growing despite the difficult economy. She's also starting to spread her wings a bit, to operate a bit more independently of her mentor, Maurice Blanche.

      Then Lord Julian Compton, whose family helped her get an education and start her business, asks her to take on a case for a friend. His son was a pilot killed in the First World War, but his body was not returned and his wife never believed in their son's death. On her deathbed, she made her husband promise to find him.

      While Maisie is struggling a bit with whether she wants to go to France to investigate Rafe Lawton's death, and risk revisiting the scenes of her own traumatic experiences in the war, her friend Priscilla Partridge asks for her own investigation: find the place where her brother, Peter Evernden, died.

      For Maisie, it's a journey through the dark heart of the war, compounded by a discovery about Maurice that leaves her feeling confused and betrayed. She's forced to confront her own feelings, as well as learning secrets the families involved might be happier not knowing.

      It's another pretty good mystery, layered around an insightful look at Britain between the wars, and the slow, rich development of Maisie's character.

      Recommended.

      I borrowed this book from a friend.
    • 4/5
      Plot holes you could drive that MG through. Preposterous coincidences. But somehow still enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      A deathbed promise, leads Cecil Lawton to seek out Maisie's services. Cecil wants Maisie to confirm that his son is dead, rather than alive. Conflicted, Maisie takes the case, if Cecil will represent a young girl accused of murdering her uncle.

      As Maisie delves into the past, she is forced to revisit the war that still haunts her. The case brings unexpected revelations...can Maisie find closure for the Lawton family, her friend Priscilla, and even herself?
    • 4/5
      Maisie is discovering that not all is as it seems when it comes to mysteries of the war. This is true for her as well. She is making small steps towards moving on with her life, but the wounds of the war haven't really healed. This was a bit of a grim story where the realities of Maisie's relationships are not as straightforward as she would like them to be.
    • 4/5
      Book description: In the third novel of this bestselling 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.Winspear cleverly spins a tale of several hidden identities and cover-ups that Maisie Dobbs have to unravel. I wonder if Maisie really can lay the past behind her - seems like a long journey for her.Interesting to follow the growth of maturity and independence in Maisie Dobbs - also as she has to confront her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and find a new way to relate to him. Orlagh Cassidys reading was great and I enjoyed the characters in a new way listening for the first time to a Maisie Dobbs novel. Not the last time.
    • 4/5
      Another very good offering from Winspear. I had a harder time getting into this third in the Maisy Dobbs series. There was a bit (I thought) of a psychological thriller/occult thing going on, and I don't care much for either of those two. But Winspear wrestled successfully to bring the book back to earth--and I found it really worth the read. How she manages to keep the various threads straight is something to behold.
    • 5/5
      2005, Audio Renaissance, Read by Orlagh CassidyMaisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator, is in demand. And this time her assignment will test not only her personal strength and dedication, but also her spiritual strength and her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. Sir Cecil Lawton, on a deathbed plea from his wife, employs Maisie to investigate the death of his aviator son who was killed in WWI. Agnes Lawton never accepted that her son was killed – a torment that led her to brink of madness and to seek out those who commune with the spirit world. Maisie must travel to the French site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the pilot’s death, and she will face grave danger before the case is concluded. Pardonable Lies is the most intriguing of the three Maisie Dobbs novels I’ve read to date. Winspear explores the reality of homosexual men in 1940s London: shame, secrecy, and indignity. Readers get a glimpse of the sense of hopelessness which drives us to desperately explore any avenue which might offer peace – including the dark arts. And Maisie’s personal life is evolving: her relationship with Dr Andrew Dene and her decision to purchase a home of her own. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Maisie is hired to prove a well known Barrister's son is dead.... The Barrister, however, promised his wife on her deathbed that he would find out if their son was still alive..... His wife was visiting different Mediums because she did not believe that her son died in the crash that destroyed his plane.....

      At the same time, Maisie is also searching for what became of her best friend Priscilla's brother Peter.... As it turns out there is a connection between the two young men, a political secret that involves Maurice, a disabled MP who happened to be "particular" friends w/ the Barrister's son, and several attempts on Maisie's life.

      I found the story of the two young men very interesting, how their lives intertwined, and what became of them.

      Also of interest: the lies we tell, live & maintain; the subject of homosexuality; intuition; Spirits/guardians; and Spirit Mediums....

      The book was well written and it held my interest.
    • 5/5
      This is the third book in the Maisie Dobbs series, and it may be my favorite yet. Maisie gets involved in a case involving a young girl who has been accused of murder, while also seeking to learn what happened to two soldiers who were lost in World War I. As she follows the clues, her life is threatened. I continue to love Maisie and her no nonsense manner. The supporting characters continue to develop as well. This is a series that I will definitely continue on with.
    • 4/5
      Still working my way through the Maisie Dobbs series. I really enjoy these period stories.
    • 4/5
      Another good book in an excellent series. Maisie, as introspective and capable as ever, is asked to certify the death of a WW1 British aviator. The investigation requires her to travel to France and its bloody battlefields where she worked as a very young nurse during this really ugly war. Her demons are again loosed and almost defeat her. Peripheral plots intertwine and demand that they be resolved. Grit, intelligence and training are her strong allies as she sorts it all out.
    • 3/5
      Really enjoy the between the wars series.
    • 4/5
      This is the third book in the Maisie Dobbs series. I really enjoyed it. In the book Maisie is hired by a leading London barrister to prove that his son was really killed in the war. The time is summer and early fall 1930, and I love the way Ms. Winspear brings this era to life in this series. Maisie puts herself in grave danger as she works this case and it forces her to face her past when she heads over to Belgium and France as she pursues her information. She has to work her way through a number of family and British army secrets while dealing with her own private demons. I really felt that Ms. Winspear portrayed the effect that the Great War had on anyone who served in it. Maisie was a battlefield nurse and as we see in this book, the medical staff were as affected by this horrific war as much as the soldiers who fought in it. The first 3/4 of the book was mesmerizing and I was enthralled with Ms. Winspear's writing. The plot was tight and the suspense held me throughout. Her portrayal of the effects of post traumatic stress is very moving and poignant. But I found that the last 1/4 of the book was a bit disappointing as it really had no connection to the plot of the story and it felt like an afterthought. I really enjoy this series and look forward to the next one.
    • 2/5
      Like most Maisie Dobbs books, this included a case related to the aftermath of WWI as well as a case that makes Maisie think about her personal experiences in the war. Her first case is an odd one, as she is asked to prove that a man’s son did not survive the war. This leads to a more personal investigation, helping a friend learn about a brother lost in the war under mysterious circumstances.

      First a few general observations about the Maisie Dobbs books. The author always does a great job tying together the two, sometimes three, investigations taking place in each novel. Even if the cases don’t connect directly, there’s always some unifying theme that makes them more interesting to read about together. The writing is very good, with a “cozy” feel to it. I can empathize with Maisie and I think she reminds me a little of me, so it’s easy and comfortable to slip into her perspective. That’s not all there is to it thought. I think it’s also the way Jacqueline Winspear writes, especially her inclusion of ordinary events like Maisie making herself coffee and curling up on a chair in her office to work. She also does a great job including details of the times, such as specific clothes people wear and cars they drive. The few re-occurring things I don’t like are the lack of urgency and action in a lot of her cases, plus a certain melancholy feel in the WWI-related cases.

      Read more here...
    • 3/5
      Maisie Dobbs isn't keen to take on the investigations that come her way in this 3rd of Winspear's series. Each request points back to her time as nurse in France during the War - a time she doesn't want to remember with memories that continue to disturb. After much deliberation she accepts. One as a personal favour to a nursing friend. The other in a business trade off. Both will bring her into danger she never expected..I enjoy the further insights into Maisie, yet still don't get a personal connection to her. She seems very removed emotionally - perhaps the psychological elements of her overcome personality. The story itself is interesting and well written, but I prefer a more personable heroine that gets me emotionally involved. Maisie just seems to remain removed and stiff.The elements of each mystery are well devised and intriguing. Winspear's plotting is well done and storylines are unique, so I will keep reading them, but hoping for increase in personality.