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  • A Sunlit Weapon

  • A Novel (Maisie Dobbs, Book 17)
  • Written by: Jacqueline Winspear
  • Narrated by: Orlagh Cassidy
  • Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (64 ratings)

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A Sunlit Weapon

Written by: Jacqueline Winspear
Narrated by: Orlagh Cassidy
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Publisher's Summary

In the latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series, a series of possible attacks on British pilots leads Jacqueline Winspear's beloved heroine Maisie Dobbs into a mystery involving First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

October 1942. Jo Hardy, a 22-year-old ferry pilot, is delivering a Supermarine Spitfire—the fastest fighter aircraft in the world—to Biggin Hill Aerodrome, when she realizes someone is shooting at her aircraft from the ground. Returning to the location on foot, she finds an American serviceman in a barn, bound and gagged. She rescues the man, who is handed over to the American military police; it quickly emerges that he is considered a suspect in the disappearance of a fellow soldier who is missing.

Tragedy strikes two days later, when another ferry pilot crashes in the same area where Jo’s plane was attacked. At the suggestion of one of her colleagues, Jo seeks the help of psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs. Meanwhile, Maisie’s husband, a high-ranking political attaché based at the American embassy, is in the thick of ensuring security is tight for the first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, during her visit to the Britain. There’s already evidence that German agents have been circling: the wife of a president represents a high value target. Mrs. Roosevelt is clearly in danger, and there may well be a direct connection to the death of the woman ferry pilot and the recent activities of two American servicemen.

To guarantee the safety of the First Lady—and of the soldier being held in police custody—Maisie must uncover that connection. At the same time, she faces difficulties of an entirely different nature with her young daughter, Anna, who is experiencing wartime struggles of her own.

©2022 Jacqueline Winspear (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers
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What listeners say about A Sunlit Weapon

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another excellent story

I just love these books, the history and bringing a picture to my mind of what life must have been like fir my mum who was 11 when WW 2 started. I’m hoping there is another book to follow. Orlagh Cassidy is a tremendous storyteller.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written

Brought me close to tears in places. Jacqueline puts you right in the heart of the times.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story, kept me interested.

I enjoyed the story, intelligent approach for the most part. Recording tending to sound a bit under water.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Sunlit weapon

I loved all the Maisie Dobbs books, fantastic narration and exciting storyline, believable characters

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this series

Wonderful and have listened several times. I look forward to the next one!
Quick correction - Newfoundland rhymes with understan- no ‘d’.😄

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brave Women

I think this was an excellent book. It brought out very clearly the incredible risks taken by the women who ferried the planes and their heroism. My husband is a pilot in his 80’s and loved the book as well.
I do appreciate the research the author puts into each of her novels.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Maisie Dobbs series

Having listened to all 17 titles in the Maisie Dobbs series, I can say that I have sincerely enjoyed the whole series with its continuity and great story lines. As each title built on the previous one, you get a more complete view of the world during this time. The narrator was also great, and I’m glad she did the whole series.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Top notch

I have listened to this series on audio books, and have enjoyed every single one of them. This one was particularly enjoyable, as a lot of Maisie's life becomes settled. I admire her strengths, her caring for others, and her love for her family.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Very hard to listen to

I am a fan of Jacqueline Winspear but I found it very difficult to listen to this audiobook.
The accents adopted by the narrator for the characters did not match the personalities and were inconsistent .
All the characters seemed to sound whiny and there was little humour . It seemed like a different author was writing about the characters from the previous books
I really had to struggle to listen until the end
I really am not sure if it was the story or the narration that made it so hard but I think it was mainly the narration
The story did seem unbelievable but I was interested in the outcome which is why I made myself keep listening .
I will try and read the book and see if it seems better
For Maggie fans I would recommend getting the e book rather than the audio book
Very disappointing and a waste of my credit as I will not be able to listen to this book again

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not as compelling as the Previous Novels

The character of Maisie comes across as less than the role model of the independent, confident woman the author has set her up to be throughout the series. Her marriage has created an uncomfortable image, that of the submissive wife who talks a good line about independence, but doesn’t practice it.
Additionally, there is a preachiness in the narrative that becomes both redundant and irritating.
I don’t wish to say the book is not good at all, it’s just quite less compelling than I expected. It’s less than I expected from Jacqueline Winspear.

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