Elegy for Eddie question

While I think you could read them out of order, you'll enjoy them much more if you start from the beginning. Characters make return apperances that are more fun when you "remember" them from before.
But if you're in a pinch the author does a good job giving you enough background to start anywhere.

I would read them in order. The mystery stands alone but Maisie's relationship history is a bit complicated. Her experiences in the great war influence all of her decisions and make them understandable.

You can read them out of order, but I wouldn't recommend it. Jacqueline Winspear doesn't really waste time updating readers on the background and relationships of all of the characters, nor does she reiterate how they've evolved since the first book. I think that while the story and her writing style are very readable, you might feel that the characters are flat and odd if you don't have their background.

I recommend that you read them in order so that you can see the character progression....need to know where Maisie started and how far she has come. The first book sets the picture of Maisie...a very smart woman in a world that didn't give many opportunities to women then.

I am reading them out of order and I find though the mystery stands alone, like any author doing a series, there are always threads back and forth

while the particular mystery in each book stands alone, the first one really gives the background on which the rest of the series stands. For me, the character development is best seen reading in order.

I agree with those who advise to read in order. It not helps character development, but you almost become part of the story line.

The progression of time is very important for the story line to be pertinent. One can certainly learn about the period between the wars.

I always prefer to read a series in order to fully understand the back story of the main characters but the author does make each mystery a stand alone story. In fact I started with the third in the series and I have enjoyed it very much!