Author:
Susan Elia MacNeal
Publication
Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher:
Bantam Books
Series:
Maggie Hope Mystery # 3
For
fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Laurie R. King, and Anne Perry, whip-smart heroine
Maggie Hope returns to embark on a clandestine mission behind enemy lines where
no one can be trusted and even the smallest indiscretion can be deadly.
World
War II has finally come home to Britain, but it takes more than nightly air
raids to rattle intrepid spy and expert code breaker Maggie Hope. After serving
as a secret agent to protect Princess Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, Maggie is
now an elite member of the Special Operations Executive—a black ops
organization designed to aid the British effort abroad—and her first assignment
sends her straight into Nazi-controlled Berlin, the very heart of the German
war machine.
Relying on her quick wit and keen instincts, Maggie infiltrates
the highest level of Berlin society, gathering information to pass on to London
headquarters. But the secrets she unveils will expose a darker, more dangerous
side of the war—and of her own past.
Maggie
ran at him, kneeing him in the groin, hard. While he was doubled over, she
elbowed him in the back of the head. Satisfied he was unconscious, she ran to
the door, folders still in hand.
As
they walked together, Elise said, “You didn’t say ‘Heil Hitler’ to them. Weren’t you afraid of being arrested?” “My
dear,” the priest replied, opening the door behind the altar that led down into
the crypt and letting them all enter first. “I made the decision a very long
time ago not to say ‘heil’ to anyone
but God.”
Hell
was just what Maggie Hope had trained for.
She
contemplated on writing I love you,
then decided on xoxo Maggie.
I
am in love with everything about this series. The Maggie Hope Mysteries are one
of those series of books that help you remember why you love to read so much! I
became enthralled by the heroine, Maggie Hope, and her occupation as a spy. The
historical background of these novels, World War II, also adds to the hype. I
can never get enough historical fiction. Susan has a knack for writing strong
characters and is able to embed tiny traits and characteristics that may seem
simple and small to the average person, but to the reader who spends so much
time with these characters and their surroundings, those small details make the
big picture come alive!
I
find myself loving the first few books with most series, and then finding small
things that I hate towards the end of them. However, this was not the case with
this series and with this particular book. I thought that Susan’s writing,
character and plot development, and the suspense only got better with this
third installment. The book and mainly the writing does have a more somber
appeal to it this time, but you must consider the time period and what is going
on in the world: World War II. Maggie is getting close and personal with the Nazis
in this novel, and is being dropped into wartime Germany. I was so thrilled to
learn this! Readers, the action has just begun!
Maggie
is still the most charming part of this series, and I stand by my belief that
she and I would be the greatest of friends. She is extremely stubborn, but in a
way that makes it almost funny. She is just a determined woman who carries her
thoughts on her shoulders. She stands by her causes and fights for them until
she has nothing left. I think this is a character that any reader can stand
behind!
***An
ARC copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Bantam in exchange
for my honest review***
Hmm... sounds like an interesting, compelling read, Chelsey! Books that put a unique spin on old ideas seem to catch my eye even more than the norm. Thanks for sharing. :)
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