Susan Elia MacNeal introduced the remarkable Maggie Hope in her acclaimed debut, Mr. Churchill′s Secretary. Now Maggie returns to protect Britain′s beloved royals against an international plot—one that could change the course of history.
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As World War II sweeps the continent and England steels itself against German attack, Maggie Hope, former secretary to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, completes her training to become a spy for MI-5. Spirited, strong-willed, and possessing one of the sharpest minds in government for mathematics and code-breaking, she fully expects to be sent abroad to gather intelligence for the British front. Instead, to her great disappointment, she is dispatched to go undercover at Windsor Castle, where she will tutor the young Princess Elizabeth in math. Yet castle life quickly proves more dangerous—and deadly—than Maggie ever expected. The upstairs-downstairs world at Windsor is thrown into disarray by a shocking murder, which draws Maggie into a vast conspiracy that places the entire royal family in peril. And as she races to save England from a most disturbing fate, Maggie realizes that a quick wit is her best defense, and that the smallest clues can unravel the biggest secrets, even within her own family.
Praise for *Mr. Churchill′s Secretary ''
“Delightful may seem a strange word to describe a novel that takes place against the backdrop of the bombings of London during World War II, but it′s appropriate for this debut novel. . . . As sweet as it is intriguing.”—USA Today “A captivating, post-feminist picture of England during its finest hour.”—The Denver Post'' *“Daring . . . Blends meticulous research on the era, psychological insight into Winston Churchill, and the creation of a riveting main character, Maggie Hope, into a spectacularly crafted novel.”—Bookreporter
“A ripping good yarn [that] enthralls and satisfies.”—*Richmond Times-Dispatch*
From Booklist
Discouraged when she washes out in MI-5 physical training in late 1940, Maggie Hope is less than pleased to be assigned to Windsor Castle, ostensibly to tutor Princess Elizabeth in “maths.” A math whiz raised in America by an aunt, she aspires to be a spy on the continent. Just after she reaches the castle, a lady-in-waiting riding with the two princesses is killed, leaving Maggie wondering if the victim was really the intended target. Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth proves an apt student, even fortuitously devising a code, as Maggie successfully handles covert tasks and conceals personal concerns. (Her “almost-fiancé,” whose proposal she turned down because he was joining the RAF, is missing after being shot down over Germany.) MacNeal captures the atmosphere of wartime Britain, with its populace keeping a stiff upper lip, and Maggie is as spunky as she is smart, showing backbone yet acknowledging error. This sequel to Mr. Churchill′s Secretary (2012) is historical mystery true to its time, with concluding plot twists that pave the way perfectly for future entries in an up-and-coming series. --Michele Leber
Review
Praise for *Mr. Churchill′s Secretary ''
“Delightful may seem a strange word to describe a novel that takes place against the backdrop of the bombings of London during World War II, but it′s appropriate for this debut novel. . . . As sweet as it is intriguing.”—USA Today “A captivating, post-feminist picture of England during its finest hour.”—The Denver Post'' *“Daring . . . Blends meticulous research on the era, psychological insight into Winston Churchill, and the creation of a riveting main character, Maggie Hope, into a spectacularly crafted novel.”—Bookreporter
“A ripping good yarn [that] enthralls and satisfies.”—*Richmond Times-Dispatch*
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