Oh, goodie! I get to share another wonderful book with you. Today I’m reviewing Princess Elizabeth’s Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
From the publisher: 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.
My review: Set against the background of World War II in England, the heroine, Maggie Hope, has just finished her training to be a spy for MI-5. After all the grueling training, she hopes to be sent abroad to work undercover. She has a sharp, analytical mind, and an amazing ability to crack codes. But, much to her disappointment, she is sent instead to Windsor Castle where she is indeed to work undercover but as a math tutor to Princess Elizabeth. There are threats against the royal family and it is hoped that Maggie’s presence and her training will help to ensure the safety of the Princesses.
And then the plot, as they say, thickens. Untimely deaths, the stealing of secret coded transmissions, possible plots and suspicious characters all come together and Maggie has her work cut out for her. (Remember, I never give away too much plot!)
This book is what I would call a historical mystery. There are real-life historical characters within its pages; obviously, the Royals and several members of their household, Winston Churchill and others. The details as to life in London during a terrifying time of rationing, daily air raids and warning sirens, underground shelters and the bombing of England’s cities are very vividly and realistically presented. Maggie, our heroine, is fictional. She is spunky, plucky, smart and aggressive when necessary. MacNeal has managed to weave a complicated plot using both real-life and fictional characters that makes sense and seems utterly natural.
It’s both charming and a real page turner. I think MacNeal has a wonderful writing style and Maggie Hope is the perfect protagonist – smart, a spy, and not about to be trifled with. I would recommend this book highly.
Lucky me, I was also sent the first book in this series, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, and I look forward to reading the beginnings of Maggie’s story. If you love history and mysteries, this is the book for you.
About the author: Susan Elia MacNeal is the author of the Maggie Hope mystery series, including her debut novel, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, Princess Elizabeth’s Spy and the upcoming Hitler’s Nightingale. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and child.
One of you will be the lucky winner of a copy of Princess Elizabeth’s Spy. Just leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner on Friday evening. Good luck!
I was stopping by to check on you, and I hope the fact that you’re posting means you have electricity.
This book sounds great, and anything that has the British royals and Winston Churchill in it sounds excellent.
XO,
Sheila
Sorry, that last sentence was redundant. I’m just waking up after a fitful sleep. Sorry.
So happy to see your post this morning! Hope you are well and cozy in MHC.
I’d love to read this book since I am a lover of all things British :)
Have a cup of tea stay safe!
Lori
Je lis votre blog depuis un moment déjà depuis la France et j’ai l’impression de vous connaitre,c’est pourquoi je pense beaucoup à vous.
Claude
i am so relieved that you and your family are safe. my heart and prayers go out to those who have loss so much. the book sound great. hope i am the winner. take care.
Looking out for you from London, with best wishes for your safety. Hope you’ll be blogging again very soon. charliechas
I just downloaded Mr. Churchills Secretary on Sunday and look forward to reading this one too :-)
The setting sounds interesting. I would like to read it.
Trusting all is well and that you came through Sandy with no serious damage. xo
I love historical novels so I am sure I would like historical mysteries. Glad all is well from the storm. We also weathered it well here in Central Mass. Take care.
I’m always on the lookout for a good mystery. It’s even better if I actually learn something!
So relieved you posted on how you weathered the storm. I was pretty worried about you, Don and Scout.
This books sounds good. I love a good mystery and love reading about the royal family. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
So glad to hear all is well, love British mysteries and this sounds like a great one.
I loved Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, hope to read this one soon.
Glad you got through the storm allright.
This sounds like a great book to curl up on the couch with. Thanks for offering it. Hope Sandy was kind to you both.
I love a good mystery and this book sounds like even more fun with the historical aspect! Throw my name in the hat for the book please! I’m going to add this author to my list of TBR!! Hugs, Linda
I saw this post pop up and I knew you had posted ahead. But there’s another one in the queue so I’m assuming you are alright in the wake of Sandy.
I love this kind of story – and I’ve added these two books to my list of books to read.
So glad to hear that the 3 of you are ok. Stay safe and be well. Love British mysteries. Thanks for a oppertunity to win this.
I am so happy to see you here today! I woke up and wondered how you are doing. Much damage there? I could just cry seeing all the reports today of all the damage and how many have lost their lives. Queens to really heartbreaking. Knowing that they had lost so many to 911 and now this!
The book sounds so interesting! put my name in please.
I would love to read this book. Thanks for introducing me to a new author. Glad you’re safe! LOVE your blog!
So glad to hear you are safe. Blessings answered.
The book sounds great love
I love to read about history and the WW ll
Hi, Claudia, I would love to read this book, while sipping tea from my tea cup from Harrod’s, stirred with my Queen Elizabeth souvenir spoon my son brought back from his recent trip to England, and enjoying warm scones displayed on my china plates from Hampton Court!! :-) Thanks for introducing me to a new author and mystery series!
That sounds exactly like my kind of book! I hope I win! Claudia, I made an obsession scarf, and I wanted to ask you, do you wash or block it afterwards? Thank you, Mona
Mona, I spray it with water and lay it out on the counter, taking the time to flatten it and make sure the flower pattern is clearly shown. Once I spray it, I let it dry overnight – you’ll see how different it will look!
So glad everything is alright with y’all. I would love this book, I’ve read a few Lilian Harry’s books and it’s about the same time frame. Love reading anything about WW II. Thanks for the opportunity!
Reading this post gives me relief that you have power and hopefully were spared the worst of the storm. Sounds like a good book! Ann
I really love books that base their story on history…I find them all the more credible!;)
Those sound like interesting book and something I’d enjoy reading.
I only recently found your blog and I’m looking forward to reading some older posts. Glad to hear you’re OK after that terrible storm.
This series sounds like my cup of tea. Thanks for the giveaway.
These books sound interesting! I’m always after books with a strong, intelligent, female lead in them. They sound like they are in the same realm as the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King–I think you’d like them, too.
I tend to gravitate towards old-fashioned books ( I am a D E STEVENSON fanatic ) and period / historical movies…so this book sounds as if it would be right up my alley
I did not want to comment and enter this morning until checking it out a bit more though..so I went onto the book review at Amazon for the “First Pages ” It would not load so I waited until I got home from work and tried again. It still won’t
So I’ll just comment and enter :) Hope this makes sense …I did not want to enter if I thought I might not read the book after all but at this point I will just go with my instinct based on your review :)
Okay, I figured it out. Here is my comment. I hope to win. I think those two books are great. If I don’t win I will have to look them up at my library. Thanks for having a contest. Yours truly- Elaine