better and better

Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Genre: historical fiction

Review: In my review of Winston Churchill's Secretary, the first of the Maggie Hope books, I said that the series showed promise as MacNeal settled into her talents as a writer.  With this second installment, MacNeal is certainly starting to live up to that promise.  Although some of the language is still a bit clunky (and there are far too many mentions of birds), the story itself flows much more smoothly than it did in the first book and MacNeal takes fewer shortcuts to get her characters in and out of situations.

Newly installed with MI-5, Maggie Hope is placed at Windsor Castle at Christmas in 1940.  Posing as Princess Elizabeth's math tutor, she is really there to ferret out a possible plot against the future queen's life.  Descriptions of life at Windsor Castle during this period are well-done, and glimpses of historical personages are clearly well-researched.  Once again, MacNeal does an excellent job bringing to life a fascinating aspect of Britain during WWII, while at the same time allowing Maggie to grow as a character and as a spy.  I look forward to reading more!

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.

flawed but promising

Mr Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal
Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
Genre: historical fiction
Review: This book should have been a fun read.  It deals with some of the most interesting aspects of WWII-era London including cryptography and Churchill's offices at 10 Downing St. and adds the little-discussed element of IRA activity in London during this time.  Unfortunately, the book's numerous flaws overshadow the positive aspects.  MacNeal takes several shortcuts to get characters were she needs them and to move the narrative along.

However, as the first book in a projected series about Maggie Hope, it shows promise.  As MacNeal settles into her narrative talents (which are certainly evident, despite this book's shortcomings), she will figure out to avoid the pitfalls of narrative convenience and lovers of strong female detectives in historical fiction will have another series to become engrossed in.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.