Mr. Churchill's Secretary: A Maggie Hope Mystery: 1 - Softcover

MacNeal, Susan Elia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553593617 ISBN 13: 9780553593617

Publisher: Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Div of Random House, Inc, 2012

Synopsis

For fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Laurie R. King, and Anne Perry, Mr. Churchill's Secretary captures the drama of an era of unprecedented challenge--and the greatness that rose to meet it.

London, 1940. Winston Churchill has just been sworn in, war rages across the Channel, and the threat of a Blitz looms larger by the day. But none of this deters Maggie Hope. She graduated at the top of her college class and possesses all the skills of the finest minds in British intelligence, but her gender qualifies her only to be the newest typist at No. 10 Downing Street. Her indefatigable spirit and remarkable gifts for codebreaking, though, rival those of even the highest men in government, and Maggie finds that working for the prime minister affords her a level of clearance she could never have imagined--and opportunities she will not let pass. In troubled, deadly times, with air-raid sirens sending multitudes underground, access to the War Rooms also exposes Maggie to the machinations of a menacing faction determined to do whatever it takes to change the course of history.

Ensnared in a web of spies, murder, and intrigue, Maggie must work quickly to balance her duty to King and Country with her chances for survival. And when she unravels a mystery that points toward her own family's hidden secrets, she'll discover that her quick wits are all that stand between an assassin's murderous plan and Churchill himself.

In this daring debut, Susan Elia MacNeal 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.

About this title

Product Description:

Mr. Churchill's Secretary "Bantam Books Trade Paperbacks original"--T.p. verso. Full description

Review:

Advance praise for Mr. Churchill's Secretary

"This wonderful debut is intelligent, richly detailed, and filled with suspense."--Stefanie Pintoff

"A terrific read . . . Chock full of fascinating period details and real people including Winston Churchill, MacNeal's fast-paced thriller gives a glimpse of the struggles, tensions, and dangers of life on the home front during World War II."--Rhys Bowen, author of Royal Blood and winner of the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards

"Think early Ken Follett, amp it up with a whipsmart young American not averse to red lipstick and vintage cocktails, season it with espionage during the London Blitz, and you've got a heart-pounding, atmospheric debut. I loved it."--Cara Black, author of Murder in Passy

"England in 1940 is the perfect backdrop for a courageous young woman who outwits the enemy. A vivid tapestry of wartime London."--Carolyn Hart, author of Escape from Paris

"An engrossing page-turner, with a delightful and spirited new heroine in the aptly named Maggie Hope."--C. C. Benison, author of Twelve Drummers Drumming

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Div of Random House, Inc
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0553593617
• ISBN 13: 9780553593617
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384