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Maggie Hope #7
The Paris Spy
Maggie Hope has come a long way since serving as a typist for Winston Churchill. Now she’s working undercover for the Special Operations Executive in the elegant but eerily silent city of Paris, where SS officers prowl the streets in their Mercedes and the Ritz is draped with swastika banners. Walking among the enemy is tense and terrifying, and even though she’s disguised in chic Chanel, Maggie can’t help longing for home.
But her missions come first. Maggie’s half sister, Elise, has disappeared after being saved from a concentration camp, and Maggie is desperate to find her—that is, if Elise even wants to be found. Equally urgent, Churchill is planning the Allied invasion of France, and SOE agent Erica Calvert has been captured, the whereabouts of her vital research regarding Normandy unknown. Maggie must risk her life to penetrate powerful circles and employ all her talents for deception and spycraft to root out a traitor, find her sister, and locate the reports crucial to planning D-Day in a deadly game of wits with the Nazi intelligence elite.
But her missions come first. Maggie’s half sister, Elise, has disappeared after being saved from a concentration camp, and Maggie is desperate to find her—that is, if Elise even wants to be found. Equally urgent, Churchill is planning the Allied invasion of France, and SOE agent Erica Calvert has been captured, the whereabouts of her vital research regarding Normandy unknown. Maggie must risk her life to penetrate powerful circles and employ all her talents for deception and spycraft to root out a traitor, find her sister, and locate the reports crucial to planning D-Day in a deadly game of wits with the Nazi intelligence elite.
301 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2017
1766 people are currently reading
8348 people want to read
About the author
Susan Elia MacNeal
20 books3,366 followersSusan Elia MacNeal is the author of The New York Times, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly and USA Today-bestselling Maggie Hope mystery series, starting with the Edgar Award-nominated and Barry Award-winning MR. CHURCHILL'S SECRETARY, which is now in its 23nd printing. MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, her first stand-alone novel, comes out September 20, 2022.
Her books have been nominated for the Edgar, the Macavity, the ITW Thriller, the Barry, the Dilys, the Sue Federer Historical Fiction, and the Bruce Alexander Historical Fiction awards. The Maggie Hope series is sold world-wide in English, and has also been translated into Czech, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, and Bulgarian.. Warner Bros. has the TV rights.
Susan graduated from Nardin Academy in Buffalo New York, and also cum laude and with honors in English from Wellesley College. She cross-registered for courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Course at Harvard University.
Her first job was as the assistant to novelist John Irving in Vermont. She then worked as an editorial assistant at Random House, assistant editor at Viking Penguin, and associate editor and staff writer at Dance Magazine in New York City. As a freelance writer, she wrote two non-fiction books and for the publications of New York City Ballet.
Susan is married and lives with her husband, Noel MacNeal, a television performer, writer and director, and their son in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Her books have been nominated for the Edgar, the Macavity, the ITW Thriller, the Barry, the Dilys, the Sue Federer Historical Fiction, and the Bruce Alexander Historical Fiction awards. The Maggie Hope series is sold world-wide in English, and has also been translated into Czech, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, and Bulgarian.. Warner Bros. has the TV rights.
Susan graduated from Nardin Academy in Buffalo New York, and also cum laude and with honors in English from Wellesley College. She cross-registered for courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Course at Harvard University.
Her first job was as the assistant to novelist John Irving in Vermont. She then worked as an editorial assistant at Random House, assistant editor at Viking Penguin, and associate editor and staff writer at Dance Magazine in New York City. As a freelance writer, she wrote two non-fiction books and for the publications of New York City Ballet.
Susan is married and lives with her husband, Noel MacNeal, a television performer, writer and director, and their son in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 842 reviews
February 26, 2018
The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal is a 2017 Bantam publication.
I admit I have been hoarding this book. I read the first six in rapid succession, but when I realized I only had one left and there could be a long wait before book eight, I decided to hold on to this one a little while. But, my willpower gave out- LOL!
When we last touched base with Maggie, she was headed to France with fellow SOE agents Hugh and Sarah. After a dull and dreary waiting period, she finally assumes her new identity and moves to the Ritz where she meets the infamous Coco Chanel. But, big trouble is brewing, and Maggie is desperate to find a SOE member she’s lost contact with and of course she’s still holding out hope that she might locate her sister.
Intrigue is a constant hallmark of this series, with each installment becoming more and more intense as the world war becomes increasingly brutal and people have begun to sacrifice integrity for victory at any cost.
This episode is a real nail biter! There is a lot going on, as always, and Maggie must be sharper than ever to keep from being found out. There are a few gut wrenching developments, but also some rays of hope where Maggie’s sister is concerned.
I was on the edge of my seat for the last quarter of the book! It was action packed, emotionally draining, and unbearably suspenseful!!
The ending is the only gripe I have because it is a serious cliffhanger and I will have to wait all the way until August to find out what happens next! UGH!!
However, I am positive it will be well worth the wait!!
4.5 stars
I admit I have been hoarding this book. I read the first six in rapid succession, but when I realized I only had one left and there could be a long wait before book eight, I decided to hold on to this one a little while. But, my willpower gave out- LOL!
When we last touched base with Maggie, she was headed to France with fellow SOE agents Hugh and Sarah. After a dull and dreary waiting period, she finally assumes her new identity and moves to the Ritz where she meets the infamous Coco Chanel. But, big trouble is brewing, and Maggie is desperate to find a SOE member she’s lost contact with and of course she’s still holding out hope that she might locate her sister.
Intrigue is a constant hallmark of this series, with each installment becoming more and more intense as the world war becomes increasingly brutal and people have begun to sacrifice integrity for victory at any cost.
This episode is a real nail biter! There is a lot going on, as always, and Maggie must be sharper than ever to keep from being found out. There are a few gut wrenching developments, but also some rays of hope where Maggie’s sister is concerned.
I was on the edge of my seat for the last quarter of the book! It was action packed, emotionally draining, and unbearably suspenseful!!
The ending is the only gripe I have because it is a serious cliffhanger and I will have to wait all the way until August to find out what happens next! UGH!!
However, I am positive it will be well worth the wait!!
4.5 stars
August 15, 2017
This would have been a five if this book hadn't done the same thing the last one in the series did. The mystery was solved, the villain had been captured, and the plot had reached a satisfying resolution . . . and then there was another chunk of text leading up to a totally unnecessary cliffhanger. So now, again, readers have to wait a year or more to find out what happens next. If I like the author's voice and the characters in a series, I don't have to be tricked into buying the next book. Ideally, each entry in a series should to be able to stand on its own. Leaving a few remaining loose ends is fine if they are small intriguing ones, but I really hate it when a novel ends with a large unresolved question about the protagonist's fate.
August 5, 2017
This is #7 of the Maggie Hope series. Maggie is an American spy on a mission in Paris to help with the defeat of Germany in WWII.
Maggie works with other spies in Paris and they find themselves being interrogated and arrested by the Gestapo. Maggie was sent to Paris to find out what happened to another agent, Erica Calvert. Maggie is afraid she may have been captured. There are a few "cringe" moments, lots of suspense, and a sense of how devastating things were under Nazi occupation in Paris. I enjoyed how the author highlighted the roles of strong women during the war.
I really enjoyed the book! Anyone who enjoys historical fiction, World War II content, or series that follow a main character, will enjoy this very engaging read. I look forward to reading more in the series.
My arc was through Netgalley.
My rating 4/5
Publication date August 8,2017
Maggie works with other spies in Paris and they find themselves being interrogated and arrested by the Gestapo. Maggie was sent to Paris to find out what happened to another agent, Erica Calvert. Maggie is afraid she may have been captured. There are a few "cringe" moments, lots of suspense, and a sense of how devastating things were under Nazi occupation in Paris. I enjoyed how the author highlighted the roles of strong women during the war.
I really enjoyed the book! Anyone who enjoys historical fiction, World War II content, or series that follow a main character, will enjoy this very engaging read. I look forward to reading more in the series.
My arc was through Netgalley.
My rating 4/5
Publication date August 8,2017
August 6, 2017
The Paris Spy is the seventh installment in the Maggie Hope series and my favorite book in the series. I began reading the series when MacNeal first wrote Mr. Churchill’s Secretary and always eagerly anticipate Maggie’s next adventure. The Paris Spy does not disappoint as Maggie navigates Nazi-occupied Paris on a mission to recover two individuals that have disappeared, one another SOE spy and the other her half-sister. Coco Chanel makes an appearance, and since Maggie is posing as an engaged socialite gathering her trousseau, there is a focus on 1940’s fashion which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Paris is my favorite place to visit, and I was fascinated by MacNeal’s details regarding Nazi-occupied Paris (she clearly researched extensively). Even though I have read countless World War 2 books dealing with this time period in Paris, I was unaware that the Nazis made Paris operate on Berlin time (two hours ahead) and how silent the streets became because no one but Nazi officers drove cars for the most part. While it is common knowledge that the Nazis were horrifically cruel, the sections of the book describing atrocious Nazi behavior made my stomach turn and once again question how Germany managed to sink so low. On the flip side, I always love anecdotes about Parisians who resisted, and The Paris Spy contains many honorable Parisians subtly standing up for what they knew was right.
This series is outstanding, and I highly recommend The Paris Spy (and the other 6 books before it). Thanks to Bantam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Paris is my favorite place to visit, and I was fascinated by MacNeal’s details regarding Nazi-occupied Paris (she clearly researched extensively). Even though I have read countless World War 2 books dealing with this time period in Paris, I was unaware that the Nazis made Paris operate on Berlin time (two hours ahead) and how silent the streets became because no one but Nazi officers drove cars for the most part. While it is common knowledge that the Nazis were horrifically cruel, the sections of the book describing atrocious Nazi behavior made my stomach turn and once again question how Germany managed to sink so low. On the flip side, I always love anecdotes about Parisians who resisted, and The Paris Spy contains many honorable Parisians subtly standing up for what they knew was right.
This series is outstanding, and I highly recommend The Paris Spy (and the other 6 books before it). Thanks to Bantam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2018
This series just keeps getting better.
In this instalment, Maggie heads over to occupied France to try and find a missing SOE agent and her half-sister. While staying at the Ritz (undercover as an Irish bride-to-be) she meets Coco Chanel, whom the author has portrayed (as per reporter Hal Vaughan's claims) as a Nazi sympathiser and anti-Semite.
There was plenty of espionage and double-crossing and another cliff-hanger ending. Now to write that under a spoiler so I don't forget by the time book 8 has been released.
In the meantime, if you enjoy easy-to-read spy mysteries set in WWII, this may be right up your alley. Although the subject may not be fresh, the protagonist is, as it is not often you come across a female spy story in this time period!
In this instalment, Maggie heads over to occupied France to try and find a missing SOE agent and her half-sister. While staying at the Ritz (undercover as an Irish bride-to-be) she meets Coco Chanel, whom the author has portrayed (as per reporter Hal Vaughan's claims) as a Nazi sympathiser and anti-Semite.
There was plenty of espionage and double-crossing and another cliff-hanger ending. Now to write that under a spoiler so I don't forget by the time book 8 has been released.
In the meantime, if you enjoy easy-to-read spy mysteries set in WWII, this may be right up your alley. Although the subject may not be fresh, the protagonist is, as it is not often you come across a female spy story in this time period!
February 8, 2018
As someone else said so well, book by book Maggie has gone more and more from being a clever secretary to a superhero/action figure. Her books are beginning to feel as if they were scripted by Marvel Comics writers. Maggie powers through her adventures, with one lucky coinky-dink after another, with an absurd action sequence to get her out of trouble, followed by another annoying "cliff hanger" ending. It's like watching an old time "to be continued" serial at a movie of the period, with perhaps a touch of "MacGyver" And come on now, MacNeal isn't going to leave her in the latest predicament for long, or kill her off. Not when she can keep churning these books out.
Maggie's Zelig moment in this book--striking up an acquaintance with Coco Chanel. Couldn't she possibly have taken a room at the Ritz in Paris and NOT bumped into a famous person first thing?
Sigh. Brain candy. Pure brain candy. MacNeal's long bibliography at the end indicates she knows that the history underneath the yarn she is spinning is not amusing in the least. It's a pity that her books give pat resolutions to sad situations. The women she bases this stuff on deserve better.
Maggie's Zelig moment in this book--striking up an acquaintance with Coco Chanel. Couldn't she possibly have taken a room at the Ritz in Paris and NOT bumped into a famous person first thing?
Sigh. Brain candy. Pure brain candy. MacNeal's long bibliography at the end indicates she knows that the history underneath the yarn she is spinning is not amusing in the least. It's a pity that her books give pat resolutions to sad situations. The women she bases this stuff on deserve better.
August 8, 2017
The Germans wore grey.
I adore Maggie Hope. She's right out of 'Girls Own Magazine', a patterned heroine with a grownup twist.
In Paris Spy Maggie is once again in the thick of things. This time she's called in favours from 'high places' to get herself over to occupied Paris--at the Ritz of course! Now that's a cover!
She meets Coco! (As a side tack Chanel was reputably an ant-Semite and she had a German lover, Baron Hans Günther von Dincklage.) MacNeal has Maggie meeting Dincklage at Maxims after the ballet. The inclusion of Chanel is seamless, brilliant and believable. Bravo MacNeal!
I have to say MacNeal's descriptions of an occupied high society Paris swirl with undercurrents of a nervous desperation despite all the glitz that is portrayed is riviting.
Maggie's search for her half sister Elsie has taken her to Paris right into the midst of things. The Gestapo, secret agents and double agents. Dirty tricks and dirty secrets.
It would seem that agents are being compromised but the incompetent in charge of receiving SOE agent's messages is not taking notice.
If a search can turn even more deadly it does and Maggie's cover is blown.
What is at stake now becomes vital to the war effort. Maggie has some terrible truths to face. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and desperate for the next book.
Another ripping Maggie Hope yarn!
A NetGalley ARC
I adore Maggie Hope. She's right out of 'Girls Own Magazine', a patterned heroine with a grownup twist.
In Paris Spy Maggie is once again in the thick of things. This time she's called in favours from 'high places' to get herself over to occupied Paris--at the Ritz of course! Now that's a cover!
She meets Coco! (As a side tack Chanel was reputably an ant-Semite and she had a German lover, Baron Hans Günther von Dincklage.) MacNeal has Maggie meeting Dincklage at Maxims after the ballet. The inclusion of Chanel is seamless, brilliant and believable. Bravo MacNeal!
I have to say MacNeal's descriptions of an occupied high society Paris swirl with undercurrents of a nervous desperation despite all the glitz that is portrayed is riviting.
Maggie's search for her half sister Elsie has taken her to Paris right into the midst of things. The Gestapo, secret agents and double agents. Dirty tricks and dirty secrets.
It would seem that agents are being compromised but the incompetent in charge of receiving SOE agent's messages is not taking notice.
If a search can turn even more deadly it does and Maggie's cover is blown.
What is at stake now becomes vital to the war effort. Maggie has some terrible truths to face. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and desperate for the next book.
Another ripping Maggie Hope yarn!
A NetGalley ARC
September 16, 2017
After finishing the book I was so annoyed I nearly didn’t bother writing a review.
This is the seventh Maggie Hope book I have read and it’s the first I have actually hated.
After an interesting prologue the first few chapters were boring and I began to wonder what Maggie was actually doing. I got fed up with the author trying to prove she was being historically accurate, which in the main, she wasn’t.
I thought the last few chapters were promising and these might have saved the book, until the unbelievable last page.
Overall I hated the story and I hated the ending.
This is the seventh Maggie Hope book I have read and it’s the first I have actually hated.
After an interesting prologue the first few chapters were boring and I began to wonder what Maggie was actually doing. I got fed up with the author trying to prove she was being historically accurate, which in the main, she wasn’t.
I thought the last few chapters were promising and these might have saved the book, until the unbelievable last page.
Overall I hated the story and I hated the ending.
September 20, 2017
Wow! This may well be the best book yet in the Maggie Hope mystery series - beautifully written by Susan Elia MacNeal. The scenes are taut with tension, the whole gamut of human emotion explored and detailed descriptions of elaborate and even sparse settings for every scene.
Prepare to be transported to occupied Paris during the spring of 1942. Hear the jackboots pound the pavement; listen to the seductive native Parisian lilt speech and suffer the Germans slaughtering the French language. Smell the fresh baked baguettes; taste the Lafitte Rothschild wine and fresh oysters (although out of season); and luxuriate in fine champagne, all compliments of the occupiers. Juxtapose this against the harsh reality of true Parisian life as the locals virtually starve to death. If well written World War II historical fiction based on solid research is your thing, then this IS the book for you.
I am grateful to author Susan Elia MacNeal, her publisher Random House/Bantam Books and Goodreads First Reads for having provided an advanced uncorrected copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Prepare to be transported to occupied Paris during the spring of 1942. Hear the jackboots pound the pavement; listen to the seductive native Parisian lilt speech and suffer the Germans slaughtering the French language. Smell the fresh baked baguettes; taste the Lafitte Rothschild wine and fresh oysters (although out of season); and luxuriate in fine champagne, all compliments of the occupiers. Juxtapose this against the harsh reality of true Parisian life as the locals virtually starve to death. If well written World War II historical fiction based on solid research is your thing, then this IS the book for you.
I am grateful to author Susan Elia MacNeal, her publisher Random House/Bantam Books and Goodreads First Reads for having provided an advanced uncorrected copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
June 27, 2017
We are back with our beloved Maggie and spend a lot of time in German occupied Paris, and become completely immersed in the WWII time period.
The Special Operations Executives are trying to bring information back to England to confirm the best landing spot for Allied troops, and we experience head on all that happens to these spies, and those who risk their lives to keep our freedom.
This time our girl is supposed to be Irish lass, a rather rich one, who is shopping for her coming wedding. We then get to hobnail with the rich and famous, still remembering where we are and who is in charge.
You will be sitting on the edge of your seat, and quickly turning pages to get to the answers here, and who will survive to go on to the next book, some really sad happenings, and then a bombshell as we fall off the cliff. Patiently waiting for the next book, not!
I received the book through Net Galley and the Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and was not required to give a positive review.
The Special Operations Executives are trying to bring information back to England to confirm the best landing spot for Allied troops, and we experience head on all that happens to these spies, and those who risk their lives to keep our freedom.
This time our girl is supposed to be Irish lass, a rather rich one, who is shopping for her coming wedding. We then get to hobnail with the rich and famous, still remembering where we are and who is in charge.
You will be sitting on the edge of your seat, and quickly turning pages to get to the answers here, and who will survive to go on to the next book, some really sad happenings, and then a bombshell as we fall off the cliff. Patiently waiting for the next book, not!
I received the book through Net Galley and the Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and was not required to give a positive review.
August 29, 2017
I think this book was well-written with descriptive passages. I almost didn't read it when I realized it was part of one of those series --but its being the first one I've read, it didn't seem predictable like that. I wouldn't read another of her Maggie series books tho'.
I would have given this 5 stars, except for the inane, frivolous, totally improbable conversation (SPOILER) between the 2 women and the pilot toward the end. I wondered why anyone could possibly be dumb enough to accuse someone while that person is actively flying the plane you're in --or maybe just to fit in one more scary incident....?
I also didn't appreciate the twist in the last sentence --sort of a clever, but cheap trick to get the reader intrigued to read the following book in the series.
I did learn some interesting facts in the book about the decision to land at Normandy --which I've also researched elsewhere now. What the 2 women accomplished physically made me motivated to get stronger as you never know the future.
The narrator did an excellent job except for a couple of pronunciation errors, which I noticed at the time, but have forgotten now.
I would have given this 5 stars, except for the inane, frivolous, totally improbable conversation (SPOILER) between the 2 women and the pilot toward the end. I wondered why anyone could possibly be dumb enough to accuse someone while that person is actively flying the plane you're in --or maybe just to fit in one more scary incident....?
I also didn't appreciate the twist in the last sentence --sort of a clever, but cheap trick to get the reader intrigued to read the following book in the series.
I did learn some interesting facts in the book about the decision to land at Normandy --which I've also researched elsewhere now. What the 2 women accomplished physically made me motivated to get stronger as you never know the future.
The narrator did an excellent job except for a couple of pronunciation errors, which I noticed at the time, but have forgotten now.
August 15, 2017
Follow up for the ending
I love the Maggie Hope books. This book was exciting. Some parts for desperate people in desperate situations. What happened at the end? It left us dangling until the next book? I dislike books that don't have a plausible ending. I could be dead before the next book is written and published. Why do authors do this to their dedicated readers? I feel cheated and my mouth is still open in disbelief on how the book ended.
I love the Maggie Hope books. This book was exciting. Some parts for desperate people in desperate situations. What happened at the end? It left us dangling until the next book? I dislike books that don't have a plausible ending. I could be dead before the next book is written and published. Why do authors do this to their dedicated readers? I feel cheated and my mouth is still open in disbelief on how the book ended.
July 23, 2017
Thanks Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and netgalley for this ARC.
Maggie Hope's stories are always thrilling and full of nervous moments. She's the female action star of historical mystery! I can't wait to see how she handles the cliffhanger at the end of this one.
Maggie Hope's stories are always thrilling and full of nervous moments. She's the female action star of historical mystery! I can't wait to see how she handles the cliffhanger at the end of this one.
June 27, 2017
This is the fourth Maggie Hope novel that I've read and it affected me in a way that the others did not: this book illustrates the complicated morality present in politics and warfare.
I am a fan of series fiction and read the other stories in this series as light entertainment. This book certainly doesn't have the pretense of being much more than that, but the subject matter (Paris during the German occupation) easily introduced the light, dark, and grey that is present on both sides of any conflict.
There are brief sections of the book that seem like boilerplate history texts (albeit elementary ones) of WW2, but the storyline also included the moral challenges presented to the British spy agencies--and, the Prime Minister. Is it appropriate to knowingly (and recklessly) risk lives to save a greater number? This book asks that question, and our heroine takes a strong stand.
I enjoyed this book more than the others in the series because it did address these questions. Even on a sultry summer day, it is good to be reminded of the sacrifices made for our country's freedom.
Net galley provided me with a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I am a fan of series fiction and read the other stories in this series as light entertainment. This book certainly doesn't have the pretense of being much more than that, but the subject matter (Paris during the German occupation) easily introduced the light, dark, and grey that is present on both sides of any conflict.
There are brief sections of the book that seem like boilerplate history texts (albeit elementary ones) of WW2, but the storyline also included the moral challenges presented to the British spy agencies--and, the Prime Minister. Is it appropriate to knowingly (and recklessly) risk lives to save a greater number? This book asks that question, and our heroine takes a strong stand.
I enjoyed this book more than the others in the series because it did address these questions. Even on a sultry summer day, it is good to be reminded of the sacrifices made for our country's freedom.
Net galley provided me with a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2017
In book #7 of the Maggie Hope series, we find out girl Maggie in Nazi occupied France. She has gone there undercover to search for a fellow SOE agent and her half sister.
I honestly think I held my breath for most of this story. These are scary times and Maggie is not sure who she can trust. Little did I realize what would happen to Maggie at the very end.
Ms. MacNeal has given us a real page turner. I have enjoyed going along for all of Maggie’s adventures. With the ending on this story, I am anxiously awaiting the next book.
ARC from Random House - Ballantine Bantam, via Netgalley.
I honestly think I held my breath for most of this story. These are scary times and Maggie is not sure who she can trust. Little did I realize what would happen to Maggie at the very end.
Ms. MacNeal has given us a real page turner. I have enjoyed going along for all of Maggie’s adventures. With the ending on this story, I am anxiously awaiting the next book.
ARC from Random House - Ballantine Bantam, via Netgalley.
March 20, 2018
An OK read, but nowhere near the quality of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series. Too many "coincidences" and chance meetings with famous people, i.e. Coco Chanel. 2.5 stars at best, but feeling generous and going up .5 stars rather than down. OK to pass the time, but other books I really WANT to read are calling out to me. Don't think I'll go farther with this series.
January 9, 2018
Excellent. I absolutely love this series, and can't wait for the next one!
April 29, 2025
Book 7
I am still in love with this series. I love following the characters. The story flows from one book to the next. The reading is so detailed and precise. The more I read, the more I want to read.
I am still in love with this series. I love following the characters. The story flows from one book to the next. The reading is so detailed and precise. The more I read, the more I want to read.
August 31, 2017
For me, this was the least enjoyable book in the series by far, which is disappointing because I have always loved WWII fiction. The identity of the mole was too predictable, and Maggie's cover as a rich Irish woman (even if it was her dead friend's identity she was assuming) is completely impractical. The point of being undercover is to keep a low profile, especially when she isn't specifically trying to infiltrate a group of Nazis or their rich French collaborators. Furthermore, the reference to some common conspiracy theories (e.g., that Churchill had advance knowledge of the 1940 Coventry bombing but failed to protect the city) irks me to no end. It might be tempting to buy these theories, but it's irresponsible to propagate them, especially when a simple Google search leads you to accurate source that dispel those myths.
The end of the book, though, is what really disappointed me. After her return to the UK, as a high-ranking official tries to enlist her help in a massive disinformation campaign, Maggie shows an unrealistic naiveté in her objections to the plan. The tactics the official outlines are brutal, but it seems like she really doesn't get how high the stakes are, and how devastating the consequences would be if the invasion failed, even after the MI-6 official shares intel on the Nazis' plans for the Holocaust. This depiction of Maggie doesn't sit well with me because she's a practical person and has been in life-or-death situations before. She should understand the nature of wartime sacrifice by this point in the series. I get the feeling that Maggie isn't prepared for the darkness that lies ahead, which is going to make for some rough reading as the series continues.
The end of the book, though, is what really disappointed me. After her return to the UK, as a high-ranking official tries to enlist her help in a massive disinformation campaign, Maggie shows an unrealistic naiveté in her objections to the plan. The tactics the official outlines are brutal, but it seems like she really doesn't get how high the stakes are, and how devastating the consequences would be if the invasion failed, even after the MI-6 official shares intel on the Nazis' plans for the Holocaust. This depiction of Maggie doesn't sit well with me because she's a practical person and has been in life-or-death situations before. She should understand the nature of wartime sacrifice by this point in the series. I get the feeling that Maggie isn't prepared for the darkness that lies ahead, which is going to make for some rough reading as the series continues.
March 2, 2020
The Paris Spy is the next installment of the Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal. For fans of the series, this installment will not disappoint. I will say, though, that the cliff hanger endings seem to be escalating from book to book so I hope readers won't be looking for a tidy resolution just yet!
In this book, as the title suggests, Maggie arrives in France where she tries to accomplish her mission and find her half sister. There are a number of new characters introduced, from mysterious new contacts in the network of spies to Coco Channel to a Nazi officer whose loyalties are not fully clear. The descriptions of Paris under Nazi occupation were very interesting, with details noted about what doors different people could use to enter and exit and the subtle ways the French chose to resist the occupation.
The story is engaging as always and I found myself up half the night so I could find out what happened to Maggie and her friends. Fans of the Maisie Dobbs or Bess Crawford series will enjoy this series as well. This is historical mystery fiction writing with an engaging female lead at its best. I would suggest that new readers of this series start with the first book, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary.
I will keep my fingers that the next book in this series comes out soon!
In this book, as the title suggests, Maggie arrives in France where she tries to accomplish her mission and find her half sister. There are a number of new characters introduced, from mysterious new contacts in the network of spies to Coco Channel to a Nazi officer whose loyalties are not fully clear. The descriptions of Paris under Nazi occupation were very interesting, with details noted about what doors different people could use to enter and exit and the subtle ways the French chose to resist the occupation.
The story is engaging as always and I found myself up half the night so I could find out what happened to Maggie and her friends. Fans of the Maisie Dobbs or Bess Crawford series will enjoy this series as well. This is historical mystery fiction writing with an engaging female lead at its best. I would suggest that new readers of this series start with the first book, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary.
I will keep my fingers that the next book in this series comes out soon!
Read
August 16, 2017DNF it was too hard to try to find out what was going on in the main characters life without having read any of the previous books. Next time I will pay closer attention to the fact that it was a series :(
August 7, 2017
The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal is #7 in the Maggie Hope Mystery series set during WWII. I have been an ardent fan of this series since the beginning, and I was rather surprised when I realized that we were to the seventh title already. Time really does fly when you’re having fun, or when you’re reading an amazing series. What first engaged me in this series was the absolute connection to Maggie in her surroundings, war-torn London. MacNeal had brought the feeling of walking down a bomb ravaged street in London in 1939 into sharp focus for readers. Through Maggie Hope, we see history as if it’s unfolding before us. And, here we are at book #7, and the author has never wavered from bringing the reader into the scene, immersing us into a time and place where history so affected our future.
It is now 1942, and Maggie, through her called-in favor from the Queen, is in Paris, which is occupied by the Germans, as is the rest of France--well, except for Vichy France, whose rule is maintained by a Nazi-collaborating Frenchman. But it is Paris, the city of lights, where Maggie awaits her documentation allowing her to enter daily life in this tightly controlled German military zone. What she finds when she does get her new identification and papers is a city covered in swastika banners and muted life. The city of lights has lost its once brilliance of color and amore. Posing as an Irish young woman who has come to Paris to shop for her bridal trousseau, Maggie settles into the Ritz Hotel, where the German Luftwaffe is headquartered. Because Ireland is neutral in the War, she is granted freedom to move around as she pleases. But, of course, there is always the watchful eye of the Gestapo and whoever may be collaborating with them. “Trust no one” is advice that is given to Maggie upon her entry into Paris. Her real purpose in getting herself smuggled into this dangerous place is to find a SOE, Special Operations Executive, agent whose communications have gone rather odd of late. Also, Maggie is in pursuit of her half-sister, who was last seen in Paris when she escaped from the safety of the SOE handlers.
The characters include some with whom we are familiar from earlier books, and it certainly is to the reader’s advantage to have read the series preceding six stories, and there is a whole new cast of characters of German officers and French spies and the lovely addition of Coco Chanel. Coco’s befriending of Maggie is another avenue of exploring the conditions of occupied Paris, how the fashion capitol of the world dealt with fashion and its continuation through the hardships of war. Also, the inclusion of Maggie’s friends and fellow undercover agents, Hugh Thompson and Sarah Sanderson, who are part of the Paris ballet company, is a window into the arts in Paris at this time. The Germans may have been savages, but their interest in the finer things of life allowed the artistic and musical talent to survive, albeit under the strict regulations of the Nazi regime.
On the line in these behind-the-scenes war efforts is the Allied invasion of France, keeping the location of Normandy a secret. It’s a win or lose the war move that Churchill and those working in the secret organizations of the British war-fighting machine are working to protect at all costs. Sacrifice has never meant more or been so great. Evil has never been more threatening to take over.
This book may be my favorite yet in the Maggie Hope series, mainly because the history of Paris under Nazi rule is such a fascinating subject, and Susan Elia MacNeal spins a suspenseful, gripping story out of real people and circumstances, facing danger with their every step. There is no comfort of home or time off for the participants in this drama. Every day is a challenge to make through alive. The story will seize you with its life and death struggles in a fight to prevent the Nazi takeover of the world. The author recreates the feelings and sacrifices of these brave spies in this powerful narrative that will make it all too real to the reader.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
It is now 1942, and Maggie, through her called-in favor from the Queen, is in Paris, which is occupied by the Germans, as is the rest of France--well, except for Vichy France, whose rule is maintained by a Nazi-collaborating Frenchman. But it is Paris, the city of lights, where Maggie awaits her documentation allowing her to enter daily life in this tightly controlled German military zone. What she finds when she does get her new identification and papers is a city covered in swastika banners and muted life. The city of lights has lost its once brilliance of color and amore. Posing as an Irish young woman who has come to Paris to shop for her bridal trousseau, Maggie settles into the Ritz Hotel, where the German Luftwaffe is headquartered. Because Ireland is neutral in the War, she is granted freedom to move around as she pleases. But, of course, there is always the watchful eye of the Gestapo and whoever may be collaborating with them. “Trust no one” is advice that is given to Maggie upon her entry into Paris. Her real purpose in getting herself smuggled into this dangerous place is to find a SOE, Special Operations Executive, agent whose communications have gone rather odd of late. Also, Maggie is in pursuit of her half-sister, who was last seen in Paris when she escaped from the safety of the SOE handlers.
The characters include some with whom we are familiar from earlier books, and it certainly is to the reader’s advantage to have read the series preceding six stories, and there is a whole new cast of characters of German officers and French spies and the lovely addition of Coco Chanel. Coco’s befriending of Maggie is another avenue of exploring the conditions of occupied Paris, how the fashion capitol of the world dealt with fashion and its continuation through the hardships of war. Also, the inclusion of Maggie’s friends and fellow undercover agents, Hugh Thompson and Sarah Sanderson, who are part of the Paris ballet company, is a window into the arts in Paris at this time. The Germans may have been savages, but their interest in the finer things of life allowed the artistic and musical talent to survive, albeit under the strict regulations of the Nazi regime.
On the line in these behind-the-scenes war efforts is the Allied invasion of France, keeping the location of Normandy a secret. It’s a win or lose the war move that Churchill and those working in the secret organizations of the British war-fighting machine are working to protect at all costs. Sacrifice has never meant more or been so great. Evil has never been more threatening to take over.
This book may be my favorite yet in the Maggie Hope series, mainly because the history of Paris under Nazi rule is such a fascinating subject, and Susan Elia MacNeal spins a suspenseful, gripping story out of real people and circumstances, facing danger with their every step. There is no comfort of home or time off for the participants in this drama. Every day is a challenge to make through alive. The story will seize you with its life and death struggles in a fight to prevent the Nazi takeover of the world. The author recreates the feelings and sacrifices of these brave spies in this powerful narrative that will make it all too real to the reader.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
July 4, 2024
Leaves us on a total cliff hanger! Good story and will get onto the next installment quickly so I can find out what happens...
July 12, 2017
MY Review of "THE PARIS SPY"
I enjoyed "The Paris Spy" by Susan Elia MacNeal. The genres of this story are Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Mystery. The timeline of the story is during World War Two, and takes place mostly in Paris, and London.
This is the seventh novel in a series of books. This is the first book that I have read, but I found it easy to keep up with the characters. I don't think it is necessary to read the other books, but I would like to.
The author describes the characters as complex and complicated. There is loyalty and betrayal, and good and evil. Maggie Hope goes to Nazi-occupied France to look for two women. Maggie is working undercover and is pretending to be Irish and looking at Paris fashions for her wedding. She is staying at the elegant Ritz Hotel that is has swastika banners all over. She gets to meet Coco Chanel, who is staying there.
I appreciate the research of World War Two activities in Paris and France, and how the emotional upheaval is evident. The author's descriptions of the surroundings , landscape and people is interesting. There is espionage, double agents, and hazards,
It is a very dangerous time, and other agents are missing, and communication seems to be difficult. Who do you trust? I found this novel to be exciting, captivating, intriguing and enjoyable, and would highly recommend this. I look forward to reading more novels in this series by the author. I received this Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.
July 26, 2017
I won a proof edition of this book (yes, the draws are real, and yes it could happen to you!). Thank you very much for choosing me - I was so happy to not have to wait until August!
I think that this, the 7th installment of the adventures of Maggie Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal, is the best one yet.
I've enjoyed all of them, but this one had less of the romance and more of the history and mystery that I love. It is somewhat drier, and does do without some of the cutesy moments that appeal to some fans more than others. I just felt that it dealt with the times more directly and realistically than some of the earlier books. I have enjoyed the entire series, but am from time to time pulled out of earlier events by too much coincidence or speculative interaction with real people.
The bravery of those who went into occupied Europe cannot be understated - as more and more documents are released or uncovered by the Official Secrets Act, the extent of the conditions and sacrifices that they made (and the betrayal that they endured) is more clearly revealed.
As usual, the condescension towards the females in the stories is annoying - but not inaccurate; read a few novels of the day (depending on the writer, the "don't worry your pretty little head" treatment of women is pretty common!).
I am not missing Maggie's parents story line at all - served the purpose a few books ago.
What levels will a government go to preserve a course of action that they have set themselves upon?
That's the question we ask ourselves as citizens, as participants in the actions of our own day - I am very much looking forward to what Maggie does next!
Note - this IS the 7th book - and while you could read it without reading the others first, why would you?
I am a huge believer in reading a series in order, and reading all the books in the series. I have put down books on discovering that I have not read the preceding books in the series.
I think this is important for a couple of reasons - getting the full series of events and character development; and joining the author on their writing journey and progression. That isn't as important for some people, but I really do feel that it does the later books an injustice to skip all the details that come before!
I think that this, the 7th installment of the adventures of Maggie Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal, is the best one yet.
I've enjoyed all of them, but this one had less of the romance and more of the history and mystery that I love. It is somewhat drier, and does do without some of the cutesy moments that appeal to some fans more than others. I just felt that it dealt with the times more directly and realistically than some of the earlier books. I have enjoyed the entire series, but am from time to time pulled out of earlier events by too much coincidence or speculative interaction with real people.
The bravery of those who went into occupied Europe cannot be understated - as more and more documents are released or uncovered by the Official Secrets Act, the extent of the conditions and sacrifices that they made (and the betrayal that they endured) is more clearly revealed.
As usual, the condescension towards the females in the stories is annoying - but not inaccurate; read a few novels of the day (depending on the writer, the "don't worry your pretty little head" treatment of women is pretty common!).
I am not missing Maggie's parents story line at all - served the purpose a few books ago.
What levels will a government go to preserve a course of action that they have set themselves upon?
That's the question we ask ourselves as citizens, as participants in the actions of our own day - I am very much looking forward to what Maggie does next!
Note - this IS the 7th book - and while you could read it without reading the others first, why would you?
I am a huge believer in reading a series in order, and reading all the books in the series. I have put down books on discovering that I have not read the preceding books in the series.
I think this is important for a couple of reasons - getting the full series of events and character development; and joining the author on their writing journey and progression. That isn't as important for some people, but I really do feel that it does the later books an injustice to skip all the details that come before!
October 21, 2017
3.5 stars. Really enjoy this series, only wish they recapped some of the events from the previous book rather than alluding to them, to make some aspects of this story clearer.
August 3, 2017
I was hesitant to read "Paris Spy" for fear it would b too romance novelly and it was a bit but the World War ll aspect as well as the character building far outweighed that. Its not too often endings catch me so off guard but this one absolutely did. Apparently Maggie Hope is an ongoing feature of this series and this is the first novel I've read so I felt lost at times but not completely though enough to recommend to others to read the books in succession.
I was struck by the realism and by the brutality of some plot points. The writing wasn't bad either. I suppose,I'd call it serviceable but that did not take away from the action and the character analyses were outstanding. I'm dteremined to go back and start at the beginning of the series. Hope you enjoy your journey too should you decide to travel it.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-copy.
I was struck by the realism and by the brutality of some plot points. The writing wasn't bad either. I suppose,I'd call it serviceable but that did not take away from the action and the character analyses were outstanding. I'm dteremined to go back and start at the beginning of the series. Hope you enjoy your journey too should you decide to travel it.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-copy.
February 16, 2019
I do enjoy this series! There’s a healthy mixture of historical research and full-on wild, old school adventure novel. This time Maggie is off to Occupied Paris, trying to find her sister and an endangered agent, while herself becoming endangered by a devious double agent. Oh, and she hangs out with Coco Chanel at the Ritz. Yet, MacNeal manages to keep the story from becoming frothy. I think I’d compare the books to the movies of the 40s... if Hitchcock’s heroines were trained in espionage.
August 28, 2017
Exciting new chapter with a "oh no!" Ending. When is book #8 due out?
August 9, 2018
Steeped in intrigue, "The Paris Spy" is a multilayered spy/mystery thriller that vividly depicts the fraught tensions and sacrifices made during World War II. I couldn't put this book down.
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