Susan Elia MacNeal in Conversation

An American in Europe during World War II. Susan Elia MacNeal, author of the Maggie Hope mysteries, introduced her character when she was in conversation with author Karen Odden at The Poisoned Pen. Hope was an American who decided to stay in Europe when the war broke out, and became Churchill’s secretary in the first book in the series. Now, MacNeal is up to the ninth book of the series, The King’s Justice. You can order signed copies of it, and copies of the other Maggie Hope books through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2wwV282

Can a stolen violin lead secret agent and spy Maggie Hope to a new serial killer terrorizing London? Find out as the acclaimed World War II mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Susan Elia MacNeal continues.

Maggie Hope started out as Winston Churchill’s secretary, but now she’s a secret agent—and the only one who can figure out how the missing violin ties into a series of horrifying murders.

London, December 1943. As the Russian army repels German forces from Stalingrad, Maggie Hope takes a much-needed break from spying to defuse bombs in London. But Maggie herself is an explosion waiting to happen. Traumatized by her past, she finds herself living dangerously—taking huge risks, smoking, drinking, and speeding through the city streets on a motorbike. The last thing she wants is to get entangled in another crime.

But when she’s called upon to look into the theft of a Stradivarius, one of the finest violins ever made, Maggie can’t resist. Meanwhile, there’s a serial killer on the loose in London, targeting conscientious objectors. Little does Maggie know that investigating this dangerous predator will pit her against a new evil—and old enemies. Only Maggie can uncover the connection between the robbery, the murders, and a link to her own past.

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If you’re a fan of the Maggie Hope series, you’ll want to eavesdrop on the conversation and learn about one of Winston Churchill’s actual secretaries.