I don't read a lot of cozy mysteries but I like this series. Very light on the mystery suspense and really just a good historical fiction book set during the war. In this one Maggie is back in the US with Churchill while he is at the White House in Dec 1941. Some light intrigue involving the death of a White House secretary which introduces some history involving race relations, wiretapping, and of course there is the war history. Good story, easy reading. Left with a cliffhanger involving Maggie's family which will lead into the next in the series ...
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Any reader who's a fan of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs or Charles Todd's Bess Crawford should definitely give Susan Elia MacNeal's Maggie Hope series a try. I've been a MacNeal fan since the first book in the series, Mr. Churchill's Secretary. There's something about a strong, intelligent female faced with the world at war that pulls me right into a story-- if it's well written-- and MacNeal's books certainly are.
I like how the author weaves fascinating historical facts into her stories. This time the subplot featuring wrongfully accused Wendell Cotton and his defender Andi Martin are based on fact and highlight Eleanor Roosevelt's activism. This subplot also serves to illustrate the President and First Lady's desire to help the disenfranchised-- and how much they were disliked for it in certain circles. FDR had to tread carefully in order to get approval for his most important legislation-- like America's entry into the war. Eleanor found this extremely distasteful and tried to circumvent her husband's caution and political maneuverings. This would make her a perfect target for the sort of plot MacNeal has created.
Once again both fictional and historical characters come to life, although I do wish there were fewer references to Franklin's and Eleanor's teeth. FDR's daily routine, his love of martinis, Eleanor's direction of food and hospitality in the White House-- even a quirk or two of Churchill's all ring true and revved up my enthusiasm even more. Add bugged rooms, wire tapping and the like, and you've got a fast-paced story of which you must know the outcome.
Everything was wrapped up rather abruptly at the end, which leaves me wondering what Maggie will be up to in the next book. If you're new to the series, do you have to read them in order? I would advise it because of various events in the series' timeline and because Maggie's character grows and changes throughout. But if you're caught up with Maisie and Bess, you've got time for a new series with a strong female lead, don't you? Even if you don't, Maggie is certainly worth making time for!
I like how the author weaves fascinating historical facts into her stories. This time the subplot featuring wrongfully accused Wendell Cotton and his defender Andi Martin are based on fact and highlight Eleanor Roosevelt's activism. This subplot also serves to illustrate the President and First Lady's desire to help the disenfranchised-- and how much they were disliked for it in certain circles. FDR had to tread carefully in order to get approval for his most important legislation-- like America's entry into the war. Eleanor found this extremely distasteful and tried to circumvent her husband's caution and political maneuverings. This would make her a perfect target for the sort of plot MacNeal has created.
Once again both fictional and historical characters come to life, although I do wish there were fewer references to Franklin's and Eleanor's teeth. FDR's daily routine, his love of martinis, Eleanor's direction of food and hospitality in the White House-- even a quirk or two of Churchill's all ring true and revved up my enthusiasm even more. Add bugged rooms, wire tapping and the like, and you've got a fast-paced story of which you must know the outcome.
Everything was wrapped up rather abruptly at the end, which leaves me wondering what Maggie will be up to in the next book. If you're new to the series, do you have to read them in order? I would advise it because of various events in the series' timeline and because Maggie's character grows and changes throughout. But if you're caught up with Maisie and Bess, you've got time for a new series with a strong female lead, don't you? Even if you don't, Maggie is certainly worth making time for!
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Okay, class, who didn't do their homework? What, Miss MacNeal, not again?
In book four of this series, it was obvious the author didn't check a lot of her facts. Book five is also laden with mistakes.
In late December 1941, no one would call Mrs. Roosevelt 'slim;' Army guards around the White House would not be wearing full field packs; there wouldn't be any blackout curtains in Washington, D.C., and the Mayfair hotel's roof wouldn't "bristle with lookouts against air raids," let alone hold air raid drills for guests.
In fact, the entire East Coast was alight at night, well into 1942, providing German U-Boats great targets as ships were easily seen against the city lights. The United States was really slow to catch on to this. For months, the U-Boats had unlimited success.
The author thinks she knows World War II history, but she doesn't. In December 1941, she has General Eisenhower and Admiral King attending a small meeting with President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. At this time, Eisenhower was a very junior brigadier general in the army, not anywhere as important as he would later be; and Admiral Stark was still the Chief of Naval Operations, so Stark would have been at the meeting and not King.
She has Churchill stating they planned to invade France in 1942, when the British didn't even want to do this in 1943 or even 1944. Churchill wanted to invade Europe through the Balkans. Plus, in late December 1941, the Japanese weren't using Kamikaze tactics with their pilots, as one character, a semi-literate prisoner in jail remarked on.
Obviously, an author of fiction has the right to take literary license, but when they do so with their historical background, then it's a no-no. Especially, when they include a listing of history sources boasting how accurate they tried to be, as MacNeal does in this book.
Plus, MacNeal once again, as she did in the previous book, uses every opportunity to insert politically correct statements, which, for the most part, were not viewed that way in 1941 or for many years later.
Finally, she has people visiting her prisoner character in jail. As the people are assembled in the visiting room, what do the guards do? Why... they bring the prisoner his lunch, which he eats in front of his visitors. Huh? Is this a prison or the Ritz-Carlton?
Oh, I forgot to mention MacNeal has a lot of filler in the book which really has no relation to the plot at all. Why it is in there puzzles me. And there are mistakes with this filler too. She has V-2 rockets on launching sites in Germany, when the Germans didn't even begin to design the V-2s until late 1943.
It's disappointing when authors expect readers will accept poorly written and researched novels, simply because some of their previous work was good... Well, supposedly good.
In book four of this series, it was obvious the author didn't check a lot of her facts. Book five is also laden with mistakes.
In late December 1941, no one would call Mrs. Roosevelt 'slim;' Army guards around the White House would not be wearing full field packs; there wouldn't be any blackout curtains in Washington, D.C., and the Mayfair hotel's roof wouldn't "bristle with lookouts against air raids," let alone hold air raid drills for guests.
In fact, the entire East Coast was alight at night, well into 1942, providing German U-Boats great targets as ships were easily seen against the city lights. The United States was really slow to catch on to this. For months, the U-Boats had unlimited success.
The author thinks she knows World War II history, but she doesn't. In December 1941, she has General Eisenhower and Admiral King attending a small meeting with President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. At this time, Eisenhower was a very junior brigadier general in the army, not anywhere as important as he would later be; and Admiral Stark was still the Chief of Naval Operations, so Stark would have been at the meeting and not King.
She has Churchill stating they planned to invade France in 1942, when the British didn't even want to do this in 1943 or even 1944. Churchill wanted to invade Europe through the Balkans. Plus, in late December 1941, the Japanese weren't using Kamikaze tactics with their pilots, as one character, a semi-literate prisoner in jail remarked on.
Obviously, an author of fiction has the right to take literary license, but when they do so with their historical background, then it's a no-no. Especially, when they include a listing of history sources boasting how accurate they tried to be, as MacNeal does in this book.
Plus, MacNeal once again, as she did in the previous book, uses every opportunity to insert politically correct statements, which, for the most part, were not viewed that way in 1941 or for many years later.
Finally, she has people visiting her prisoner character in jail. As the people are assembled in the visiting room, what do the guards do? Why... they bring the prisoner his lunch, which he eats in front of his visitors. Huh? Is this a prison or the Ritz-Carlton?
Oh, I forgot to mention MacNeal has a lot of filler in the book which really has no relation to the plot at all. Why it is in there puzzles me. And there are mistakes with this filler too. She has V-2 rockets on launching sites in Germany, when the Germans didn't even begin to design the V-2s until late 1943.
It's disappointing when authors expect readers will accept poorly written and researched novels, simply because some of their previous work was good... Well, supposedly good.
In this latest riveting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Susan Elia MacNeal, England's most daring spy, Maggie Hope, travels across the pond to America, where a looming scandal poses a grave threat to the White House and the Allied cause. â December 1941. Soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Winston Churchill arrives in Washington, D.C., along with special agent Maggie Hope. Posing as his typist, she is accompanying the prime minister as he meets with President Roosevelt to negotiate the United States' entry into World War II. When one of the First Lady's aides is mysteriously murdered, Maggie is quickly drawn into Mrs. Roosevelt's inner circle -- as Mrs. Roosevelt herself is implicated in the crime. Maggie knows she must keep the investigation quiet, so she employs her unparalleled skills at code breaking and espionage to figure out who would target Mrs. Roosevelt, and why. What Maggie uncovers is a shocking conspiracy that could jeopardize American support for the war and leave the fate of the world hanging dangerously in the balance.
June E. (junie) -
This is about Maggie Hope, who has evolved for the better since the first book of the series. She has turned into a smart, kick ass spy, working closely with Churchill during the war.
I enjoy this series, you can't help but fall in love with Maggie.
I enjoy this series, you can't help but fall in love with Maggie.
Karen S. (MKSbooklady) reviewed Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante (Maggie Hope, Bk 5) on + 991 more book reviews
This is the 5th in the pleasant and entertaining Maggie Hope series. Being from Washington DC myself, this was fun to read.
