In early 3/24, I read the first in a series known as the Maggie Hope Mystery Series by Susan Elia MacNeal. I really enjoyed the first book, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, and now in mid 4/24, I’ve read the last in the 11-book series, The Last Hope. This isn’t the way I typically take on a new series, much preferring to read through the books in order so I can see the characters and storyline develop. I least I know I have nine more books available to look forward to.

Maggie is a compelling character. She is an Irish lass whose parents, or so she thought, were killed in a car crash when she was quite young. She was then shipped to the U.S. to be taken care by her aunt, an academic. Maggie is was a very bright woman who, in the first book, struggled with the misogyny of the WWII era. Despite her mathematical and science background, when she volunteered her services for the British war effort, she was assigned to a typing a pool. Nonetheless, her talents could not be denied and she very quickly rose from being a typist to becoming Churchill’s secretary, and subsequently to being an MI-6 codebreaker, and finally a spy for the British. It was in The Last Hope that she was sent on an assassination mission. She was to meet the German scientist who was responsible for building their atomic fission bomb. There was a “race of the laboratories” between the Allies and Axis powers, and it seemed quite certain that while Germany was already losing the war, if they developed the bomb first, then they would likely be the victors.

Maggie has a fiancé at home as she was sent first to Lisbon and then to Madrid in order to determine if Professor Werner Heisenberg had made enough progress on his own atomic project to really be a threat to the Allies. Complicating the assignment was the unexpected pregnancy that Maggie discovered while she was on this assignment. Perhaps the most interesting character in the story was Coco Chanel, the French woman who was getting rich from the sales of her perfume. Although she was French, Coco was collaborating with the Nazis and the author made it clear that Coco was a horrible anti-Semitic woman. This was a good plot filled with a cast of fascinating characters. Not only do I recommend this book, but I’m assuming the series is a promising one.

Really enjoyed getting back into the Maggie Hope series!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the ARC to read and review.
This story has Maggie working for British intelligence and she is given an assignment to meet and possibly assassinate a German scientist working on a nuclear bomb/weapon. Many characters from previous books again meet up including Coco Chanel who is embedded with the Nazis and hopes to help end the war.
I loved the setting of the book- much of it in Spain and Portugal. So interesting to see the roles of these countries during WW2.
The book is action packed and full of twists and surprises. It is also quite emotional with the evolution of Maggie's romance with John Sterling and her quest to learn the truth about her family.
This is an excellent addition to a wonderful series! One of my favorite in the World War 2 era novels.
The title implies that this will be the last in the series but I personally hope that it is not! Not ready to let go of Maggie and all the other characters in the series yet!.

For more of my reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com.

Thank you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for the digital eARC of The Last Hope. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m not sure how I was recommended the Maggie Hope series during lockdown, but I’m so glad I was! She’s an American/British academic who gets thrust into working for Winston Churchill at 10 Downing Street in the early days of WWII. When it becomes apparent that she’s frightfully smart and brave, she is elevated to spy.

Along the way, Maggie has worked with everyone from Churchill to Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), to Eleanor Roosevelt, and Coco Chanel (see The Paris Spy). Coco got Maggie out of a bit of a jam in that mystery, and now she’s come calling for a favor. The bulk of the story happens in Spain, where she meets a famous bullfighter and is tasked with secreting a message to Churchill from the Nazi higher-ups who have gone behind Hitler’s back to try and broker peace. She also has to try and determine how close the Germans are to developing an atomic bomb.

If you’re looking for a tidy ending to this series, you’ll be disappointed. There are some loose ends from the series that aren’t resolved, but that’s okay by me. It lets one’s imagination take over and create their own perfect ending.

I’m always amazed at Susan Elia MacNeal’s way of uncovering parts of WWII history that are set aside or merely forgotten. The research that goes into each volume of the series comes through on the page. I always appreciate an historical fiction book that provides author’s notes explaining what is fact and what is fiction in the book. The author also provides further reading material in case you are like me and want to go down another history rabbit hole. I know I’m going to be reading more on Coco Chanel and her Nazi ties.

The Last Hope is the last of 11 novels featuring Maggie Hope, who starts as Winston Churchill’s secretary in book 1. By the end of the first book Maggie is so much more than just a secretary, learning how to spy and becoming a key part of Englands fight against the Nazi’s. I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t yet read the intervening novels (a sad fact that I will remedy immediately!), but this last novel makes me sad that its the end of Maggie’s story.

In The Last Hope Maggie is sent to Spain to assassinate a German nuclear scientist who may be on the brink (or past it) of developing a nuclear weapon to be used against England and other countries to force them into peace. Maggie’s cover for being in Spain is to meet with Coco Chanel (yes, that Chanel) who is delivering a proposal for a separate peace between the UK and Germany. Coco is a collaborator (really truly) and she will deliver the proposal to no one other than Maggie, who she knows from previous encounters in France. Coco knows that the only person she can trust to actually deliver the proposal to Churchill is Maggie. Along the way, Maggie meets a patriotic and sexy matador, several spies and traitors, and has to come to a decision as to whether or not the scientist really is close to developing a nuclear weapon. Maggie’s character is so well written, and the story, while based on truth, is eye opening and makes the time go by so quickly its hard to believe when you’ve reached the end. Very well researched, with real people and real plots, I was unable to put it down!

It’s hard to believe that this is the last Maggie Hope story after everything she’s been through. I’m always a little sus when an agent accepts “one final mission” because it seems like that’s code for “prepare for the worst to happen.” And, well… a lot of bad things do happen to Maggie.

This time she’s headed to Madrid to receive a message from Coco Chanel, and also to determine whether German physicist Werner Heisenberg has uncovered the means of making a nuclear bomb. It’s apparent throughout her mission that the stakes couldn’t be higher; the reader is left with the feeling that Maggie senses the fate of humanity rests squarely on her ability to deduce the truth.

While some of the “twists” felt predictable, there were a number of events toward the end of the book that I didn’t anticipate. Overall this was an enjoyable read and I think it wrapped up the series while still leaving room for imagination on what comes next for these characters in a post-war world.

This is such an exciting, well researched ending to this series, as Maggie embarks on her most dangerous mission! I was spellbound from beginning to end. I regret to say that I have not read the previous books, but I am looking forward to reading them! This book does work well as a stand-alone. Magie Hope is an absolutely wonderful character, full of both bravery and trepidation as she struggles complete her assigned mission. In this final installment, Maggie poses as a courier assigned to Spain, where she encounters Coco Chanel once again, and meets with Heisenberg, (the physicist working on behalf of Germany to create a nuclear bomb), as well as a famous matador. Susan Elia MacNeal has woven much of the history of that time as well as both the beauty and danger that existed in Spain into an unforgettable ending to this series. The author notes at the end are a must read! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.
1 like

I am so bummed that this is the last in the series. I have enjoyed all of them and Maggie's progression in her life. Maggie is sent to Spain to meet with Coco Chanel to get a letter to Churchill. Secondarily, to assassinate Heisenberg because he was the scientist behind the German fusion bomb. Her boss wants him dead in case he is close to completing the bomb. Maggie does not want to kill but will if needed. From the beginning people want to kill her and others on this mission. Maggie can only trust herself and needs to follow her own instincts and believe the facts. She gets the information even though she has several death attempts and survives. I hope we have a story that follows up on her life after the war. Just a one-off to see how she is. I feel like i am losing a friend after all these years.
Good book and well worth your time. I hope the author starts something new. I will certainly read it.

So interesting the perspective on Coco Chanel during WW2, as well as the other espionage going on around Madrid, and the blurring of Naziism and Communism that started to happen.

I learned quite a bit in this book I’ve never heard about which is always a huge win for me, and it was written in an interesting manner, keeping my attention and investing me into Maggie’s story.

There were times that things felt unrealistic, like sometimes Maggie was not a completely convincing spy the whole time. And her exit from Madrid felt a little thrown together. But overall I really enjoyed the story.

Also, not what I’d consider a real spoiler below, but semi, so warning if you don’t want any hint….

There is some content about a miscarriage, and from someone who’s had 2, I thought it was excellently written. The emotions, the physical toll, and the mental strain was perfect. Most of the time when a miscarriage is in a book it’s passed over quickly - either the emotions of it or even the physical difficulty. I appreciated the accuracy and relatable-ness the author gave.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

Elements of "The Last Hope" are based in fact: Coco Chanel was a virulent anti-Semite and Nazi collaborator who as part of Operation Modelhut tried to broker a separate peace with Britain in 1944. From this Susan Elia MacNeal created a story featuring her maths scholar-turned-spy heroine Maggie Hope. There's intrigue, of course, and action; it all moves at a brisk pace; and the settings are well limned. I can't say that the book held many surprises for me, but it definitely kept my attention all the way through. If you enjoy WWII fiction from a woman's point of view that keeps romance to a minimum (this passes the Bechdel test), "The Last Hope" will fill the bill.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Only 3 stars because overall plot was lacking the tension that marked earlier spy missions Maggie embarked on. Also she seemed clueless at times which was out of character. In addition, new plots lines were introduced right at the end that won’t be resolved in future books. And the history, while often deftly woven in this series, was heavy handed at times in this installment and made this read like a textbook on certain aspects of WWII in a way the others haven’t. This just really missed the mark for me. It still gets a 3 bc I love Maggie and the writing is still good - just not to the standard I was hoping and expecting for a finale to a beloved series.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

The Last Hope is the last book in the Maggie Hope mystery series which tells the story of Maggie Hope as she evolves from secretary to secret agent. I enjoyed this book and thought it was well paced. The plot was interesting and moved quickly. It was nice to see Maggie’s evolution as I’ve read all the books. It did not feel like a finale to me and I wanted more of a conclusion to some of the stories.

I want to thank Random House Ballantine Bantam books for allowing me to read and review The Last Hope by Susan Elia Mac Neal. I had previously read Mother Daughter Traitor Spy and found it scary and so good. Her new one is a nail biter as well.
“Imay not have to make tea anymore, but will I always and forever be underestimated?”
Maggie Hope is a beautiful red head trained as a spy being sent on a very important mission. In her purse she carries a small pistol and instead of a lipstick, a cyanide capsule. The book begins in the early 1940’s. She has an interesting relationship with designer Coco Chanel who has become a German spy. Maggie will have to use all her skills and training to try to find out if Hitler has built the fission bomb yet and to destroy the scientist involved. Her time in Spain, never knowing who is with her and who is not is very suspenseful. The most famous bullfighter has become very attracted to her..
Maggie is so likable. You want her to succeed with her mission!
It’s hard to put this book down! You don’t!
The Last Hope will Publish next month (05/21/2024. Watch for it!

I’m sorry to see this series end. I’ve binged read the series over the past few months and glad I did. I learned a great deal of WWII history. This last of the volume is not the best of the series and I think that’s because Maggie’s personal life intrudes a bit more than usual. And while it would have been nice to having everything wrapped up with a bow the ambiguity is understandable. A fascinating study of Franco’s Spain and the prescience of a few people…..

Thank you Net Galley for this early copy of The Last Hope. I have really enjoyed this series and the character of Maggie Hope. In this last installment, and I mean last as this is the final in the series, MacNeal takes us to Spain and the final months of the war.
This is the first WWII book I have read that has taken place in neutral Spain and it was fascinating to read about all the machinations going on there! It was also interesting to have Coco Chanel brought back into the series and that story line.
I love a book that has a great historical component to it, a strong female lead and tells me something I didn't know much about, and this book nailed all three.
I highly recommend reading this series, and if not already aware of, learning more about the roles women played in helping end WWII.

This was a series that I really loved and didn't want to end - so much deeper and more nuanced that many other historical mystery series. I wish this finale had included more of the characters we had come to know and love but still a lovely ending.

Maggie Hope is asked to go to Spain to meet with Coco Chanel and to assassinate Werner Heisenberg who may be developing an atomic bomb. She is finally almost ready to marry John. She is slated to work with a fellow SOE agent Connor. However, shortly after she meets with Connor, he is murdered. Another British spy, Angel Ramas appoints himself her director. Maggie does meet with Coco, who wants her to take a letter to Winston Churchill which requests peace with Germany because they are afraid of Communist Russia. Meanwhile, a very famous Spanish bull fighter has become enamored with Maggie. He takes her in to Heisenberg's big speech, to one of his bull fights, and also to a big galla at the King's Palace. Maggie is determined to find out if Heisenberg is really close to getting an Atomic Bomb before she assassinates him. When things get really dicy, the British press agent gets Maggie to a train to Gilbraltar so she can fly home. However, there are still enemies there who try to stop her from getting home. Will she get back to John and her friends and family? This is a very exciting WWII story!

I thank Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for an ARC to read before publication.

I am a big fan of historical mysteries but I never really clicked with this series. Maggie is sometimes a difficult heroine but I appreciate the research and historical perspective that goes into this series. I have learned a lot about clandestine WWII operations.

The plotting though, often feels fairly preposterous to me. I understand history fiction blending in actual figures can be difficult but Coco Chanel and Juanito Belmonte seemed pretty jarring as characters. And two characters exchanging pithy dialogue while under attack is almost comic book like at times.

Clearly I am in the minority and I salute the hard work and research that MacNeal devoted to this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“The Last Hope” by Susan Elia MacNeal is a great finale novel to the Maggie Hope series. I did not read all of this series but have read many, and this was my favorite by far! The reason may be because Maggie who is a spy for the British Government has matured and is dealing with some of the horrors of WWII that still persist today. In this book she is challenged with brokering messages between Coco Chanel and Winston Churchill which advocates for the possible surrender of a Germany without Hitler, and the readiness status of Germany’s Atomic bomb. This was a fast paced, richly researched novel that leaves us with a surprising & perfect ending to this series. I encourage everyone to read the Author’s notes at the end because Ms. MacNeals extensive research explains the connection to Nazi Germany and the many famous names mentioned in this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Having never read anything by this author or any of the books in this series it did take a little time to catch up to the characters and their relationships. This is the story of Maggie Hope AKA Paige Kelly. Maggie is on a mission to Spain to find and possibly assassinate the German scientist, Heisenberg before he can discover fission and make a bomb. There are lots of twists and turns in this story which at times makes it difficult to follow. On the whole, it was an interesting story.

I am a fan of Mother, Daughter, Traitor, Spy by this author, so I was looking forward to reading this book. I wasn't disappointed. Since I hadn't read the previous books in this series, I was initially somewhat at a loss as to the characters and previous events that were referenced in the first few chapters. However, MacNeal does a good job explaining these things while still moving the narrative forward so that I was easily able to "catch up" and quickly become engaged with the story.

Maggie Hope is a World War II British spy who is ordered to go to Spain and attend a lecture given by Werner Heisenberg, a German scientist who is suspected of discovering how to make the hydrogen bomb. If the suspicions are valid, Maggie is to assassinate him. She is also a scientist by training, so has the perfect cover for connecting with Heisenberg. That she is assigned this mission by Kim Philby ( later to be exposed as a double agent working for the Nazis ) adds to the peril of her mission. Simultaneously, Maggie is asked to deliver a letter to Winston Churchill from Coco Chanel and a high-ranking Nazi.The letter requests him to consider an offer of peace between Great Britain and Germany, essentially betraying France. Maggie knows Churchill will immediately reject this offer, but agrees to deliver the letter.

The ensuing narrative connects both missions as Maggie attempts to discern who she can trust and who are working against her and her country. She narrowly escapes death and exposure of her missions multiple times, making for an exciting story. Maclean skillfully reveals only pieces of characters so that the reader - and Maggie- must guess who are friends or foes. Both are revealed at a decisive moment in several instances, requiring Maggie to trust her instincts and act quickly.

I like how MacLean weaves true historical events into her story, although the history never slows down the action. Rather, it enriches the events and makes them feel authentic. An extensive bibliography at the end of the book shows how much research was done to ensure authenticity.

Maggie is smart, beautiful, loyal,and quick witted. MacNeal does a great job of making her seem relatable and real, despite being almost larger than life. She is also very out-spoken, earning her the admiration of many colleagues ( and readers of the book), but jealousy and resentment from some of her male peers. She is not shy about speaking her mind, although "dressing down"Churchill regarding the shameful treatment of women in the British spy agency seemed out of character for a British woman in the 1940s.

The setting of Madrid was an intriguing alternative to typical WWIi stories. Since Spain remained neutral throughout the war, Madrid was a place where spies, double agents, diplomats, Nazis, and Allies mingled and negotiated. MacNeal vividly and thoroughly described the popular bars,hotels, shops, streets, etc. of the city as well as the University of Madrid and Franco's palace. Sometimes the descriptions slowed down the action, but I think they were necessary so that the reader could easily visualize the action.

The concept of bullfighting is used as an interesting metaphor for the feinting, deceiving, maneuvering, confronting, and courage that also describe the work of spying. However, having Spain's most famous bullfighter become infatuated with Maggie was a bit far-fetched for me. Then having him rescue her at a critical point really strained my credibility, although it was definitely romantic.

Everything is not completely resolved at the end of the story, although MacNeal states that this is the last book in the series. It does seem as if Maggie has a promising future for a happy marriage, good friends, and a fulfilling career. We hope she is able to accomplish all that in what will be a bleak post-war Britain.

Maggie Hope is a remarkable, memorable character. I recommend this book.
Thanks to Random House for an electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.






--