The best of the series since its debut. I loved the pace and the characters, both familiar and new to the reader were perfect for the plot. I was intrigued from page one and the continuing level of suspense that was so compelling in the first title returned in The Prisoner in the Castle. A satisfying ending rounded out my total enjoyment. I look forward to the next title with great anticipation. Highly recommended.

The Prisioner in the Castle is the eighth and latest installment in the Maggie Hope series and author Susan Elia MacNeal has given us a compelling, captivating and cerebral tale.
World War II British secret agent, Maggie Hope, finds herself banished to the remote Scottish island, Scarra, with other SOE agents. MacNeal’s attention to detail in her description of the remote island and the castle that Maggie and the others inhabit is superb and fascinating. She gives the reader a real feel of what each one of the spies is feeling on the island.
What sets this book apart from the previous books is MacNeals use of the plot from Agatha Christie’s classic novel, “And Then There Were None”, as a way of eliminating characters one by one.
Maggie finds herself in a race against time to save herself and others on the remote island from a murderer.
Maggie must use all the skills and tools in her arsenal to outsmart a treacherous individual out to due harm to others as well as potentially changing the course of the war.
While there are references to past stories and characters, Prisioner in the Castle, is enjoyable and certainly entertaining as a stand-alone book, though you may find yourself enticed to go back and read the previous books in the series.
The Prisioner in the Castle will leave you anxious for the next Maggie Hope adventure.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley. My review of the book is unbiased. #netgalley #theprisionerinthecastle

The Prisoner in the Castle, Susan Elia MacNeal

Maggie Hope is a strong, intelligent protagonist who encounters unique, historically-based struggles in each entry of this wonderfully crafted series. At the end of the previous installment, The Paris Spy, I was quite worried about Maggie’s ability to continue her work for Churchill’s Special Operations Executive (the SOE) as a secret agent. I wasn’t alone. Concerned about her knowledge of highly sensitive information that could significantly impact the Allies’ ability to push the Germans back, Maggie’s superiors have now sent her away to an island off the coast of Scotland where she is hosted in a castle that has secrets of its own. While this prison is set up to be more like a vacation, freedom of movement and contact are severely limited. Maggie is effectively cut off from her world except for a few others who also make those in charge nervous. MacNeal engagingly weaves the tales of these new characters, Maggie’s frustrations, an old island mystery, a new and dangerous mystery into a well-crafted, exciting, and enormously satisfying story. (Note: I highly encourage anyone new to the series to start with Mr. Churchill’s Secretary and read the other novels in the series first in order to get the most out of this one. I loved every single one of them!)

My least favorite book in the Maggie hope series so far. I’m honestly upset that I had such a visceral reaction to this story because I loved <em>The Paris Spy</em> so much.

The plot suffers from a large cast of characters who get picked off one by one in the same style as Agatha Christie’s <em>And Then There Were None</em>. Following the plot structure of such a classic book was ambitious, and being able to compare the two did MacNeal’s book no favors. I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight; nothing led me to believe the killer could be one person vs another, and in the end it was a complete surprise… but because the story doesn’t actually take off until 70% through, by that point I was beyond caring.

The character I was most interested in is introduced at the beginning of the book (Camilla), is given an interesting character development early on. I was looking forward to seeing how she would interact with Maggie over the course of the book, but that didn’t pan out in the way I thought, and ultimately felt like a lot of unnecessary set up. Maggie of course has a new love interest that doesn’t come across as at all natural. There are a lot of side stories and conversations, but it all amounts to the narrative itself lacking depth. The relationships between characters felt so forced I had a difficult time actually engaging in the story.

Hoping the next one will be better.

I just finished reading The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal. This is one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a long time. It could almost be described as historical mystery because it seems like a lot of the book could have happened in real life. I learned a lot about life in Britain during the Second World War. The castle in question isn’t a real castle but one built by a rich tycoon as a place he could take his friends to. It’s located off the west coast of Scotland and is now being used by the government to keep individuals who can not be trusted with certain knowledge they have been privy to. After the arrival of the latest prisoner, the prisoners and their guards start dying one by one and after a couple of days the island is hit by a severe storm that won’t allow any help to arrive. The characters both good and bad are perfectly painted and the storm makes you feel like you are right there. I didn’t know this was a series but I am definitely going to read all the books and I will happily recommend this book to anyone. It was total enjoyment from beginning to end. I give this book 5 stars and thank NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

I had no idea this was part of a series, there are a few things that make more sense now that I know. Or at least, it makes sense why they didn't make sense! Over all, reading this as a stand alone was fine, there were just some references, some relationships that could have improved with some context. That being said, I intend to go back and read the other 7 books in the series, I enjoyed this one so much!

There were some obvious nods to Agatha Christie, the characters in this book even reference her. I thought the setting was so unique, a castle in the middle of nowhere, housing spies that know too much to let loose in the world. There were so many quirky characters, dealing with the trauma of what they experienced in the war, it took me a bit to keep them straight. But never fear! They started dropping like flies, so it mattered a little less in the end.

I really enjoyed this book, I never got bored and honestly was pleasantly surprised by how little I could predict who-done-it. A great addition to my must read authors and series!

This is an Agatha Christy type murder mystery set off the coast of Scotland during World War II where British SOE agents are being kept against their will in Killoch Castle. This is my first Maggie Hope mystery series book and the eighth in this series. I don't usually read this type of book but it was well written and full of mystery and suspense. I did enjoy reading it and probably would have enjoyed it more had I read the previous seven books.

If you wanted to hide someone you can’t do better than an abandoned castle on a remote island off the coast of Scotland. This is where the British Intelligence hides their own spies to “cool off,” the ones who know too much. The seclusion is real with no information coming in or going out and only a family of caretakers with secrets of their own to cook and tend the contained.
One day during dinner one of the prisoners mysteriously dies right in front of them. The next day, two more, and the next day two more. One by one, in this secluded place cut off from everything and everyone, people are dying. The murderer, and it is determined they are being poisoned, can only be among them.
Things turn hysterical. Everyone is suspicious of each other. Accusations are made. Nerves are raw, fear is palpable. And still, people are dying.
Meanwhile, in London, it is discovered that signals are being sent from the island to German U-boats off the coast. One of their own is a spy, a turncoat.
Maggie, who refused to divulge her secret reason for being on the island when the others did, slowly works to find the spy and murderer among themselves. Is this person both? Are there two? And who can she trust?

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is the first Maggie Hope book that I have read and I enjoyed it immensely. Although part of a series, it certainly can be enjoyed as a standalone.

There are several highly-trained English spies who "know too much" and have been sent to a remote island off Scotland. After the last person arrived, someone is mysteriously murdered each day, thereby reducing the number of suspects. The reader is kept guessing until the very end. Maggie would like to help in the war effort, but her "exile" prohibits her from contributing.

I plan to read others in the series.

This was the first book in the series that I have read, but it can be a stand alone novel. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to start at the first of the series. This was an excellent “whodunit” and I loved Ms. MacNeal’s writing style. Thanks to Random House, Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

After completing a mission to Paris, Maggie Hope finds herself imprisoned in a remote Scottish island with a dozen other former SOE agents. After the addition of the most recent prisoner, people begin to die, one by one, in mysterious circumstances. Maggie soon finds herself as the de facto leader of the group and the lead investigator as a terrible storm prevents the arrival of assistance from the mainland. She is frequently assisted by two other former agents, Quentin Asquith and Dr. Sayid Khan, both of whom she forms a unique relationship with. As the storm continues, who will live and who will die?

As the hunt for the murder in underway, on the mainland several things add to the drama. First, the Blackout Beast from book six is set to go on trial. After the criminal pled not guilty, DCI James Durgin of Scotland Yard must find Maggie to serve as a witness. This lead to his teaming up with David Greene, Maggie's longtime friend in the search to locate Maggie, who has now been missing for nearly six months. Will they be able to locate Maggie before it’s too late?

MacNeal brought suspense into this novel in high style with a plot similar to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. After the horror aspects incorporated into book six in the series, The Queen’s Accomplice, and the lackluster story but with series altering changes book seven, The Paris Spy, this was a nice change of pace. It also brought the series back to being a true spy mystery. As a whole, the novel kept me on the proverbial edge of my seat. MacNeal also kept me guessing who the culprit was all the way until the reveal. Outside of the suspense, the author did a wonderful job creating personalities for the key characters, including those new to this book, and situations in which the characters could interact. While I still think book three, His Majesty’s Hope, is my favorite, this is a close second.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel!

This was definitely different than what I was expecting but in a pleasant way. This was my first read of the Maggie Hope Mystery series (which I didn't know was part of a series until recently).

I’ve been anxiously awaiting news of Maggie Hope, WWII secret agent for the British, after we were left hanging in THE PARIS SPY. Thankfully, the newest chapter in this beloved series by Susan Elia MacNeal is as thrilling as thrilling can be!

In an ever so polished nod to the Grand Dame of Mystery, this harrowing tale finds Maggie confined to a remote Scottish Island with other agents who are knocked off ... one by one ... in some quite spectacular ways.

And oh my is our favorite spy in a jam! A top secret British agency holds her hostage. Communication is prohibited, while gale force winds prevent escape. Who can Maggie trust? Will she survive? Will she ever earn her freedom? Grab a great big goblet of wine for company, as you won’t be able to let THE PRISONER go until the shocking end. Cheers!

A tip of the tam to one of my fave authors, to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and to NetGalley for the advance copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#ThePrisonerInTheCastle #NetGalley

Once again, Susan Elia MacNeal has a winner! The historical detail is fantastic as is the look into the intimate lives of her characters. I love this series and can't wait for the next one!

“The Prisoner in the Castle”, book 8 in Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series was a bit confounding.
Considering the character, Maggie Hope, developed through the first seven books of the series, finding her imprisoned on an island populated by SOE trained spies who are threats to England seems quite a stretch. In previous stories, Hope has proven her reliability as an asset many times over, becoming invaluable to the likes of Winston Churchill, Queen Mary and even Mrs. Roosevelt. As a stand-alone book the character inconsistencies would not have been noticeable.

Much of the book reads like Agatha Christie’s “Ten Little Indians” – a familiar theme often repeated in mystery books.
Beyond those two points, the story is recommended for those interested in WWII era historical fiction, although there was not an great deal of actual historical events to experience as most of the story takes place on an island in the Hebrides.

As is typical for Ms. MacNeal, the story is well written and well told. She engages the audience, focusing on a single character for perspective and inner thoughts while describing the actions of others in great detail when necessary to the story.

The mystery is well developed with clues for the reader available throughout the story. The solution is not so much a, “Really??” moment as a, “yep, I can see that”. The resolution does not feel awkward or forced, rather MacNeal wraps up the story making the reader feel as though it really was the only possible and satisfying outcome.

In all, “The Prisoner in the Castle is a well written, enjoyable story and would be enjoyed by period mystery fans.

Not at all what I expected. So much more.. more twists and turns and yet every one of them made sense.
Fascinating bit of history too.

Imagine Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None played out on an island where British spies who are an “inconvenience” are kept.  The newest Maggie Hope mystery, The Prisoner in the Castle, reinterprets Christie’s classic plot in a manner that is fresh rather than derivative.  Maggie Hope was sent to Killoch Castle without explanation - her assumption is that she knows too much. After a new resident arrives, the deaths begin.  First the kindly soldier ostensibly in charge, then one spy after another. Anyone present is capable of killing, but what would be the reason? As each turns on the other in suspicion, Maggie tries to hold things together and keep everyone alive.  Meanwhile her good friend DCI Durgin realizes Maggie has gone missing and pursues her with the help of her friends and allies in the service.


The Prisoner in the Castle is a thrilling historical mystery set against the backdrop of WWII.  Maggie Hope is a strong, capable woman - like many who worked in British intelligence during the war.  At the same time, she is not without compassion. She is an exceptional heroine. MacNeal’s application of the premise behind And Then There Were None was skillfully done, and I particularly liked the Agatha Christie references in the text.  The Prisoner in the Castle is an excellent addition to Susan Elia MacNeal’s successful series.


5 / 5


I received a copy of The Prisoner in the Castle from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


-- Crittermom

While knowing that its an homage to Christie and her novel, and greatly enjoying Christie's novels, I felt that the intro was a tad light on details, and the story felt a bit convoluted. In general this one just didn't do anything for me. Thank you for giving me a chance with this book and I feel that others who read this series or genre may enjoy it more than me.

I've read and loved every Maggie Hope book and wondered how the series managed to get better each time. The Prisoner in the Castle, a departure from the series in some ways, is no exception. Maggie's mission is unlike any before -- find out who's eliminating agents isolated on the island AND stay alive. Maggie is at the top of her game, but the other SOE agents are as well. MacNeal merges literary references, Agatha Christie touches, and Hitchcock's terrifying suspense with the tight writing and historical details that I truly enjoy in her works to create a fast-paced mystery that kept me hooked and guessing until the very end. I highly recommend it!

This is a good read. The writing is very good. The characters are strong and well developed. I give this 4..5 stars and a strong recommendation.