The Paris Spy: A Maggie Hope Mystery Hardcover – August 8, 2017

The Paris Spy is the 7th book in the Maggie Hope series. Maggie is an American-born math-wiz living in London during World War II. After finding a job as Churchill's secretary, she has moved her way up the ranks and is now a top operative for the British SOE (Special Operations Executive.) In the last book, Maggie enlisted the help of the Queen to go undercover to Paris to find an SOE agent that she believes may be compromised. She also wants to find her German half-sister who was recently saved from a concentration camp but has eluded those who rescued her.In Paris, the book begins with Maggie just getting her fake identity so that she can begin her mission. The SOE agent that she is looking for is desperately wanted by the British because she has core samples from Normandy Beach that are needed to determine whether it is feasible to land the Allied invasion of Normandy. Two of Maggie's closest friends who are British spies are with the Paris Ballet, attempting to get information from a highly-placed Nazi official. Meanwhile, a British spy who has been newly appointed by Churchill as a liaison between MI6 and the SOE suspects that there is a Nazi spy among the British agents in Paris who may be unmasking the SOE agents there.I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and find myself waiting for the next book. The books are well-written and are a fun read, but don't assume that there is any "fluff" here. Maggie is a very intelligent character and the book deals wartime issues. It is written in the third person, but the author really lets us get to know Maggie well throughout the series. Most of the other characters aren't developed as well, but that's okay because Maggie is definitely the most important character here. I love that Susan Elia MacNeal has taken the time to research the place and time so well - the books seem very historically accurate to me. There was one point during the story that didn't quite seem believable to me; however, at the end of the book, the author tells us that much of the book was inspired by actual events. The part that was not quite so believable was based upon SOE agent Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Kan and had actually happened! The Paris Spy was suspenseful throughout and leaves us with a definite cliffhanger. I'll be waiting eagerly for the next book in this series.

I've read all the books in this series, and have thoroughly enjoyed them for their interesting characters and extremely well drawn background of WWII. The setting and the pertinent history is well done, using the history well to advance the plot w/o numbing the reader with an info dump. Maggie Hope is a well written believably flawed character who has had a number of adventures involving spy work in WWII. This latest puts the character in the most peril: dropped in Nazi Occupied France, for a variety of reasons, she ends up involved in the missions of other agents. As someone who's devoured books on the OSS, SOE and resistance movements for years, the plot, characters and their reactions ring very true. (Some incidents are noted in the acknowledgements as taken from the events of real women SOE agents' missions.) It's hard to put down due to events that put a number of characters (some whom we know from previous books) in deadly peril. There' a double agent in the network, and the agents in France get caught up in trying to complete their missions while eluding capture. Some make it; some don't. The Gestapo interrogation scenes are handled very well; the fine line between giving enough information that the reader realizes how bad it is, but not grossing out the reader with the worst of the reality is skillfully toed.The ending takes a surprising turn and leaves something of a cliffhanger. To say more would be a spoiler. If you enjoy well plotted page turner historical novels, you'll enjoy this book as well as the entire Maggie Hope series.

More downbeat in its finish and where's the next teaser installment? But is Ms. Macneal hitting the big time? First book in hardback first edition! They get a little predictable but not as much as other series. Don't want to spoil the fun or lessen the impact, but I can practically write the next book's first chapter myself. Hey-let her have a boyfriend again. Three or four books from now, would love to have her hook up with the reluctant nazi who takes to her at the end. And bring back Momma! I think she's still with us.

Maggie Hope worked for Churchill as his secretary, but then became engaged in Special Operations. Now she is on a mission to France that has two goals: find and rescue her half-sister and recover sand samples to help the Allies to attack Europe. But her mission, as well as that of some friends, soon falls apart, and she must scramble to escape from the Nazis and return to England. This is a tense and engaging novel, with a fair amount of brutal scenes—not out of place for this setting, but certainly creating a dark tone. These books usually have a moderately positive ending, and this one does too. Right up to the last ten pages!

Enjoyed this latest installment of the Maggie Hope series. Couldn’t put it down, until finished. The only down side is waiting for the next book. This series had me enthralled, from the first book, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary. The character development is superb, while the setting, WWII England and France, is fascinating. Can’t say enough about this series, will always be a devoted fan, Ms. MacNeal, please continue Maggie’s story!

Unlike other books in this series, this one stretches the imagination to the breaking point, and worse, isn’t especially well written. Maggie Hope, usually a sympathetic character, is too often overwrought here, and her exploits too far fetched. While the plot explains what happens in the next (and far better) novel in the series, I think this book can be skipped without losing much information.

I enjoy this series and feel The Paris Spy to be a crowning achievement. I respect the author’s decisions and believe they were made in the best interest of the story and in art’s reflection of life. I readily became immersed in this tale, which is full of color and many interesting characters and, like any excellent book, was sorry to have reached the last page. Kudos to Susan Elia MacNeal.

Maggie Hope goes off to Paris searching for her sister and literally gives the game away with revealing the sister's correct name at the convent. Maggie continues making mistakes to finally ending up in the. hands of the Gestapo, only to escape along with Sarah. The plot is so predictable with the usual inaccurate research mistakes that let these books down.After flying into Tangmere after taking over the plane with a wounded RAF pilot to assist they alight and bundle the spy into a "Range Rover", they then get into another Range Rover. This vehicle did not exist during the war. American jeeps came into the war later on for the British and apart for specially adapted vehicles for the SAS we did not have them. It was only after the war that the Land Rover vehicles were built and tested did they come into use for our military in the 1950s.I know from history that SOE made many mistakes but I salute the agents who had the courage to go up against an extremely cruel aggressor.Stupid errors like the above are irritable to say the least, I doubt I will read the next book.

have read all books regarding SOE trained agent MAGGIE HOPE.the author has good knowledge of events which happened during the war,and intertwines with any of her storylines.excellent read.

Brilliant book in the series. Full of mystery and intrigue with lots of twists and turns

Bought these to keep my wrists warm in winter under my coat sleeves.Work great.Lovely and soft as well as warm

Excellent. Well researched. Using this series for a book club