I liked the fact that there were multiple story lines in
this book – a 4th in a mystery series set at the time of WWII. The
book features Maggie Hope, a young American thwarted in her desires to academically
pursue mathematics due to her gender. Instead, she has moved to the UK and her courage
and skills eventually lead to adventures involving cryptography and interactions
with several historical figures, including Winston Churchill. Readers could
start with this as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the earlier books (starting
with Mr. Churchill’s Secretary) and getting to "know" Maggie and
her friends and colleagues as they mature and are shaped by wartime events. In The
Prime Minister’s Secret Agent, MacNeal again addresses the hard choices
and horrors of war, weaving in development of biological weapons,
PTSD/depression and personal sacrifice.
This title picked up when Maggie left the SOE (Special
Operations Executive) training area in Scotland and actively sought to find the
reason for two murders and her close friend’s sudden illness. In addition, it
was fascinating to read details about the US and British spy apparatus, particularly
in regards to what was known prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Even knowing what would happen, I kept hoping
there was a way to prevent the carnage suffered there. With several unresolved plot elements, author MacNeal clearly
has plans for more historical mysteries featuring Maggie.
Reminiscent of titles by Rhys Bowen, Charles Todd, or Jacqueline
Winspear, look for The Prime Minister’s Secret Agent and others
in the Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal if you are looking for stories
about a strong, clever woman or are a fan of the pbs series The Bletchley
Circle.
