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.

Despite finding the cover artwork appealing on the Maggie Hope series, I had never actually read any of them until now. I did start the first in the series (Mr. Churchill’s Secretary) but wasn’t able to get into it. When I was offered this ARC of the latest one, I thought I would give the series another try.

The story here seems to be an homage to Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians, as other reviewers have noted. Since I had not read earlier Maggie Hope books, I was mildly concerned that not knowing the series might be a problem. I think there was sufficient backstory included, however, so that I felt I understood the main continuing characters. There were a lot of characters and several plot lines that were woven into the story, to the extent that I really didn’t feel I got to know the first victims at all and the surviving ones only a little better. Some of the plot lines seemed a bit lost in the main story. I did sort of guess the villain, but even then there was a surprise.

Overall, it was an OK read for me. I normally do like books about WWII, strong women and mysteries but this somehow didn’t gel enough for me to want to pick up any of the earlier books.

Thanks to NetGallery, Bantam Books and the author for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my opinion.

This book is eighth in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed this novel about Maggie Hope, a British Spy sent to the "Forbidden Island" during WWII because she knows to much in regards to British intelligence and can't be trust while the war is still going on. This would be a great book for mystery and historical fiction book lovers.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I couldn’t have been more pleased to learn that I received an ARC of The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal. I have so thoroughly enjoyed this series since my mother introduced it to me and it persists as a wonderful read. I had missed the latest in the series but MacNeal’s ability to include enough of Maggie Hope’s past make it easy for a reader to pick up the story. This collection has been fairly dark and heavy due to the topic it covers, World War Two in Europe through the eyes of a female SOE agent. The Prisoner in the Castle continues this theme and seems to be the darkest yet but with a glimmer of hope at the end (yes pun intended). While there is murder and mayhem there is also a touch of romance, family, and friendship. MacNeal continues to create a dark mystery set against a dark historical time such that even if I have guessed the who-done-it part I still enjoy the big reveal at the end and the prologue always wraps up the story nicely. If you enjoy a good historical fiction novel this one is a great read.

Susan Elia MacNeal continues the adventures of Maggie Hope. World War II continues and Maggie has returned from her trip into German held France in "The Paris Spy." But now she knows too much of Allied plans as well as what British intelligence has done which shows the dark side of war where men who are concerned more with the end than the means by which they achieve that end. So Maggie is sent to a "safe" place where they hold people who "know too much." But "The Castle" is not as "safe" as it seems as those held there begin to be killed. I love the character of Maggie Hope. But focusing on the dark side of war and Maggie working under men who do not care about those they sacrifice or send in to achieve their end goals is not uplifting --- yet Susaan Elia McNeal has done her research about World War II and the men and women who ran OSS type operations. I do recommend the book...but suggest the series be read in order so that you fully understand Maggie and her past and her goals. But do not expect an "uplifting" story. (The reason for my 4 stars vs 5 stars.) However, the loyalty of her friends who search for her is a shining light into the dark world of espionage. I voluntarily received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I love this series and this one in my opinion was the best Maggie Hope yet! Had a very Agatha Christie feel to it! Can't wait for Maggie's next adventure!!

This was a fun read, but a bit of a departure from previous Maggie Hope novels. This departure is refreshing and sets Maggie in a setting where she is required to use her logical skills to help solve an Agatha Christie style "whodunnit".

I really enjoyed it and I will continue to recommend MacNeal's Maggie Hope series to library users and friends!

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Bravo! Another excellent addition to a popular series.

Ms. MacNeal gives her own original twist to a plot reminiscent of Agatha Christie's And Then There were None. As her readers have come to expect, we have a story filled with danger, one of spies and espionage. Ms.MacNeal expertly spins a story that gains momentum at the end, leaving the reader unable to put the book down until the last page has been read.
I loved the vivid descriptions of the Scottish island that appealed to the senses. Ms. MacNeal provides an eclectic cast that kept me guessing until the very end. As always, I can rely upon Ms. MacNeal to provide well-researched historic detail of the setting and the British SOE agents in WWII. I look forward to reading more of Maggie Hope's adventures in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Maggie Hope – American-born spy and code-breaker working for the British during World War II – returns in THE PRISONER IN THE CASTLE. The novel is the eighth in the Maggie Hope Mystery series by Susan Elia MacNeal, and it will be published on August 7th 2018 by Bantam.
I am a huge fan of the Maggie Hope Mystery series, and I’m always excited to see what kind of new, top secret mission Maggie is part of and how it will affect what is going on during World War II. THE PRISONER IN THE CASTLE picks up roughly five months after THE PARIS SPY (Maggie Hope Mystery #7) ended, and Maggie quite literally is a prisoner in a castle. Because Maggie knows too much about what is going on with Britain’s war plans, she is bundled off to a remote island off the coast of Scotland along with about a dozen other British prisoners. Like Maggie, every one of the prisoners is either a British spy or worked for the British war effort, and they were sent to the secluded island when their superiors decided that they knew too much. The Isle of Scarra is inhabited only by the banished spies, an officer/jail keeper, and three caretakers. The inhabitants’ only contact with the outside world is through radio and the once a month visits by a doctor who brings them fresh supplies. In a matter of days, eight people are murdered in various ways. It is clear that one of the prisoners is the killer – though MacNeal leaves open the possibility that there might be another, unknown person lurking about the small island. A nasty winter storm cuts off the rescue attempts from the mainland, and, once Maggie realizes that there is a German spy among the prisoners, she is forced to smash the radio and sever their only form of communication. With no one she can really trust and no way to get help to the island, Maggie is determined to figure out the identity of the murderer/German spy before she becomes another victim.
THE PRISONER IN THE CASTLE is different from the other Maggie Hope Mysteries simply because Maggie is trapped in one location and is only indirectly involved in the war effort. The events of World War II take a backseat in this novel, but MacNeal still provides the reader with plenty of facts about the war and the British secret service. The novel is set to the tone of Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ theme, but MacNeal keeps it interesting with numerous murders (eight in all), a mystery surrounding the island’s former inhabitants, and scenes involving Maggie’s friends and colleagues in England and Scotland. MacNeal certainly kept me guessing on who the murderer was – she would set up one of the other prisoners and then turn that character into the next victim. I will admit that I was uncertain of who the murderer was until that character made his/her confession.
In THE PRISONER IN THE CASTLE, the mystery is both intriguing and chilling – eight people are murdered in a matter of days. The entire novel – save for the scenes involving other characters that are set in either England or Scotland – takes places on the small, remote island. The number of suspects is limited, and the list dwindles as the characters are killed off. All of the characters are compelling in their own way – though I must admit that Quinten is my favorite. I hope that Quinten, and his taxidermied fox, make appearances in later Maggie Hope Mysteries. The creepy, remote island also adds to the mystery. MacNeal brings the island to life with her descriptions of the landscape and weather. She also provides the island and its former inhabitants with a compelling history that gives Maggie and the others something to focus on as they work to ferret out the murderer.
THE PRISONER IN THE CASTLE is a great new addition to the Maggie Hope Mystery series, though it can be read as a standalone. I strongly recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of historical mysteries.

As McNeal takes her WWII heroine Maggie Hope further into Mary Sue territory, she's in the custody of MI-6 on a remote Scottish island that serves as the intelligence branch's "cooler" for agents who know too much or who crack under pressure. In a pastiche of Ten Little Indians, the other cracked spies begin turning up murdered, while a Nazi sleeper agent summons a U-boat for a ride back to the Reich. This is a fun series, but veers into too much reliance on coincidences and a character just too stalwart to really be compelling.

This book reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel. I enjoyed this book but I prefer the Maggie Hope books that are more involved in the war effort. I know a Nazi spy was part of the story but the story was more about the murders.

After her last mission, Maggie Hope has been designated a person who ‘knows too much.’ She and nine other similarly disposed agents have been cast away to ‘Forbidden Island’ on the Scottish coast. They while away the days reading, recreating, and drinking tea, liquor, and unfortunately, poison.

When their minder Captain Evans dies of a suspected heart attack and then one of the prisoners falls to his death in the course of 24 hours, Hope and her comrades start to look for evidence of foul play. A nasty storm covers the island and any way of getting help is severed. Add to this: rumors of ghosts on the island, Nazi spies reported in the area, and Hope’s connections in London are worried about her whereabouts.

While Hope’s old missions are referred to, I didn’t think it was essential to have read MacNeal’s other novels. She does fair job informing the reader of the important aspects of her background, but it would have fleshed out her character a bit if I had read some of the others.

Maggie Hope, the prisoner/ agents, and the other characters are all well-drawn and have some unique eccentricities. Several get killed off early, and others often after that, but all were given just enough time for the reader to question their means, opportunity, and motive. In other words, everyone is a suspect. One of the things that adds to these individuals and the narrative is MacNeal’s depth of literary allusions, from nursey rhymes to Wordsworth to Winnie the Pooh!

My issues with this one lie in the over-layering of conspiracies. I felt the narrative was a bit convoluted; it was easy to follow, but maybe was one plot line too thick.

The country-manor murders- ‘And Then Their Were None’ plot diverts enough for this one stand on its own. And if you’ve already been reading the Hope books, I think The Prisoner in the Castle will advance the series nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Company, and Susan Elia MacNeal for the advanced copy for review.

My first MacNeal book - and I greatly enjoyed it. An excellent homage to Christie, this WWII mystery perfectly blends espionage and crime.

I hadn't heard of the Maggie Hope series before this book, and now I need to go back and read all of them!

Ms. MacNeal did a great job of weaving this story together, keeping me guessing on what was going on and throwing in a good twist that I didn't see coming.

I *had* to read this book, so I spent a majority of my weekend devouring it. It was highly enjoyable. Each of the characters were each well developed enough to give you some sympathy for them, which was impressive because there were a *lot* of major players in this mystery. The dialogue was engaging, and the syntax didn't drag.

I had a fun time with this book, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the rest of the series!

"A series of baffling murders among a group of imprisoned agents threatens the outcome of World War II in this chilling mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Churchill’s Secretary.

World War II is raging, and former spy Maggie Hope knows too much.

She knows what the British government is willing to do to keep its secrets.

She knows the real location of the planned invasion of France.

She knows who’s lying. She knows who the double-crossers are. She knows exactly who is sending agents to their deaths.

These are the reasons Maggie is isolated on a remote Scottish island, in a prison known as Killoch Castle, out of contact with friends and family.

Then one of her fellow inmates drops dead in the middle of his after-dinner drink—and he’s only the first. As victims fall one by one, Maggie will have to call upon all her wits and skills to escape—not just certain death . . . but certain murder.

For what’s the most important thing Maggie Hope knows?

She must survive."

New Maggie Hope! And in Scotland!

*Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.*

2.5 stars

The Story~It's basically a reimagining of And Then There Were None. It's even mentioned in the book. It felt very long and meandering at times. Maybe it's because I haven't read any of the previous books and didn't have enough invested for it to feel quick and intense. The culmination didn't fit the otherwise slow build and was simple yet too complex to be fully believable. And we never found out how the killer did it or anything.
There was a side plot involving the island's history which didn't serve any real purpose to the murder plot. It could've been left out or made more vague so it remained a mystery at the end.
I felt the need to finish not because it was so good, but because I have other books clogging my brain and I had to get this one out of the way first. It started with such promise too.
The Characters~Having not read any of the other books I found it hard to keep everyone straight, especially all the people in the government.
Maggie, while praised as a strong and brave woman in almost all the other reviews, came across as weak and indecisive. She had moments of mental strength at the end, but until that point she couldn't decide who to trust and never rationalized out who it could be. I expected her to do stuff to further the investigation and it never came.
Most of the characters were timid and unresponsive to the threat. I thought they'd been trained to have backbone and guts and take action with a clear head. They were defined by a couple traits and since most of them died off fairly quickly I never got to know them. And as a result, I didn't care if they died or not. I know it's hard to juggle so many people in such a short time and with this plot, but I wish it'd been handled better.
I also didn't care about anyone else, with the possible exception of Durgin.
The Description and Dialogue~The weather was integral to the plot and yet I didn't feel fully immersed in the landscape. I don't know if it's because it's in the nineties where I am or if the writing was poor.
Some of the dialogue seemed a bit modern and none of it was memorable.

Overall I expected more sleuthing and less bumbling around and fortifying oneself with alcohol and tea. It should have been shorter with more time devoted to the ending. I don't think I'll go back to the beginning or continue with the series.