4.5/ 5 🌟

First off, thank you NetGalley and Random house Publishing Group for the advanced eARC!

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy follows to exceptional women who turn into spies to foil Nazi operations in Los Angeles.

Veronica Grace (our first FMC)- is talented, ambitious, loves her family & country, and is a humanitarian. She is outraged that the United States isn't doing more to help stop WWII. I truly believe Veronica was a woman before her time. You find yourself rooting for her and get infuriated that she is the only one being punished for the "blunder" that forced her to move from NY to LA.

Violet Grace (our second FMC)- is Veronica's widowed mother. Violet is struggling to get her identity back. She is also talented (a designer of clothes, is devoted to her daughter, and also has a huge love for the human race.

Our two leading ladies are so brave and I loved seeing them come into their own. I loved connecting Violet with my mother... who also struggled with our father's death and trying to come into her own. I appreciated Violet's truggles and know it's not easy raising a child on your own. I found myself scared and my intestines being in a vice grip whenever they were undercover. Susan Elia MacNeal did some serious research.. as the characters in this book are inspired by real life people. She does have this in her author's notes.

My one criticism is the ending seemed rushed and character development didn't seem to round out by then for a stand-alone.

What To Expect:
•Historical Fiction regarding WWII
•A touch of of romance
•Not much spice (almost fade to black at time/left to your imagination)
•Grumpy/Sunshine trope
• Touch her and you die type of trope (it's said internally but it's there)

I have been a fan of this author since the start of her Maggie Hope series and was excited to see a new non series ( I believe)' book had been written.
Veronica and her mother Vi, leave NYC for life in California. While looking for employment there Veronica secures a job which turns out to be a Nazi cell. The author did great research on this little written about situation in the US in the early days of WW2. While a book of fiction, it is based on true history of a mother daughter spy team doing work for America.
There is much historical data which was very interesting and pulled the reader along to what happened. I liked how the author presented psychological thoughts ,especially of Veronica while doing undercover work such as knowing who these people were and at the same time ,feeling that they are nice....and then feeling confused. Parts of the situation I felt could be parallel to today's world. The intensity of the book really starts about 70% in and at that time it was very hard to put the book down.
I would like to thank NetGalley,The author and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book. It publishes on 9/20/22
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Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal is an historical fiction novel based on real people which takes place mostly in Los Angeles during the period from 1939 to 1942. The plot centers around the German Americans who are ardent supporters of Adolph Hitler who would like to see Charles Lindbergh in the White House..

Through a series of events, Veronica (the daughter) and Violet (the mother) are conscripted by certain patriots and organizations to become spies since they are of Germanic descent and living amidst the German community.

The depicted actions of the German Americans are very similar to present day situations re MAGA, anti-Semitism and,of course, guns. There is total disrespect for the president (who they refer to as Jewsvelt) and even consideration of overthrowing him if he is successful in winning the election of 1940.

The book is both interesting and educational and extremely well written. Ms. MacNeal is an author new to me and I look forward to reading her subsequent novels.. I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy of a book destined to be talked about and, perhaps, made into a future movie.

It's the Summer of 1940, and Veronica Grace is newly graduated from college and ready to start her career as a journalist for a popular magazine—that is until her affair with a married man comes to light and ruin her plans. Hoping for a fresh start, Veronica and her mother, Violet, move from New York City to Los Angeles. After taking a job as a secretary for a local publisher, Veronica realizes that her new boss is a supporter of Hitler and that he uses his publishing company to pass along Nazi propaganda. The local police and FBI agents show little interest in the publisher, but a group of Jewish spymasters persuade Veronica and Violet to go undercover and help them gather evidence against the American Nazis and their mission to recruit more people to their organizations.



I am a big fan of the MacNeal's Maggie Hope series, so I was excited to read her stand-alone novel. MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY is inspired by a real life mother-daughter duo (and some of their cohorts) who spied on and brought down American Nazis in California. This novel highlights a seldom talked about aspect of history—that Hitler had a strong following throughout the United States. MacNeal packs the novel full of facts concerning the people, places, and lifestyle of the early 1940s. Through Veronica and Violet, MacNeal shows that the "bad guys" aren't always completely evil. Aside from their horrible views/opinions, the people that Veronica and Violet are spying on are nice people. But being nice does not make them good. Overall, a very engaging interesting read.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read Mother, Daughter, Traitor, Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal. I am always torn about reviewing historical fiction that is loosely based on true events. It is thrilling to read about the mother-daughter duo going undercover to infiltrate a Nazi cell in Los Angeles but it seemed too unrealistic how they got away with it for so long. It all fell into place a little too neatly. I like that the story encouraged me to find out the real facts and learn more about Nazi sympathizers in the United States.

Fans of Susan Elia MacNeal's Maggie Hope series will enjoy this stand-alone novel, MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, based on real-life spies Sylvia and Grace Comfort. The story is a compelling look at pro-Nazi support in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. Despite the historical time period, the events feel eerily similar to today. Set in Southern California, the story follows the unplanned move from Brooklyn of Veronica Grace and her mother Vi, to Santa Monica. Of German American descent, they unexpectedly find themselves in the midst of several pro-Hitler organizations. Initially appalled by what they are learning, they quickly set out to infiltrate these organizations. The events and atmosphere of the era are well-researched and the increasing anxiety of the mother-daughter duo's double life is keenly felt. This little-told story of two intrepid women fighting oppression is a departure from other examples of this genre in that it takes place on American soil! The only detractor was the author's occasionally anachronistic modern terminology such as spy "cell", hate speech, and "no harm, no foul," which all entered our vernacular after WWII.

#motherdaughtertraitorspy #netgalley

Thank you to Net Galley for the eARC! This review was posted to GoodReads on 8/10/22.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC: The book is based on true characters who infiltrated the American Nazi movement just before WWII. Veronica and her mother Vi, are German Americans who work for Jewish activists and infiltrate the American Nazi movement, "America First" that planned to assist Hitler, actively resist Roosevelt, and create a paramilitary to attack US targets. Veronica and Vi didn't have a lot of depth, and Vi's constant reference to "the change" struck a false note, but the scenes of the American Nazi's were vivid. Veronica and Vi's emotional conflicts were vividly depicted. Veronica became swept up in her deception. The parallels to current events in the US are strong and concerning. The book depicts an FBI that was focused on Communism and ignored active domestic terrorism: accurate and historically well researched. A strong work of historical fiction that resonates.

Hoping for a new beginning, a mother and daughter move across the country to start anew in Los Angeles. As tensions rise around the world in 1940, Veronica and her mother Vi are trying to make L.A. their home. Each of them are looking for work-- but neither would have believed that they would find themselves going undercover at those jobs to stop the plans of a Nazi cell right here in the United States.

Based on a true story, "Mother, Daughter, Traitor, Spy" is a fascinating tale that shows the ugly side of humanity as well as the good side of humanity. Veronica and Vi could have just ignored the hate-filled, violence-provoking propaganda they saw-- but they didn't. They found a way to get the information to the right authorities that would listen. And then they undertook a soul-sucking mission to undermine and take down a Nazi cell right here in America-- one of many cells that were working to sabotage the Presidential election, the factories making aircraft for Britain, Jewish businesses, and more. What happened in Germany in the 1930s was starting to happen here. These two women put their own lives in peril to provide intel to two spymasters who were able to get the FBI involved.

A book you can't put down but yet you want to throw it because it makes you angry. It's a part of history that I didn't know about and it's scary to think that with little to no technology, these Nazi cells were started and thrived with just printed propaganda. Thankfully, Veronica and Vi felt it a duty to do what they could to stop this horror on American soil. An amazing story of how two ordinary women found a way to gather information through their work, the friendships they had to make, and for Veronica, the relationship she had to fake. Definitely worth the read.

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy was a captivating story inspired by a real life mother and daughter who worked as American Nazi spies.
After a move to California, Veronica and Violet, her mother, try and find any job that can give them enough money to live on. Veronica finds herself working as a secretary for a couple that are a part of a Nazi group in LA. Disturbed by what she finds out from her first visit, both mother and daughter end up fake befriending and intermingling with this organization as spies after contacting with an anti-Nazi spy group.
This was such a well written piece of historical fiction that read as a thriller. It painted such a vivid portrait of these characters and the crazy life they adapted into. I felt such a thrill and anxiety that came with rooting for these characters and their secrecy.
I both loved and loved to despise the characters - they were all so developed and showed a really great progression throughout the story. I’ve been thinking about this book nonstop. Amazing read - thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC!

“It’s all too easy for us to fall into hate. For any of us. For all of us. I used to think, ‘It could never happen here’ - and it not only could have, but almost did. And there’re every reason to believe it could happen again in the future.”

This was posted to GoodReads, and was published on 8/9.

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal is a well researched novel based on an actual Nazi group in California in the 1940’s. The story centers around Vi and her daughter, Veronica, after they move to California from New York. While settling in, they are introduced to a Nazi group and soon become undercover agents. Although I did not feel a connection to the characters, I was intrigued and wanted to know how the story concluded. This would make a good book club discussion. Thank you to Net Galley for the eARC!

Author Susan Elia MacNeal, widely respected for her intriguing Maggie Hope series, was moved to relate a story which parallels but also widens Maggie's journey through war. Based on real events in southern California as America prepared to enter World War II, MacNeal propels the reader to focus on how some in the western state aligned themselves with Hitler's beliefs and saw Nazi Germany as the answer to the politics of a Roosevelt presidency.

Vi and Veronica are a mother and daughter leaving Germany at the request of Vi's brother to begin a new life in southern California. Both mother and daughter are swept up with the ever-present threats to harm Jewish people, including famous Hollywood producers. When the opportunity presents itself to counteract this hateful movement, both ladies will place themselves in danger in order to stand for an America of freedom and equality.

MacNeal includes both an account of the real lives she has fictionalized for this book along with historical notes and further reading suggestions. This is an American story that needed to be told, just as character Veronica plans to write of her experiences.

Note: I've tried not to include spoilers in this review, but it does reveal some minor plot points of the story, so continue reading with caution if you would rather not read anything about the plot.

I've read quite a few historical fiction books set in WW2, but this book has a different setting than I've read in the past and I'm really glad I read it. Set around 1940 in California, the book follows a mother and daughter as they try and help their country. After their move from the East Coast to the West Coast, the mother and daughter find themselves around people who at first appear to have similar beliefs as they do, but they quickly realize these people are much more radical. While Europe and Asia are deep in war, the United States has yet to enter the war, but there is still a war of sorts going on within the United States. While the story is fiction, it is based on real people.

The story itself kept moving and was a fast read. Since I finished it, I find myself reflecting on parts of the story, and I always appreciate when a book still has me thinking about it I put it down. I think this is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading more.

I received an advance copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and am very glad I was able to read this book.

Courtesy of Netgalley I received the ARC of Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal. This well researched historical novel focuses on American Nazism in the 1940's, especially in California. Mother and daughter team Vi and Veronica, based on Sylvia and Grace Comfort, go undercover and infiltrate the Nazi group based in Southern California. Their love for America gave them the courage to gather information that enabled the FBI to pursue these groups during this frightening period during WWII. Highly recommend!

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeil is quite a novel. I’ve read the entire Maggie Hope series and was hooked from page one every time. I anticipated I’d react the same to Mother Daughter Traitor Spy. Surprisingly, I did not and almost decided this book was not for me. I was so wrong! This book WAS for me.

The first few chapters that take place in New York were okay; I didn’t realize they set the stage for what came next. As the story opens Veronica Grace’s anticipated new job at Mademoiselle is abruptly canceled following her graduation from Hunter College. No spoilers from me - you will have to read why this happened.

The book came alive for me when Veronica and her mother, Violet, moved to California to be near Walter, Violet’s brother. Although historical fiction set in WWII is my favorite genre I hadn’t read any books about the Resistance Movement in America, let alone a Jewish Resistance Movement in California in the 1940’s. This aspect intrigued me and I became even more engaged as I kept reading about their new life in Los Angeles.

The characters are either described as they were or are fictionalized versions of the people they portray in this novel. Groups like the Nazi Party, the German American Bund, the hate groups and the haters were real then. Sadly, many of these hate groups are still alive and well in America and abroad.

The late 1930’s and early 1940’s was a time of turmoil in America. The movement to keep America out of the war and deny Roosevelt another term was growing on both coasts with the German American Bund, supported by the Nazi Party, leading the effort. You may remember reading about the Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden in 1939 attended by 20,000 supporters. MacNeal’s writing about this dark time in our history references the rally as she focuses on the pro-Nazi organizations and activities that took place on the West Coast. The incidents she includes in this book happened. They were real. People died. Yet, the Jewish Resistance never gave up fighting against the hatred and the threats.

They recruited spies - including Violet and Veronica - gathered information and, when they needed them the most, convinced the FBI, Naval intelligence and law enforcement to join them in stopping the movement from the disasters planned to disrupt, maim and destroy. This partnership would most likely not have happened without the information gleaned by two strong, intelligent and determined women, Violet and Veronica.

What was happening in Los Angeles and Southern California hit way too close to home for me, given today’s divisions in our country and the move to the very-far right. I’ve seen photos and news pieces with the Nazi flag flying, people cheering for dictators and fascists and our elections at risk. Anti-semitic flyers are proliferating, as is immigrant paranoia and politicians who lie to the public without remorse. I was reminded of all of this as I read Mother Daughter Traitor Spy as it was like history is repeating itself. We haven’t learned from the past, after all.

Reviews are often a synopsis of the plot and the characters, as well a critique of the writing and intent. Anyone who has read Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series knows her writing is incredible and her research into her subject matter intense. MacNeal’s coverage of this book’s timeframe in American history, superbly written and chronicled, is chilling and frightening. At times, I wondered if an event or a character was fictionalized and was gratified to read in the Historical Notes that most of the book is fact driven or based on a compilation of individuals and events..

I highly recommend Mother Daughter Traitor Spy and thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review can also be found on Goodreads.

While based on real people and real events, one must question the accuracy of the story. Perhaps it was Ms. MacNeal’s attempts to transition history into fiction. Perhaps it was the need to keep some events truly secret. Perhaps it was something else entirely. Ultimately, the story fell flat. It was not intriguing and did not pull me in. While I care how the war ended, I did not care about how these characters came out. I didn’t hate it, just didn’t really enjoy it. The story did not feel believable. It did, however, inspire me to do some research into the real characters behind Mother Daughter Traitor Spy and the attempted rise of Nazism in the United States. So, not a total loss.

Susan Elia MacNeal in her new book Mother Daughter Traitor Spy retells the true story of Sylvia and Grace Comfort. The German-American mother-daughter duo worked undercover as spies in Los Angeles helping to spoil Nazi efforts to seize control of the US government in 1939-41. I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but never come across this storyline before. While as not riveting or heart-pounding as I expected, I still found it fascinating.

MacNeal's book is extremely well researched and annotated, which tied together some of the loose ends. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advance reader copy. I recommend this book to WWII history fans.

Do we ready ever know someone? Even family has secret from each other? Don't they? What a crazy time in the 1920 -1930's. Why do we think white people with money are better than others? Often wonder if your born with silver spoon, why would you want to be fair,

Had high hopes for this one because the premise sounded amazing, but I ended up being a bit disappointed by it. I can usually tell within about 10 pages if I'm going to enjoy (or at least be mildly entertained) by a book, or if the writing style/characters/dialogue is going to be a problem for me. And I knew within 10 pages of this one that I was not feeling it. BUT, because it's an ARC, I wanted to persevere and give it a chance. So I did. And I struggled. The characters didn't feel developed or relatable. The dialogue felt very stilted and wooden. The stakes never really felt that high. And the pacing seemed off in parts of it.

I will say that the idea of this book is a great one. I'm not familiar at all with this part of WWII, so bringing this part of history to life is pretty cool. I just wish I had been able to connect with it more.


Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Women power is on full display in Susan Elia MacNeal’s Mother Daughter Traitor Spy. Violet and Veronica Grace are mother and daughter of American/German descent. When circumstances cause some serious changes in their lives, they are faced with some decisions. When offered the opportunity to start anew in Los Angeles, they take the leap. While looking for employment, both ladies are exposed to a group of Nazis sympathizers. When they attempt to inform the authorities about this group, they are ignored. Vi then turns to an old friend of her deceased husband. Through him, the ladies are put into touch with people fighting against the Nazi movement in Los Angles. This involvement opens them up to adventures they never dreamed possible. Together mother and daughter work to bring down this anti-American group. Great spy novel as well as a tribute to the involvement of women in espionage. Loved this book,

This is a fantastic fictional story based on a true event in U.S. history. The author captures the reader’s attention from the first page and the result is a journey through what seems to be incredible but, as was stated previously, is a true event. The author so skillfully weaved the fictional story into this true event that I found myself doing research to confirm what was fiction and what was not. The realities I discovered were insightful, to say the least, and gives justification to the French saying that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

I enjoyed this book immensely as it has all the elements I look for in good fiction writing. It captured my attention from page one, held it throughout the story, and the characters were believable. The fact that it is based on true events as well as the author’s ability to seamlessly weave fiction into the reality makes this book deserving of attention by readers. It would also make an excellent gift. Don’t pass this one up!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley but the thoughts expressed are my own.