What a fascinating, if terrifying, exploration of human nature! This book drew me in instantly and kept me engaged throughout, holding my breath at times. I never knew of the extent of the Nazi connections in the US before and during WWII until I read Susan Elia’s MacNeal’s The Hollywood Spy (a recent entry in her Maggie Hope series). Reading about it in more depth in this standalone novel, with so many key characters based on real people, has opened my eyes further, and I will be engaging in my own research on this topic moving forward. This is such a timely book, with reverberations of the views held by the Nazi’s in America being felt in our nation and world now. MacNeal did an amazing job capturing the nuances of humanity, showing how people who want to do the right thing end up getting caught up in the hate perpetuated by groups such as the Nazi party. If the lessons of the past can be learned from fiction (and I believe they can), this is a significant contribution to the hope of authors helping to create a better future.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine, Bantam for access to an advanced reader's copy of this gripping novel.

A young woman and her mother are cast into a world of intrigue and danger when they encounter an organized attempt to bring Nazis to power in pre-war Southern California.
After an inappropriate relationship with a married man threatens her career as a journalist even before it can begin, Veronica Grace and her mother, Vi, move from New York to Los Angeles to start anew. When she takes a job as a typist, Veronica is horrified to discover that the couple she works for are involved with an organized group of Nazi sympathizers. After her attempts to report them to the authorities are met with a lukewarm response, Veronica and her mom are recruited to go undercover and report on what they see. Of course, this leads them into danger.
This book is similar to another book by the same author called “Hollywood Spy,” about Nazis in Hollywood. The parallels to today’s political climate are obvious, and a bit preachy, but the characters and events are based on real people and events. ( I wish the two characters’ names weren’t so similar, as it took me awhile to figure out who was who). But all in all, cautionary tale aside, the little-known story about what was going on in California (and probably other areas as well) before the U.S. was officially in the war is an eye-opening tale. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I want to thank Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by author Susan Elia Mac Neal.
This has to be the most frightening book I have ever read! I was a very little girl living in New Jersey when Hitler invaded Paris and the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on 12/07/1941. My dad was an air raid warden and I also remember blackout curtains on a train trip to Maine. I doubt most people were actually aware of how many Nazi groups had infiltrated the US and especially in the Los Angeles area of California.
Based on true events Ms Mac Neal introduces us to Victoria and her daughter Veronica who through unfortunate circumstances find themselves moving from New York City to California. Their involvement with the pro-Nazi’s is dangerous and critical to America!
Impossible to put this book down!
The epilogue is even more frightening!
Everyone will want to read her book.
Mother Daughter Traitor Spy publishes 09/20/2022.

What an exciting read! Based on true events and people, it was an eye opening read. I didn’t Know much or was even that aware of the Nazi movement and organizations in the US before and during WWII. I also never gave much thought to their plots and subertfuge.
There’s a lot of action in the narrative. It was fun and informative, reading about Southenr California culture in the 1940s.
There are also many parallels that can be drawn from back then and today.

An interesting story about the Nazi movement in the US prior and a mother daughter spy duo. The dialogue flows and the characters are either likable or despicable, depending on the political leanings. A timely release and a scary premise. I have read this author's series and enjoyed this stand alone.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

A youthful indiscretion costs Veronica her dream job and sees her black-balled in the New York publishing circle. With few options, she and her mother decide to move to California where her uncle has offered them his vacation bungalow in Santa Monica. Veronica gets a job as a typist and soon learns that her boss is an American Fascist with strong anti-Semitism and pro-Nazi Germany views. While Veronica is of German descent (her mother is German-American), she detests what Germany is doing. She won a prize in college for the newspaper story she wrote after going undercover at a pro-Nazi rally in New York City. Can she go undercover again to rout out the American fascist in Los Angeles?

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is loosely based on the real mother-daughter spy team of Grace and Sylvia Comfort who infiltrated a pro-Hitler fascist group in order to build a case against this dangerous terrorist group.

in the 1930s and 1940s, Fascism was not seen as a threat, at least not in light of the rise of Communism. But a small group of regular citizens saw the danger and started collecting evidence through a spy network. Why wasn't Fascism taken as a serious threat? Because they hid behind a patriotic facade and played the Christianity card. It probably didn't hurt that the police force and the government (at all levels) were made up of white men who probably to some extent agreed with their pro-White pro-Christian stance.

The past two weeks, I've read several WWII stories (both fiction and nonfiction) that were focused on Europe and I really started to wonder what was going on politically, socially, and culturally in the U.S. that kept us out of the war for so long and refused to accept more refugees. So I was really glad to run across Mother Daughter Traitor Spy.

Susan Elia MacNeal brings to life a part of history that I had never learned about in history or in any of my reading of WWII stories. Did you know that there was a bunker built for Hitler in Los Angeles? They were so convinced that Germany would win the war and that Hitler would stop over in L.A. before heading on to Japan.

This book is crazy good. I loved every moment of it. The characters are great. They really pop off the page and you feel like you could go to California and meet them.

I did have to wonder about some of the commentary and descriptions of the fascist movement and political perspective. It was so similar to what we are hearing these days and I wondered if the author transferred some of what is going on today to her 1940s America or if history is repeating itself.

If you are planning on watching Ken Burns's documentary The U.S. and the Holocaust on PBS tonight (it's a 3 part 6 hour event airing Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights), I think Mother Daughter Traitor Spy would make a great companion read.

It might be the best WWII-era story I've read this year. If you are looking for a story that sheds light on an aspect of history that you might not know a lot about. It is definitely a must-read for fans of WWII historical fiction.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Sunday, Sept. 18 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/09/mother-daughter-traitor-spy-by-susan.html

This was a very interesting time and topic which I didn't know about. I knew nothing of the German Bund and the other Nazi groups before and during World War II. The characters were well developed but some the story played out lie an old detective movie with a simplified plot. The plot just seemed to even, smooth. Research was good and I liked all the information. I liked the suspense, too.

Based on a true story, Susan Elia MacNeal's Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is a white-knuckle ride into a life of espionage by two women you'd never think would be spies. Veronica Grace is bright, talented, and longs for a career in journalism like her hero, Martha Gellhorn. She's so bright and so talented that I still find it hard to believe the stupid error in judgment that cost her a prestigious job in New York City.

Another thing that was a bit difficult to accept (but I don't know why) is what a hotbed of Nazism the Los Angeles area was in World War II. So much so that the West Coast was in much more danger than the East Coast. Learning that, back then, Anaheim was called "Klanaheim" made my blood run cold. (When reading this book, do yourself a favor: read the author's notes, sources, and inspirations.)

One of the best parts of Mother Daughter Traitor Spy was how MacNeal showed the concurrent tedium and terror of being a spy. Veronica and Violet's determination and strength of character shone through all the long months they put themselves in danger. It is a life that not many people are suited for, and a life in which one of the most important lessons to be learned is that "nice isn't the same as good."

This is a strong fictional account of two remarkable women that has disturbing ties to the present day. I'm glad I met Veronica and Violet.

3.5 Not so sunny L.A. stars

This one was interesting as it explored elements of WWII history that I was not familiar with at all. A mother/daughter team gets involved in Los Angeles to infiltrate a pro-Hitler movement during WWII.

Did you know that in February 1939 there was a rally in New York City that drew about 20,000 people and they were in favor of Hitler’s model? Organized by the German American Bund, the movement spread across much of the US.

One eerie thing about reading this book is some of the elements that are popping up again today. There’s anger against the current US President, hatred towards different groups, and simmering violence.

Veronica is an aspiring journalist in New York, but she loses her first job over a costly mistake. Looking for a fresh start, Veronica and her mother Violet move to Los Angeles with a relative. As they search for new jobs, they find themselves invited to attend some pro-German meetings. Veronica begins some clerical work for a couple and she’s very disturbed by the antisemitic nature and calls to violence in the material.

Though turned away by the police and FBI, Veronica and Violet are finally connected with a group that is very interested in their story. The two go “undercover” to attempt to get enough evidence to arrest some in the group.

This book is another in the trope of many real characters brought to life in a book. At times it seems unrealistic but as they say, truth is stranger than fiction. The writing at times seems simplistic but I enjoyed learning some history of this time in the U.S.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal is a historical thriller set in the US during WWII. The story is loosely based on real people and events. It is about a mother and daughter who each got caught up in a pro-Nazi group in Los Angeles, California, and dared to work as spies for an anti-Nazi spymaster.
Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
A mother and daughter spy team sounds intriguing to me, and I love that it is based loosely on actual people and events. The cover reflects the period in history and location perfectly. And the book blurb sounds dark and thrilling. I don't know much about the pro-Nazi movement in the US, particularly on the West coast. It seems incomprehensible, so I'm very curious about it.
Actual Reading Experience:
What I liked most about this story was that it's based loosely on real people and events. I don't know much about that time and the movements or propaganda in this country, especially the pro-Nazi propaganda and agenda. It's an exciting look into our past, putting today's political agendas and rhetoric in a slightly different perspective.
I also enjoyed the mother-daughter relationship between Veronica and Violet very much. Their relationship is very nuanced and layered and transcends the time they are living in. Both women are very modern in thoughts and beliefs, and their strength shines through with each challenge they face together or separately. I applaud their willingness to do what is right when it is not the easiest or safest path.
The writing flowed nicely with an effortless style that led to the fast pace of my reading. It felt genuine and authentic even when the events are beyond belief. MacNeal has an incredible way of making the past come alive in the present so the reader can see beyond the story on the page.
Characters:
Veronica Grace is a recent college graduate. Her job as a journalist is cut short when it is discovered that she is having an affair with a married man. She and her mother, Violet, plan to go live in her uncle's house in Santa Monica, California, as a way to start fresh and leave the past behind.
Violet Grace is the widowed mother of Veronica. She's feeling at odds with her life as she is no longer needed by her only daughter and her husband, who is deceased. She agrees to live in her brother's vacation home as it is the best thing for her daughter and a way to find her new place in the world.
Narration & Pacing:
I found the pacing pretty fast, and I could have read it in one day if I had started it earlier in the day; it was that quick of a read. The narration is in 3rd person, which worked well since the story had a much bigger scope than would have worked for a first-person account of events.
Setting:
The setting is the area surrounding Los Angeles, California. Veronica and Violet move to Santa Monica from New York. The west coast was the center of significant pro-Nazi propaganda, so it fits the story.
To Read or Not to Read:
If you want to learn more about the events in the US during WWII and enjoy exciting and dangerous spy stories, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is just the book you want to read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #PenguinRandom for the advance copy of #MotherDaughterTraitor Spy - the opinions are my own.

Yes, this is another WWII novel about strong women during the war. BUT, it's not what you expect. Instead of being set in Germany/France, this is set in Los Angeles. Briefly, a mother and daughter leave NYC and move to LA. Once there, circumstances put them in a unique situation with the German Bund group and they are eventually recruited to spy on the Nazi group.

This book is based on true people and events and the premise shows the war from an unusual perspective and women who find themselves in an unlikely position to help the American war effort. I continue to be amazed at the way authors can find a person or event and pull all the connecting threads and end up with a cohesive, interesting novel.

This book is well researched and in the author's notes, she makes it clear how closely all the characters were to real people. Fascinating. I found the characters of Vi and Veronica complete and their motives and fears well described. The beliefs of the Nazi activists/loyalists felt appropriately extreme and I found corollaries between then and today's political climate disturbing as hate was the order of the day. Even seemingly "nice" people are caught up in the cycle of fear and hate.

The novel is engaging, readable, and has some tense moments when the women's spying secret is threatened. I enjoyed the descriptions of clothes and settings of the era, reminding us of LA in the 40s. Definitely worth your time to read and enjoy!
Reviews will be posted on Pinterest, FB, Storygraph, Amazon and Goodreads by the 9/20 publication date.

In this intriguing historical fiction story, a mother and daughter, Violet and Veronica, of German descent move to California to begin a new life during the beginning of WWII. Veronica hopes to find work as a journalist and Vi, a widow, feels she doesn’t have much to contribute. Lacking experience however, Veronica finds a job as a typist yet finds that her employer runs a group that promotes misplaced patriotism through the printing and distribution of propaganda and lies. Meanwhile, Vi stumbles upon some women interested in her sewing skills. Because of their heritage and Aryan blond looks, they are mistaken to be sympathizers by these Nazi activists trying to recruit Americans to help promote their cause. Shaken to the core, they seek help from the local police and FBI, to no avail. However, with connections from her late husband, Violet brings their concerns forward which connects her to Ari Lewis, who happens to be running a spy ring in California. Lewis appeals to Veronica’s passion and she agrees to continue working as a typist to find out any useful information. Likewise, Violet befriends some women who are believers in America First that are in tune with Hitler. Together, mother and daughter become spies. This story is full of suspense and intrigue and amazingly, it is based on true individuals who were spies. Well researched and written, I found some of the storyline too pat and coincidental with the circumstances in situations met up with the characters and their reactions not always realistic. How can someone have such a poker face and calmness when confronted with such atrocious behavior and beliefs? However, it was astounding to me how passionate and misguided people become with accepting untruths just because it is written in print and repeated. Actually, it is quite scary because that practice continues. When Veronica and Violet raised the red flag of alarm, they were told repeatedly that these people were protected by the First Amendment to say what they wanted and until actual harm was done, authorities could do nothing. But how can one measure the harm done to one’s character? This book will make you think. It is about courage to stand up for what you believe, even knowing that there is risk to yourself.

Many thanks to #netgalley #randomhousepublishing #motherdaughtertraitorspy for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal is an interesting historical fiction set in 1940 Los Angeles. As much as I’ve read about World War II, I’ve never really explored the Pro-Nazi sympathizers in the US before and during the war. I enjoyed the idea of a mother daughter duo embedding themselves into the Nazi organizations and helping to take them out. I learned a lot about what was going on in LA during this time and it was honestly disturbing.

That being said, I struggled a bit to connect to the characters. I was drawn into the story quickly but I found myself stalling a bit about 30% through. I feel like it was the characters but maybe it was just so hard for me to read about these awful people—and to think about how there are still people like this in the world. Despite this, I thought the story was well-written and interesting. I would recommend it to people who like historical fiction.

I liked this story set during World War II because it takes readers away from Europe and into the United States, giving readers a snapshot of how the public viewed the war and their attitudes toward the Jewish people.

The majority of the story was set in California and is based on real people from the time period.
A mother and daughter have moved to California from New York ready for a fresh start. They soon find themselves being recruited to spy on a Nazi cell in Los Angeles.

I found some parts of the story to be pretty suspenseful, but not overdone. The plot was fairly simple and things moved quickly. All of the women’s spying is done during the time leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

I was most fascinated by the fact that most of the characters were based on real people who played a part in fighting anti-semitism and the Nazi’s expansion onto US soil. I’d love the see the author write a non-fiction story about the people involved.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to provide my honest review.

Pertinent and deadly!

An extraordinary story based loosely on real people who belonged to the far right in the early 1940’s, Nazi Americans and sympathizers in California.
Violet Engle Grace and Veronica, a mother and daughter of Aryan descent, come into contact with members of the America First Committee. The group wants to keep America neutral and anti semetic
The America First (where have we heard that before?) Committee supported Hitler and planned third column attacks on various key points of American infrastructure. The United States is not at war—yet. These groups wanted to keep America out of Europe. They didn’t want Roosevelt to win the 1941 election. If he did they made plans to have the results over turned, and threatened democracy with a wave of attacks on various institutions. They had their own arm of militiamen—the Copperheads, based on the German Bund, the Silver Shirts and the Hitler Youth Movement.
Violet and Veronica’s infiltration of the organization was two pronged. Although a journalist, Veronica could type. She happened to be given a recommendation to a job whilst out to dinner for a Donald Pierce McDonnell who worked for the organization, the Educational Services Bureau. At the same time Violet was asked by a woman who admired her blouse to embroider one for her. Complete with Nazi symbols. That became Violet’s entrée into the circle of wives of the leaders of the movement.
A fascinating look into the reasons behind such movements and a cautionary tale of how easily our democracy can be eroded.
A frightening read given what we see today.

A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Don’t think there’s anything left to write about WWII? Think again! Susan Elia MacNeal’s Mother Daughter Traitor Spy sheds some light on a relatively unexplored area: Nazi spies and activists in California during the 1940s. Veronica, who’s just graduated from college in New York, and her widowed mother Violet decide to move to the West Coast for a fresh start. Although Veronica hopes to find a job in journalism, out of desperation she takes a secretarial position for a man who’s not what he initially seems; meanwhile, Violet’s taking in sewing for some ladies with connections to the America First organization. An ad-hoc anti-Nazi group recruits the pair as spies, but it struggles to protect Veronica as she takes increasing risks to expose the growing Nazi threat on America’s own shores.

Likes: I don’t know that I’ve ever read about mother-daughter spies, and it was entertaining and heartwarming to see how the relationship between Veronica and Violet deepens. Both women and their male allies are admirable but flawed, and thus believable as well as being sympathetic; the Nazis have abhorrent views but are at times likeable, showing how they hid in plain sight. I like my historical fiction thoroughly researched, and this book did not disappoint! The excellent author’s note reveals not only the sources consulted but also the real people behind the characters. This book is an important read, as too often we forget that there were Americans who embraced Nazi ideology and even some who wanted to create a dictatorship by overthrowing FDR. The parallels between this period and our own left me with chills.

Dislikes: on occasion the dialogue crosses into what I call “speechifying,” where the characters make pronouncements to each other rather than just talking. It’s understandable; many of the characters are journalists, and if there’s a subject that might get me making a speech, it’s my anti-Nazi convictions. This is a minor critique that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

FYI: violence, murder, attempted murder, anti-Semitism, Nazi ideology, sexism, martial infidelity.

This story has it all. Good suspense, good characters and good storyline. I love the era and actually learned some things about that time. Veronica thinks she has it all. After her graduation, she was going to have a great job and a lover. As it turns out, the lover has a wife, and the wife has some pull with Veronica's employer. Now she is out of a job. Veronica and her mom, Vi, decide to make a new start in their lives and move to California from New York. It is a whole different world. What they find are Nazis and lots of intrigue in the German/American community. They are good people with some bad ideas. Veronica and Vi decide that they can't just stand by and let people destroy their way of life. What they are doing is very dangerous, but they can't let it go. Can they help the government uncover all the Nazis without getting hurt?

Overall, I enjoyed reading Mother Daughter Traitor Spy. I'm always keen to read a spy novel and this one didn't disappoint though it doesn't fit the standard spy story model. What is most intriguing is that this story is based on true events; there did exist a mother-daughter team that infiltrated a Nazi cell in southern California during WW2 who provided credible intel on their activities to the authorities. I found it useful that following the end of the book, the author supplied information on the real persons her characters were based on and their role in the true-life story. It encouraged me to research the story for myself.

Personally, I would make a terrible spy. I have a terrible poker face and would find it quite difficult to NOT show my feelings and emotions on my face. The two main protagonists, Veronica and Violet, were able to fool many dangerous people for quite some time. While the book mentioned they received some training, it was quite limited and nowhere near the level a true operative would receive. I was most impressed with what Vi and Veronica pulled off - they literally risked their lives and obtained information to expose the Nazi's plot to overthrow the government. The author made me care about these characters. I rooted them on when they were applying their trade and felt their fear when they were in danger. The author ably detailed both the exciting bits, full of tradecraft and suspicion, and the emotional turmoil the women were living with daily.

In terms of my cons, the author included a lot of characters and some of them created confusion. Towards the end of the book, whenever she introduced a new character, she dropped them into the storyline in such a way that I thought they'd been a part of the story all along but I somehow missed their introduction. I had to go back and double-check if I had forgotten about some character. My main critique though is that whereas the first three-quarters of the book read well - the author checked off all the proper and necessary requirements of novel writing - the last quarter of the story felt rushed. Maybe she lost track of time, maybe her editor put a rush on it, or maybe it was intentional but it felt to me that the author rushed through writing the last bit . Important events were glossed over with little detail provided; it read as if the story had been condensed. Nevertheless, I do recommend this as a good read!

I wish to thank Random House Publishing and Netgalley for an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

"A mother and daughter find the courage to go undercover after stumbling upon a Nazi cell in Los Angeles during the early days of World War II - a tantalizing novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series.

June 1940. France has fallen to the Nazis, and Britain may be next - but to many Americans, the war is something happening "over there." Veronica Grace has just graduated from college; she and her mother, Violet, are looking for a fresh start in sunny Los Angeles. After a blunder cost her a prestigious career opportunity in New York, Veronica is relieved to take a typing job in L.A. - only to realize that she's working for one of the area's most vicious propagandists.

Overnight, Veronica is exposed to the dark underbelly of her new home, where German Nazis are recruiting Americans for their devastating campaign. After the FBI dismisses the Graces' concerns, Veronica and Violet decide to call on an old friend, who introduces them to L.A.'s anti-Nazi spymaster.

At once, the women go undercover to gather enough information about the California Reich to take to the authorities. But as the news of Pearl Harbor ripples through the United States, and President Roosevelt declares war, the Grace women realize that the plots they're investigating are far more sinister than they feared - and even a single misstep could cost them everything.

Inspired by the real mother-daughter spy duo who foiled Nazi plots in Los Angeles during WWII, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is a powerful portrait of family, duty, and deception that raises timeless questions about America - and what it means to have courage in the face of terror."

I'm am more than a little intrigued by what that Nazis were up to in L.A. because history just doesn't talk about it that much and yet it happened.

Oh my goodness! This is such a good read. I had know idea this happened in our history. This is something that was not taught or talked about in school. It make your heart pause to realize how close we were to being overtaken. I was given this advanced copy from NetGalley. I freely leave a review