Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

The Last Hope is the last book in the Maggie Hope mystery series which tells the story of Maggie Hope as she evolves from secretary to secret agent. I enjoyed this book and thought it was well paced. The plot was interesting and moved quickly. It was nice to see Maggie’s evolution as I’ve read all the books. It did not feel like a finale to me and I wanted more of a conclusion to some of the stories.

I want to thank Random House Ballantine Bantam books for allowing me to read and review The Last Hope by Susan Elia Mac Neal. I had previously read Mother Daughter Traitor Spy and found it scary and so good. Her new one is a nail biter as well.
“Imay not have to make tea anymore, but will I always and forever be underestimated?”
Maggie Hope is a beautiful red head trained as a spy being sent on a very important mission. In her purse she carries a small pistol and instead of a lipstick, a cyanide capsule. The book begins in the early 1940’s. She has an interesting relationship with designer Coco Chanel who has become a German spy. Maggie will have to use all her skills and training to try to find out if Hitler has built the fission bomb yet and to destroy the scientist involved. Her time in Spain, never knowing who is with her and who is not is very suspenseful. The most famous bullfighter has become very attracted to her..
Maggie is so likable. You want her to succeed with her mission!
It’s hard to put this book down! You don’t!
The Last Hope will Publish next month (05/21/2024. Watch for it!

I’m sorry to see this series end. I’ve binged read the series over the past few months and glad I did. I learned a great deal of WWII history. This last of the volume is not the best of the series and I think that’s because Maggie’s personal life intrudes a bit more than usual. And while it would have been nice to having everything wrapped up with a bow the ambiguity is understandable. A fascinating study of Franco’s Spain and the prescience of a few people…..

Thank you Net Galley for this early copy of The Last Hope. I have really enjoyed this series and the character of Maggie Hope. In this last installment, and I mean last as this is the final in the series, MacNeal takes us to Spain and the final months of the war.
This is the first WWII book I have read that has taken place in neutral Spain and it was fascinating to read about all the machinations going on there! It was also interesting to have Coco Chanel brought back into the series and that story line.
I love a book that has a great historical component to it, a strong female lead and tells me something I didn't know much about, and this book nailed all three.
I highly recommend reading this series, and if not already aware of, learning more about the roles women played in helping end WWII.

This was a series that I really loved and didn't want to end - so much deeper and more nuanced that many other historical mystery series. I wish this finale had included more of the characters we had come to know and love but still a lovely ending.

Maggie Hope is asked to go to Spain to meet with Coco Chanel and to assassinate Werner Heisenberg who may be developing an atomic bomb. She is finally almost ready to marry John. She is slated to work with a fellow SOE agent Connor. However, shortly after she meets with Connor, he is murdered. Another British spy, Angel Ramas appoints himself her director. Maggie does meet with Coco, who wants her to take a letter to Winston Churchill which requests peace with Germany because they are afraid of Communist Russia. Meanwhile, a very famous Spanish bull fighter has become enamored with Maggie. He takes her in to Heisenberg's big speech, to one of his bull fights, and also to a big galla at the King's Palace. Maggie is determined to find out if Heisenberg is really close to getting an Atomic Bomb before she assassinates him. When things get really dicy, the British press agent gets Maggie to a train to Gilbraltar so she can fly home. However, there are still enemies there who try to stop her from getting home. Will she get back to John and her friends and family? This is a very exciting WWII story!

I thank Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for an ARC to read before publication.

I am a big fan of historical mysteries but I never really clicked with this series. Maggie is sometimes a difficult heroine but I appreciate the research and historical perspective that goes into this series. I have learned a lot about clandestine WWII operations.

The plotting though, often feels fairly preposterous to me. I understand history fiction blending in actual figures can be difficult but Coco Chanel and Juanito Belmonte seemed pretty jarring as characters. And two characters exchanging pithy dialogue while under attack is almost comic book like at times.

Clearly I am in the minority and I salute the hard work and research that MacNeal devoted to this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“The Last Hope” by Susan Elia MacNeal is a great finale novel to the Maggie Hope series. I did not read all of this series but have read many, and this was my favorite by far! The reason may be because Maggie who is a spy for the British Government has matured and is dealing with some of the horrors of WWII that still persist today. In this book she is challenged with brokering messages between Coco Chanel and Winston Churchill which advocates for the possible surrender of a Germany without Hitler, and the readiness status of Germany’s Atomic bomb. This was a fast paced, richly researched novel that leaves us with a surprising & perfect ending to this series. I encourage everyone to read the Author’s notes at the end because Ms. MacNeals extensive research explains the connection to Nazi Germany and the many famous names mentioned in this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Having never read anything by this author or any of the books in this series it did take a little time to catch up to the characters and their relationships. This is the story of Maggie Hope AKA Paige Kelly. Maggie is on a mission to Spain to find and possibly assassinate the German scientist, Heisenberg before he can discover fission and make a bomb. There are lots of twists and turns in this story which at times makes it difficult to follow. On the whole, it was an interesting story.

I am a fan of Mother, Daughter, Traitor, Spy by this author, so I was looking forward to reading this book. I wasn't disappointed. Since I hadn't read the previous books in this series, I was initially somewhat at a loss as to the characters and previous events that were referenced in the first few chapters. However, MacNeal does a good job explaining these things while still moving the narrative forward so that I was easily able to "catch up" and quickly become engaged with the story.

Maggie Hope is a World War II British spy who is ordered to go to Spain and attend a lecture given by Werner Heisenberg, a German scientist who is suspected of discovering how to make the hydrogen bomb. If the suspicions are valid, Maggie is to assassinate him. She is also a scientist by training, so has the perfect cover for connecting with Heisenberg. That she is assigned this mission by Kim Philby ( later to be exposed as a double agent working for the Nazis ) adds to the peril of her mission. Simultaneously, Maggie is asked to deliver a letter to Winston Churchill from Coco Chanel and a high-ranking Nazi.The letter requests him to consider an offer of peace between Great Britain and Germany, essentially betraying France. Maggie knows Churchill will immediately reject this offer, but agrees to deliver the letter.

The ensuing narrative connects both missions as Maggie attempts to discern who she can trust and who are working against her and her country. She narrowly escapes death and exposure of her missions multiple times, making for an exciting story. Maclean skillfully reveals only pieces of characters so that the reader - and Maggie- must guess who are friends or foes. Both are revealed at a decisive moment in several instances, requiring Maggie to trust her instincts and act quickly.

I like how MacLean weaves true historical events into her story, although the history never slows down the action. Rather, it enriches the events and makes them feel authentic. An extensive bibliography at the end of the book shows how much research was done to ensure authenticity.

Maggie is smart, beautiful, loyal,and quick witted. MacNeal does a great job of making her seem relatable and real, despite being almost larger than life. She is also very out-spoken, earning her the admiration of many colleagues ( and readers of the book), but jealousy and resentment from some of her male peers. She is not shy about speaking her mind, although "dressing down"Churchill regarding the shameful treatment of women in the British spy agency seemed out of character for a British woman in the 1940s.

The setting of Madrid was an intriguing alternative to typical WWIi stories. Since Spain remained neutral throughout the war, Madrid was a place where spies, double agents, diplomats, Nazis, and Allies mingled and negotiated. MacNeal vividly and thoroughly described the popular bars,hotels, shops, streets, etc. of the city as well as the University of Madrid and Franco's palace. Sometimes the descriptions slowed down the action, but I think they were necessary so that the reader could easily visualize the action.

The concept of bullfighting is used as an interesting metaphor for the feinting, deceiving, maneuvering, confronting, and courage that also describe the work of spying. However, having Spain's most famous bullfighter become infatuated with Maggie was a bit far-fetched for me. Then having him rescue her at a critical point really strained my credibility, although it was definitely romantic.

Everything is not completely resolved at the end of the story, although MacNeal states that this is the last book in the series. It does seem as if Maggie has a promising future for a happy marriage, good friends, and a fulfilling career. We hope she is able to accomplish all that in what will be a bleak post-war Britain.

Maggie Hope is a remarkable, memorable character. I recommend this book.
Thanks to Random House for an electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.






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It's a bittersweet thing, saying goodbye to Maggie Hope. I've enjoyed her adventures through WWII, and also the lives of all her friends and family. In this last installment of the series, Maggie is tasked with one more big mission. Connecting with her old "friend" Coco Chanel and learning more about the famous superweapon being developed by the nazis. The book had so many twists and turns, and the setting of Spain was a nice change. There was a death close to the beginning of the book that shocked me, even though we didn't know the character that long.
I'm going to miss Maggie and hope that maybe we'll see smore more of her in the future!

I have loved this series since its start and am sad to see it end. I will miss Maggie Hope and her shenanigans. Thanks to the author for writing this lovely history and heroine

The Last Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal is the final story in the Maggie Hope series. I have been a fan since Mr. Churchill's Secretary was published in 2012. As in her other stories, the author not only does a great job of giving the reader details of life for every day people in England during World War II, she also provides a view of the daily routines and pivotal decisions of those who played key roles in the events of the time.
Maggie has been a great character to take us through these times. Sharp, smart, and perceptive, Maggie moves seamlessly between player and observer. In this last novel, these abilities are particularly useful for Maggie as the war is coming to an end, and people are planning and plotting their paths to transition to peace. Whose alliances will continue unchanged, and can new deals be made to salvage fortunes, lives, and nations?
In The Last Hope, Maggie must carry messages between Coco Chanel and Winston Churchill by making a trip to Spain while it is recovering from its Civil War. Also tasked to block the possible threat of Nazi development of the atomic bomb, Maggie weaves through a world of international espionage, with spies, secrets, and deadly beauty. The Last Hope is an exciting, fast-paced last installment of the Maggie Hope series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced reading copy of The Last Hope: A Maggie Hope Mystery.

Thank you to @netgalley and @RandomHouseBallatine for this ARC. The latest installment of Maggie Hope, aka Paige Kelly, as a spy for the British government. She is assigned to assassinate someone close to the Reich. Can she pull it off? Can she kill someone in cold blood? I love this series! Per the title, I thought this would be the last book in her series but the last chapter left room for another! #TheLastHope #SusanEliaMacNeal #RandomHouseBallatine #May2024

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I have enjoyed the Maggie Hope series since the beginning and the title of this final installment brought a little lump to my throat. While not required, it is certainly helpful to have read previous books in the series. Maggie is an British special agent during WW2 who crosses paths with many famous people such as Coco Chanel, Churchill, & Queen Elizabeth. Last Hope ends the series with an interesting story about a lesser-known part of the war (Franco's Spain) and a possible German surrender. I appreciated the author's end note about fact vs fiction. and how the book doesn't necessarily neatly wrap everything up. If you are a Maggie Hope devotee, you will cheer for Maggie's last adventure and if you enjoy series such as Masie Dobbs and Electra McDonnell, then you should dive headlong into this one.

Such a spectacular final story for a much loved and thrilling series. Ms. MacNeal has pulled out all the stops to deliver a fast-paced, well crafted, well-researched high octane spy thriller. This may well be the best one yet!

The setting is July, 1943. Our illustrious Major Maggie Hope has been tasked with her most difficult assignment yet. Under the pretense of serving as a courier, chosen specifically by Nazi-sympathizer Coco Chanel, the renowned fashion designer, Maggie is to retrieve in Spain a pair of letters destined for Churchill's consideration. While also in Spain, she's to assassinate the lead German scientist on their atomic munitions program. So much is at stake, not the least of which, is the future of the entire world. There certainly were a few close calls and some riveting nail-biter moments. Yet when all is said and done, can Maggie achieve the objectives and make it home safely?

This is been a wonderful series which I have personally enjoyed from the very beginning until now. It has been a great ride these last twelve years and I am rather eager to see what new projects Ms. MacNeal has in mind for her faithful readers. Excelsior!

I am grateful to Bantam Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher:‎ Bantam
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
No. of pages:‎ 304
ISBN-13:‎ 978-0593156988

The Last Hope thrills from its opening pages, and the many pleasures this book provides continue to the bittersweet, richly textured end. The overarching metaphor and central plot point involves Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. As a metaphor for espionage, betrayal, secrets, and lies, the idea that one can’t determine both the location and the speed of a particle perfectly encapsulates protagonist Maggie Hope’s dilemma. Her mission, as a spy for British Intelligence during World War II, is to assassinate Werner Heisenberg, the physicist who might—or might not—be on the cusp of delivering a fission bomb for the Germans. What could have been a straight-up spy novel becomes a meditation on war and morality that, like Heisenberg’s Principle, resists easy solutions. The history is impeccable, the writing compelling, and the story fascinating. A 2024 must read.

What an excellent way to end a marvelous series. In this book, we have Maggie still trying to find a way to do her part to help the Allies win WWII. She is going to drop herself into Spain, take on a different persona, and immerse in the local culture. I hate to give anything away for you, but I will tell you if you have grown accustomed to intrigue and edge-of-your-seat text, you will not be disappointed. I think Ms. MacNeal wrapped this series up nicely with a pretty yellow bow (for WWII).

If you have not read this series, stop and do it now. The entire series is spectacular!

Maggie’s Most Daring Challenge!

The Last Hope has it all: World War ll, spies, double agents, Winston Churchill, Berlin, Lisbon, Madrid! Historical fiction at its BEST!

Part of what makes this book and series so appealing is how well researched it is! If you are an international traveler you appreciate the details of London, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris and Berlin! If you are a history buff, the factual historic details are the foundation for the storyline.

This is an excellent finale to the Maggie Hope series. It is emotional and thought-provoking, along with some of the most interesting characters and challenges.

I am sorry to see Maggie Hope go, maybe Susan Elia MacNeal just needs time to recuperate from these tense adventures and Maggie might return for the WW ll victory celebrations!

Review of Uncorrected eBook File

As the war rages on, Maggie is off to Spain to meet with Coco Chanel and pick up a letter to be delivered to Winston Churchill. But there is more to her assignment . . . the assassination of Werner Heisenberg, a physicist who may be close to finalizing the creation of the first fission bomb.

As Maggie finds herself surrounded by diplomats, spies, and double agents, there is danger around every corner. Can she find the ones she can truly trust?

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“The Last Hope,” eleventh in the Maggie Hope Mystery series, brings the Maggie Hope stories to a close. As with the earlier stories in the series, the research is impeccable, detailed and part of a meticulous plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Over the course of the series, Maggie has grown and matured as she became an inspiration for those around her. At the same time, the author deftly conveys the toll the war . . . and her espionage activities . . . take on Maggie. The war-time events, well-defined characters, and a strong sense of place all work together to bring readers stories that are unputdownable, intriguing, and inspiring.

“The Last Hope,” filled with unexpected plot twists and surprises, offers readers suspense and intrigue in a complex, well-told tale of wartime, courage, and drama. Fans of the series and readers of historical fiction are sure to appreciate this exceptional story.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#TheLastHope #NetGalley