Princess Elizabeth's Spy: A Maggie Hope Mystery
Discouraged when she washes out in MI-5 physical training in late 1940, Maggie Hope is less than pleased to be assigned to Windsor Castle, ostensibly to tutor Princess Elizabeth in “maths.” A math whiz raised in America by an aunt, she aspires to be a spy on the continent. Just after she reaches the castle, a lady-in-waiting riding with the two princesses is killed, leaving Maggie wondering if the victim was really the intended target. Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth proves an apt student, even fortuitously devising a code, as Maggie successfully handles covert tasks and conceals personal concerns. (Her “almost-fiancé,” whose proposal she turned down because he was joining the RAF, is missing after being shot down over Germany.) MacNeal captures the atmosphere of wartime Britain, with its populace keeping a stiff upper lip, and Maggie is as spunky as she is smart, showing backbone yet acknowledging error. This sequel to Mr. Churchill’s Secretary (2012) is historical mystery true to its time, with concluding plot twists that pave the way perfectly for future entries in an up-and-coming series. --Michele Leber