*** REVIEW *** THE PRIME MINISTER'S SECRET AGENT by Susan Elia MacNeal

 

 

 

 For fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Charles Todd, and Anne Perry, The Prime Minister’s Secret Agent is a gripping new mystery featuring intrepid spy and code breaker Maggie Hope. And this time, the fallout of a deadly plot comes straight to her own front door.
 
World War II rages on across Europe, but Maggie Hope has finally found a moment of rest on the pastoral coast of western Scotland. Home from an undercover mission in Berlin, she settles down to teach at her old spy training camp, and to heal from scars on both her body and heart. Yet instead of enjoying the quieter pace of life, Maggie is quickly drawn into another web of danger and intrigue. 

When three ballerinas fall strangely ill in Glasgow—including one of Maggie’s dearest friends—Maggie partners with MI-5 to uncover the truth behind their unusual symptoms. What she finds points to a series of poisonings that may expose shocking government secrets and put countless British lives at stake. But it’s the fight brewing in the Pacific that will forever change the course of the war—and indelibly shape Maggie’s fate.

Maggie Hope is having a difficult time dealing with her depression and PTSD from her mission to Germany. (The previous book.) It was the first time she killed someone, and he was only a boy in the SS.  Her handlers sent her back to training the new recruits in Scotland.  Their hope is that Maggie will pull herself back together and get back to the field. 

 Maggie isn’t herself at all. To separate herself from the trainees, Maggie treats them like objects not people.  Instead of their names, Maggie assigns each trainee with a number.  She doesn’t share any emotions at all.  Her trainees don’t like Maggie at all, which is just fine as far as she is concerned.  When her boss finds out she threw away an invite to a performance from her friend Sarah, he commands Maggie to go to the Glasgow show.  He wants her to snap back and live again.

 The Prime Minister’s Secret Agent has several stories happening at the same time.  Maggie is working with MI5 to track down what caused the death of two actors and has Sarah in the hospital fighting for her life.   Churchill is worried that Britain can’t hold on much longer, the countdown to Pearl Harbor is touched on, and Clara Hess is waiting for execution. 

I enjoyed reading this fast-paced novel.  I love historical fiction especially when I learn something new.  There is a lot of action around the globe. Maggie’s struggles are real.  I do love this character and wonder how she is going to deal with her family and John in the future.  The historical events are learning experiences.  Some things I remember from history class, but there are events that sent me to Google.  I will continue with the series.  

4.5 STARS