The Last Hope

A Maggie Hope Mystery, Book 12

By: Susan Elia MacNeal

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • All will be revealed in this no-holds-barred finale of the Edgar Award-nominated Maggie Hope series as the intrepid spy teams up with fashion designer—and possible double agent—Coco Chanel to bring down the physicist behind Nazi Germany’s nuclear program.

“Intrepid Maggie Hope’s high-stakes mission is fraught with danger and moral questions. . . . A heartfelt story.”—Cara Black, New York Times bestselling author of Three Hours in Paris

Maggie Hope has come a long way since she was Mr. Churchill’s secretary. In the face of tremendous danger, she’s learned espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance. But things are different now that she has so much to lose, including the possibility of a family with John Sterling, the man who’s long held her heart.

British Intelligence has ordered Maggie to assassinate Werner Heisenberg, the physicist who may deliver a world-ending fission bomb for Germany. She’s shaken. An assassination is unlike anything she has ever done. How can the Allies even be sure Nazi Germany has a bomb? Determined to gather more information, Maggie travels to Madrid, where Heisenberg is visiting for a lecture.

At the same time, couturier Coco Chanel, a spy in her own right with ambiguous loyalties, has requested a mysterious meeting with the British ambassador in Madrid—and has requested Maggie join them. As the two play a dangerous game of cat and mouse, Maggie tries to get a better understanding of Heisenberg, but is faced with betrayal and a threat more terrifying than losing her own life.

Maggie desperately wants to find her happily-ever-after, but as the war reaches a fever pitch, the stakes keep rising. Now, more than ever, the choices she makes will reverberate around the globe, touching everyone she loves—with fateful implications for the future of the free world.

©2024 Susan Elia MacNeal (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Susan Elia MacNeal is masterful in her final, thrilling Maggie Hope adventure!”—Lynda Cohen Loigman, bestselling author of The Wartime Sisters

“Susan Elia MacNeal has done it again, bringing us one final heart-stopping and stylish adventure.”—Tara Moss, #1 internationally bestselling author of The War Widow

“An impeccably researched spy thriller with heart, The Last Hope will have readers turning the pages long into the night.”—Brenda Janowitz, author of The Audrey Hepburn Estate

Love this series

One of my favorite series on WWII spy novels. I really like the reader also.

Leave them wanting more

As always, Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope provides history, a bit of romance, and chills/thrills. I loved this book and looked forward to resolutions and hopefully a happy ending. Alas, as in war and life, closure is never easy and so it is with The Last Hope. I was left with questions unanswered and a feeling of uneasiness as the final chapter came to a close. It was almost like MacNeal was setting up the next book while making clear that this was the final story for Maggie Hope. It is always hard for authors and readers at the end a series. I wish the readers had the opportunity to send Maggie off into a clearer future.

Love this author. Love this series

Highly recommend this series to everyone!!! Plus Susan’s other books are terrific! 5 out of 5 stars!

Spies in neutral countries

I was fascinated how Madrid was a hotbed of espionage.

I also was ‘shocked’ to learn how duplicitous, selfish and immoral Coco Chanel was

Not the ending I'd hoped for

Even with the notes at the end, I felt like this was just another mission. So many questions were left hanging. I wish this last book focused on a mission closer to D-Day rather than one which had no real purpose except to show Coco Chanel as a Nazi spy which is already well known. I have enjoy EVERY one of the Maggie Hope books and couldn't wait to see how this final book would wrap up the series. Although the story was as good as all the others, to be the end of the series was disappointing.

The Last Hope

I like the history that was included in the story. When I have characters to relate to it makes the history come alive. I believe this book was written after much study was done.

the End of the Series?

This was an amazing whirlwind, taking Maggie Hope back to Europe - this time to Spain and Portugal. We encounter spies on all sides of the global conflict as Maggie interacts once again with Coco Chanel and a famous matador.
Sadly, this is the end of the series, even though I wish the author would consider giving us just one more- to show what Peter has Maggie work on back in London... I will keep my fingers crossed.

A beautiful ending!

I just adore Maggie Hope and I am sad this is the end! Time to start again from the beginning!!!

Based on fact. Interesting and well written and performed.

A suspenseful and satisfying read.

The author‘s research appears to be very thorough and the story holds together very well.

Great book!

I really love all of the factual history that’s woven into each book! I can’t wait for the next book.