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Mother Daughter Traitor Spy
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.
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.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2022
About the author
Susan Elia MacNeal
21 books3,237 followersSusan Elia MacNeal is the author of The New York Times, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly and USA Today-bestselling Maggie Hope mystery series, starting with the Edgar Award-nominated and Barry Award-winning MR. CHURCHILL'S SECRETARY, which is now in its 23nd printing. MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, her first stand-alone novel, comes out September 20, 2022.
Her books have been nominated for the Edgar, the Macavity, the ITW Thriller, the Barry, the Dilys, the Sue Federer Historical Fiction, and the Bruce Alexander Historical Fiction awards. The Maggie Hope series is sold world-wide in English, and has also been translated into Czech, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, and Bulgarian.. Warner Bros. has the TV rights.
Susan graduated from Nardin Academy in Buffalo New York, and also cum laude and with honors in English from Wellesley College. She cross-registered for courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Course at Harvard University.
Her first job was as the assistant to novelist John Irving in Vermont. She then worked as an editorial assistant at Random House, assistant editor at Viking Penguin, and associate editor and staff writer at Dance Magazine in New York City. As a freelance writer, she wrote two non-fiction books and for the publications of New York City Ballet.
Susan is married and lives with her husband, Noel MacNeal, a television performer, writer and director, and their son in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Her books have been nominated for the Edgar, the Macavity, the ITW Thriller, the Barry, the Dilys, the Sue Federer Historical Fiction, and the Bruce Alexander Historical Fiction awards. The Maggie Hope series is sold world-wide in English, and has also been translated into Czech, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, and Bulgarian.. Warner Bros. has the TV rights.
Susan graduated from Nardin Academy in Buffalo New York, and also cum laude and with honors in English from Wellesley College. She cross-registered for courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Course at Harvard University.
Her first job was as the assistant to novelist John Irving in Vermont. She then worked as an editorial assistant at Random House, assistant editor at Viking Penguin, and associate editor and staff writer at Dance Magazine in New York City. As a freelance writer, she wrote two non-fiction books and for the publications of New York City Ballet.
Susan is married and lives with her husband, Noel MacNeal, a television performer, writer and director, and their son in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
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September 19, 2022
Mother Daughter Traitor Spy
by Susan Elia MacNeal is a standalone historical fiction spy novel inspired by real people and events. It brings to life the conflicting sentiments that existed in America at the time. One aspect that is unique to this novel is that it is not set in Europe, but instead is set in Los Angeles, California. Events start in June 1940 with Veronica Grace’s college graduation. When a personal scandal costs her a journalism career opportunity in New York, she and her mother Violet decide to start fresh in California where her Uncle Walter has a summerhouse they can live in rent-free.
Veronica finds a typing job, but then realizes she’s working for vicious propagandists supporting Germany in the war and saying vile things about those that don’t meet their vision of race, religion, and color. After the police and FBI dismiss the Graces’ concerns, they call an old friend of Veronica’s father. He puts them in contact with the local spymaster and they both go underground as spies. As the story progresses through the presidential election, Pearl Harbor, and war being declared on Japan, Germany, and Italy, Veronica and Violet continue to gather information, even as their risk of exposure becomes greater.
Based on a real mother-daughter spy duo, Veronica and Violet are well-developed characters. They seem to be somewhat naïve, but definitely feel a duty to protect democracy and do what is right for the country. Readers can see them grow as events unfold and they face challenges. Veronica finds that many of the qualities that make a good journalist are also good qualities for a spy. Most of the characters in the book are based on real people. There are those that are like Veronica working to save democracy and ensure that America stands for all citizens. Then, there are those that believe in isolationism, some who are violent with hatred and a feeling of superiority, the misguided and gullible, or people simply wanting a purpose and a sense of community.
The story is moving, as well as full of intrigue and suspense. Unfortunately, it also seemed to parallel many sentiments that are occurring in the America today. The first third of the book had a slow pace as the characters and situation unfolded. Once Victoria and Violet agreed to be spies, the danger and the pace increased significantly. The world-building was great and gave a realistic sense of time and place.
Overall, this story is inspiring, well-written, and well-researched and it is a story that will stay with me. While there was fear and hatred, there was also courage, love, and duty. The Afterward, Acknowledgements, and Historical Notes are enlightening. They, along with the sources section show the amount of research the author did to make this novel authentic to the times.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam and Susan Elia MacNeal provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 20, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.86 rounded to 4 stars review will be coming soon.
Veronica finds a typing job, but then realizes she’s working for vicious propagandists supporting Germany in the war and saying vile things about those that don’t meet their vision of race, religion, and color. After the police and FBI dismiss the Graces’ concerns, they call an old friend of Veronica’s father. He puts them in contact with the local spymaster and they both go underground as spies. As the story progresses through the presidential election, Pearl Harbor, and war being declared on Japan, Germany, and Italy, Veronica and Violet continue to gather information, even as their risk of exposure becomes greater.
Based on a real mother-daughter spy duo, Veronica and Violet are well-developed characters. They seem to be somewhat naïve, but definitely feel a duty to protect democracy and do what is right for the country. Readers can see them grow as events unfold and they face challenges. Veronica finds that many of the qualities that make a good journalist are also good qualities for a spy. Most of the characters in the book are based on real people. There are those that are like Veronica working to save democracy and ensure that America stands for all citizens. Then, there are those that believe in isolationism, some who are violent with hatred and a feeling of superiority, the misguided and gullible, or people simply wanting a purpose and a sense of community.
The story is moving, as well as full of intrigue and suspense. Unfortunately, it also seemed to parallel many sentiments that are occurring in the America today. The first third of the book had a slow pace as the characters and situation unfolded. Once Victoria and Violet agreed to be spies, the danger and the pace increased significantly. The world-building was great and gave a realistic sense of time and place.
Overall, this story is inspiring, well-written, and well-researched and it is a story that will stay with me. While there was fear and hatred, there was also courage, love, and duty. The Afterward, Acknowledgements, and Historical Notes are enlightening. They, along with the sources section show the amount of research the author did to make this novel authentic to the times.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam and Susan Elia MacNeal provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 20, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
-------------------------------------
My 3.86 rounded to 4 stars review will be coming soon.
August 13, 2022
I was really looking forward to Mother Daughter Traitor Spy and was anxious to learn about the Nazi movement in the US. But from the beginning, this story came across as simplistic. While reading the story, I felt MacNeal had taken too much artistic license (read that as it felt unbelievable) until I read in her notes that the events were I spired by actual ones.
MacNeal peppers in enough facts to give the reader a sense of time and place. One intriguing idea was that the NRA would supply the American Nazi movement with guns when the time for a takeover came. MacNeal comments in her notes that it was a real part of the plan. While all of the characters are loosely based on real people, MacNeal made enough variations that all names but one were changed.
The book’s ending felt rushed and not detailed enough to be easily envisioned and this part of the story was made up.
The most interesting part of the book was the parallels between then and now, especially the beliefs of certain individuals that democracy is no longer valid and fascism is required. She tries to bring a “balanced approach” to the characters. By that I mean that Veronica sees the majority of the American Nazis mostly as misguided, not evil. As Jonah says at one point in the book “nice isn’t good.” But overall, her characters felt less than fully fleshed out.
At the end of the day, while I found the story interesting, I was less than impressed with the writing.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
MacNeal peppers in enough facts to give the reader a sense of time and place. One intriguing idea was that the NRA would supply the American Nazi movement with guns when the time for a takeover came. MacNeal comments in her notes that it was a real part of the plan. While all of the characters are loosely based on real people, MacNeal made enough variations that all names but one were changed.
The book’s ending felt rushed and not detailed enough to be easily envisioned and this part of the story was made up.
The most interesting part of the book was the parallels between then and now, especially the beliefs of certain individuals that democracy is no longer valid and fascism is required. She tries to bring a “balanced approach” to the characters. By that I mean that Veronica sees the majority of the American Nazis mostly as misguided, not evil. As Jonah says at one point in the book “nice isn’t good.” But overall, her characters felt less than fully fleshed out.
At the end of the day, while I found the story interesting, I was less than impressed with the writing.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
September 30, 2023
3.75 rounded to 4 stars
Veronica Grace and her mother “Vi” leave the east coast for Los Angeles when her journalistic hopes at a major publication are unexpectedly dashed.
Moving to Los Angeles is a bit of a culture shock. But 1940’s LA is all sunshine and oranges until Veronica’s interview for a secretary position yields some eye-opening information. Should she muster through at her new job against her better judgement, or should she run, run, run?!!
Veronica Grace and her mother “Vi” leave the east coast for Los Angeles when her journalistic hopes at a major publication are unexpectedly dashed.
Moving to Los Angeles is a bit of a culture shock. But 1940’s LA is all sunshine and oranges until Veronica’s interview for a secretary position yields some eye-opening information. Should she muster through at her new job against her better judgement, or should she run, run, run?!!
March 11, 2023
Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is set in America during WWII. This book was a 3.5 stars for me, rounded down to a 3.
A mother and daughter become spies for the US government to infiltrate American organizations who agree with Hitler's theories about the Aryan race. This historical fiction novel is set in Los Angeles.
The premise of the book was interesting but the pace and action was slow.
A mother and daughter become spies for the US government to infiltrate American organizations who agree with Hitler's theories about the Aryan race. This historical fiction novel is set in Los Angeles.
The premise of the book was interesting but the pace and action was slow.
December 27, 2022
Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Ella MacNeal is a fascinating of American Nazi supporters in the US. I remembering hearing of tales of fears those in the 40/50s had of Hitler supports and. Nazi sympathizers in the United States when I was growing up. I never gave it much thought. This is the first book I have read of espionage with the Nazi’s on American soil. MacNeal writes the book based on real people in the 1940s. Two women move to California from New York after the younger woman loses her once in a life time chance to write for a prestigious women’s magazine. They quickly find employment and friendship behind “enemy” lines. Once they figure this out they are ready to gather information and report what they know.
September 14, 2022
Based on true events and true people, this historical fiction tells the story of a mother and daughter transported from Brooklyn to California who become spies in the American Nazi movement in 1940. Veronica is a would be journalist who infiltrates the American Bund; Vi a housewife who attaches herself to the America First Committee. The book chronicles the many seditious plots of the Nazi sympathizers in Southern California and the women’s role in foiling some of them.
The writing is a bit simplistic, but it tells an important story. MacNeal’s rich descriptions of locations and fashions vividly evoke a by gone era. This was an engrossing read; I stayed up late to finish it because I couldn’t put it down.
There is so much here that parallels our present time. That the FBI initially was more concerned about Communists than Nazis really resonated with me. It seems so often now we hear politicians calling groups “communists” or “socialists” to scare people, but they do not call out the neo Nazis or white nationalists.
Veronica and Vi are shocked by a group of Americans plotting treason against their own government; the group’s plan is to take it over if Roosevelt is elected and make the US a Christian nation. They want to relegate women to a position where their entire world is husband, family, children, home. After what we have seen in this country in the last six years, it is not so much shocking as part of our newsfeeds.
In the past few years, I have read quite a few novels that center around the rise of Nazi Germany. I think it is no coincidence that so many have been written and look at them as cautionary tales for our time. Especially when we now see Nationalism as a term used to camouflage anti democracy movements with hate and prejudice as their base. As one of the characters says, we must “stop the spread of lies that feed their fears.“
As incredulous as some of the heinous activities of the fifth column in this book might seem, reading the author’s notes validates their authenticity.
The writing is a bit simplistic, but it tells an important story. MacNeal’s rich descriptions of locations and fashions vividly evoke a by gone era. This was an engrossing read; I stayed up late to finish it because I couldn’t put it down.
There is so much here that parallels our present time. That the FBI initially was more concerned about Communists than Nazis really resonated with me. It seems so often now we hear politicians calling groups “communists” or “socialists” to scare people, but they do not call out the neo Nazis or white nationalists.
Veronica and Vi are shocked by a group of Americans plotting treason against their own government; the group’s plan is to take it over if Roosevelt is elected and make the US a Christian nation. They want to relegate women to a position where their entire world is husband, family, children, home. After what we have seen in this country in the last six years, it is not so much shocking as part of our newsfeeds.
In the past few years, I have read quite a few novels that center around the rise of Nazi Germany. I think it is no coincidence that so many have been written and look at them as cautionary tales for our time. Especially when we now see Nationalism as a term used to camouflage anti democracy movements with hate and prejudice as their base. As one of the characters says, we must “stop the spread of lies that feed their fears.“
As incredulous as some of the heinous activities of the fifth column in this book might seem, reading the author’s notes validates their authenticity.
April 16, 2023
This is an entertaining, well-written, thoroughly researched, WWII historical fiction novel which is based on actual persons and events. It has strong and capable female protagonists, vividly described settings, intrigue, suspense, a touch of romance, and a satisfying conclusion. The author's introduction and afterword are interesting and informative, and are truly appreciated. I listened to the audio version of this novel and the narrator, Ms. Caroline Hewitt, has a lovely voice and does an excellent job depicting the characters and their personalities.
June 12, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.
I have been a fan of Susan Elia MacNeal's books for a while. I have devoured her Maggie Hope stories, set in England during WWII and transitioning to the US after the war. This book is a result of some of the research she did for Maggie's latest adventure in Los Angeles.
Veronica Grace is a recent graduate of Hunter College in New York and is all set to take a job at Mademoiselle magazine when an affair she has been having with a married man leads to her and her mother's sudden relocation from New York to Los Angeles. Looking for a job, she is referred to a man who needs some typing done and is shocked to find this is a Nazi group operating in California on the brink of the US entrance into the War. She contacts the police and the FBI, but they are more interested in rounding up Communists and have no interest in Nazi activities. But she does make contact with a Jewish group who knows all too well how dangerous this group is and both she and her mother agree to go undercover and help bring the activities to light.
Both Veronica and her mother, Violet, are in danger at times as they pass along information they gather and all the danger is magnified with the final solution the Nazis hope to put together on December 6, 1941.
I have been a fan of Susan Elia MacNeal's books for a while. I have devoured her Maggie Hope stories, set in England during WWII and transitioning to the US after the war. This book is a result of some of the research she did for Maggie's latest adventure in Los Angeles.
Veronica Grace is a recent graduate of Hunter College in New York and is all set to take a job at Mademoiselle magazine when an affair she has been having with a married man leads to her and her mother's sudden relocation from New York to Los Angeles. Looking for a job, she is referred to a man who needs some typing done and is shocked to find this is a Nazi group operating in California on the brink of the US entrance into the War. She contacts the police and the FBI, but they are more interested in rounding up Communists and have no interest in Nazi activities. But she does make contact with a Jewish group who knows all too well how dangerous this group is and both she and her mother agree to go undercover and help bring the activities to light.
Both Veronica and her mother, Violet, are in danger at times as they pass along information they gather and all the danger is magnified with the final solution the Nazis hope to put together on December 6, 1941.
October 4, 2022
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY by Susan Elia MacNeal is an amazing historical fiction standalone based on true characters and events featuring a mother and daughter duo in pre-WWII California. This is the first book by this author I have read and I could not put it down.
Veronica Grace has just graduated from college and finds herself black balled from her hoped for career in journalism in NYC. Her mother, Violet “VI” is the widow of a Navy commander and with the encouragement of Violet’s brother, they set out for a new start for both in Los Angeles, California. With no experience, Veronica is offered a job typing and discovers she is working an anti-Semitic propogandist couple.
Horrified, Veronica and Vi try to alert the authorities, but no one seems to care. The police and FBI have turned them away, so Vi calls an old friend of her late husband still in the Navy. He connects them with Ari Lewis who is an anti-Nazi spymaster. With both Vi and Veronica being of German descent and blonde haired blue eyed, they go undercover and are accepted into the heart of the Nazi conspiracy community in Los Angeles, but the deeper they go and the more they uncover, any suspicion could cost them their lives.
This book grabbed me right from the start and even though it is historical fiction it is based on a real mother daughter duo and many of the key characters are also true to historical events with just name changes. The plot is fast-paced and full of suspense. Veronica and Vi started out with just snippets of information gleaned from their new acquaintances, but the more they are trusted and pulled into the intrigue the danger increases exponentially. The author’s descriptions made me feel like I was in Los Angeles pre-WWII, and she was able to demonstrate the contrast between the sunny light feel of the city vs. the dark and dangerous underbelly of the Nazi conspiracy. This story also seems to parallel so much occurring in our news and politics today and I can only hope more people are like Veronica and Vi.
I highly recommend this historical fiction story and I will be checking out more of this author’s previous books.
MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY by Susan Elia MacNeal is an amazing historical fiction standalone based on true characters and events featuring a mother and daughter duo in pre-WWII California. This is the first book by this author I have read and I could not put it down.
Veronica Grace has just graduated from college and finds herself black balled from her hoped for career in journalism in NYC. Her mother, Violet “VI” is the widow of a Navy commander and with the encouragement of Violet’s brother, they set out for a new start for both in Los Angeles, California. With no experience, Veronica is offered a job typing and discovers she is working an anti-Semitic propogandist couple.
Horrified, Veronica and Vi try to alert the authorities, but no one seems to care. The police and FBI have turned them away, so Vi calls an old friend of her late husband still in the Navy. He connects them with Ari Lewis who is an anti-Nazi spymaster. With both Vi and Veronica being of German descent and blonde haired blue eyed, they go undercover and are accepted into the heart of the Nazi conspiracy community in Los Angeles, but the deeper they go and the more they uncover, any suspicion could cost them their lives.
This book grabbed me right from the start and even though it is historical fiction it is based on a real mother daughter duo and many of the key characters are also true to historical events with just name changes. The plot is fast-paced and full of suspense. Veronica and Vi started out with just snippets of information gleaned from their new acquaintances, but the more they are trusted and pulled into the intrigue the danger increases exponentially. The author’s descriptions made me feel like I was in Los Angeles pre-WWII, and she was able to demonstrate the contrast between the sunny light feel of the city vs. the dark and dangerous underbelly of the Nazi conspiracy. This story also seems to parallel so much occurring in our news and politics today and I can only hope more people are like Veronica and Vi.
I highly recommend this historical fiction story and I will be checking out more of this author’s previous books.
November 4, 2022
Review - Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
With a historic storyline at its core, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is a must read for history buffs. As a historical fiction standalone, this novel is about a mother and daughter in pre-WWII California based on true events and people.
Synopsis:
A recent college graduate, Veronica Grace, finds herself blocked from her dream career in journalism. Her mother, Violet “VI” is the widow of a Navy commander. Mother and daughter set out for a new start in Los Angeles, California. In spite of her lack of experience, Veronica is offered a job typing for an anti-propaganda couple.
After learning the truth, Veronica and Vi contact the authorities, but no one pays attention to their concerns. Vi calls an old friend of her late husband who is still in the Navy. A spymaster who is anti-Nazi, Ari Lewis, is connected to them. Being German-born, blonde-haired, and blue-eyed, Vi and Veronica begin working undercover. The women are accepted into the Nazi conspiracy community. It becomes very dangerous to delve deeper and uncover more. There is an increased risk of death. What are VJ and Veronica willing to do to ensure that the country is protected?
I am grateful to Susan Elia MacNeal, Stories & Suspects: A Bantam Mystery Box, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to review this intriguing novel. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
#MotherDaughterTraitorSpy #SusanEliaMacNeal #storiesandsuspects #ABantamMysteryBox #RandomHouse #gifted #booklover #bookmail
#bookworm #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishlife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom
With a historic storyline at its core, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is a must read for history buffs. As a historical fiction standalone, this novel is about a mother and daughter in pre-WWII California based on true events and people.
Synopsis:
A recent college graduate, Veronica Grace, finds herself blocked from her dream career in journalism. Her mother, Violet “VI” is the widow of a Navy commander. Mother and daughter set out for a new start in Los Angeles, California. In spite of her lack of experience, Veronica is offered a job typing for an anti-propaganda couple.
After learning the truth, Veronica and Vi contact the authorities, but no one pays attention to their concerns. Vi calls an old friend of her late husband who is still in the Navy. A spymaster who is anti-Nazi, Ari Lewis, is connected to them. Being German-born, blonde-haired, and blue-eyed, Vi and Veronica begin working undercover. The women are accepted into the Nazi conspiracy community. It becomes very dangerous to delve deeper and uncover more. There is an increased risk of death. What are VJ and Veronica willing to do to ensure that the country is protected?
I am grateful to Susan Elia MacNeal, Stories & Suspects: A Bantam Mystery Box, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to review this intriguing novel. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
#MotherDaughterTraitorSpy #SusanEliaMacNeal #storiesandsuspects #ABantamMysteryBox #RandomHouse #gifted #booklover #bookmail
#bookworm #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishlife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom
September 29, 2022
Interesting? Yes. Enjoyable? No. Well-written? Not especially?
This is a fascinating story based on a real mother/daughter team that spied on LA Nazis in the 1940s. That being said, it’s a bit clunky, writing wise, at some points and the last chapter feels a bit too obvious. The parallels between those days and now are clear to anyone with basic awareness. You don’t really need to be smacked over the head to know that today’s white nationalism is related.
I also think that the mother (Violet) wasn’t used much and would have liked her to get some more moments. She was a suffragist, after all!
This is a fascinating story based on a real mother/daughter team that spied on LA Nazis in the 1940s. That being said, it’s a bit clunky, writing wise, at some points and the last chapter feels a bit too obvious. The parallels between those days and now are clear to anyone with basic awareness. You don’t really need to be smacked over the head to know that today’s white nationalism is related.
I also think that the mother (Violet) wasn’t used much and would have liked her to get some more moments. She was a suffragist, after all!
June 9, 2022
MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY
In Susan Elia MacNeal's MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, Veronica and her mother Vi talk about the ocean being on the wrong side after they move from N.Y. to California. The cross-country move wasn’t what they planned (life’s complicated twists) but it opens unexpected doors, and brings an opportunity to make a difference in the world. They need courage and resilience to face dangers we’d wish were unthinkable but were and still are all too frighteningly real. The theme of Persephone and pomegranate seeds is apt . . . going into the underworld, there’s no guarantee of a safe exit.
Author’s notes included research sources showing how much of this fictional account is based on real events in our “democracy if we can keep it.” It’s frightening to think how different the outcome of WWII could have been without courage and persistence.
The other powerful lesson is the destructive power of hurt turned to hate. Veronica’s gift is her ability to see the person behind the posturing, and while “nice isn’t always good,” she tries to find the good even when it’s hard to see. This is not an easy book, but it’s well told and important. I’ve seldom felt so worried about a character in a book and about our real life problems, but as in Pandora’s box, there’s hope.
In Susan Elia MacNeal's MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, Veronica and her mother Vi talk about the ocean being on the wrong side after they move from N.Y. to California. The cross-country move wasn’t what they planned (life’s complicated twists) but it opens unexpected doors, and brings an opportunity to make a difference in the world. They need courage and resilience to face dangers we’d wish were unthinkable but were and still are all too frighteningly real. The theme of Persephone and pomegranate seeds is apt . . . going into the underworld, there’s no guarantee of a safe exit.
Author’s notes included research sources showing how much of this fictional account is based on real events in our “democracy if we can keep it.” It’s frightening to think how different the outcome of WWII could have been without courage and persistence.
The other powerful lesson is the destructive power of hurt turned to hate. Veronica’s gift is her ability to see the person behind the posturing, and while “nice isn’t always good,” she tries to find the good even when it’s hard to see. This is not an easy book, but it’s well told and important. I’ve seldom felt so worried about a character in a book and about our real life problems, but as in Pandora’s box, there’s hope.
September 20, 2022
Mother Daughter Traitor Spy
by Susan Elia MacNeal
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam
Pub Date: Sep 20
I've adored the Maggie Hope series from book one, and Susan Elia MacNeal's newest -- a standalone -- is equally compelling. Based on real events and people in L.A. during early WWII, when a mother and daughter discover a Nazi cell operating in the city, spewing anti-semitism and propaganda designed to keep the United States from supporting the Allies.
MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY will keep you pinned to the pages, reading late into the night, gripped by the author's beautifully written, meticulously researched story of two brave women willing to risk everything to keep America free. A must-read for histfic fans and readers keen for a unique look at WWII.
Thanks to @susaneliamacneal, @randomhouse, and @netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#MotherDaughterTraitorSpy #SusanEliaMacNeal #RandomHouseBallentine #NetGalley #earlywwiifiction #historicalfictionnovels #nazisinlanovel #bookstagramcommunity
by Susan Elia MacNeal
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam
Pub Date: Sep 20
I've adored the Maggie Hope series from book one, and Susan Elia MacNeal's newest -- a standalone -- is equally compelling. Based on real events and people in L.A. during early WWII, when a mother and daughter discover a Nazi cell operating in the city, spewing anti-semitism and propaganda designed to keep the United States from supporting the Allies.
MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY will keep you pinned to the pages, reading late into the night, gripped by the author's beautifully written, meticulously researched story of two brave women willing to risk everything to keep America free. A must-read for histfic fans and readers keen for a unique look at WWII.
Thanks to @susaneliamacneal, @randomhouse, and @netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#MotherDaughterTraitorSpy #SusanEliaMacNeal #RandomHouseBallentine #NetGalley #earlywwiifiction #historicalfictionnovels #nazisinlanovel #bookstagramcommunity
August 12, 2023
*WARNING-Do not begin reading this book shortly before bedtime, or while dinner is cooking, because you will not be able to put it down!*
Excellent historical fiction about Nazi subversives in the U.S. during WW2. I did not know a lot about the pro-Nazi attitudes of many Americans and the lengths they went to to support Hitler and his thugs. Frankly, what I learned was chilling.
Excellent historical fiction about Nazi subversives in the U.S. during WW2. I did not know a lot about the pro-Nazi attitudes of many Americans and the lengths they went to to support Hitler and his thugs. Frankly, what I learned was chilling.
September 20, 2022
Big big big fan of Susan Elia MacNeal here! I have loved her Maggie Hope series over the years and when I saw this one was coming out, I actually thought it was maybe a novella or something tied to the Maggie Hope series. If you are familiar with the Maggie Hope books, then you will know that spying and familial connections play a big role. So just based on the title I thought surely this book would tie into the Maggie books some how. However, it’s actually a stand alone book! No connection to the Maggie books.
I I know that for some authors it’s hard to branch out into a world of standalone books. Authors get to be ‘known’ for a character, or series etc and next thing you know they have become pigeon holed. I think what works for this one is MacNeal sticks to familiar territory. She knows her history and always does such a great job developing the historical context. While this book wasn’t a Maggie book, I felt connected to the time period and setting in the same way that I would with one of her series books.
I love this book for new fans of MacNeal. The Maggie books are about 10 books into the series and sometimes it can be intimidating to go back and read the whole series in order to get caught up before the next release comes out. This book gives interested and new readers the chance to explore MacNeal’s writing and style without having to go back and read a whole series. It is a great standalone novel and should not be missed!
One of the things that makes this book so compelling is that it’s based on a real life mother/daughter spy team. I personally work with my mother and it’s been one of the best experiences of my professional career and I can’t even imagine what it would be like to share a spy job between mothers and daughters. The complexity of the mother/daughter team, Violet and Veronica, was evident in the story and I loved seeing how MacNeal played up their strengths, flaws, complexities and motives. It was a very well done character novel and I loved getting to know these two women and I especially loved how MacNeal outlined how much of the story was fiction versus real life.
MacNeal is a seasoned writer with a wonderful prose, with each novel she writes she just gets better and better. This book did no disappoint and I think many readers will find something to love within the pages. Not all the characters are likable but readers will quickly understand their motives. The book does take a little bit to set up the story, so I found the first part a little on the slower side as it built up the background, setting, and story. But once we got into the actual spying etc, it really picked up and was full steam ahead until the ending.
I especially loved that this book was set in LA. LA is such an unconventional setting for most WWII novels, but I think that’s what makes this one stand out from the others. If I was just looking at the cover of this one, I would have thought (and totally did!) ‘oh this one is going to be set in England…maybe France’. LA is just not the first place you think of when it comes to WWII spy novels so I found the setting a welcome and refreshing surprise. There is simply so much to adore in this book—-great character, a unique setting, but the star here is the historical research. I would expect nothing less from MacNeal, as her research is always top shelf. But this one really stands out as exceptional when it comes to historical research!
I I know that for some authors it’s hard to branch out into a world of standalone books. Authors get to be ‘known’ for a character, or series etc and next thing you know they have become pigeon holed. I think what works for this one is MacNeal sticks to familiar territory. She knows her history and always does such a great job developing the historical context. While this book wasn’t a Maggie book, I felt connected to the time period and setting in the same way that I would with one of her series books.
I love this book for new fans of MacNeal. The Maggie books are about 10 books into the series and sometimes it can be intimidating to go back and read the whole series in order to get caught up before the next release comes out. This book gives interested and new readers the chance to explore MacNeal’s writing and style without having to go back and read a whole series. It is a great standalone novel and should not be missed!
One of the things that makes this book so compelling is that it’s based on a real life mother/daughter spy team. I personally work with my mother and it’s been one of the best experiences of my professional career and I can’t even imagine what it would be like to share a spy job between mothers and daughters. The complexity of the mother/daughter team, Violet and Veronica, was evident in the story and I loved seeing how MacNeal played up their strengths, flaws, complexities and motives. It was a very well done character novel and I loved getting to know these two women and I especially loved how MacNeal outlined how much of the story was fiction versus real life.
MacNeal is a seasoned writer with a wonderful prose, with each novel she writes she just gets better and better. This book did no disappoint and I think many readers will find something to love within the pages. Not all the characters are likable but readers will quickly understand their motives. The book does take a little bit to set up the story, so I found the first part a little on the slower side as it built up the background, setting, and story. But once we got into the actual spying etc, it really picked up and was full steam ahead until the ending.
I especially loved that this book was set in LA. LA is such an unconventional setting for most WWII novels, but I think that’s what makes this one stand out from the others. If I was just looking at the cover of this one, I would have thought (and totally did!) ‘oh this one is going to be set in England…maybe France’. LA is just not the first place you think of when it comes to WWII spy novels so I found the setting a welcome and refreshing surprise. There is simply so much to adore in this book—-great character, a unique setting, but the star here is the historical research. I would expect nothing less from MacNeal, as her research is always top shelf. But this one really stands out as exceptional when it comes to historical research!
August 28, 2022
4.5 / 5.0 Stars
What a fantastic historical fiction story surrounding events during the time of World War II. Even more astounding, is that the story is based on the very real lives of Grace Comfort and her daughter Sylvia and their undercover work to bring justice to bear and to keep American democracy alive.
Veronica Grace is a young up and coming New York City journalist who experiences a sudden fall from grace (please pardon the pun). Her west coast uncle offers her and her mother "Vi" a free cottage in Santa Monica, which he no longer has the heart to occupy. They hesitantly accept and off to Los Angeles they go.
Veronica struggled to find employment within the L.A. publishing world and accepted a job as a typist for an "Educational Service Bureau". The "Bureau" turned out to be a front for pro-Nazi propagandists. Veronica was appalled and she, along with her mother Vi, tried to get folks in law enforcement to take notice. Unfortunately, in 1940, the focus was against the communists and not the American Nazis. The two Graces are soon connected to Ari Lewis (the fictional name of the very real spymaster, Leon L. Lewis) and recruited to go undercover to infiltrate the pro-Nazi organization.
Author Susan Elia MacNeal writes in a fluid and elegant style. The tension built gradually over the course of the book, came to a heady climax and slowly eased to a satisfying conclusion. The research Ms. MacNeal pursued for this story was no less than herculean. Very few of this book's characters were of the real persons of history yet all the characters were inspired by the real players of this time. Ms. MacNeal infused the naïveté, patriotism and derring-do of a willing, brave, yet very young participant in her Veronica Grace, who never demonized her opponents. Instead, she found what was good in them and was saddened when she saw them as "humans who'd gone terribly wrong". Oh, the things people do out of fear and ignorance.
If well-researched historical fiction is your thing, then I highly commend this book to your reading list. It was informative and an exhilarating read.
I am grateful to Susan Elia MacNeal and her publisher, Bantam Books, for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
What a fantastic historical fiction story surrounding events during the time of World War II. Even more astounding, is that the story is based on the very real lives of Grace Comfort and her daughter Sylvia and their undercover work to bring justice to bear and to keep American democracy alive.
Veronica Grace is a young up and coming New York City journalist who experiences a sudden fall from grace (please pardon the pun). Her west coast uncle offers her and her mother "Vi" a free cottage in Santa Monica, which he no longer has the heart to occupy. They hesitantly accept and off to Los Angeles they go.
Veronica struggled to find employment within the L.A. publishing world and accepted a job as a typist for an "Educational Service Bureau". The "Bureau" turned out to be a front for pro-Nazi propagandists. Veronica was appalled and she, along with her mother Vi, tried to get folks in law enforcement to take notice. Unfortunately, in 1940, the focus was against the communists and not the American Nazis. The two Graces are soon connected to Ari Lewis (the fictional name of the very real spymaster, Leon L. Lewis) and recruited to go undercover to infiltrate the pro-Nazi organization.
Author Susan Elia MacNeal writes in a fluid and elegant style. The tension built gradually over the course of the book, came to a heady climax and slowly eased to a satisfying conclusion. The research Ms. MacNeal pursued for this story was no less than herculean. Very few of this book's characters were of the real persons of history yet all the characters were inspired by the real players of this time. Ms. MacNeal infused the naïveté, patriotism and derring-do of a willing, brave, yet very young participant in her Veronica Grace, who never demonized her opponents. Instead, she found what was good in them and was saddened when she saw them as "humans who'd gone terribly wrong". Oh, the things people do out of fear and ignorance.
If well-researched historical fiction is your thing, then I highly commend this book to your reading list. It was informative and an exhilarating read.
I am grateful to Susan Elia MacNeal and her publisher, Bantam Books, for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
October 7, 2022
4.2
Blunder, shame, underestimated, “halfway point”…
This story depicted family ties, obligations, and falsehoods. Mother/daughter duo, Violet/Veronica relocate from NYC to Los Angeles in 1940. Veronica is a recent college journalism graduate, but a fiasco at work cost her the job at Mademoiselle magazine. She is blackballed from further jobs in the NY publishing field. Upon leaving NYC, Veronica says “ This will not be my story.”
After moving to CA, Veronica unknowingly becomes a typist for an area propagandist. Violet joins America First and also does embroidery work for local women.
Both women were approached to pose as Nazi sympathizers , partly because of their looks. They would be able to enter social services that men might not be able to penetrate. They were expected to witness conversations, complaints and confidences. Veronica’s journalism skills of observation and recall would now be used to serve her country.
Why was Veronica’s contract terminated at the magazine? Why was she blackballed?
What is the legend of the Murphy Ranch?
* This book was well-researched. Enough facts were interspersed within the story. I read about many events I was not aware of. I don’t want to spoil things but a few examples are: the Murphy Ranch, the rally of 20,000 at Madison Sq Garden, plots against specific actors/directors, and plots against infrastructure to name just a few. I found much info online. Check it out!
* The story’s duo are based loosely on a real-life mother/daughter duo. The afterward and historical notes were informative and fascinating!
Blunder, shame, underestimated, “halfway point”…
This story depicted family ties, obligations, and falsehoods. Mother/daughter duo, Violet/Veronica relocate from NYC to Los Angeles in 1940. Veronica is a recent college journalism graduate, but a fiasco at work cost her the job at Mademoiselle magazine. She is blackballed from further jobs in the NY publishing field. Upon leaving NYC, Veronica says “ This will not be my story.”
After moving to CA, Veronica unknowingly becomes a typist for an area propagandist. Violet joins America First and also does embroidery work for local women.
Both women were approached to pose as Nazi sympathizers , partly because of their looks. They would be able to enter social services that men might not be able to penetrate. They were expected to witness conversations, complaints and confidences. Veronica’s journalism skills of observation and recall would now be used to serve her country.
Why was Veronica’s contract terminated at the magazine? Why was she blackballed?
What is the legend of the Murphy Ranch?
* This book was well-researched. Enough facts were interspersed within the story. I read about many events I was not aware of. I don’t want to spoil things but a few examples are: the Murphy Ranch, the rally of 20,000 at Madison Sq Garden, plots against specific actors/directors, and plots against infrastructure to name just a few. I found much info online. Check it out!
* The story’s duo are based loosely on a real-life mother/daughter duo. The afterward and historical notes were informative and fascinating!
February 17, 2023
MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY by Susan Elia MacNeal
Published: 9/20/2022 by Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine
Sitting here today, it’s hard to believe that there actually were staunch supporters and sympathizers with the Nazi party. June 1940 France fell into the hands of the invading horde of Nazi Germany … and many felt that Britain was next. And, yet America stood on the sidelines… not wanting to get involved. This moving portrait of two American woman who would not sit on their hands is portrayed in this excellent slice of historical fiction. The story is not set in the ravages of the war in Europe, but rather in sunny, Los Angeles, California. The two main protagonists are Veronica Grace, who has just finished college and her mother, Violet (“Vi”) … a widow of a Navy commander. Both are of German descent, and fit the mold as being blonde and blue-eyed. But, their physical appearance is far from what’s in their heart.
Veronica can not get a job as a journalist in NYC. They set out together for a new start in Los Angeles. Without any credentials, Veronica settles for a job as a typist, and soon learns she is working for an anti-semitic propagandist. They soon realize that there is active element of the German Bund working to subvert the activities of American Democracy. Their goal is to keep America out of Europe, prevent re-election of Roosevelt, and to actively attempt to overthrow democracy with attacks on the infrastructure. Approaching the police and the FBI with their knowledge falls on deaf ears. Vi approaches and old friend of her husband, Ari Lewis, who actually is a anti-Nazi spymaster. With Ari’s help the two are able to infiltrate into the Nazi conspiracy community of L.A. As they slowly gain their confidence, they insinuate themselves deeper into the organizations to glean more incriminating evidence. At one of these secretive meetings, Veronica surveys her surroundings and muses: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here” (which actually is a quote from Shakespeare’s play, the Tempest).. and an accurate estimation of the circumstances.
MacNeal weaves an extraordinary cautionary tale, rich in characterization and plot, and obviously deeply researched. The intrigue and suspense ratchet up as they go deeper underground, as the risks of discovery heightens. Themes of courage, love and duty are juxtaposed with those of fear and hate, and culminate with a page-turner.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Published: 9/20/2022 by Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine
Sitting here today, it’s hard to believe that there actually were staunch supporters and sympathizers with the Nazi party. June 1940 France fell into the hands of the invading horde of Nazi Germany … and many felt that Britain was next. And, yet America stood on the sidelines… not wanting to get involved. This moving portrait of two American woman who would not sit on their hands is portrayed in this excellent slice of historical fiction. The story is not set in the ravages of the war in Europe, but rather in sunny, Los Angeles, California. The two main protagonists are Veronica Grace, who has just finished college and her mother, Violet (“Vi”) … a widow of a Navy commander. Both are of German descent, and fit the mold as being blonde and blue-eyed. But, their physical appearance is far from what’s in their heart.
Veronica can not get a job as a journalist in NYC. They set out together for a new start in Los Angeles. Without any credentials, Veronica settles for a job as a typist, and soon learns she is working for an anti-semitic propagandist. They soon realize that there is active element of the German Bund working to subvert the activities of American Democracy. Their goal is to keep America out of Europe, prevent re-election of Roosevelt, and to actively attempt to overthrow democracy with attacks on the infrastructure. Approaching the police and the FBI with their knowledge falls on deaf ears. Vi approaches and old friend of her husband, Ari Lewis, who actually is a anti-Nazi spymaster. With Ari’s help the two are able to infiltrate into the Nazi conspiracy community of L.A. As they slowly gain their confidence, they insinuate themselves deeper into the organizations to glean more incriminating evidence. At one of these secretive meetings, Veronica surveys her surroundings and muses: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here” (which actually is a quote from Shakespeare’s play, the Tempest).. and an accurate estimation of the circumstances.
MacNeal weaves an extraordinary cautionary tale, rich in characterization and plot, and obviously deeply researched. The intrigue and suspense ratchet up as they go deeper underground, as the risks of discovery heightens. Themes of courage, love and duty are juxtaposed with those of fear and hate, and culminate with a page-turner.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2022
1940-The Nazis have taken over France and Britain is next. American Veronica Grace just graduated college. Veronica is caught in a scandal which thwarts a journalism career in NY and she ends up taking a typing job in LA. She lives with her mother Violet. Soon she realizes she is working with a propagandist.
Veronica realizes Americans are being recruited by German Nazis for their campaign. She notifies the FBI, but is put off. Soon they reach out to a friend and a new opportunity is given to them. They start working undercover to gather information, but Pearl Harbor is bombed. Can their intelligence help our country?
I felt this novel was unique for a historical fiction, as this is set in the states. This novel is “based inspired by the real mother-daughter spy duo who foiled Nazi plots in Lost Angeles during WWII.”
Veronica realizes Americans are being recruited by German Nazis for their campaign. She notifies the FBI, but is put off. Soon they reach out to a friend and a new opportunity is given to them. They start working undercover to gather information, but Pearl Harbor is bombed. Can their intelligence help our country?
I felt this novel was unique for a historical fiction, as this is set in the states. This novel is “based inspired by the real mother-daughter spy duo who foiled Nazi plots in Lost Angeles during WWII.”
June 5, 2022
Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal is an excellent WWII-era historical fiction that has it all: history, mystery, intrigue, suspense, and kept me glued to every page from beginning to end. I loved it!
I absolutely adore Ms. MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series, so when I had the opportunity to read this stand alone HF novel taking place during WWII, I knew I had to read it. And it is amazing.
The two main characters (mother/daughter duo) Violet and Veronica Grace are just wonderful. Realistic, likable, flawed, complex, and just perfect for this narrative of secrets, risks, intrigue, espionage, undercover work, high stakes, and investigative genius.
This is so unique, catchy, and addictive, that I dare anyone to not take this on and not be entranced. Fantastic.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Bantam/Random House Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/20/22.
I absolutely adore Ms. MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series, so when I had the opportunity to read this stand alone HF novel taking place during WWII, I knew I had to read it. And it is amazing.
The two main characters (mother/daughter duo) Violet and Veronica Grace are just wonderful. Realistic, likable, flawed, complex, and just perfect for this narrative of secrets, risks, intrigue, espionage, undercover work, high stakes, and investigative genius.
This is so unique, catchy, and addictive, that I dare anyone to not take this on and not be entranced. Fantastic.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Bantam/Random House Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/20/22.
June 5, 2022
Readers of Susan Elia MacNeal's Maggie Hope series will not be disappointed in this stand alone novel by the author. Mother Daughter Traitor Spy takes place in pre-WW2 Los Angeles. The mother and daughter team of Violet and Veronica find themselves moving unexpectedly from their life in New York City to the opposite side of the country to Los Angeles. As they settle in to their new home, they find others that share their German heritage. The soon learn that many of these folks harbor Nazi sympathies. They immediately go to the authorities, however, finding they cannot (or choose to not) do anything, they become under cover informants for those trying to stop the Nazi movement in the US.
This was another great novel by Susan Elia MacNeal. The setting of Los Angeles is not typical for a WW2 novel, and this one illuminates an often overlooked time/place in history. The level of research is evidenced by the details in the afterword and author’s notes. Highly recommend.
I received an advanced reader copy via Net Galley.
This was another great novel by Susan Elia MacNeal. The setting of Los Angeles is not typical for a WW2 novel, and this one illuminates an often overlooked time/place in history. The level of research is evidenced by the details in the afterword and author’s notes. Highly recommend.
I received an advanced reader copy via Net Galley.
May 31, 2022
Great title! I want to gift a mother/daughter team a copy just based on the title. My husband just says "No".
Great book.
A lot of research went into this book. A part of American history that I know very little about. This book was inspired by several actual incidents. I appreciate the detail that author provides at the end in regards to characters in the book and who they were actually based on in real life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Elia MacNeal (author) and publisher for the opportunity to read Mother Daughter Traitor Spy in exchange for an honest review.
Great book.
A lot of research went into this book. A part of American history that I know very little about. This book was inspired by several actual incidents. I appreciate the detail that author provides at the end in regards to characters in the book and who they were actually based on in real life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Elia MacNeal (author) and publisher for the opportunity to read Mother Daughter Traitor Spy in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2023
This is an absolutely superb book in many respects.
The characters are groomed exceptionally. Even though there are an abundance of characters, the author crafts them so the reader doesn’t get lost with the quantities. Both Vi and Violent carry the storyline.
The pacing of a story was also excellent. As indicated by sleep lost, as I read the book into the early morning.
The quality of the writing made me wonder if there were Nazi organizations active throughout the USA during WWII.
. I highly recommend.
The characters are groomed exceptionally. Even though there are an abundance of characters, the author crafts them so the reader doesn’t get lost with the quantities. Both Vi and Violent carry the storyline.
The pacing of a story was also excellent. As indicated by sleep lost, as I read the book into the early morning.
The quality of the writing made me wonder if there were Nazi organizations active throughout the USA during WWII.
. I highly recommend.
December 28, 2023
Have you ever let a book linger on your tbr shelf for way over a year, then finally read it, and start kicking yourself because you didn’t read it the minute it arrived? Well, that’s what happened with this book😂
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
One of the things that makes this book so compelling is that it’s based on a real life mother-daughter spy team, so I was immediately immersed in their riveting and empowering story. It was also heartwarming to see how the relationship between Veronica and Violet deepens as they work to bring down a Nazi group in California.
The setting of Los Angeles is not typical for a WWII novel, and this one illuminates an often overlooked place in history. I learned so much from this book and thought it was such a great change of pace for a historical fiction set during WWII. Although, let’s be honest, I never tire of learning a new story, no matter where it’s set!
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
I absolutely love, listening to mysteries and thrillers because it heightens the emotions and suspense so much more and this story was no different. The characters came to life even more and I also feel like it makes the story go so much faster.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Spying
Based on real people in history
Strong Women
WWII
Mother Daughter Bonds
Finding Yourself
Suspense
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
This was a fast paced story that never slowed down.
Thank you, Bantam Books, for this gifted copy.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
One of the things that makes this book so compelling is that it’s based on a real life mother-daughter spy team, so I was immediately immersed in their riveting and empowering story. It was also heartwarming to see how the relationship between Veronica and Violet deepens as they work to bring down a Nazi group in California.
The setting of Los Angeles is not typical for a WWII novel, and this one illuminates an often overlooked place in history. I learned so much from this book and thought it was such a great change of pace for a historical fiction set during WWII. Although, let’s be honest, I never tire of learning a new story, no matter where it’s set!
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
I absolutely love, listening to mysteries and thrillers because it heightens the emotions and suspense so much more and this story was no different. The characters came to life even more and I also feel like it makes the story go so much faster.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Spying
Based on real people in history
Strong Women
WWII
Mother Daughter Bonds
Finding Yourself
Suspense
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
This was a fast paced story that never slowed down.
Thank you, Bantam Books, for this gifted copy.
September 15, 2022
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.
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.
October 13, 2022
Based on true events in the years leading up to WWII, this startling book presents little-known details about the rise of Nazism in the U.S., with emphasis on the activities of American Nazis in California. Sobering and frightening, the story mirrors the exploits of a real-life mother-daughter team who put their own lives in danger by infiltrating an organization whose sole purpose was to overthrow the U.S. government and pave the way for Hitler in America. Told from their point of view, the book prompts the reader to wonder what they would do in a similar situation. It is also a cautionary tale about how fragile democracy is and how easily dangerous and subversive ideas can take hold.
July 26, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this one, it was well researched and interesting, a part of US history that isn' t talked about much and is happening now as well. The main characters though felt so naive. I would have liked more character development. a the conflicts of working undercover and being so involved with these people , having sympathy for them as well as disgust and the danger involved, were explored but it needed more emphasis. It is based on real life people, a mother and daughter in the beginnings of WWll
November 20, 2022
This novel is about a mother and daughter in pre WWII California. Veronica Grace and her mother Violet "Vi" Grace leave New York and start fresh in Los Angeles. Veronica gets a typing job for a couple. Only to discover that they are spreading Nazi propaganda.
She and her mother decide to contact the authorities, but it isn't until Vi calls an old Navy friend of her late husband that anyone takes their concerns seriously.
Being of German descent and blonde haired and blue eyed they are talked into working undercover. They're accepted into the very dangerous world of Nazi conspirators.
I love the premise of this book and Susan Elia MacNeal did a wonderful job researching her characters, but I did have a hard time getting into the story. It was very slow paced and it didn't seem like much of anything happened until the final quarter of the book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
She and her mother decide to contact the authorities, but it isn't until Vi calls an old Navy friend of her late husband that anyone takes their concerns seriously.
Being of German descent and blonde haired and blue eyed they are talked into working undercover. They're accepted into the very dangerous world of Nazi conspirators.
I love the premise of this book and Susan Elia MacNeal did a wonderful job researching her characters, but I did have a hard time getting into the story. It was very slow paced and it didn't seem like much of anything happened until the final quarter of the book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 29, 2023
Interesting story based on actual people and events in Los Angeles just before American involvement in WWII. It certainly held my interest, and I appreciated the way the author pointed out which elements were based on some shocking historical facts. I was disappointed that the language didn’t feel authentically 1940’s, and the characters weren’t drawn with more complexity. True, the author asked the question, “How can nice people say and do such horrible things?” I wish she would have spent more time exploring that. I felt like a lot of the American Nazi supporters sounded more like contemporary social media ranters. The people I’ve known who were around on the 1940’s and people in 1940’s movies sounded different, less overt. I do feel that the size and power of the pro-Nazi movement in the United States may have been exaggerated for the sake of the story.
July 2, 2023
Susan Elia MacNeal's latest is compelling, from its clever title echoing a certain famous book by Le Carré, to its satisfying ending. Taking two figures about whom there is little known, beyond that they were a mother and daughter were spies working against pro-Nazi US citizens in Los Angeles during WWII. The historical details such as the attitudes and complacency of many Americans about the danger Hitler posed, as well as the desire of these pro-Nazi Americans' desire to subvert American policy was frightening. MacNeal's story's parallels to today and the rise of fascism again is chilling.
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