The King’s Justice by Susan Elia MacNeal – a Review

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository / Google Play / Apple

Description:
London. December, 1942. As the Russian army repels German forces from Stalingrad, Maggie Hope, secret agent and spy, takes a break from the Special Operations Executive division to defuse bombs in London. But Maggie herself is like an explosion waiting to happen. Shaken by a recent case, she finds herself living more dangerously–taking more risks than usual, smoking again, drinking gin and riding a motorcycle–and the last thing she wants is to get entangled in another crime. But when she’s called upon to look into a stolen Stradivarius, one of the finest violins ever made, Maggie finds the case too alluring to resist.

Meanwhile, there’s a serial killer on the loose in London and Maggie’s skills are in demand. Little does she know that in the process of investigating this dangerous predator, she will come face to face with a new sort of evil…and discover a link between the precious violin and the murders no one could ever have expected.

Review:

The King’s Justice by Susan Elia MacNeal is the 9^th book in her historical Maggie Hope series. I have not read this author before, and was concerned that starting in the 9^th book would be a problem.  But Macneal did a great job writing this story, and giving any needed information to learn about our heroine.  In this historical fiction background, Maggie Hope, our heroine, has had various jobs during this time period (approx. 1942-1943), such as secret agent, spy, and secretary to Winston Churchill.  After a harrowing time, where she had been kidnapped, as well as her time in Scotland,  Maggie wants nothing to do with murder cases, as she steps away from Special Operations Executive Division and instead defuses bombs in London. 

Detective Chief Inspector James Durgin, who worked with Maggie in previous cases, is handling a serial killer case.  He begs Maggie to help him find the killer, but Maggie doesn’t want to get into anything to do with murder.  A previous serial killer (Book 6), Nicholas Reitter, who is on death row, professes to know who this new killer is, he requests Maggie, who put him in prison, to come talk to him in jail.  Maggie hesitated, since he had kidnapped her in a previous story, and she still has nightmares about him.  But when James pleads with Maggie to help him out, she gives in.

What follows is an exciting story revolving around a mass murderer, and Maggie’s attempt to discover what Reitter knows.  Will she be able to rebound from the trauma of past cases, and find the murderer before they strike again?  The King’s Justice was a thought provoking story line, with a great historical background, which includes the dark side of the war, intrigue and violent serial killers.

Maggie was a great heroine, who in this book was suffering mentally with PSTD and nightmares from previous cases, which is why she stepped away from her job.  When she is needed, she will push away her inner demons to use her amazing detective skills to help find the killer.  I did enjoy this book, but I also felt it is better to start from the beginning to learn more about Maggie Hope.  I suggest to read this series and start with the first book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher