The King's Justice, by Susan Elia MacNeal (Bantam, February 2020).
Ninth book in the Maggie Hope series of historical mystery novels.
Opening Lines
PrologueMarch 1, 1943Each incoming tide of the Thames brought another layer of debris, and, when the waters receded, mysteries could be found buried in the silt.
About the Book
Maggie Hope started out as Winston Churchill's secretary, but now she's a secret agent–and the only one who can figure out how a missing violin ties into a series of horrifying murders.
Traumatized by her past, Maggie finds herself living dangerously–taking huge risks, smoking, drinking, and speeding through the city streets on a motorbike. The last thing she wants is to get entangled in another crime. But when she's called upon to look into the theft of a Stradivarius, one of the finest violins ever made, Maggie can't resist.
Meanwhile, there's a serial killer on the loose in London, targeting conscientious objectors. Little does she know that investigating this dangerous predator will pit her against a new evil–and old enemies.
Initial Thoughts
This will be a new series for me, and as usual I'm jumping in at the end without having read any of the earlier books. But the premise is intriguing, and I'm always interested in that World War II period as a setting. So I have high hopes for this one.
I'm actually still reading the same book I've been reading for a couple of weeks now (Still Life, by Louise Penny), but I'm expecting to start this new one in a day or two...if I don't get distracted by one of those other books in one of those many piles of TBR books around here.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
Stay safe. Stay calm. And happy reading!
Stay safe. Stay calm. And happy reading!
Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday. As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc. It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.
I do love British mysteries, and this one sounds really good. Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “CRIME SCENE”
ReplyDelete"Missing violin" and "horrifying murders" typically don't go together. I'm intrigued. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletemine for this week.
It sounds like a good series to jump into. How do you like Still Life?
ReplyDeleteI love Louise Penny's mysteries. I will be looking forward to see what you think of this one.
ReplyDeleteI love the first line. We visited London this past year and were amazed at the siltiness of the water. I bet there are a lot of things hidden in it. My Friday Quotes
ReplyDeleteSounds good, but I'd be worried about jumping in so far into a series too. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI love the Maggie Hope series! I am behind in it though (I'm reading it in order). Sometimes I jump into a series in the middle too though. I hope you love this one when you read it. Have a great week!
ReplyDelete