Susan Elia MacNeal Books In Order

Publication Order of Maggie Hope Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Susan Elia MacNeal is a proficient American author with several historical mystery novels under her name. Susan was raised in Buffalo, New York and attended Nardin Academy, an all-girls Catholic school. After completing her high school level, she joined Wellesley College, where she majored in English. While in Wellesley College, she cross-registered for classes at MIT. After years in college, Susan eventually graduated cum laude from Wellesley College, earning departmental honors in English Literature and credits from cross-registered classes at MIT.

Although she had completed her college education, Susan’s ambitious drive did not stop there. She enrolled in Harvard for a Radcliff Publishing Course, which is a six-week summer book and magazine intensive. She managed to get a coveted paid internship at Random House for a well known publisher, Harold Evans. From here, she worked her way up the editorial ladder at Viking/Penguin and McGraw-Hill. Susan’s star continued to shine as she landed her dream publishing job at Dance Magazine as an associate editor and staff writer.

Her Writing Journey

From a young age, Susan Elia was always passionate about reading and writing books. Her very first book that made her fall in love with writing was Louisa May Alcott,’s Little Women, which read in third grade. She adored Jo, a character in the book who spoke her mind. Jo inspired Susan because of her big heart, and her love of reading and writing.

Susan always wanted to be a writer, but did have the guts to take any kind of plunge. However, she was always coming up with ideas and writing some short stories. To nurture her tender writing desire, she took up creative writing classes at 92nd Street Y and Harvard Extension School. Moreover, she was a staff writer at Dance Magazine, where she did lots of writing.

Her career to writing officially took shape when Dance Magazine was moved from New York to San Francisco. She had just got married to her husband Noel MacNeal, and therefore she decided to remain in New York. With the support of her husband, Susan decided to try freelance writing. She edited, wrote articles, and even came up with two non-fiction books.

Susan Elia MacNeal became a published author in 2004 with her non-fiction book, Wedding Zen: Calming Wisdom for the Bride. Since her inception into writing career, her writings have been published in The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Fodor’s, Time Out London, Time Out New York, Dance Magazine, Publishers Weekly, and various other publications of New York City Ballet. In addition, she is the author of two non-fiction books as well as a professional editor.

Susan is happily married to her husband Noel MacNeal, a television performer, writer and director. They live in Park Slope, Brooklyn together their son who was born during Susan’s freelance life.

Early Books

Susan’s first novel was Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, which was published in 2012.

The book is about a young American lady called Maggie Hope who finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy to murder the Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Maggie works as secretary to the Prime Minister. However, an assassination threat against the P.M. throws Maggie in the world of secret agents, spies, code-breaking and betrayal. In her struggles with the brute reality of world war, she manages to penetrate the heart of an undercover spy ring, and despite some horrific revelations, she carries out one of the most deadly missions of the war.

This book was nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s 2013 Edgar Award for Best First Novel, and also got a nomination in the Independent Mystery Book Sellers Association’s 2013 Dilys Awards for “the mysterious title of the year that booksellers have most enjoyed hand selling ”. In addition, it won the Barry Award for Best Paperback original in 2012 by Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine. This book was also declared as one of the Best Debut Supreme Magazine’s Best Debut for the 2013 Barry Award.

Princes Elizabeth’s Spy

This is Susan’s second book series published by Bantam Dell/Random House Publishers on October 2012.

This book is a continuation of Maggie Hope’s saga. The saga continues when Maggie is sent undercover by MI-5 as a tutor to Windsor Castle. Her mission is to protect the young Princes Elizabeth, who is England’s future queen. Unfortunately, Princes Elizabeth’s lady-in-waiting is murdered. With this predicament, Maggie realizes that the threat is from someone in the castle and therefore, she takes all the necessary measures to protect the princess. She searches for clues, leads, mastering royal etiquette, and navigating the upstairs-downstairs nature of a tutor’s role according to the caste hierarchy.

Princes Elizabeth’s Spy, was a New York Times bestseller list for the week of October 20, 2012 and chosen by Oprah.com’s Book of the Week for the week of October 15, 2012. The book is also a winner of a 2012 Booky Award. In addition, it was nominated for a 2013 Macavity Award by Mystery Readers International and Mystery Journal for the Sue Feder Historical Memorial Award.

His Majesty’s Hope

This is Susan’s third book in Maggie book series. The book was published on May 2013 by Bantam Dell/Random House Publishers.

In this book, Maggie Hope ventures on a clandestine mission behind the enemy lines where no one is to be trusted, and even the smallest indiscretion is deadly.

Like the other two books, His Majesty’s Hope, was nominated for several awards. It was first nominated for a 2013 Left Coast Crime Award for the Brute Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award. It was then nominated for a 2014 International Thriller Writers Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original Novel. In addition, it was named as one of AudioFile Magazine’s Best of the Year for 2013 and one of the 2013 staff favorites from Crimespree Magazine.

Susan Elia MacNeal is a proficient writer, and her Maggie Hope book series have been nominated for various prestigious awards. Some of these awards include, ITW Thriller Award, the Sue Federer Historical Fiction Award, Dilys Award, and the Bruce Alexander Historical Fiction Award.

A former book and magazine editor, Susan Elia MacNeal has made a name for herself in the ever competitive 21st century writing industry. Her work continues to inspire both young and old aspiring writers. Her skills and determination has contributed immensely to the publishing industry.

10 Responses to “Susan Elia MacNeal”

1. Patricia Robles: 9 months ago

   Fascinating series laden with intrigue and surprising nuggets of WWII history! I am 90 years old and am so enjoying MacNeal’s series! It’s delightful to read them in order and I am so grateful that some are available in large print from our Fairhope Alabama library. Back to MRS ROOSEVELT’S CONFIDANT and I’ve reserved the next two as well! Thank you, Susan, for creating Maggie Hope and both her friends and enemies, and providing such entertainment for this elderly lady! Patricia Robles

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2. Barb Wigstadt: 12 months ago

   I just finished the whole Maggie Hope series in a month and a half. I read them in order and loved each of them. Your information at the end of each book was fantastic. While I consider myself quite knowledgeable in WWII information, it was the focus of my history thesis in college, you still brought out new things I didn’t know. The most surprising to me was that they isolated certain people who “knew too much”. I had no idea. Your writing is excellent in how you combine the extensive research you have done with enough fiction to continue to hold our attention. I hope there will be more books to come. Thank you so much.

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   • Erika: 11 months ago

     I love the series, too–carefully researched and a strong FEMALE protagonist. There are many other WWII books that fit the bill. I recommend Kate Quinn, the Maisie Dobbs series (WWI) by Jacqueline Winspear, anything by Helen MacInnes. Enjoy!

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3. Jacklyn Miller: 1 year ago

   Any “hope” of more of the Maggie Hope series? Love them and don’t want to see them end. Thanks, Jackie

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4. Michele: 2 years ago

   I have just found this site looking for this author’s series in order of publication. I really like it for info. Just read a reply from Grace McCay about cat claws. I have a great cat who’s claws do most certainly click on the floor if they need clipping. She hates me clipping them, so I have to be in a certain mood to put up with her resistance. Sorry Grace
   Will keeping reading your info because you do it so well.

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5. Anna: 2 years ago

   Cat claws can click on hard floor surfaces despite having retractable nails. Ask a vet if you need verification.

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6. cabell smith: 2 years ago

   As a researcher, I am very appreciative of the depth of your research for these books. Just finished “The Hollywood Spy,” and found the sources given at the end so fascinating! Thank you.

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7. Frances Miller: 2 years ago

   Good morning – have enjoyed all the books about Maggie – will there be another one

   Have a great day –

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8. Emily Aspel: 3 years ago

   I have read all but the last two books in the series and I have really enjoyed them. Now that I can get back to the library, I’ll read the last two.

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9. Grace McCay: 6 years ago

   Cat claws do not click on the tiles. Their claws retract. Dogs claws click on the tiles.

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