Elizabeth Bentley is young and impressionable when she decides to join the Communist Party USA, deciding that there must be more for a young woman to look forward to other than marriage and motherhood. And so begins the journey of a Cold War double agent.

What I liked about A Most Clever Girl: How bravely Elizabeth confronts a future that she does not want – and the courage to do something else. She definitely finds her voice and learns to ask for (demand) what she wants.

What I didn’t like about A Most Clever Girl: How so much of what drives Elizabeth is her love for a man. Granted, she’s young (when she starts out) and lonely (which can make any of us do things we normally wouldn’t). But I felt like she had on these rose-colored glasses that she refused to take off, no matter how dangerous the situation. This could all have wound up so very differently for her, if not for how lucky she is.

Elizabeth is not a sympathetic heroine in this story of double-crosses and betrayal. Much of what she does is either due to staving off loneliness or wanting to save her skin. Even when she’s telling Catherine her story, she’s brash and almost rude. All in all, A Most Clever Girl is an interesting look at the story of a double agent, if only for the glimpses of rationale that drove why they did what they did.

drey’s rating: Ok

Stephanie Marie Thornton is one of my most favorite historical fiction writers. With each book of hers, I learn more about history while also finding a book that I cannot put down. The characters come to life as I learn about the life of Elizabeth Bentley. I had never heard of her so everything I read was new to me and I loved it.

I loved seeing a young woman who was quiet and friendless come into her own as a Russian Spy. She learned skills that most women would not even consider. Her story continues as she meets her soul mate, learns new skills, and then must fight to stay alive and out of prison. Elizabeth Bentley told her own story, some of which may not be the entire truth, only because she was being threatened by Catherine.

Catherine, oh what a character. She is looking for vengeance for her mother and thinks that Elizabeth is the only way to get it. I liked her fire for finding the truth and her belief that Elizabeth will give her that truth. She took what Elizabeth told her and then considered what else she needed to know. Her heart shined through as she learned her history and figured out what the future should look like.

The Most Clever Girl is an amazing book. The history is rich with detail, the characters are likable and realistic, and the story is full of details that will bring the story to life.

I actually wasn't aware that this story was based on a real person until I did some research myself when I finished the book! I have always loved the concept of spies in books and specially about women

What I Liked
The thrilling ride it is to be in the world of espionage really had me at the edge of my seat many times throughout the book
I loved how what some people considered her flaws made for her best assets once she became a spy - for example her lack of being able to read people naturally made her skillful at learning body language to be able to interact 'normally'
The dual timeline also added to the intrigue of waiting for the moment we find out who Cat's mother is

Mehs
A lot of the decisions that Elizabeth - code name Clever Girl - made made me want to share her because they were clearly coming from a place of wanting to be accepted and without considering what was best for the 'cause' (but I guess this adds to the allure of the story since we are, after all, only human)
I did find the focus of the book shifting a bit between the romance portion and the spy portion which grew tiring when I was trying to keep learning about the story

Overall a definite read for my historical fiction fans - extra points if you love a WWII setting.

Elizabeth is alone. Literally alone. No friends, no family, no one. But her father's recent death and her move to New York put her in the wrong place at the right time to meet a friend who will forever change her life. Not long after she finds the love of her life and submerges herself into an underground network of Soviet spies in America. Her life gets more complicated with every step she takes, every agent she meets, and every turn of the corner. And later, when she opens the door to the barrel of a gun, she has to answer for all her actions, good or bad. ⁠
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I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I was hooked from the beginning to the very end. Set in the 1930s-60s, the dual POV book explores the very real life of Elizabeth Bentley, Red Spy Queen, with a few fictional twists. Elizabeth's story is WILD and full of so many ups, downs, and in-betweens that it will surely keep readers engaged. Her raw emotion and very real flaws had me torn. Should I sympathize with this character? After all, she was a spy! But faced with the threat of starvation, fascism, and utter loneliness, I might have found idealistic self in the same shoes back then. If you enjoy Cold War history, espionage books, or strong female characters, this book is for you!

2021 is *the* year for Women and Cold War Spies/Espionage Trillers! Catherine Gray is desperate for answers as she navigates both the loss of her mother and of President Kennedy. There is only one person to go to. Elizabeth Bentley. What follows is Thornton's clever play on Scheherazade, drawing readers in as Elizabeth weaves her edge of your-seat-tale, while also buying time from the increasingly impatient Cat. The events begin with a thoughtful gift and escalates into whirlwind trajectory. Bentley evolves from recruit of the US Communist Party into building a vast network of spies for the Soviet Union. As years pass, Bentley's talent for espionage allows her to enter double agent territory and to say nothing is ever what it seems puts that cliche mildly. There are many familiar names, but the passages with Ethel Rosenberg offers a relatable duality with Bentley's own costs of loyalty and of love. And while the early set up might appear predictable, Cat's and Elizabeth's stories converge in the most unexpected ways. For those fascinated by women's roles in wartime and post-war espionage, the days of the NKVD, the McCarthy era, and/or Cold War historical fiction. This visit with code name: Clever Girl is an absolute must

A gripping story about the real Elizabeth Bentley, a member of the American Communist Party who became an informant for the FBI. The novel begins in 1963 when fictional Catherine “Cat” Gray, distraught about the death of her mother, shows up at Elizabeth’s home with the intention of killing her and herself. Elizabeth buys time by telling her story to Cat and what unfolds is a wild tale of love and espionage.

In 1933 New York, a lonely Elizabeth is recruited to work for the Communist Party and supply information to help defeat the Fascist Party in American and Europe. By the end of WWII and the onset of the Cold War, the rules have changed, but by then Elizabeth is deeply embroiled in the selling of state secrets with a large network of operatives passing on information to her. She is also in love with Jacob Golos, a Russian spy and a high-ranking member of the NKVD. When Jacob dies, Elizabeth finds herself caught in the crosshairs of the Soviet secret police, and her life is threatened. To save herself, she turns to the FBI, giving up the names of her contacts, testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee, and helping to convict Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and others.

This is a thrilling ride through the dangerous world of espionage, filled with harrowing moments of danger and suspense. Elizabeth is the classic unreliable narrator and Cat must decide what parts of Elizabeth’s story to believe. Well researched and deftly crafted, readers will love this fictionalized account of a real-life double agent.

Another powerful historical narrative from Stephanie Marie Thornton! This book tells the story of Elizabeth Bentley, the Red Spy Queen, who spied for the Russians during WW II and then set off the Red Scare in the 50's when she flipped. What I found so fascinating about her story was the fact that during the war she was working for Russia when they were aligned with the Axis powers and then with the Allies. How much of the Cold War occurred due to all the US technology that was leaked to the Russians when they were our allies? In the 50's, would Joe McCarthy have made as many waves without Elizabeth Bentley and her immaculate memory paving the way? Then there was her adoption of the Victory Red Lipstick for confidence just as Nancy Augusta Wake did (Code Name Hélène). Thornton gives Elizabeth the task of telling us her own story after being confronted by a young woman whose life trajectory was greatly influenced by the spy and her comrades. Fascinating!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Elizabeth Bentley is only one of the many names that she went by. As she "fell" into the Communist party in America she ended up with many more names and oh so many secrets! She became a part of the biggest Russian spy organization in America, but I won't tell her story because the way the book is presented - she tells it herself!

First, I love how this story is told. Catherine Gray a woman enters Elizabeth's home and wants answer and wants them quick, so Elizabeth must tell her story to Catherine and share all the secrets of the past - but do spies always tell the truth! While I don't typically like an unreliable narrator, it was fun to follow the twists and turns of the story and wonder if and when Elizabeth was telling the whole truth.

I always love when stories are based in fact and love when a book makes me want to google and see where the author infused some fiction and this book did that. While there were moments where the story slowed down for me and I wanted some action, in the end, I loved how Elizabeth told her story and where it all ended.

One of the things I loved was the small special guest appearance of Ethel Rosenberg as I had just finished a whole non fiction book about her and her husband Julius, so to see them arrive in this book and the potential link between them and Elizabeth Bentley was a fun surprise. I love it when the books I read work well with each other and compliment each other - it makes the reading life even more fun!

I was a fan of Stephanie Marie Thornton and while this book isn't my favorite of hers, I still appreciate her for her focus on women in history and spotlighting women who may not always get all the air time.

Cold War spies isn't my historical area but I'm shocked I've never heard of Elizabeth Bentley before. A Most Clever Girl is a historical fiction based on a WWII Soviet Spy who turned into a Cold War informant.

The author's note at the end was exactly what I needed on the fact/historical fiction side and I've already gone ahead and read a few articles on Elizabeth and the other real people mentioned in the book. I love how she added in the fictional characters to tell this story.

The book starts off in 1963 and Cat has just found a letter and shows up at Elizabeth's apartment and wants to know the truth. I loved the line that Cat says to Elizabeth, "You ruined my life, you Communist bitch. And now you're going to pay for it." And from there Elizabeth starts at the beginning of her involvement with the Communist Party in the 1930s.

Elizabeth is the character you aren't supposed to like, but you're fascinated by her choices. I couldn't put this down and I was hooked. At times it reminded me a little bit like The Americans TV show which I loved!

If your looking for a fascinating spy story I highly recommend this! It takes a little bit to get into but once Elizabeth gets beyond her introduction to the Communist Party the book starts moving!

A Most Clever Girl A Novel of an American Spy by Stephanie Marie Thornton

I wasn't aware of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent spying for the Russians and the United States, until I read A Most Clever Girl and did some further research on my own. Eventually Bentley exposed two networks of spies, ultimately naming more than 80 Americans, who had engaged in espionage for the Soviets, but before that time she was a member of the Communist Party USA. With her handler, Jacob Golos, a Russian spy, they built the largest Soviet spy network in America.

As this historical fiction unfolds, Bentley is now in her mid fifties, facing a young woman and a gun, being forced to tell her story before the young woman kills Bentley. The young woman knows she has a connection to Bentley, through her mother, and she wants to know the truth before she kills Bentley and commits suicide. The few minutes she originally gives Bentley to spill her guts turns into hours of relating the past.

The story is not pretty. Bentley was extremely intelligent in a book smart way but also extremely needy, lonely, and prone to following those who she could have a chance of befriending. It's almost as if she joined the Communist Party of the United States so she could hang out with and fit in with the "cool" people. Bentley felt she was at her worst when she was alone and she avoided it at all costs.

Once she began her affair with her handler, Bentley seemed to be at her happiest but she comes to realize just how dangerous her world has become. As much as she doesn't want to be alone, that is really all she can be, when she can eventually trust no one, anyone connected with her network can be eliminated at any time, and when any step she takes can mean the death of one or more people.

Later Bentley contacts the FBI and defects from the Soviet Union spy network. Nothing Bentley did seems to be noble or for a good cause but as an effort to save her hide. The fictionalized part of the story gives Bentley some redeeming values through her connection to the young woman, Catherine Gray. So often I prefer the earlier timelines in stories that contain dual timelines but in this case I enjoyed the story as it applied to Catherine since I could not understand Bentley and her motivations in life, at all.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: murder, violence, death, suicide, cancer, animal death, sexual harassment, abortion, misogyny, alcoholism.


It's 1963. Cat Gray has had a double shock: the death of her mother, and the assassination of President Kennedy. Running off adrenaline and rage after reading the letter her mother left for her, she hunts down Elizabeth Bentley, notorious Communist spy queen turned FBI informant, with the intent to kill. But as Cat becomes captivated by Elizabeth's story of a life full of risks and an attempt to do something meaningful, she slowly starts to wonder if Elizabeth is really the villain she's been painted as, or if there's more beneath this woman's powerful façade -- and what it means for the mystery of Cat's own background...

As I'm sure you can tell by books previously reviewed here, I have a penchant for Russia and the history of Communism. When I saw this book, and realized that it was actually a fictionalized tale of the real-life Elizabeth Bentley, I knew it'd be on my list. From page one I was drawn in by this story, not only because of Thornton's vivid and powerful writing, but also because of her portrayal of a woman who has been pilloried by history.

It's easy to sympathize with Elizabeth, perhaps not only in spite of her mistakes, but because of them. She is far from perfect, a quasi-traitor to her country who often acts selfishly, but she's also dangerously clever and determined to try and remedy the pain she has caused throughout her life. I loved the deep, dark parts of her, as well as the caustic and biting humor she employs throughout the telling of her story. Thornton succeeded in making Elizabeth relatable, even lovable, but doesn't sugarcoat the sometimes damning truth.

The relationships that Elizabeth forms during her life as a spy were a highlight of the book for me, particularly when it comes to the wonderfully sweet and fascinating dynamic she forms with her handler, whom she falls head over heels for. I rooted for Elizabeth, and I also enjoyed the weaving of Cat's story in with the rest of the narrative. It isn't often that I say this, but there's really nothing I would change about this amazing, thrilling novel!

Highly recommended.

This historical fiction tackles the true story of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent. I was totally unaware of her and her part in American history. I do feel like I learned quite a bit, although I wasn’t completely impressed by the book.
I will admit to being turned off by Elizabeth, a young woman who joins the American Communist Party to make friends and then gets involved in spying because she falls in love with her handler, even if it happens her handler was one of the highest ranking men in the CPUSA. The reasons just felt so trite. Her belief in a better world seemed secondary to her personal desires. Even as more vile things are learned about Stalin, she continues to stay the course. And then I totally couldn’t buy into her argument that what she was doing was patriotic, since Russia and the US were allies during the war.
Thornton employs the use of a secondary character, Catherine, who shows up intending to shoot an older Bentley, to convey the story. Bentley convinces the young woman to first hear her story. I would have preferred a more direct approach which would have allowed the story to move faster, IMO.
The book was very uneven for me. In the beginning, it came across more as a romance than a spy novel. I found the first half dry and it didn’t pick up for me until Elizabeth turned double agent. There is one scene that would make anyone hate the Russians.
I was disappointed about some of the liberties Thornton took writing this, especially regarding J. Edgar Hoover.
My thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

Stephanie Thornton is one of those writers who can write successfully about any time period. In this latest release Thornton gives readers the tale of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent spy in the United States. Thornton humanizes Bentley and the choices she made along the way but doesn't necessarily lead the reader to forgive Bentley's choices. The release of hundreds of previously sealed documents permitted Thornton the opportunity to provide an expertly researched look inside this little known woman's life. This is a book that jolts the reader from page one and continues with the energy of a Red Bull until the end. In using a first person narrative, Thornton almost has the reader encouraged to believe that Bentley is speaking directly to them. As historical fiction shifts to covering more recent people and events, this book is going to be the among the gold standards.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

I enjoyed Stephanie Thornton's story of American born Elizabeth Bentley, a real life spy for Russia during WWII and the beginning of the Cold War, who turns and becomes the FBI's greatest witness during "the Red Scare".
Elizabeth Bentley was a lonely recent college graduate living in a rented room in a boarding house in NYC when she meets her dynamic neighbor Lee. Wanting acceptance and friendship, Elizabeth goes along with Lee to a meeting of the American League Against War and Fascism, and thus Elizabeth's career as a spy for Russia was launched even though she was unaware of it at that time.
Thornton takes us on a ride through the murky underground of the world of espionage as Elizabeth gains a handler whom she falls in love with and together they build one of the most powerful spy networks of the times. We see as Elizabeth comes disillusioned in the aftermath of WWII when the cold war begins her eyes are opened to Russia's true intent. In order to save herself and her country Elizabeth goes to the FBI, becoming their star witness in several trials and committee hearings, even testifying in the infamous Rosenberg trails that sent the couple to the electric chair.
Elizabeth was a smart, intriguing complicated woman and her story is nothing short of amazing. It all began out of loneliness and a longing to fit in somewhere, to be seen, recognized. Amazing, truly amazing.
Anyone interested in the women spies of WWII and the cold war era will enjoy reading Elizabeth's story, told from a narrative POV it grabs you from the start and immerses you in the dark underworld of spies.
4 stars, this novel comes out in September so be sure not to miss it. Thank you to the publishers at Berkley Publishing Group and Net Galley for the free ARC of this novel, I am leaving my honest review in return.

A special thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

"I would tell many lies in this lifetime. I won't say that was the first or even that it was a lie, for back then I still thought I was capable of good.
Certainly, all the best villains do."


In 1945 Elizabeth Bentley, aka Umnista, Ms. Wise and Myrna, walked into FBI headquarters and declared herself a Soviet spy. What followed were many trials in which she exposed two different spy networks and named up to eighty different Americans as being involved in espionage. This is her (mostly) true story.

In 1963, it's just days after Kennedy's assassination, and college student Catherine Grey is, on top of it all, dealing with the death of her mother and a shocking secret, which she reveals in one last letter to Cat. If she wants the truth, she will have to track down Elizabeth Bentley. She does, with a pistol in her purse.

Told in first person while Elizabeth is recounting her tumultuous history, from her rather innocent origins within the CPUSA, to the world-shattering romance with her handler and rise as a notorious Spy Queen, I found myself not only sympathizing with the clever Bentley, but also enjoying her, which is in part due to the amazing writing done by Thornton. She is able to humanize the oft-vilified Bentley, who is driven by her desire to fit in, to live a meaningful life, and eventually, her own desire for control.

We also get some glimpses into the psyche of the completely fictional Catherine Grey via third-person scenes set in the 60's. Stephanie Marie Thornton was able to weave together an engrossing story, using much of the truth and expertly adding in bits of well-placed fiction. If you're craving your next historical hit with two strong female protagonists, look no further than A Most Clever Girl!

When Catherine (Cat) Gray shows up on Elizabeth Bentley's doorstep with a loaded gun and two bullets (one for Elizabeth, the other for herself), she wants only to avenge what she sees as the callous ruination of her mother's life and her own. But Elizabeth wants to tell her story, to make Cat understand. They cut a deal—one hour, which soon extends to more, and then Cat can pull the trigger if she chooses.

Elizabeth then launches into her tale, portraying a young, lonely idealist in the 1930s lured not so much by the ideology of communism as by the prospect of belonging. She sees herself as a patriot and her mission—to prevent the United States from falling into the same fascism that has already swept up Germany and France—as a moral quest. But she's also drawn by love and a sense of fulfillment, missing in a world where women can still work mostly as drudges (secretaries plagued by the roving hands of male bosses, is how Elizabeth sees it).

We know from the book blurb that Cat has fallen to similar lures, and there's an ongoing tension as we wait to find out where her story intersects with Elizabeth's. But it's Elizabeth's retelling of her own life, with its openly admitted lies and mistakes and deceptions, that pulls us inexorably along. Thornton's unflinching portrayal of the ways in which we can be deluded, step by step, into becoming something we would never have accepted at the outset is truly thought-provoking. I'll be interviewing her on my blog (linked below) a week or two after the September 14 release.

I am always drawn to books about spies, especially women spies. This novel is about Elizabeth Bentley. If you didn’t read the blurb for the book, which is extensive, here is the most informative part of the blurb:

“Recruited by the American Communist Party to spy on fascists at the outbreak of World War II, a young Bentley--code name Clever Girl--finds she has an unexpected gift for espionage. But after falling desperately in love with her handler, Jacob Golos, Elizabeth makes another unexpected discovery when she learns her lover is actually a Russian spy. Together, they will build the largest Soviet spy network in America and Elizabeth will become its uncrowned Red Spy Queen. However, once the war ends and the U.S. and U.S.S.R. become embroiled in the Cold War, it is Elizabeth who will dangerously clash with the NKVD, the brutal Soviet espionage agency.”

The majority of this book is told in the form of dialogue between Elizabeth Bently and a character named Catherine Gray. I found this form of writing to be slow, repetitive and I didn’t feel engaged with the characters.

I guess I would call this a “tell me” instead of “show me” narrative, 1st person point of view for most of the novel. It switches later to 3rd person for the last quarter of the book.

Through this dialogue we learn how and why she decided to work with the Communists in the United States. Her love affair with her “handler” known by several different names throughout the novel, but finally settling on Yasha was extensively described. Her sexual exploits were commented on many, many times and I grew tired of it.

In the end she decided to work against Russia during the Cold War and helped the US identify and bring to light many of the top Russian spies in the US, most notably Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, American citizens who were convicted of spying on behalf of the Soviet Union.

I usually enjoy Author’s Notes but Ms. Thornton wrote 19 pages of notes explaining all of the changes that she made in persons, places and timelines.

I was most surprised to learn that one of the main characters, "IS ENTIRELY A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION". "THIS PART OF THE NOVEL WAS ACTUALLY VERY LOOSELY INSPIRED BY MY OWN FAMILY HISTORY . . ."

Though I appreciate the extensive research and the author’s dedication to bringing this character to the eyes of the public, I really can’t recommend this book.

THIS NOVEL READS MORE LIKE NON-FICTION BUT WITH UNRELIABLE FACTS

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley

Will post to Amazon upon publication.

Grab a steaming cup of coffee, tea, or mulled wine. Settle into a comfortable chair in your pandemic pants and fuzzy socks. Prepare yourself for a story of excitement, heartbreak, intensity, and high stakes. A Most Clever Girl by Stephanie Marie Thornton is a well-written work of historical fiction. Stephanie Marie Thornton keeps her readers plugged in to the story from beginning to end as she tells the tale of Elizabeth Bentley. Known by a variety of codenames, including “Clever Girl,” “Gregory,” and “Miss Wise,” Elizabeth Bentley goes from a naïve young woman searching for acceptance to a skilled spymaster for the NKVD during WWII and the beginning of the Cold War.

I have noticed a trend in my readings of historical fiction: The novels often begin in one decade and jump back to another, providing interludes of past memories from the views of certain characters. For the most part, I am a linear thinker. My preference is that stories follow from one scene to the next in chronological order. A Most Clever Girl has two different timelines, occurring simultaneously. I do not like this about historical fiction, but I can deal with it. What I didn’t like about A Most Clever Girl, though, was that when the novel focused on the past, a character would provide commentary from the story’s present. Unique manner of writing a book? Surely. But I wanted to be wholly transported back in history, and by having the interludes in parentheses, Thornton broke that vision in my mind.

Thornton wrote A Most Clever Girl as a narration, for the most part: Elizabeth Bentley recounting her background to another person. That’s why I suggested readers get comfortable, because the book is like sitting at your grandfather’s feet in his living room, listening to his wartime tales. So in that sense, the present-day comments in A Most Clever Girl were appropriate. I just…didn’t like them, even if they were Elizabeth Bentley saying how she learned from her mistakes.

The other present-day character, Catherine Gray, I also found to be cliché. I correctly identified who she was from early in A Most Clever Girl, and Catherine was very one-note. I didn’t like her, besides maybe in the last couple chapters. Additionally, Stephanie Marie Thornton suffered from a common error in novels that drives me bonkers: Using characters’ names in two-person dialogue. You don’t need to say “Catherine” or “Elizabeth” at the end of every spoken sentence. The reader gets the picture, especially since the only two people in Elizabeth Bentley’s house during her story? Catherine and Elizabeth.

Unintentionally, I listened to the audiobook version of Agent Sonya by Ben Macintyre at the same time I read A Most Clever Girl by Stephanie Marie Thornton. Agent Sonya is a biography, following the life of Ursula Burton, a German Jew who spied for the Soviet Union during WWII. So, I simultaneously experienced the tales of two different female spies of the time period. I normally prefer fiction over nonfiction, but I liked Agent Sonya more. Both Elizabeth Bentley and Ursula Burton were spies of importance and influence, but Macintyre was just a little more successful at telling Burton’s story than Thornton was with Bentley.

I enjoyed A Most Clever Girl, and I don’t regret reading it; I just think it could’ve been better.

*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are my own.

I think that this book did a great job of building up the historical elements of this book while crafting an engaging and well paced story. I found the characters and the time period well written and interesting and definitely enjoyed my time with this book

The author has written a gripping story based on real life American spy for the Russians, Elizabeth Bentley. I’d not heard of her before and found myself intrigued by this complex woman who later turned course and helped the American government instead.

The first line grabs you and the tale deepens quickly, propelled by Thornton’s elegant narrative and sensitive character development. I felt as if I were in Elizabeth’s head at times, experiencing her thoughts and feelings as she makes choices I could never make as an American citizen. Only the best psychological portraits give you that sense of inhabiting a character so completely, and Thornton does this masterfully. I ran through a range of emotions — anxiety, fear, anger, relief, pity, grief, acceptance — until I reached the touching end.

Highly recommended for readers who love thrilling tales of complex women who changed history.

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 14 Sep 2021
#CleverGirl #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.