I thoroughly enjoyed this women's historical fiction set in the time of the Civil War. This was my first fictional Civil War book, so I went in with an open mind and liked what I ended up with. It was kind of a slow burn for a while for me, but it picked up well later on.

I was immediately intrigued when I read that The Widow Spy was based on a real life female detective in the Pinkerton Agency. A female who worked outside the home during the late 1800s was rare and even more so to be employed as a detective. This riveting story took place during the Civil War and the author did a wonderful job of developing her characters. Recommend this one if you enjoy strong female characters, historical fiction, and a bit of suspense.

This book surprised me at every turn whether it was the plot or the characters. If you are a fan of historical fiction this is the book for you. With the broader historical events pretty well known to readers, the author was still able to create events that felt realistic to what was happening in the broader world. The action and thriller aspect of this book felt well paced and held the book together.

However I believe what is the highlight of this book was the complex women that Campisi created. Each woman in this novel was complex in their motivations, personality, and in their narrative. Campisi reminded her readers that women were the strongest and most versatile at the time.

4⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for providing this book for review consideration.

I had trouble really delving into the book.
I am extremely interested in Civil War historical fiction, however I just couldn’t warm up to the narrative or the characters.
It’s an interesting angle on a subject that has been written and speculated upon for over a century and a half.
It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

This one wasn't for me. I think the concept was interesting and could have been the type of historical thriller that I love, but instead the plot dragged and the characters didn't work. The main character felt off from the beginning. Like her voice didn't match the description given of her. I had a hard time putting myself in her position. I appreciate NetGalley for offering the free copy in an exchange for an honest review, but I won't be sharing this review publicly because it won't help the author or publisher.

An interesting premise for a historical fiction novel focusing on the first female Pinkerton detective and her brave efforts to bring an end to the Civil War.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to an early copy!

When I learned this book was about the first female Pinkerton detective, I was all over it as I have long been fascinated with the Pinkerton agency. I learned many things as this book is based on historical facts but it was lacking in the intrigue and suspense I was hoping for. There was a lot of interesting backstory on Kate but the actual switching between past and present was a bit erratic and led to confusion. All in all it was a decent story steeped in history if you are interested in the subject matter. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'm realizing I really like historical fiction, not set in WWII, that is based on real women. This is set during the Civil War and follows Kate Warne, the first female Pinkerton agent, and a union spy. I always appreciate when a novel prompts me to Google and research. The Author's Note gave historical updates on each of the characters, which I loved.

The story itself was a little bit of a slow burn. It dropped us right into an investigation and we were learning the characters in the midst of it which muddled things a bit. I really liked the first part of the book and the interplay between Kate and Rose, the target of the investigation. The second half veered into different investigations and developed Kate's character even further. Overall, this was an interesting glimpse into historical events that were less known to me.

I enjoyed this book. I have read a lot of novels that take place during the American Civil War, and this is a new story to me. I love the story of Kate Warne. Campisi's writing is beautiful. Her descriptive writing made me feel like I was there with Kate and the other characters.

I love the scene when Kate and Scobell are looking through the books in the library and discussing the great literature. Kate reads them as cautionary tales, and Scobell reads them as romance and love stories. This is a great scene.

I also love Campisi's description of the cotton mill, where Kate started working in when she was 7 years old. She describes the noise as "...rhythm shook my very bones." I visited a mill museum, and the docent started up one of the many huge machines. The noise from that one machine was so loud and it shook the floor. I can only imagine being in the building when all machines are running. Campisi's description of the mill is beautifully written.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a chance to review this book.

Link to Amazon review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RPVJ308HTFUR8?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

I wanted to love this one because even though we don't know that much about Kate Warne she's one of my favorite women from history. I jus which this one had focused more the current case she was working. With only enough backstory to learn a little bit more about her. And of course I could have done without the romance to me that wasn't really necessary. And some of the language and words used didn't feel like it fit in, in 1860s America.

Captivating and Intriguing! 'The Widow Spy' by Megan Campisi keeps you on the edge of your seat with its gripping narrative and rich character development. Campisi skillfully weaves together historical intrigue and personal drama, making it a must-read for fans of historical fiction. A page-turner that leaves you wanting more!

"The Widow Spy" ultimately is a solid first effort. In the end (and towards the end of the book), I had a hard time putting it down, but it tested my 50 page rule. I wasn't sure I wanted to read past page 50, which is usually where I tell myself I can shut the book forever.

The book starts off more conversational in tone with short, staccato sentences and some random things like a list of names in three columns and bullet points. It then felt like a Faulker novel. Overall, it reads like a play with the author writing in different voices or if a few different authors wrote it (or someone heavily edited it).

I've read a few stories of Kate Warne and this one was different, which I appreciated.

I can't wait to read Ms. Campisi's next book.

I don't often give 5 star reviews so please note that three is good. Thank you to the publisher, author, and Net Galley for the Arc.

While the premise was fascinating, the story itself did not flow well; it seemed like a bunch of snippets cobbled together to form a story, which made it confusing and lacked structure. I found it difficult to follow and eventually gave up despite being intrigued by the first female Pinkerton detective.

For me, this book was a bit all over the place. At times it was interesting, such as when Kate was trying to endear herself to Rose, but other times seemed so contrived it brought me right out of the story. Overall, I did enjoy it but it was kind of hard to get through.

I'm interested in learning more about Kate Heaney and her contribution to the Pinkerton Detectives.

3.5 rounded to 4.0 stars

Set in 1863 during the Civil War, The Widow Spy blends fact with fiction to tell the story of Kate Warne, the first female detective, a Pinkerton employee and, at times, a Union spy. Over the course of the story, we learn Kate's history, which has had a strong influence on her morals and personality, and the choices she makes. Despite the first half of the book taking place within a few days, confined to the home of a socialite and suspected Confederate spy, the widow Rose Greenhow, there is plenty of action to keep the story moving at a good pace. Kate is tasked with gaining the widow's confidence so she will reveal the hiding spot of the cipher she uses for the messages she sends to the Confederates, but to what lengths will she go to execute her task? Compelling historical fiction covering a time period I don't often read about, I was engaged by the plot and characters.

Kate is the first female Pinkerton detective working for President Abraham Lincoln to root out Confederate spies. Her assignment, get a cipher key from the widow Greenhow.

To be honest, this book started out as a 2 star read at best. Kate's odd breaking of the fourth wall was a bit off putting, and the romance between her and John seemed pointless . But I'm glad I stuck it out, It ended up being fascinating, especially finding out that these were real people. I will also be adding a couple of the books listed in the sources to my TBR.

Thanks to Megan Campisi, Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for this review.

The Widow Spy by Megan Campisi is an enthralling Historical Fiction based on the Pinkerton National Detective Agency founded in 1850 in Chicago. Kate Warne had left other jobs in search of adventure and knocked on Pinkerton's door. She was hired on a trial basis as the first female detective but felt she at times was a glorified secretary. Her job was crucial as women were more successful than men in several aspects such as gaining intelligence. To spy they had to be spies.

In this novel, Kate and her team use their intrepid inveigling skills to extract information from a Confederate spy, Rose. But the story gets more tangled. Kate also finds her own love story with John. I appreciate that undercurrents of romance are seamlessly blended with mystery and intrigue.

I also enjoyed the Irish and Abraham Lincoln connections and learning snippets about the Civil War and certificates of freedom. Historical descriptions such as working in deafening cotton mills is fascinating. Do read the author's notes to discover her inspiration and research.

My sincere thank you to Atria for providing me with a free digital copy of this exciting novel in exchange for an honest review.

Campisi weaves a compelling novel around the true history of two formidable women in the civil war, one a spy for the Confederacy and the other the first U.S. female detective on record. Telling the story through Kate Warne, Pinkerton’s agent, Campisi shows the complexity of both Warne and Rose Greenhow, socialite and confidante to some of the most elite men in Washington. I was struck by the juxtaposition of these two characters alongside the author’s exploration of morality, courage, and fear.

I loved the history, the story-telling, the complex characterization, and the elements of danger that felt real. I could have done without the romantic subplot that was neither historically accurate or necessary. When will society, the publishing and film industry in particular, let the role of women in history stand alone outside the scope of romantic entanglements?

Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this fascinating historical novel.

This is a review for an ARC of the novel. Interesting story about the first female Pinkerton agent. I liked Kate, but she had a tendency to “wander” and the story took little trails that distracted me and caused me to get a bit lost. It was difficult to come back to the story after taking a trip down memory lane.

Kate Warne has convinced Allan Pinkerton that he needs a woman agent and thus has accrued employment with the Pinkerton Detective Agency in Chicago, becoming the first woman detective and Union spy. Kate and her colleagues put Rose O'Niel Greenhow, a prominent widow and Confederate spy, under house arrest when she was caught trying to destroy evidence of her follies.

Kate is in a race against time to become Rose's ally and convince the widow it’s in her best interest to collaborate and give up the Confederate cipher key she uses to read and encryt messages, but Rose is wagering the Pinkerton agents won’t find the key or enough evidence before her arrest is found out, and she can use her connections to secure her release.

The odds seem stacked against her. Kate has had a mishap in the past that puts doubt into her boss's mind that she may not be able to complete the task, but Kate wants to get past it and prove herself again. She also has a blossoming forbidden love affair with a colleague that could jeopardize both their missions.

I really enjoyed reading this historical fiction based on true characters and events. The author did a wonderful job with the character building and setting the scenes to make you feel the suspense of what may happen next in this mystery thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ebook.