Gripping, emotional, moving, poignant, and powerful, "The Widow. Spy" is a historical fiction novel set during the American Civil War that kept me turning the pages into the early hours of the morning. Based on a true story, I truly learned so much while reading.

Sadly, before reading this novel, I had not heard of Kate Warne, but, I am so glad to have now. Megan Campisi brings her, and the entire story, to life in such a vivid and visceral way, and I can only begin to imagine the amount of research she must have done for this book. I was completely immersed in the book from the first page to the last.

I plan to do more research on my own time as well.

I definitely recommend this book for Historical Fiction lovers!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-ARC of this novel, it is incredible. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3/5 stars: The premise of this book was extremely compelling, but I feel like the final product fell a bit flat. History was never my favorite subject, but I did enjoy all of the different facts and I’m sure a lot of research went into this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Megan Campisi for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There’s lot for historical fiction fans to enjoy here and it was fascinating learning about the Pinkerton operation in the Civil War. It was also striking how being a widow was the identity that had the most freedom for women during this time (as long as they had money or a job, of course).

I couldn't get through this one. The idea was good but the characters were too harsh in their manners. I just didn't enjoy reading it and decided it wasn't worth my time.

The Widow Spy offers a gripping blend of espionage and personal sacrifice, drawing readers into the complex world of intelligence during the Cold War. The author masterfully weaves together the protagonist’s emotional turmoil with high-stakes missions, creating a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The meticulous attention to historical detail enhances the story, immersing you in the era's tensions and challenges. The characters are well-developed, particularly the titular widow, whose resilience and cunning shine through as she navigates the treacherous waters of betrayal and loyalty.

While the pacing occasionally falters, particularly in the middle sections, the compelling plot twists and richly drawn settings more than make up for it. The interactions between characters reveal deep layers of motivation and conflict, adding a satisfying depth to the story. Overall, The Widow Spy is an engaging read that successfully captures the nuances of spy life and the personal sacrifices that come with it, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

FASCINATING! The true story of Kate Warne -the country’s first female detective, a Pinkerton agent, and a union spy I love learning more about the wars in our country and the important roles that females played. I simply could not put this one down!

The Widow Spy by Megan Campisi. Pub Date: April 9, 2024. Rating: 3 stars. I am a huge reader of historical fiction, so the premise of this novel intrigued me. Set during Civil War era, this is the story of one of the first ever female detectives in the 1800s, a Pinkerton detective. This novel displays a strong female presence in an era where women struggled to even have a voice. Themes of racism, women as second class citizens and patriarchy are explored in this novel. I thought I would love this novel because I am a huge nerd for American History, but something just did not click completely for me while reading this story. I appreciate the historical significance, but I think the execution was a little off. Thanks to #netgalley and #atria for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book should have been catnip for me. A Civil War spy novel? Yes please! About the first female Pinkerton spy? Sign me up. But it was more like… maybe?!

I did like Kate as a character and her arc throughout the story. I really enjoyed the scenes that involved spy craft. However, I never felt immersed fully into the narrative. The rest of the book felt disjointed. And then it just… ended.

I did like the theme throughout the book of how knowing people lets you see them as more than the labels the world places on them. That alone would make for a great book club discussion.

Content Warning: Open door (vague, non graphic), Language, war and death, prejudice

Thanks to Libro.fm, Atria, and Simon Audio for the book. All opinions are my own.

This book started out very slow for me and I pushed past it. I got about 35% in before I decided to dnf. I didn’t fall in love with the characters like I thought I would. And I didn’t get sucked into the story. Just because this book wasn’t for me take this review with a grain of salt

The Civil War is one of my favorite eras so I loved learning about the first female Pinkerton agent, Kate Warne. I really enjoyed the parts with the Confederate spy Rose Greenhow and Kate's other spy adventures. Unfortunately, the backstory and the flashbacks didn't flow for me and it would pull me out of the story but not enough to quit the book. Overall, I thought it was a good story that highlighted a lesser known person in American History. I am glad I read the book and I would try more by this author in the future.

This book was a bit slow and not quite what I was expecting. Set during the Civil War and featuring the nation's first female detective seemed like a great premise. It was an interesting piece of historical fiction but ultimately not as thrilling as I had hoped it would be.

The characters were well developed, and the plot had promise. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting to the story, and it ended up being just okay.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I tried to get through this book. I really did. Despite my loathing for fiction written in first person present tense, I told myself that I was going to power through. This endeavour was not successful.

Megan Campisi's THE WIDOW SPY was excellent!! This book has a strong female lead, a forbidden interracial romance between an Irish immigrant and a former slave both working for Pinkerton to help track down anti-revolutionaries. Compelling, fast-paced and utterly enjoyable. This was my first book by the author and I look forward to reading more in the future!

"Pinkerton, standing over them all, blue eyes flashing like a Pentecostal."

I really, really liked #thewidowspy. I appreciated the time in history, how the odds were stacked against Kate and her colleagues (esp. Kate) and learning about the Pinkertons. Campisi has a terrific way with words, and the pain that Kate and John Scobell endure is palpable. And the widow Greenhow - she packs a real mean punch, what a character. Well done!

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

Kate Warne is a Pinkerton detective during the American Civil War. She is assigned a "woman's job" when Confederate spy Rose Greenhow is placed under house arrest and someone has to convince her to give up her network. Kate and Rose engage in a complicated war of minds, each trying to exploit the other to her advantage. As the struggle wears on, we get to learn more of Kate's back story, her many strengths and her weaknesses. Side stories of other unlikely detectives hired as Pinkertons makes for an engaging glimpse of this period of history.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From James Bond to cold war secret traders spies have long been a source of fascination. But do we think of a lady in Civil War petticoats when we think of the word spy? We should, thanks to Kate Warne (profiled on T Y D K Y N T K.) Megan Campisi's novel The Widow Spy begins with Warne and The Pinkertons investigating Rose Greenhow, real life socialite spy for the confederacy. Campisi's first person narrative takes readers right into Warne's mindset as America's first female detective and the excitement and burden that causes Warne. Warne is intelligent and fierce, and free with her opinions - (distilling Romeo and Juliet down to "the lesson is to obey your parents.") The Widow Spy follows Warne and The Pinkertons throughout Greenhow's arrest and trial for espionage and Warne recounts her life and Pinkerton cases throughout the novel. Through The Widow Spy Kate Warne, one of America's most important and most forgotten women, gets the recognition she deserves.

Readers who are interested in historical fiction style detective stories may enjoy this Campisi novel. An engaging fictional read about Kate Warne a female Pinkerton agent.

A fascinating historical fiction novel. I enjoyed learning Kate’s remarkable story.
Many thanks to Atria and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel provides historical fiction fans with a glimpse into the Pinkerton operation during the Civil War and explores the unique freedom widowhood offered women at that time. Kate assumes the role of a widow to become the first female Pinkerton detective, concealing her true identity and revealing her complex character development. While the novel excels in detailing spycraft and character insights, the storyline felt disjointed to me, lacking full immersion. Some parts were hard to believe, and I questioned certain plot choices, but I recognized the unique challenges faced by Union spies in enemy territory.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was an interesting premise, but something about the "voice" of the FMC didn't work for me. I just never felt fully connected to the story.