A fantastic look at different events in the Civil War, and the woman who, with her hand-picked spy ring, helped bring information [as well as set up a network to help jailed northerners] that ultimately would help end the war. Oh, did I forget to mention that she was one of Richmond's high society women and a true Southern Belle and that doing all she did not only risked her own life, but those around her? My bad. She was and did and I loved reading about her.

Filled with fascinating history [some I knew, some I did not - the prison break section was very good and previously unknown to me], this book just added to what I had already learned in Abbott Kahler [formerly Karen Abbott]'s amazing book "Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy" [which I HIGHLY recommend], and by the end of this book, just made me respect these women and their strength and tenacity even more.

Well-written and well-researched, this book taps into little known history and both expands on it and shines a light on the bravery of the women who also "fought" for their country and against the evils of slavery.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gerri Willis, and Harper for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Harper for allowing me to read and review Lincoln’s Lady Spymaster: The Untold Story of the Abolitionist Southern Belle Who Helped Win the Civil War by Gerri Willis on NetGalley.

Published: 06/03/25

Stars: 3

The book is primarily written about the civil war. Elizabeth Van Lew is mentioned; however, disappointingly, she is not the focus of the book. This appears to be well- researched and written. I would suggest a title change.

Wealthy Southern belle Elizabeth Van Lew risked everything to support the Union when all her neighbors supported the Confederacy. She became the Civil War’s most effective Union spy, building a covert intelligence network in the heart of the Confederate capital. Defying social norms, she recruited any person, man or woman, who sympathized with the Union to help learn all she could. With daily intelligence reaching General Grant, Elizabeth’s bold and unconventional efforts played a crucial role in shaping the war’s final outcome.


I’ve read about Elizabeth Van Lew before and admired her ingenuity in a stressful time. I always appreciated her discretion: remaining true to her convictions, but being careful about how she expressed them. As I was reading this book, I kept thinking that her story wasn’t unknown. I came away feeling as though I didn’t learn anything new.

There were times the author brought in the life of other notable people of the time, and at first it was interesting to see how Elizabeth Van Lew’s life intersected with them. However, by the end, it felt as though half the book was about other people.

If you have never heard about Elizabeth Van Lew, you may find this an interesting read. If you’ve already read about her, this may not be for you.

Elizabeth Van Lew helped to save the Union by creating and operating a spy ring in the south. As a Union sympathizer, she wanted to help the Union while living in Richmond Virginia. Luckily she was a woman of means and used her wealth to further the cause, putting herself in poverty.

This book examines Elizabeth's actions as well as the broader Civil War activities and looks at the POW prison conditions.

If you like learning about Civil War activities, this is definitely a book for you. If you like learning about women and how they effect real change, you need to read this book.

I was given this by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

This isn't the book I expected it to be - I thought it was supposed to be about Elizabeth Van Lew and her journey to help the Union. It does talk about her, but not as much as I expected. It isn't really a story - it reads more like a history textbook and it's pretty dry to get through. It has interesting information, but just wasn't what I thought it was going to be and I found it hard to keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Fascinating historical account about petite, wealthy Southern belle Elizabeth Van Lew, who became the spymaster of a sophisticated ring of Union loyalists in Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War. First she gave aid and comfort to Union prisoners housed in the horrible prisons around the city, assisted both prisoners and slaves in sometimes daring escapes, all the while building a network of trusted sympathizers until she ultimately provided critical information about the Confederate government in the city and, more importantly, about the state of and movement of rebel troops in her detailed, encrypted reports. Rich with detail about her operations, this history also provides background information on John Wilkes Booth, Ulysses Grant, and other key figures at that time.

I did find the shift in focus to others at times jarring because it was unclear what they had to do with the story of this remarkable woman, so perhaps the transitions could have been smoother. Despite that, it was an enjoyable, well-researched book. Solid four stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for the ARC of this book.

Lincoln's Lady Spymaster by Gerri Willis is a fascinating look at one of the unsung heroes of the Civil War.

Elizabeth Van Lew was a daughter of the South, where women were to be seen as decorative armpieces and not heard. Slavery was the basis of their economy, and no one who was anyone spoke out against it. Miss Van Lew, however, wasn't just anybody. She was a woman of wealth and privilege who could have sat back and done nothing, but that wasn't the way she was made. She was a fervent abolitionist and supporter of the union who gave her whole life to the cause. She ran a spy ring out of her home under the constant threat of danger and death. She gave away her family fortune to escaping slaves and any soldiers who were in need. By the end of the war, she was ostracized by her community and referred to as "Crazy Bet." Children who misbehaved were threatened with being sent to her for punishment.

Her story is at once inspirational and tragic. Miss Willis maintains a balance of showing Miss Van Lew's strength without pitying her for her losses. The book is meticulously researched, and Ms. Willis' details add to the feel of being right there with Elizabeth as she was fighting the war. If you enjoy reading about strong women, the Civil War or just want to read a really good history book, I highly recommend Lincoln's Lady Spymaster.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary and unbiased review.

In Lincoln’s Lady Spymaster, Gerri Willis brings to life the extraordinary and little-known story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Southern abolitionist who risked everything to spy for the Union from within the heart of the Confederacy. With rich detail and compelling narrative flair, Willis uncovers a tale that is as thrilling as any spy novel, yet rooted firmly in historical truth.

Elizabeth Van Lew defied the rigid social norms of her time, using her status as a well-connected Richmond socialite to conceal a covert network of informants made up of slaves, Union sympathizers, and prisoners of war. As Willis vividly recounts, Elizabeth’s work wasn’t just bold—it was revolutionary. From daring prison infiltrations to orchestrating escapes and communicating with spies under deep cover, her fearless pursuit of justice and freedom drove her to astonishing lengths.

What sets this book apart is Willis’s ability to blend dramatic storytelling with rigorous historical research. She doesn’t shy away from the darker, more dangerous corners of Elizabeth’s life—grave robbery, coded letters hidden in shoes, and midnight rides through enemy territory—but also honors the emotional weight of Elizabeth’s sacrifices. Readers see not just a clever operative but a woman of deep conviction, willing to lose friends, wealth, and reputation for the cause of freedom.

In restoring Elizabeth Van Lew to the spotlight, Lincoln’s Lady Spymaster also challenges the romanticized narratives of the “Lost Cause” and highlights the complex, often-overlooked roles women played in shaping the course of American history. This is a gripping, important read—one that blends espionage, resistance, and moral courage into a story that is both inspiring and long overdue.

I gave Lincoln’s Lady Spymaster four ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you Harper Collins Publishers, Gerri Wills and Net Galley for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is not really a novel though. It’s more a non fiction memoir.

I enjoyed the writing and learning some things that I didn’t yet know. My only criticism is that the book wasn’t so much about Elizabeth Van Lew (the Lady Spymaster), but about other people who rose to importance at the time, like John Wilkes Booth, Ulysses S Grant and Ulric Dahlgren. I enjoyed reading about them, but found myself wanting to know more about Elizabeth, the Lady Spymaster.

If you want to learn more, overall, about the Civil War and you like non fiction, you will enjoy this book!

Thank you to Harper and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
I really like to read books about strong, courageous women so I really liked this book. It is about a rich Southern belle named Elizabeth Van Lew. Even though she lived in Richmond, Virginia she supported the Union. Risking everything, she created a spy network to deliver secrets to the Union. This book also gave lots of details about the war and how the battles were fought. You will also meet a lot of the central characters of this time. I liked it because the reader meets Elizabeth Van Lew, but I also learned facts about the war that I did not know. I recommend this book to all readers that enjoy reading Civil War stories.

This was a historical novel about Elizabeth Van Lew. She was a Southern abolitionist, a philanthropist who also happened to be a spy! I love reading about women in American history. I had never heard of her and many of the people in this book. I love books that make me do a deep dive into history. We met lots of people from the American Civil war including Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth, Ulric Dahlgren, Ulysses S. Grant and other key players of the war. It was interesting learning about their backgrounds and how Elizabeth was always working behind the scenes going unnoticed.

I was really impressed with Elizabeth, especially the way she freed so many slaves and fought for their rights. She befriended so many of them and they trusted and respected her. She also freed prisoners and just did some really bad ass things and she never got caught!

Truly an interesting read and something I will remember. I really want to visit the south, I tend to always go North, but I really want to travel south to Virginia to see some of the historical spots.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper for an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me up reading all night. A Civil War story full of twists and turns. A wonderful story of courage during slavery. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC. The review is my own.

While this book was informative about the Civil War in general, I was disappointed by how little the titular character, Elizabeth Van Lew, actually appeared in the book. Rather than focusing on only her part in the war, the book also covers the lives of John Wilkes Booth, Ulysses S. Grant, and Ulric Dahlgren, so she only appears in about 50% of the book. If you are interested in reading about the Civil War in general, this book was well-written and informative, but if you (like me) were looking for a female-driven book full of intrigue and secrets, you may find this book something of a let-down.

Based on the true life adventures of a brave and influential woman and spy during the Civil War. Elizabeth Van Lew was an abolitionist and Union sympathizer in Richmond, VA , the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. It was also the 2 nd largest slave trading market in the country. Due to modernized and sophisticated manufacturing and mill operations, Richmond would become an important powerhouse to the south in the Civil War.

From a wealthy family in this highly industrialized town, Elizabeth locked horns with her own father who owned many slaves. After his death in 1843, Elizabeth and her mother aided escaping slaves to the north by way of her contacts with safe houses. The slaves she retained, she paid them for their work or set them free. A favorite former slave, Mary, was sent to the north to be educated. In the coming years she would become an important and daring operative of Elizabeth in her ring of spies. In her growing network of operatives, Elizabeth felt that some of her most loyal and committed partners were blacks working as slaves and freemen, not just in her own home, but throughout the region. All those who participated took enormous risks and gambled on their own lives every day. The details of many of the spies exploits are recounted here in the story which makes for fascinating , edge-of-your-seat-reading.

What makes this book so interesting is that it is so much more than the story of the spies and their successes. It was interesting to read about raids and battles as well as the rise of important people like Lincoln, U. S . Grant, and even J. W. Booth, and Elizabeth Van Lew. The author provides great details of setting so that you can easily imagine the events.

Additionally, I read details of the inhumane treatment of captured Union soldiers. They were put in horrendous prisons which became hells on earth. One such place, Libby Prison was only blocks from where Elizabeth lived. She could see the notorious prison in the distance, from her home. In the early years of the war, she began her adventures in espionage by helping some Union prisoners to escape, with her own home used as a quick hiding place on their way back north. One prisoner was an editor from the New York Times. She helped him escape with his first hand accounts of the prison system which were then published.

Eventually, assisting escapees as her priority, gave way to the military's increasing need for reliable first hand intel of enemy movements and operations. By setting up a network of ordinary people to do the intel gathering, Van Lew analyzed and organized the information into weekly reports. The spy ring was eventually to become quite important to General George Sharpe, head of the Bureau of Military Intelligence. Additionally, Sharpe became a senior advisor to Ulysses S. Grant.

( Interesting to note that during WW II, General George Sharpe's techniques were copied in the formation of the OSS, which eventually would become the CIA. He got the credit for being the father of modern intelligence. However this was in no small part due to Van Lew's extraordinary work with her contacts, network of spies, and organizational skills in her intelligence reports which at times even ended up on the desk of President Lincoln.)

Thank you to Net Galley and the the publisher , Harper Collins, for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publishing, in exchange for my honest review. This book is well researched, footnoted, and well written. Highly recommended.

This was a great book! It was very well written and the story was very well paced. The story felt well researched and put together!

This is fascinating historical nonfiction. Willis takes events of almost two hundred years ago and makes the excitement and heartbreak feel fresh. At times, this book feels like a novel; at others, a memoir. Despite what the cover and title suggest, this book isn’t just about Elizabeth Van Lew; it describes many people she encountered in her work for the Union. She does, however, remain at the heart of the book. Willis’ work is rich with details and supported by citations.

I give this book 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Some information won’t be new for Civil War buffs, but I still found it an excellent, engaging read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

This review is crossposted on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon and Instagram within one week of the book’s publication.

Loved learning about Lincoln's lady spymasters. If it wasn't for female spy's during wars I don't think they would have been one as quickly as they were. Women have always been spies why can't we get more movies with females spy's. Without them being second fiddle to men.