In the spirit of John Le Carre, Stephanie
brings to life the remarkable true story of a spy who worked for both Russia
and the United States in the 1940s and 50s. Bentley is often credited with
starting America’s Communist Red Scare, and for naming hundreds of American
Communists as traitors to the state―including Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, the
infamous American couple sentenced to death for treason.
Decades after Bentley’s death, Stephanie’s
A MOST CLEVER GIRL (Berkley Trade Paperback; On Sale September
14, 2021) is the first historical novel to tell her story, exposing the ruthlessness
of her Russian counterparts and the intense pressures she faced at every turn,
ultimately illuminating the enormous emotional and psychological toll that she
paid for her work.
Some of Bentley’s male
counterparts provided similar espionage and informant work and were awarded
high honors for their service by the American government. But Bentley’s story
has largely been pushed under the rug. The truth of her court testimonies has
constantly been called into question, despite a now-declassified report that
has verified her statements. Stephanie’s novel aims to shed light on Bentley’s
story and polish her somewhat tarnished reputation―while still leaving readers
guessing at her motives and her version of the truth.
A MOST CLEVER GIRL opens in
1963, as college student Catherine Gray arrives unannounced on the doorstep of
a woman named Elizabeth Bentley, gun in hand, demanding answers about a
scandalous family secret that has just been revealed. But Catherine never
expects all that Elizabeth is about to expose.
Elizabeth’s narrative takes
readers through her recruitment to the American Communist Party in her youth,
and how her unique education and experiences allowed her to successfully spy on
fascists at the outbreak of World War II. Elizabeth falls deeper into the Party
when she sets off on a romance with her handler, Jacob Golos, and together,
they build the largest Soviet spy network in America. But when WWII ends and
the U.S. becomes embroiled in the Cold War against the U.S.S.R, all Elizabeth
holds to be true is called into question and she turns to the FBI for
salvation.
Elizabeth is a skilled chameleon
whose story changes depending on the circumstance, making her an effective spy
but also an unreliable narrator, delivering a twisty, satisfying read.
Extensively researched, Thornton’s novel explores the extraordinary life of a woman
who has long been forgotten by history.
A MOST CLEVER GIRL is
perfect for fans of Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network and Ericka Robuck’s The
Invisible Woman.
Meet the Author: Stephanie
Marie Thornton
Prior to turning my attention to
the Cold War, I wrote about two women closely connected to the White
House. And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier
Kennedy Onassis is an intimate portrait of America’s most iconic First
Lady while American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice
Roosevelt, tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s hellion of a
daughter and how she became Washington’s Other Monument.
My first
two novels, The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora and Daughter
of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt reimagine the lives of two of
history’s forgotten women: Theodora of the Byzantine Empire and Pharaoh
Hatshepsut.
My third and fourth books center
around the women who stood behind the greatest conquerors the world has ever
seen. The Tiger Queens is the story of Genghis Khan’s
wife and daughters, while The Conqueror’s Wife tells of
the women who both loved and hated Alexander the Great. With my love of
the ancient world, I also joined the H Team to help pen a collaborative
novel, Song of War: A Novel of Troy in which I put a new spin
on the story of Cassandra, King Priam’s cursed seer of a daughter.
I live with my husband and daughter in Alaska, where I’m always working on my next novel.
You can find me on Twitter
as @StephMThornton and
I’m also on Goodreads, Facebook, and Instagram.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Doesn’t this sound like an intriguing bit of history that wasn’t taught when you or I were in school?
How I wish that the history I had been taught at school had been like this. But no. We got dates, battles and rulers. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting! I do like reading about history, and what a fascinating chapter of history it is! The story sounds well-written, too, as though it draws the reader in and that's an even bigger bonus. Thanks for sharing, Mason.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a story with an unreliable narrator.
ReplyDelete