A Most Clever Girl

About A Most Clever Girl

She appeared to be a regular 1950s housewife. No one would suspect she was the leader of one of the largest spy rings in America. From USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Marie Thornton comes a thrilling tale of love, loyalty, and espionage, based on the incredible true story of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent spying for the Russians and the United States.

1963: A recent Vassar graduate, Catherine Grey is struggling to get her first job in journalism. Alone in the world after the death of her parents in a tragic car accident, Catherine can’t believe her luck when the opportunity to interview the controversial American spy Elizabeth Bentley arises. Catherine happily dives into interviewing her new subject and is enthralled with Bentley’s life of espionage…

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. Unable to fight her dangerous attraction to him, Elizabeth must choose between her love for one man and her loyalty to her country. She follows her heart, a decision that will haunt her forever.

As Catherine listens to Elizabeth’s harrowing tale, she empathizes with her, but as she begins to research the veracity of Elizabeth’s accounts she uncovers startling revelations that could link the two women’s lives in shocking ways. Faced with the idea that her entire existence is based on a lie, Catherine realizes there can be many sides to the truth and to find happiness she and Elizabeth will have to shape their own narratives going forward.