The author has written a gripping story based on real life American spy for the Russians, Elizabeth Bentley. I’d not heard of her before and found myself intrigued by this complex woman who later turned course and helped the American government instead.

The first line grabs you and the tale deepens quickly, propelled by Thornton’s elegant narrative and sensitive character development. I felt as if I were in Elizabeth’s head at times, experiencing her thoughts and feelings as she makes choices I could never make as an American citizen. Only the best psychological portraits give you that sense of inhabiting a character so completely, and Thornton does this masterfully. I ran through a range of emotions — anxiety, fear, anger, relief, pity, grief, acceptance — until I reached the touching end.

Highly recommended for readers who love thrilling tales of complex women who changed history.

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 14 Sep 2021
#CleverGirl #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Elizabeth Bentley played a pivotal role in World War ll and the postwar Red scare. This historical fiction rendering gives an insight into what can make an intelligent, impressionable young woman think she is working for the greater good in aiding a foreign country. Miss Bentley may have been notorious during her lifetime but I was unfamiliar with her and found A Most Clever Girl informative and poignant.