A riveting dual timeline that shares the story of two women trying to find their way in a world that is dominated, and dictated by men. Part pirate tale and part historical mystery the stories of Hannah and Marian intertwine to expose a long hidden secret of a female pirate who was against the odds in her deception, but survived to tell her tale- or did she? Excellent storytelling made this an engaging read! Another great historical from Katherine Howe!

What a tale! Marian, a professor at Radcliffe and daughter of a daring adventurer, is skeptical at first when Kay, one of her students, shows her Hannah's "true account" - a book by a woman who, disguised as a. boy, sailed with pirates. Hannah's story is amazing, especially for a woman in the early 18th century but it's also raw and graphically violent. She takes the place and the name of Will of a boy she met by chance and finds herself in the grasp of Ned Lowe, a vicious man who first leads a mutiny and then attacks a French ship for its treasures. Ned is looking for the treasure buried by another pirate and, in the early 20th century so will Marian, Kay, and her father. You might not think much of Marian's story at first but wait- she's got hidden depths and there's a whopper of a twist coming. I found myself caught up in Hannah's world, with Seneca, with the dog and the parrot, even with all the horrors and rooting for her. No spoilers for this one but know that you will be surprised. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great page turning read.

Fact or Fiction? Is this a true account of Hannah, a woman pirate? Is there a treasure to be found? This book is set in two timelines. One timeline is Hannah's memoir--a rough orphan from the streets of Boston--that joins up with a pirate crew in efforts to get out of a dangerous situation. This is its own story as is the one in the second timeline. The second timeline is set in the 1930's when Hannah's manuscript is discovered and skimpy details of a hidden treasure are found. Katherine Howe does historical fiction well and does not fail to please with her new novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co Publishers for the digital ARC. I was very excited to read this book and the review is my own opinion.

This was a really fun adventure story! I'm noticing more pirate books lately, and was really excited to see one from one of my favorite authors, Katherine Howe. The story was well-paced and really kept my attention -- I think I finished this in about 2 days!

I would have rated this a full five stars, except I wasn't totally in love with some of the aspects of the portion of the story with Marian, her father, and Kay. I understand why it was included and what it lent to the book overall, but I really wish I had more with Hannah and the pirates -- that was so much fun!

Katherine Howe is well-versed in mariner lingo and the real life of pirates—not the swashbucklers of literature but the gritty, dangerous kind that prowled the seas in the early 18th century. As the title explains, much of the novel is the autobiography of a serving girl fleeing from trouble who disguises herself as a cabin boy and works alongside misfits and desperados of the sea. Although Hannah’s story is fiction, her captain is based on the real, cold-blooded pirate Edward Low. As she learns the ropes and what governs the crew, Hannah’s story is paralleled by a professor, Marian Beresford, who strives to get out of her famous father’s shadow and find Hannah’s buried treasure in 1930.

A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself is a fascinating read. It draws you into these two women’s lives but doesn’t complete the whole picture. You have to paint that in yourself, given the clues provided.

Prerelease book provided by NetGalley for review consideration.

This book is a wild and exciting ride. I almost didn't finish it; there are graphic depictions of violence (I know, I know, it's a book about pirates; what was I expecting?). In the end, though, I kept going, because I wanted so badly to know how it ended! There are multiple twists at the end that had me racing through the last quarter of the book. While one twist wasn't convincing to me (due to an inconsistency that I can't explain without spoiling the book), it was still a fascinating tale. I've never read another book like this one. While I'm not normally one for two-timeline stories, this one brought the timelines together expertly (aside from the really jarring initial transition from Hannah's story to Marian's; I was really confused at first). It's difficult for me to rate this book, because in some ways, it wasn't my cup of tea - but putting aside my personal preferences regarding foul language and graphic violence, this is a well-written and mesmerizing read.

I received a free digital advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review; I was not required to provide positive feedback.

Professor Marian Beresford is prone to temptation. As a lesbian in 1930s America, she has to keep her desires on the QT. She’s also used to having her academic opinions dismissed by men. So when a student presents her with what appears to be a real diary of an eighteenth-century woman detailing how she came to be a pirate at the beginning of Katherine Howe’s engrossing novel, A True Account, Marian can’t help but be ensnared by what might be the greatest discovery of her career.

The first chapter of A True Account is told by Hannah Masury, who works at a dockside tavern in Boston. There are few opportunities for a poor woman in 1726 with no family connections. Life doesn’t really get any better than a stolen moment to smoke her pipe or escape with her friends for an afternoon; there’s nothing better to hope for. On the day we meet Hannah, she’s decided to escape from the tavern and go to the execution of a notorious pirate with her friends. That same day also includes a series of bizarre events that see Hannah—now in disguise as a young boy—signing on as the cabin boy of a ship that is almost immediately taken over by the violent pirate Edward Low.

The manuscript in Marian’s hands is incredible. It looks plausible but the odds that it’s real are vanishingly small. And yet, Marian agrees to partner with the student who found the manuscript and approach her explorer father for funds to travel to Florida, on the hunt for the treasure hinted at by Hannah in her account. The narrative shifts back and forth in time as Hannah and Marian take turns sharing their adventures. Both of these stories caught and held my interest, a tricky thing with split-time novels. Even though Hannah’s chapters are full of pirates and violence and the constant possibility of being discovered, Marian’s chapters are full of hope that she might finally have found something important enough to allow her to finally step out of the long shadow of her famous father.

I really enjoyed the way that Howe teased me about the authenticity of Hannah’s manuscript. Just when I made up my mind one way about it, there would be something that would make me doubt. Why is Marian’s student, Kay, so busy courting the media when they’re trying to keep the expedition quiet? Why do so many of the details of Hannah’s account match up with contemporary maps and pirate lore while others don’t? Readers who have read R.L. Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island will have some pointed questions. Thankfully, Howe doesn’t leave us wondering at the end.

I think readers who love historical fiction and historical mysteries will have a blast reading about Hannah and Marian’s adventures. I certainly did.

Sadly this did not live up to my expectations. I loved The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane so much and I just keep hoping that each of Howe's books will live up to that one but they have not.

A rollicking and brutal story and the woman who investigates it, A True Account relates the story of young woman pirate Hannah Masury in 1726 and Radcliffe professor Marian Beresford’s quest in the 1930s to uncover Masury’s secrets. With Al, the twists and turns of an 18th century ocean voyage on a pirate ship, Katherine Howe’s latest is enthralling. Her sense of place is impeccable. The characters are beyond interesting. The back matte is a huge bonus. Four stars or five stars? I was so jarred by the first transition from Hannah’s to Marian’s storyline that I turned back to the very beginning to see if I missed something. Perhaps the formatting of the galley is different from what the print book will be. Or perhaps I was supposed to feel that way - as Marian was so absorbed and transported by Hannah’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to help this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic swashbuckling pirate story told in dual timelines .Katherine Howe has written an exciting bpage turning adventure a female pirate beyond exciting.#netgalley #henryholtbooks

I received this from Netgalley.com.

A wonderful swashbuckling adventure. I better liked reading the older (1700's Hannah) timeline and wanted more of the highseas adventure. Good read.

3.75☆

Hannah Masury finds herself in an interesting situation after watching a man hung for piracy. There are whispers of a treasure in the Caribbean spread and Hannah is forced to run for her life. She disguises herself as a cabin boy in the pitiless crew of a notorious pirate ship.

Centuries later, Professor Marian Beresford pieces Hannah’s story together and sees her own lack of freedom reflected back at her. Marian is determined to solve the mystery that Hannah very well may have taken to her grave.

I really wanted to like this book, the premise sounded really interesting, and I couldn’t wait to dive in. The book started out pretty slow, and it was hard to get into. Then without warning we switched characters and a few hundred years. I found the transition really hard. The characters were similar enough that it took a while to figure out whose point of view we were reading. I think there is a missed opportunity to add chapter headers or really anything that will guide the reader along their journey. Once I got over this, I did find myself enjoying the story, but I still struggled. I did appreciate the level of research that seemed to go into this one, it was very apparent.

If you are looking for an interesting historical fiction about a female pirate, then check this one out. Just be prepared for some rough transitions.

Thank you very much to Henry Holt & Company, and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this dual-timeline historical fiction novel featuring Hannah Masury, an indentured servant who finds herself a pirate in the 1720s, and Marian Beresford, a professor following Hannah's tracks in the 1930s. The writing and adventure stories for both characters were so engrossing that I was both looking forward to and not wanting the viewpoints to switch. I found the ending both surprising, so smart and one I keep thinking about.

Katherine Howe has written a multilayered, cinematic, swashbuckling tale. Hannah Masury, a young woman living in Boston in 1726, is the narrator of this exciting book. Due to various circumstances, she ends up pretending to be a boy on a ship taken over by pirates, and this book is seemingly her autobiography. At a certain point in the book, things take an unexpected turn and the book becomes something else. I did not know this going in, but since it’s in the publisher’s blurb, I guess it’s not a spoiler, but I’m glad I knew nothing, so read no further if you don’t want to know.
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Just when Hannah’s tale is getting extremely suspenseful, the story shifts into the 1930s, and you realize that Hannah’s book is being discussed by professor Marian Beresford and a student of hers. Her student is convinced that the book is real and that there is buried treasure to be found. Marian is skeptical but intrigued. The duel stories continue and converge into a very satisfying ending, with the author’s notes bringing even more delightful details into play.

Howe has done her research. The descriptions of Colonial Boston, the action on the ship, Marian’s life in the 1930s… it all comes to life in her exquisite prose. Hannah is a non-conventional woman and Marian is as well, both trying to navigate their way in a world run by men. My only criticism is that the sections about Marian were not quite as captivating as Hannah’s. And there is quite a lot of violence, to be expected in a book about pirates, so beware. This is a fantastic book for lovers of historical fiction, especially pirate stories!
Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company, for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Henry Holt & Co. simply does not miss! Katherine Howe wrote the HELL out of this book. There’s a lot here that is hit-or-miss for me generally (split timelines, alternating between first and third person POV) that I LOVED here because it was so, so well executed. This is an author who knows her craft.

It’s impressive how distinct the voices are that Howe creates in this book—Hannah’s narrative was so convincing and engrossing that I was actually taken aback the first time we “flashed forward” to Marian’s narrative, because I had forgotten from the blurb that this is a split timeline narrative! All of the descriptions are rich and evocative from the start. This meant the book had a bit of a slower start for me, as so much work is put into creating that sense of immersion, but I didn’t mind because even the scene descriptors added to the sense of impending adventure.

I’d note for readers who are averse to horror to read cautiously here; there isn’t a *ton,* but at the end of the day this book is largely about pirates, so there were some moments of violence that took me aback. They didn’t feel out of place, but I could see a reader with a more sensitive stomach maybe doing less well in those places. They are few and far in between, though, so still worth the read either way.

Also impressive is how the more modern (relatively speaking) timeline was just as engrossing as the pirate one! Marian’s feelings, fears, and struggles as she navigates her place in the world (with regards to her gender, her age, her sexuality, her occupation) are so compelling and thoughtfully written. You root for her every bit as much as she is rooting for Hannah. The twists in this near the end were particularly shocking (in a good way)—I read the last fifty percent of this book in a day because I just couldn’t put it down.

5 seaworthy stars!

I love Howe's books and I love lady pirates, so this book was a no brainer for me. It's a dual-timeline book, with one timeline following Hannah Masury, indentured servant turned pyrate, and the other timeline following Dr Marian Breresford, a professor following an account of Hannah's life. As is usual with a dual timeline book, I was much more invested in Hannah's story than in Marian's. But come on, PIRATES! I was definitely on the edge of my seat for Hannah's adventures, especially the last chapter. On the other hand, I mostly felt sorry for Marian, but also sometimes frustrated with her life (as I know she was).
It's amazing how much story Howe packed in to so few pages. The ending chapter (which is a long one) initially had me screaming with frustration, but finally excited with triumph. I definitely felt satisfied at the end. I also love reading the author notes; it seems Howe has THE most fascinating family tree to draw upon.
I definitely recommend for any fans of historical fiction and lady pirates!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.

Another great book by Katherine Howe, excellently researched as always. Howe takes us back in time to the days of pirates, and unexpectedly this one is a women. Hannah finds herself running for her life and stows away on a ship posing as a boy. While life can be cruel on a pirate ship, there is also a sense of order and democracy that I wasn't expecting. Hannah feels she is sure she can find the buried treasure which is a hot topic on the ship.

Fast forward 200 years, we find Marion, a Radcliff professor, who doesn't feel she is recognized for her talent and potential, until she comes to hear about Hannah's story. Intrigued, she tries to assemble the pieces of the puzzle that was Hannah's existence, and solve they mystery of her life.

This is at once a pirate tale, a mystery of sorts, with the possibility of finding buried treasure somewhere in the the world. This is a fun book to read, filled with adventure and intrigue. Fans of historical fiction will like it. Fans of Katherine Hose will love it!

Thanks Net Galley for thus ARC opportunity.

I’ve loved all of the witch-filled historical fiction by Katherine Howe, and now A True Account takes us into a pirate’s life like no other book I’ve read. Hannah Masury is an indentured servant forced through circumstances to escape her life in Boston. She ends up onboard a ship whose crew mutinies and turns to a life of pirating. No spoilers but if you’re looking for a swashbuckling tale with a few unexpected twists, this is the book to pick up.

An unexpected thriller with plucky, flawed women at the center - a pirate, a historian, and a college student. The interwoven chapters of pirate tales and historical mystery add up to a rich and fascinating story that examines how many are allowed to live and what happens when they go outside the bounds of society.

What could be better than a story about a female pirate? In 1726 Hannah Masury runs for her life and ends up dressed as a boy on a pirate ship. Adventure ensues. In the other timeline, 1930 a female student comes to her professor with the book that is Hannah’s story and they try to find Hannah’s buried treasure. Of course it’s much more complicated than it seems and a great adventure.