Historical fiction allows authors to embellish upon real life events, especially when the characters are long deceased, as in this novel about civil war spy Rose Greenhow. Francis Hamit has written a spy novel, which captivates your attention right from the start and keeps the reader enthralled as the lives of heroes, heroines, and villains are weaved into a tale of fictionalized truth!

Rose Greenhow is a character described in today’s vernacular as more than a loose woman! She used her feminine wiles to gain both fame and fortune. Playing footloose and fancy free was her stock in trade.

The start of this book centers around her husband who had achieved some notoriety as a man upon whom the government could rely to represent the interests of Washington in the development of relations with Mexico and then in the land claims in and around San Francisco. Rose enhanced his status in Washington as she meandered through society by bedding with many influential people. Robert Greenhow lived separate from his wife in San Francisco while she stayed in Washington. He had paramours with the full approval of Rose and his mentor Judah P. Benjamin, Junior Senator from Louisiana.

About one-third of the way through this novel, we have insight into the disappearance of Robert. He officially was killed by ruffians, but in reality has moved to China with two of his mistresses to live out the remainder of his days after the release of the story about his death.

This book is a continuation of the first book written by Hamit “The Shenandoah Spy” as the author in researching found new characters and stories, which enhance this spy thriller. Rose Greenhow was either a great spy who had developed a network of society matrons to further the cause of the Confederate Army or a one-battle hero who gave confidence to the troops in one particular southern battle and then fell into faded glory.

Allan Pinkerton and his operatives put Rose under surveillance and then ultimately confined her to her home where she was to spend a considerable period as the civil war raged on. Rose had many friends in Washington on both sides, as she had been a society socialite who knew those people with plenty of influence. Pinkerton and his cohorts used many devious methods in an attempt to force Rose to tell who were the people involved in her network of spies. They even confined her with her child and refused proper medical treatment for them both!

Ultimately, she and her child moved to a prison for further confinement. Yet, through this period, which involved many months, she still had not been charged with a crime.

This is an outstanding book because of the factual basis and the relationship of the main character with Presidents, Senators, and Generals. There are scenes, which are adult in nature, but they are tasteful giving the impact of reality.

This is a four star book and highly recommended. ( )