Many of you know I’m working on a fiction book about the Reconstruction of the South. What a terrible and tragic time in our history. Many people do not know how the south was rebuilt after the war and what the people went through. It affected everyone. One of the things I am doing while researching is also reading fiction books about the war and aftermath. One needs to be immersed!

The Spy Mistress came to my attention a while back and I have been drawn to the cover ever since. The woman in the picture allures such grace, intelligence, mystery and deep in thought. One wonders at the paper in her hand and what it says. Obviously it has made an impression on her. Not only that the cover truly draws in the atmosphere of the past.

Below is the book description of the story.  Though I hear often, that this book is completely one-sided, that is glorifies the north and the characters are lacking depth. Though I can’t stand the political correct, I am curious about the story!

Stephanie M. Hopkins

Born to slave-holding aristocracy in Richmond, Virginia, and educated by Northern Quakers, Elizabeth Van Lew was a paradox of her time. When her native state seceded in April 1861, Van Lew’s convictions compelled her to defy the new Confederate regime. Pledging her loyalty to the Lincoln White House, her courage would never waver, even as her wartime actions threatened not only her reputation, but also her life.

Van Lew’s skills in gathering military intelligence were unparalleled. She helped to construct the Richmond Underground and orchestrated escapes from the infamous Confederate Libby Prison under the guise of humanitarian aid. Her spy ring’s reach was vast, from clerks in the Confederate War and Navy Departments to the very home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Although Van Lew was inducted posthumously into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, the astonishing scope of her achievements has never been widely known. In Chiaverini’s riveting tale of high-stakes espionage, a great heroine of the Civil War finally gets her due.

Be sure to check out my Wish-List 5: The American Civil War!

Check out this week’s other cover crush over at

Flashlight Commentary-Cover Crush 

2 Kids and Tired Books-Cover Crush 

A Bookaholic Swede-Cover Crush 

The Maidens Court-Cover Crush