There is something about the month of November that makes me want to read books set during the early years of our nation. To Outwit Them All by Peggy Wirgau is just such a book. Set during the years of the American Revolution, it presents the intriguing story of the spies who helped win the war.
Betty Floyd’s uncle risked his life when he signed the Declaration of Independence, yet she is the epitome of British loyalty and social grace in 1779. Attempting to ignore the war, she attends New York’s balls and soirees with the Crown’s officers, but the city is a dangerous place for someone with Patriot ties. When a soldier she has befriended is murdered at a British prison, Betty is driven to choose sides and join General Washington’s covert spy group, the Culper Ring.
Her social calendar provides the perfect backdrop to dance with the enemy, and she catches the eye of the charming Major John André, Britain’s Director of Intelligence. Garnering timely information for the Patriots becomes a never-ending balancing act, amid heightened collision between duty to her country and deepening feelings for André. When the slightest misstep could expose her and the entire Ring, a traitorous plot conducted by Benedict Arnold unfolds, and Betty is led to the very brink of death. Will she outwit the enemy, or will her flirtations with danger cost her everything?
Peggy Wirgau loves true stories from the past and writes through the eyes of history’s unsung heroines. Her first novel, The Stars in April, is based on the true story of a twelve-year-old Titanic survivor. The book is the recipient of several awards and honors, including a Starred Review from School Library Journal and the Pageturner Award Longlist. Her newest novel, To Outwit Them All, is inspired by the true story of the only female member of George Washington’s spy ring during the American Revolution. To Outwit Them All is also a Pageturner Book Award Finalist.
Peggy and her husband are Michigan natives and now make their home in Colorado. They have two children and three small grandchildren. Peggy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Historical Novel Society, and Colorado Authors League. When she isn’t writing, baking, or gardening, she enjoys speaking to book clubs and anywhere readers gather.
My Impressions:
To Outwit Them All, a historical novel rich in detail, explores the puzzle of who the still unidentified lady member of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring really was. Nothing is really known about the only female member, Agent 355, of the ring that helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War, though many have their theories. Wirgau presents a fictional case for Elizabeth “Betty” Floyd who was a cousin of Culper, Jr., Robert Townsend. It is interesting that the members of the spy ring kept their identities secret even after the war was concluded. But that may be the nature of spies! The author does a good job of bringing the times to life for the modern reader. (Although some of the phrasing seemed a little too modern — Betty’s cousin getting on her last nerve, for instance.) New York City is the setting, complete with all that surrounded the occupation of the British Army — entertainments for the officers and the horrific conditions of captured rebels. I really liked the history displayed in this novel. The theory of Betty Floyd’s part in spying on the British and her relationship with spymaster British John Andre is well-developed and plausible. I didn’t really like Betty all that much for most of the book. She seemed very naive and generally clueless as to the real dangers associated with her activities, even as she is warned repeatedly that her impulsiveness could prove fatal not only to herself. But she certainly grows in maturity when confronted with the stark realities of her work within the spy ring. Her story certainly kept the pages turning! (Please note: this book is marketed to the general public, however, it does reflect a Christian worldview. There are a couple of instances of profanity.)
While historians may never discover Agent 355’s identity, To Outwit Them All is an intriguing what if. If you like historical fiction set during the early years of America, then you should definitely check out this book.
Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I read this book through the KU subscription program. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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