Women Spies

Women Spies: A Novel of Remembrance of Mata Hari, Mary Bowser, Noor Inayat Khan, Nancy Wake and other Strong Women of History is a historical fiction that uses the "grandmother's chair" method to recount the very real histories of famous and infamous female spies down through the ages. The story begins with Lannie (a fictitious character) watching a mysterious neighbor moving in next door. Her grandmother (also fictitious) collects stories about spies. As Lannie learns about famous female spies, so does the listener. The fictitious background is used as a vehicle for discussing each of the featured women, presenting various views, some of them opposing, that affect our perception of these women today. A Forbes Magazine article commented that women have always been uniquely suited to spying because they understand subtle messages delivered through body language, and because they understand how people interact. The article goes on to say that women are good at multitasking, as a rule, since it is often required for successfully running a home. These are just a few of the traits needed to be a successful spy. The book also touches on spies for the other side, and has a running thread of plot that focuses around the fictional characters.