To Outwit Them All

Wirgau (The Stars in April) draws from the legend of Agent 355, a female member of the Culper Ring spy network, for this textured tale of the American Revolution. It’s 1779 in New York City, and 21-year-old Betty Floyd, who grew up in a Long Island family loyal to the Crown, toes a determined line of neutrality, caring for rebel prisoners by day while attending lavish Loyalist balls by night. After a Patriot prisoner she’s befriended is murdered by British officers, she joins the Culper Ring, a group of spies working for the American rebels and led by George Washington. Her British Loyalist society connections prove useful for gathering intelligence, a project that grows increasingly risky as Loyalist soldiers comb the city for spies. When Betty develops feelings for an alluring British major, her undercover status is threatened as she’s torn between her desires, her faith, and the nation’s future. Wirgau’s tense, twisty plot unfolds against the backdrop of a richly detailed portrait of a Revolutionary era filled with grime, bustling industry, divided loyalties, and plenty of secrets. Fans of historical suspense will be swept up. (Oct.)