Elle Burns, once a slave, is a spy for the Unionist cause. She has a photographic memory; a very useful gift. She returns to the south and goes undercover as a mute house slave to gather intelligence on the Confederates. Here she encounters Malcolm McCall, an undercover detective with Allan Pinkerton’s Secret Service.
Elle is a very complex and admirable character. She has willingly returned to being a slave for the sake of a higher cause, where she once again has to endure the drudgery and ill-treatment of a life she previously left behind. She battles with her need to maintain her role, and her desire to speak out against the ignorance of those she now serves. She is a brilliant spy: unassuming, lurking, and always listening.
McCall is more like James Bond; a dashing, charming role-player, seducing secrets from others. He’s all flash and dazzling smiles. Elle dislikes him, and at first struggles to believe his dedication to the cause and his opinion of her people.
My one concern was about the portrayal of spies in general. Elle is a bit harsh on Malcom and I think it is unfair to judge him for playing a role in order to deceive those around him when she knows the motives behind his perfidy. As a result, Malcom questions his own actions and this just did not come across to me as authentic to the character of a trained and experienced spy.
I accept, it’s fiction at the end of the day. This just niggled at me a bit in terms of characterisation. I understand the author’s problem. The hero must be likeable, but in general, I’m not sure if the nature of a spy’s job can make them so. The author here is trying to balance the character’s personal morality with his need to lie as part of his job.
This is a historical romance that pulls no punches about the realities of society and its people at the time. It delves deep into the characters and allows the readers into their heads to really get behind them. It opened my eyes to things that I had not considered about the realities of slavery and the ignorance slaves faced, even from those who claimed to be fighting for their cause.
This is an enjoyable novel, enriched by solid research. There is plenty of conflict and tension between the characters which adds to the heat. It’s a good love story combined with an engaging spy adventure.
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Feels: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
