A Spy

by Hannah Honegger

Irreversible pressure mounts throughout Mary André's espionage efforts on behalf of George Washington as the American Revolutionary War persists across the colonies. Her growing convictions for the rebel cause and deepening love for enemy officer Benjamin Tallmadge place her at odds with her outward loyalty to the British crown and her brother. Just one marginal maneuver could not only end the war but also end the lives of thousands. As she uncovers the British plot for capturing West Point, Mary realizes that a sacrifice must be made.

Genres: Historical Fiction

310 pages, Hardcover

Published January 16, 2025

Reviews

[Madelyn Grey]

A SPY opens right in the action, unlike the more slowburn approach of book one, A LADY. It was fun and engaging getting to see Mary settled into her spy routine (i.e. inserting intelligence into carrots, cloak linings, hardboiled eggs, etc), and the lies she had to continuously weave in order to escape detection. As a fan of the AmRev, I was personally interested in seeing the struggles Mary would have to endure from her brother's pending death, and whether or not she could reconcile with that, so I was pretty surprised when it turned out to be her choice! I'll admit I was expecting it to be Ben who somehow got Andre implicated, though it makes sense to give Mary the tragic agency to hand over her own brother. Unfortunately for poor Mary, everything went on a downward spiral from there!

I've always thought more AmRev media should include the Jersey in their depictions, since prison ships were responsible for more deaths in the war than on the battlefield, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is where Mary was banished for her spy work. The book really picked up at this point, and the more I read, the more pleasantly surprised I became, because it's always very gutsy for an author to kill off their main character. I personally have no problem with it and have done it many times myself, because sometimes it just FEELS right for the sake of the story. And although this was tragic, I think it added a bittersweet beauty to the story that wouldn't have been present otherwise, had Mary Andre remained alive, and it really encapsulated how war is filled with sacrifice and pain, as well as reward and regrowth. I'm saddened that Ben didn't think he could tell his son about his true parentage (hopefully he will someday, because the boy deserves to know!), but I really liked the ending with him meeting Mary Floyd. Their chemistry was instantaneous, and I thought their exchange was really cute. I have some friends who adore real!Ben Tallmadge/Mary Floyd, so I know they'd appreciate that bit.

Overall, this was a great conclusion to the series, and I have a lot of conflicting emotions swirling inside right now, so I imagine the author's overall intent was achieved! Well done!

[Shannon McNear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary André and Benjamin Tallmadge return for yet another tale of intrigue, peril, and love, against the backdrop of America’s struggle for independence. Both thrilling and heart-wrenching, this story kept me on the edge of my seat! Honegger is definitely a rising star in historical fiction.

[Kyliegh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seriously, spoiler!









I had assumed since this book strayed pretty far from historical accuracy when it came to the character’s lives, that Mary and Ben would get their HEA…they didn’t. Mary died giving birth to their son just as you think they’re going to get their HEA. Then he leaves their son with others to be raised and meets and marries the real Mary Floyed. Honestly, if I had known this was how it was going to end, I wouldn’t have read this book. I feel like it was just so much build up that led to nothing.

[Elora Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly the exact same review as A Lady with a few extra notes.

The plot was breakneck pace, which kept me invested but I felt as though parts were missing. Really wish we had a Ben POV. Thought it would have been cool to have this novel from his perspective while A Lady from Mary's.

While the romance was fine in this I did like it in book 1 more. Also thought some of the decisions made by the main characters were head scratching, considering they were supposed to be spies and be smart (the whole thing leading to Mary's capture felt forced and sudden). I also felt that side characters did not get nearly enough time, something that could've been remedied with another POV perhaps.

That ending also felt a bit out of place but I respect the need of wanting the story to fit within history.

I do think that these two books flow seamlessly together and I really liked that. It felt like one big continuing story that could have been one longer novel, but I liked the way it was broken apart into two.

Overall a fine finale to this duology but I much preferred A Lady to A Spy.

[Jean-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Honegger concludes her Cipher 355 duology with such a bittersweet ending to The Spy. The lead couple Mary and Benjamin (she’s the sister of British Major John André and he’s a Continental Colonel) were star-crossed lovers from the start, and their relationship endures tremendous highs and lows in The Spy. Their lives are filled with impossible choices due to their respective roles in General George Washington’s espionage ring and the consequences of those choices cause them both to experience intense heartbreak.

We experience all the events of the plot through Mary’s eyes, and I think the story could have been enhanced if it also had a Benjamin POV, especially for those times when he and Mary were apart.

The story brings home the deeply personal effects of war on individual lives and all the heroic sacrifices that must be made to fight for what one believes.

[Crystal Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good follow-up to A Lady. A rich setting and historical authenticity make it an interesting read, especially for history lovers. The twists and turns kept the plot interesting.
While I liked the main couple, I felt they both could be difficult towards one another. And while this story is fade-to-black, I personally felt the constant undressing (between a married couple) and intimate scenes was a bit overkill, especially for this particular timeframe. Still, a solid 3.5 ⭐️ for Historical fiction. This author clearly has a lot of talent and a passion for history.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
I absolutely love that this story is based off of real people. Mary seems as though she would be made up, but she and her brother were actually involved in the American Revolution.
While the ending is heartbreaking, and not as I wanted. I found Mary's strength in a time where women were assets and weak, inspiring. I'm sure women have played larger roles throughout history than we can truly imagine!

[Dana Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the series was intriguing but “A Spy” was a page turner. Didn’t want to put the book down. Had to find out what was going to happen next. It was a sweet romance but a heartbreaking ending.
Looking forward to maybe a third book in the series to see what happens to Benjamin and Caleb.
Great read.