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Mrs. Benedict Arnold
A riveting reimagining of the young woman who almost ended the American Revolution.
Philadelphia in the 1770s. Peggy Shippen longs for the war she’s living through to end. Though not always appreciated at home, she finds her curiosity is welcomed by a lively and influential circle of friends, including a glamorous rising star in the British army, Captain John André.
When the war separates them, Peggy is devastated—both by his absence and the horrors of ongoing conflict—before finding consolation in a man whose heroics for the Patriots have captured the world’s imagination: General Benedict Arnold.
As she trades Loyalist balls for Patriot salons, entertaining the most prominent figures of early America, and navigating the country’s lethal political currents, she conceives of an audacious scheme to achieve peace and her family’s survival, unleashing what would become the most famous act of treason in history.
When uncertainty and bloodshed are the only constants, Mrs. Benedict Arnold asks, how far will one woman go for safety?
Philadelphia in the 1770s. Peggy Shippen longs for the war she’s living through to end. Though not always appreciated at home, she finds her curiosity is welcomed by a lively and influential circle of friends, including a glamorous rising star in the British army, Captain John André.
When the war separates them, Peggy is devastated—both by his absence and the horrors of ongoing conflict—before finding consolation in a man whose heroics for the Patriots have captured the world’s imagination: General Benedict Arnold.
As she trades Loyalist balls for Patriot salons, entertaining the most prominent figures of early America, and navigating the country’s lethal political currents, she conceives of an audacious scheme to achieve peace and her family’s survival, unleashing what would become the most famous act of treason in history.
When uncertainty and bloodshed are the only constants, Mrs. Benedict Arnold asks, how far will one woman go for safety?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 19, 2026
Continuing my desire for American history reading this year this book looked interesting, although it is fictionalized history. What I came away with was – I should have stuck with non-fiction.
In this book Peggy Shippen is a teenager wanting new dresses and looking forward to parties and gawking at the men. She is also smart and intelligent but that seems to take a back seat for a good portion of the book. I almost quit the book several times.
I soldiered on and when Peggy meets Benedict Arnold she is taken by him quickly and very soon they are married. The book becomes less fluffy at this point. Yet the modern language and actions started to really annoy me.
According to this book Peggy Arnold had to convince Benedict to become the traitor he become. Throughout the book Peggy laments the war, wanting it to end, and when their son is born her desire for it to end skyrockets. Thus she believed in these actions to end the war sooner than later, although for the British. Peggy didn’t seem to be much of a patriot anyway.
Book rating: 2.75 stars
Thanks to Zando and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to a published audiobook copy of the book.
In this book Peggy Shippen is a teenager wanting new dresses and looking forward to parties and gawking at the men. She is also smart and intelligent but that seems to take a back seat for a good portion of the book. I almost quit the book several times.
I soldiered on and when Peggy meets Benedict Arnold she is taken by him quickly and very soon they are married. The book becomes less fluffy at this point. Yet the modern language and actions started to really annoy me.
According to this book Peggy Arnold had to convince Benedict to become the traitor he become. Throughout the book Peggy laments the war, wanting it to end, and when their son is born her desire for it to end skyrockets. Thus she believed in these actions to end the war sooner than later, although for the British. Peggy didn’t seem to be much of a patriot anyway.
Book rating: 2.75 stars
Thanks to Zando and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to a published audiobook copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emma Parry’s debut historical fiction takes a fresh look at Peggy Shippen, drawing on newly uncovered material to reframe her involvement in Benedict Arnold’s infamous treason. The research really shine. Parry clearly did her homework, and I appreciated seeing Peggy portrayed with more nuance than she usually gets.
That said, the pacing didn’t always work for me. The beginning dragged, and the ending leaned heavily on narrative summary, which softened the emotional impact of the story. I was also pulled out of the historical setting more than once by very modern language choices (“upcycle” outfits, a dress that would “slay,” “riffed" on ideas, shrank from it like an "allergy," a promotion being “wish‑list stuff,” a band playing “stapes on repeat,” etc.). Those moments felt jarring in an otherwise carefully constructed 18th‑century world.
Still, there’s a lot of promise in Parry’s writing, and I enjoyed her perspective on Peggy. I’m giving this one 3 stars and will definitely keep an eye out for whatever she writes next.
This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
That said, the pacing didn’t always work for me. The beginning dragged, and the ending leaned heavily on narrative summary, which softened the emotional impact of the story. I was also pulled out of the historical setting more than once by very modern language choices (“upcycle” outfits, a dress that would “slay,” “riffed" on ideas, shrank from it like an "allergy," a promotion being “wish‑list stuff,” a band playing “stapes on repeat,” etc.). Those moments felt jarring in an otherwise carefully constructed 18th‑century world.
Still, there’s a lot of promise in Parry’s writing, and I enjoyed her perspective on Peggy. I’m giving this one 3 stars and will definitely keep an eye out for whatever she writes next.
This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
April 18, 2026
This book was not for me. I can't get use to the writing to enjoy this book. The author uses very modern language which won't allow me to imagine the time period in which this book is supposed to be written.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an account of an act of treason from Peggy Arnold's view during the American Revolutionary War. Peggy is a teenager coming of age during the war and is tired of the bloodshed and the limits put on her family and friends. Her actions remind me of a spoilt teenager only concerned about herself. She believes herself in love with Andre but soon turns her attention to General Arnold when Andre goes to New York. She is flattered by his attention and gifts. Once married Peggy begins to see how Benedict is haunted by past war actions and his request for financial compensation. Her scheme to rectify Benedict's problems and agreed to by Benedict begs many questions. Were they thinking clearly or were they acting on emotions? Selfishness? Anger? "Mrs. Benedict Arnold," by Emma Parry, is an historical fiction that readers will find a thought provoking account of treason.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and this review is my opinion.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and this review is my opinion.
June 5, 2026
Peggy Shippen Arnold is known for being one of the most famous femme fatales of the American Revolution. She has been known for being involved in her husband, General Benedict Arnold’s plot to betray the Patriots with the British. This novel retells her act of treason from her perspective. In this novel, Peggy persuades her husband to betray the Patriots. It also tells us of the reasons why she betrayed her country.
Peggy Shippen Arnold has often been seen in a negative light because she was a spy for Great Britain. I was curious to read this novel because she seemed like a fascinating figure and her story seemed like a soap opera. After reading this book, I came away from having greatly disliked her character. Peggy is a socialite who loves parties. She becomes easily smitten with various men throughout the novel. She is a loyalist because she is smitten with a British spy. Peggy also lacks common sense. She is selfish and flighty. Therefore, I could not relate to her, and did not care about her story.
Overall, this book is about betrayal, love, and war. Except for Peggy, I found the other characters to have more development. I also liked the cameos of other famous figures in the book like Eliza Hamilton and Theodosia Burr. I did think that the book moved slowly in the beginning. However, the plot picked up halfway through the novel. I thought that this book is very well-written, and Mrs. Parry did an excellent job in making colonial America come alive. There was enough political intrigue and drama to keep the reader invested! I recommend this book for fans of My Dear Hamilton, Becoming Lady Washington, and The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
Peggy Shippen Arnold has often been seen in a negative light because she was a spy for Great Britain. I was curious to read this novel because she seemed like a fascinating figure and her story seemed like a soap opera. After reading this book, I came away from having greatly disliked her character. Peggy is a socialite who loves parties. She becomes easily smitten with various men throughout the novel. She is a loyalist because she is smitten with a British spy. Peggy also lacks common sense. She is selfish and flighty. Therefore, I could not relate to her, and did not care about her story.
Overall, this book is about betrayal, love, and war. Except for Peggy, I found the other characters to have more development. I also liked the cameos of other famous figures in the book like Eliza Hamilton and Theodosia Burr. I did think that the book moved slowly in the beginning. However, the plot picked up halfway through the novel. I thought that this book is very well-written, and Mrs. Parry did an excellent job in making colonial America come alive. There was enough political intrigue and drama to keep the reader invested! I recommend this book for fans of My Dear Hamilton, Becoming Lady Washington, and The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
May 5, 2026
If you’re not familiar with the fascinating Peggy Shippen, this is a great place to start.
Aside from invented dialogue and a bit of informed conjecture, this feels like an accurate portrait of one of the American Revolution’s most intriguing and oft misunderstood figures.
If you’re pretty familiar with Shippen’s biographical details, there isn’t a lot to learn here, but it’s still an enjoyable read, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re less familiar with Peggy and her role in the war.
I appreciate that this one is pretty restrained for women’s historical fiction and really does try to focus on Peggy herself rather than just on her relationship to famous men. To that end I’m always frustrated that we don’t get more about her interactions with John Andre, not least because he’s a far more interesting character than Benedict Arnold.
The rub, of course, is that we don’t really know much about Shippen and Andre, and though some fictionalized accounts (ahem, Turn) have taken some significant liberties as far as any romantic relationship that may have occurred between the two, most of their interactions remain a mystery.
If nothing else I hope this book sheds some light on the unfair treatment Shippen often gets in traditional history. Peggy was undoubtedly acting as a spy, but to call her a traitor is both technically inaccurate and incorrect in spirit, and I hope books like this help modern history enthusiasts towards a more nuanced perspective on a woman who is both significant to American history and also badly misunderstood as to why.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Aside from invented dialogue and a bit of informed conjecture, this feels like an accurate portrait of one of the American Revolution’s most intriguing and oft misunderstood figures.
If you’re pretty familiar with Shippen’s biographical details, there isn’t a lot to learn here, but it’s still an enjoyable read, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re less familiar with Peggy and her role in the war.
I appreciate that this one is pretty restrained for women’s historical fiction and really does try to focus on Peggy herself rather than just on her relationship to famous men. To that end I’m always frustrated that we don’t get more about her interactions with John Andre, not least because he’s a far more interesting character than Benedict Arnold.
The rub, of course, is that we don’t really know much about Shippen and Andre, and though some fictionalized accounts (ahem, Turn) have taken some significant liberties as far as any romantic relationship that may have occurred between the two, most of their interactions remain a mystery.
If nothing else I hope this book sheds some light on the unfair treatment Shippen often gets in traditional history. Peggy was undoubtedly acting as a spy, but to call her a traitor is both technically inaccurate and incorrect in spirit, and I hope books like this help modern history enthusiasts towards a more nuanced perspective on a woman who is both significant to American history and also badly misunderstood as to why.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
June 20, 2026
My first DNF of the year. When I read the sentence, “Where it was at was where I wanted to be.” I was DONE. By page 20, I’d collected four glaring issues with modern vocabulary use that immediately sent me to researching the etymology of: wonky, herd immunity, pi sign, and “where it was at”. (The pi sign was invented by this time, however it was not called that for hundreds of years.)
I’m sorry, I don’t care how much you base your writing on quality primary source materials, if you can’t write a Revolutionary War era book without modern vocabulary, your characters are never going to come alive. They’re inherently flawed from the beginning—because in order to write a great piece of historical fiction that person has to ring true.
In my opinion, the whole point of writing historical fiction is that you get the opportunity to create and do the kind of world-building that fictional authors get to do, with the added help of primary source materials. To waste that opportunity by using words, ways of speaking, and attitudes that did not exist in that world at that time is foolish.
Sometimes I feel like I’m being ridiculously picky, but when words literally jump off the page because they are not character or era-appropriate, you’ve destroyed the world you’re trying to create. I feel this might not be an issue for first time or intermittent historical fiction readers—but an experienced historical fiction reader, especially ones who specialize in certain eras, can sense when the words are wrong, the attitudes are too modern, when the sentences have a certain lack of formality. It just feels fake and wrong, and that’s a weird feeling when you’re reading a story about someone who actually existed.
Of course, as soon as I slammed my Kindle down in frustration, I came to Goodreads to read the reviews of those who have read (completed) this book and noted that the modern vocabulary use continues throughout.
This book is basically a waste of a good idea. It might have been saved by some rigorous editing, but it clearly wasn’t. The idea was so intriguing, the cover looked so considered, but the text gave self-published and underwhelming.
I’m sorry, I don’t care how much you base your writing on quality primary source materials, if you can’t write a Revolutionary War era book without modern vocabulary, your characters are never going to come alive. They’re inherently flawed from the beginning—because in order to write a great piece of historical fiction that person has to ring true.
In my opinion, the whole point of writing historical fiction is that you get the opportunity to create and do the kind of world-building that fictional authors get to do, with the added help of primary source materials. To waste that opportunity by using words, ways of speaking, and attitudes that did not exist in that world at that time is foolish.
Sometimes I feel like I’m being ridiculously picky, but when words literally jump off the page because they are not character or era-appropriate, you’ve destroyed the world you’re trying to create. I feel this might not be an issue for first time or intermittent historical fiction readers—but an experienced historical fiction reader, especially ones who specialize in certain eras, can sense when the words are wrong, the attitudes are too modern, when the sentences have a certain lack of formality. It just feels fake and wrong, and that’s a weird feeling when you’re reading a story about someone who actually existed.
Of course, as soon as I slammed my Kindle down in frustration, I came to Goodreads to read the reviews of those who have read (completed) this book and noted that the modern vocabulary use continues throughout.
This book is basically a waste of a good idea. It might have been saved by some rigorous editing, but it clearly wasn’t. The idea was so intriguing, the cover looked so considered, but the text gave self-published and underwhelming.
May 16, 2026
What a fascinating read!
I am not very familiar with American history so I jumped at the opportunity to read more about it, and what a tale this was!
Between reading this and my own research, it is clear how well the author did her research! Her description of the events were a much more palatable account than the stark hard truth of the reality. It is still a very accurate retelling of the history.
Perhaps it was my lack of knowledge of American history that made this book seem a bit overwhelming at times. There are a lot of characters and I struggled to keep them straight in my head at times. I can't help but wonder if it might have been easier to follow in an Audiobook. As for Peggy she comes across as childish and selfish and I didn't get that impression of her when I read up her a bit after.
This was a great historical fiction and fans of this genre will not be disappointed!
I am not very familiar with American history so I jumped at the opportunity to read more about it, and what a tale this was!
Between reading this and my own research, it is clear how well the author did her research! Her description of the events were a much more palatable account than the stark hard truth of the reality. It is still a very accurate retelling of the history.
Perhaps it was my lack of knowledge of American history that made this book seem a bit overwhelming at times. There are a lot of characters and I struggled to keep them straight in my head at times. I can't help but wonder if it might have been easier to follow in an Audiobook. As for Peggy she comes across as childish and selfish and I didn't get that impression of her when I read up her a bit after.
This was a great historical fiction and fans of this genre will not be disappointed!
May 14, 2026
I absolutely love historical fiction, it's one of my favourite genres, but my usual reads are from the male perspective. Archers, soldiers, cowboys etc. So this was a little out of my comfort zone. But i think it's important for authors to have the perspective of readers who are not necessarily their target audience, so I try to read outside of my comfort zone as often as possible and I must say, I throughly enjoyed this.
It was a brilliant read and a real step back in time to 18th century America.
Quite obvious meticulously and consciously researched, it's packed with interesting and intriguing characters, all of which are believable and feel real.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It was a brilliant read and a real step back in time to 18th century America.
Quite obvious meticulously and consciously researched, it's packed with interesting and intriguing characters, all of which are believable and feel real.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
May 23, 2026
It’s the late 18th century in Philadelphia. Peggy meets and seems to fall instantly in love with a soldier(?), Andre. I’m not exactly sure what happens, but then suddenly she has fallen in love with Benedict Arnold. They marry and have a son. There is a lot more going on here, but I missed it.
I am not American. I do not know the history. All I know of Benedict Arnold is that he was apparently some kind of traitor. I know none of the details. I thought this fictional book might help fill me in. But I had zero interest – that is, the book didn’t make it interesting enough for me to pay attention to those parts, so I still don’t know anything about Benedict Arnold except that he married and had a son.
I am not American. I do not know the history. All I know of Benedict Arnold is that he was apparently some kind of traitor. I know none of the details. I thought this fictional book might help fill me in. But I had zero interest – that is, the book didn’t make it interesting enough for me to pay attention to those parts, so I still don’t know anything about Benedict Arnold except that he married and had a son.
April 12, 2026
Parry has done a wonderful job of bringing Peggy Shippen Arnold to life but the writing is very choppy and the pacing is uneven, especially near the end where it feels like the author just lost interest in the project and wanted to wrap things up quickly. The author’s note (a critical element to any historical fiction imho) was unenlightening, giving no specifics with regard to sources or which parts were derived from historical documents. Overall, not terrible but another month of rewrites would have rendered it far more readable.
Many thanks to Zando for sending me an ARC for review.
Many thanks to Zando for sending me an ARC for review.
June 30, 2026
This was far outside the normal genres I read but I thought it sounded interesting and was gifted a copy by the publisher, Zando.
I did end up really enjoying the story and found it interesting. I know it’s historical fiction and the writer took liberties with the story but I’m not familiar with all the accurate details of the history of Benedict Arnold and his wife to really compare. In this story she seems very naive about what she was actually doing and causing. But I enjoyed reading about the time period and everything going through her head throughout the war and their betrayal.
I did end up really enjoying the story and found it interesting. I know it’s historical fiction and the writer took liberties with the story but I’m not familiar with all the accurate details of the history of Benedict Arnold and his wife to really compare. In this story she seems very naive about what she was actually doing and causing. But I enjoyed reading about the time period and everything going through her head throughout the war and their betrayal.
May 6, 2026
“Was I a female Iago, whispering lies to a warrior with wounded pride? Was I warping his will to mine? A wife wants what her husband needs. Does a monster worry it's a monster, though? This one did… A cleverer wife would have made him feel the idea was his.”
Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry follows Peggy Shippen from her teenage years into her marriage with Benedict Arnold, tracing the path toward one of the most infamous betrayals of the American Revolution. One of my favorite angles in historical fiction is watching how women find ways to wield power (limited or innocuous as it may seem) to get what they want. Peggy’s position as a well-connected socialite sets up a lot of narrative potential, so the premise for this novel immediately drew me in!
And to be fair, the book does follow through on that potential in a few key ways. The writing is lovely, especially in the descriptions of landscape and setting, which have a bucolic, almost painterly quality that grounds the story in a strong sense of place. The research is clearly there too, and I liked seeing how Peggy moves through different social circles with ease. Even early on, you can see the outline of the influence she’ll eventually have, particularly in how she reads people and adapts to them.
Where the book didn’t fully work for me is in how long it takes to arrive at that sharper version of Peggy. We spend a significant amount of time in the more frivolous corners of her social world, where she’s largely planning parties and agonizing over her marriage prospects. Peggy is described as inquisitive and well read, but we don’t really see that reflected in how she engages with the war or the political realities around her. She does have several conversations about current events early on, but they feel repetitive and don’t really evolve, with her desire for “peace” remaining firmly tied to her immediate world rather than a broader understanding of what’s at stake.
Your reading experience will also be greatly improved if you already have a basic familiarity with key figures from the Revolutionary era. If you don’t, some scenes will feel like you’ve been dropped into the middle of a conversation without enough context, so you’ll just nod along like you’re attending as someone else’s +1.
That said, once Peggy becomes “Mrs. Arnold” is when the novel really starts to come into focus and where the book most fully delivers on the idea that drew me in. You begin to see how Peggy’s social fluency translates into influence, and how she’s able to navigate Benedict’s more volatile relationships with a very deliberate kind of awareness.
I also enjoyed the late introduction of Shakespeare as a framing device. Peggy’s fleeting comparison of herself to Iago immediately reframes her role in a way that’s easy to grasp. Interestingly, Benedict himself reads a bit like Macbeth at times (all that hemming and hawing!), which could easily position Peggy as his Lady Macbeth, given how she influences him. But if anything, I think she’s much more like Portia from Merchant of Venice: someone who understands the limits of her position and uses intelligence, perception, and social fluency to guide outcomes. Like Portia, her actions are also defined by a clear moral framework. Peggy wants peace and an end to the violence and instability around her, so her influence on Benedict reads as an extension of that as she steers him toward what she believes is a moral or just path. I only wish this thread had been introduced earlier because it’s the clearest and most compelling lens the novel offers for understanding Peggy.
Overall, this is a novel with a strong conceptual core and flashes of brilliant insight into a moment from history many people think they already understand. It just takes a while to get there, and in doing so, sometimes loses sight of the sharper, more defined version of Peggy that ultimately makes this story most compelling.
Thank you to Zando, the publisher, for a gifted advance copy of this book!
Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry follows Peggy Shippen from her teenage years into her marriage with Benedict Arnold, tracing the path toward one of the most infamous betrayals of the American Revolution. One of my favorite angles in historical fiction is watching how women find ways to wield power (limited or innocuous as it may seem) to get what they want. Peggy’s position as a well-connected socialite sets up a lot of narrative potential, so the premise for this novel immediately drew me in!
And to be fair, the book does follow through on that potential in a few key ways. The writing is lovely, especially in the descriptions of landscape and setting, which have a bucolic, almost painterly quality that grounds the story in a strong sense of place. The research is clearly there too, and I liked seeing how Peggy moves through different social circles with ease. Even early on, you can see the outline of the influence she’ll eventually have, particularly in how she reads people and adapts to them.
Where the book didn’t fully work for me is in how long it takes to arrive at that sharper version of Peggy. We spend a significant amount of time in the more frivolous corners of her social world, where she’s largely planning parties and agonizing over her marriage prospects. Peggy is described as inquisitive and well read, but we don’t really see that reflected in how she engages with the war or the political realities around her. She does have several conversations about current events early on, but they feel repetitive and don’t really evolve, with her desire for “peace” remaining firmly tied to her immediate world rather than a broader understanding of what’s at stake.
Your reading experience will also be greatly improved if you already have a basic familiarity with key figures from the Revolutionary era. If you don’t, some scenes will feel like you’ve been dropped into the middle of a conversation without enough context, so you’ll just nod along like you’re attending as someone else’s +1.
That said, once Peggy becomes “Mrs. Arnold” is when the novel really starts to come into focus and where the book most fully delivers on the idea that drew me in. You begin to see how Peggy’s social fluency translates into influence, and how she’s able to navigate Benedict’s more volatile relationships with a very deliberate kind of awareness.
I also enjoyed the late introduction of Shakespeare as a framing device. Peggy’s fleeting comparison of herself to Iago immediately reframes her role in a way that’s easy to grasp. Interestingly, Benedict himself reads a bit like Macbeth at times (all that hemming and hawing!), which could easily position Peggy as his Lady Macbeth, given how she influences him. But if anything, I think she’s much more like Portia from Merchant of Venice: someone who understands the limits of her position and uses intelligence, perception, and social fluency to guide outcomes. Like Portia, her actions are also defined by a clear moral framework. Peggy wants peace and an end to the violence and instability around her, so her influence on Benedict reads as an extension of that as she steers him toward what she believes is a moral or just path. I only wish this thread had been introduced earlier because it’s the clearest and most compelling lens the novel offers for understanding Peggy.
Overall, this is a novel with a strong conceptual core and flashes of brilliant insight into a moment from history many people think they already understand. It just takes a while to get there, and in doing so, sometimes loses sight of the sharper, more defined version of Peggy that ultimately makes this story most compelling.
Thank you to Zando, the publisher, for a gifted advance copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Zando for a gifted finished copy of this book!
This was an interesting fictional imagining of the life of Peggy Shippen, wife to the notorious traitor General Benedict Arnold. The novel opens in Philadelphia in the 1770s and we meet teenaged Peggy who longs for the war to end. Restless and stifled at home, Peggy finds herself swept up in an infatuation with rising British star, Captain John Andre. When the war pulls the two apart, Peggy finds solace in General Benedict Arnold. Switching sides to Patriot salons, she nurses a scheme that she believes will help lead to peace - but which requires treason of herself and her new husband.
I think there is great value in telling Peggy's story because she is a fascinating figure from the historical record and her husband still experiences significant notoriety all these generations later. I liked the scenes of Peggy swept up in teenage crush on John Andre, refusing to believe the reality that there was no future there. And I liked seeing how she responds and pivots after this disappointment. I also liked the way Peggy's marriage is portrayed, as this whirlwind romance but with reality of her husband's shortcomings becoming increasingly obvious with time.
This book had a slow start. It was slow to hook me, and I couldn't even really figure out where it was going at first. The author doesn't provide much historical or even character context for Peggy, her family, where we are in time within the country's history at the beginning and it felt a bit disorienting and like I had been thrown in.
My issue with this book is that Parry took significant liberties with historical fact. Having read a couple biographies of Peggy Shippen, there is no doubt her marriage with Benedict was complicated and new evidence indicates she may have been more involved in the traitorous schemes than was originally assumed. However, it is also important to note that she was a teenager, a woman, and significantly younger than her much more influential and connected husband. Building out the relationship and lingering feelings between Peggy and John Andre did help make the plot make more sense but the way Peggy is always harping on about how she wants peace and refuses to raise children without peace didn't really ring true or realistic to me as this great conviction that she would have fought for. She comes across as self-involved and immature in this novel, not some great martyr desperate to arrange for peace.
Along those same lines, I just didn't like Peggy as portrayed in this book. Partly I think this is because we don't get her complete story. I wish the book had continued on further in her life. In real life, Peggy was eventually a plucky widow had to fight to support her family. I would have loved to see the evolution of her character from this naive, impetuous, foolish youth to this older and scrappier version of her.
This was an interesting fictional imagining of the life of Peggy Shippen, wife to the notorious traitor General Benedict Arnold. The novel opens in Philadelphia in the 1770s and we meet teenaged Peggy who longs for the war to end. Restless and stifled at home, Peggy finds herself swept up in an infatuation with rising British star, Captain John Andre. When the war pulls the two apart, Peggy finds solace in General Benedict Arnold. Switching sides to Patriot salons, she nurses a scheme that she believes will help lead to peace - but which requires treason of herself and her new husband.
I think there is great value in telling Peggy's story because she is a fascinating figure from the historical record and her husband still experiences significant notoriety all these generations later. I liked the scenes of Peggy swept up in teenage crush on John Andre, refusing to believe the reality that there was no future there. And I liked seeing how she responds and pivots after this disappointment. I also liked the way Peggy's marriage is portrayed, as this whirlwind romance but with reality of her husband's shortcomings becoming increasingly obvious with time.
This book had a slow start. It was slow to hook me, and I couldn't even really figure out where it was going at first. The author doesn't provide much historical or even character context for Peggy, her family, where we are in time within the country's history at the beginning and it felt a bit disorienting and like I had been thrown in.
My issue with this book is that Parry took significant liberties with historical fact. Having read a couple biographies of Peggy Shippen, there is no doubt her marriage with Benedict was complicated and new evidence indicates she may have been more involved in the traitorous schemes than was originally assumed. However, it is also important to note that she was a teenager, a woman, and significantly younger than her much more influential and connected husband. Building out the relationship and lingering feelings between Peggy and John Andre did help make the plot make more sense but the way Peggy is always harping on about how she wants peace and refuses to raise children without peace didn't really ring true or realistic to me as this great conviction that she would have fought for. She comes across as self-involved and immature in this novel, not some great martyr desperate to arrange for peace.
Along those same lines, I just didn't like Peggy as portrayed in this book. Partly I think this is because we don't get her complete story. I wish the book had continued on further in her life. In real life, Peggy was eventually a plucky widow had to fight to support her family. I would have loved to see the evolution of her character from this naive, impetuous, foolish youth to this older and scrappier version of her.
May 4, 2026
Knowing that historical fictions are my guilty pleasures I almost didn't write a review. Give me a story set roughly between 1700 and 1820 with muskets and powdered hair and dumb hats and silk stockings and I don't know why, it is just like crack for me. Some women read about milk maid centaur romances, others faerie lords, but this kind of stuff is my vice. How can I be at all nuanced? I'm reviewing a McDonald's burger, not a high price piece of wagyu... or even a mid-level steakhouse ribeye.
Well, I figure other people might like burgers about tragic 18th century war chuds and their not-so-innocent collaborator brides, so I thought I'd leave a few notes.
The good - if you ever watched Turn: Washington's Spies, you also get a version of this tale with a far less flattering depiction of everyone involved (save, perhaps, Andre). I don't know which depiction is closer to reality, but I suspect since the television show deployed the classic bad-at-sex-to-denote-loathsome-loser tactic, and had less time to dedicate to character development, this book is probably a shade closer to reality (maybe I'll read a more authoritative biography when I get through my backlog). In any case it would have been really easy for the author to go full-bore revisionist as is the case with a lot of media right now. The villain to misunderstood hero pipeline is real, but I think the author showed restraint in making the characters culpable for their own bad decisions with the exception of a couple of moments of modernist therapy-speak excuse making.
Peggy is neither a complete innocent nor a nasty schemer. Arnold is a prideful and bullheaded alcoholic but also suffering from physical and psychic war wounds. Nobody really gets a happy ending, but if you have an open mind there is a little dark comedy.
The bad - maybe this a case of the Medieval-Tiffany Dissonance, but a lot of the writing felt really modern. I like the alien nature of the past. I want people to think differently or talk differently than we do today and Peggy's Dread Index struck me as belonging to a Workplace Humor skit and not a historical novel. It is somewhat unavoidable - for example Hilary Mantel is a highly regarded author of historical fiction and I found moments of uncanniness in the speech of the characters in A Place of Greater Safety - but I think what made it more noticeable was that the book was written from the perspective of Peggy, and I just can't imagine an 18 year old in 1777 commiserating with her friend and essentially being told Well, you're just a girl! You can just do a little treason if your heart is in the right place! That was a little silly.
Book was probably closer to a 3.5 than a 4, but I'm being generous here.
Edit: Just wanted to add, if someone DOES have an actual biography on the topic they would recommend, I'd love to hear it!
Well, I figure other people might like burgers about tragic 18th century war chuds and their not-so-innocent collaborator brides, so I thought I'd leave a few notes.
The good - if you ever watched Turn: Washington's Spies, you also get a version of this tale with a far less flattering depiction of everyone involved (save, perhaps, Andre). I don't know which depiction is closer to reality, but I suspect since the television show deployed the classic bad-at-sex-to-denote-loathsome-loser tactic, and had less time to dedicate to character development, this book is probably a shade closer to reality (maybe I'll read a more authoritative biography when I get through my backlog). In any case it would have been really easy for the author to go full-bore revisionist as is the case with a lot of media right now. The villain to misunderstood hero pipeline is real, but I think the author showed restraint in making the characters culpable for their own bad decisions with the exception of a couple of moments of modernist therapy-speak excuse making.
Peggy is neither a complete innocent nor a nasty schemer. Arnold is a prideful and bullheaded alcoholic but also suffering from physical and psychic war wounds. Nobody really gets a happy ending, but if you have an open mind there is a little dark comedy.
The bad - maybe this a case of the Medieval-Tiffany Dissonance, but a lot of the writing felt really modern. I like the alien nature of the past. I want people to think differently or talk differently than we do today and Peggy's Dread Index struck me as belonging to a Workplace Humor skit and not a historical novel. It is somewhat unavoidable - for example Hilary Mantel is a highly regarded author of historical fiction and I found moments of uncanniness in the speech of the characters in A Place of Greater Safety - but I think what made it more noticeable was that the book was written from the perspective of Peggy, and I just can't imagine an 18 year old in 1777 commiserating with her friend and essentially being told Well, you're just a girl! You can just do a little treason if your heart is in the right place! That was a little silly.
Book was probably closer to a 3.5 than a 4, but I'm being generous here.
Edit: Just wanted to add, if someone DOES have an actual biography on the topic they would recommend, I'd love to hear it!
May 25, 2026
Actual Rating 1.5
I was really excited about this one, because Finishing Becca by Ann Rinaldi was one of my favorite books growing up (I wore out my paperback copy). Rinaldi followed most people's lead, painting Peggy Shippen as a traitor during the American Revolution as well as a spoiled social climber. So this book promised a more nuance look at Peggy Shippen, which I was all about.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this work is the writing style. The author relied heavily on telling, which keeps the characters from coming to life, inhibits emotional connections, and honestly just creates a bland tone overall. This kept everything feeling detached emotionally as well. The dialogue also frequently ended with a dash for no good reason that I could tell, unless the characters were just constantly interrupting each other. I really disliked this. NOTE: This is NOT me accusing the author of using AI. Dashes have been used long before AI, and hopefully will be used long after AI. But stylistically, constantly ending dialogue in a dash just didn't work for me and didn't make much sense.
The strongest aspect of this work were some of the historical details that were woven throughout. Details about troop movements and engagements, but also every day life in times of war were included, and helped to make the setting feel a little more dynamic. On the opposite end of that though, modern slang was included throughout that was massively jarring. The pacing of this work is quite uneven, often due to the author getting lost in presenting her research. The ending was also extremely bland as it was essentially just a summary of events.
Unfortunately, there was just too much of a disconnect from the characters to make this character-driven work worth the read. My thanks to NetGalley and Zando Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I was really excited about this one, because Finishing Becca by Ann Rinaldi was one of my favorite books growing up (I wore out my paperback copy). Rinaldi followed most people's lead, painting Peggy Shippen as a traitor during the American Revolution as well as a spoiled social climber. So this book promised a more nuance look at Peggy Shippen, which I was all about.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this work is the writing style. The author relied heavily on telling, which keeps the characters from coming to life, inhibits emotional connections, and honestly just creates a bland tone overall. This kept everything feeling detached emotionally as well. The dialogue also frequently ended with a dash for no good reason that I could tell, unless the characters were just constantly interrupting each other. I really disliked this. NOTE: This is NOT me accusing the author of using AI. Dashes have been used long before AI, and hopefully will be used long after AI. But stylistically, constantly ending dialogue in a dash just didn't work for me and didn't make much sense.
The strongest aspect of this work were some of the historical details that were woven throughout. Details about troop movements and engagements, but also every day life in times of war were included, and helped to make the setting feel a little more dynamic. On the opposite end of that though, modern slang was included throughout that was massively jarring. The pacing of this work is quite uneven, often due to the author getting lost in presenting her research. The ending was also extremely bland as it was essentially just a summary of events.
Unfortunately, there was just too much of a disconnect from the characters to make this character-driven work worth the read. My thanks to NetGalley and Zando Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 28, 2026
I really don’t like giving bad reviews, especially to debut authors, but this book was a real disappointment for me. I was really looking forward to this one because I’d read The Traitor's Wife and liked it a lot. So when I saw there was a new book about Peggy Shippen Arnold, I was really excited. Unfortunately, I just didn’t like this book. For one thing, it got off to a very slow start — so much so that I almost DNFed the book about halfway through. But because I knew I was going to give this a low rating, I wanted to be fair to the author and read the whole book, just in case it got better. While it did pick up in tempo, and I did increase my rating — from 1 star to 2 — the book is still not one I can recommend. There are a few reasons for that. One is the slow tempo. In addition, the characters were a little flat and I didn’t feel any real emotion from any of them. Also, the author chose to give Peggy a more sympathetic treatment than other books have, giving Peggy altruistic motives that didn’t resonate with me. But the biggest annoyance was the author’s use of modern language and idioms, not just once, but throughout the book. At one point I found 3 on a single page! Things like ‘not a hill worth dying on’, ‘you do you’, ‘we are in this together’ and so many more! It pulled me right out of the story. I’m really not saying don’t read this. For readers that aren’t familiar with Peggy’s story, this is an interesting book. Just don’t expect it to be the whole story. But for those who’ve read The Traitor's Wife or watched the TURN series, you might want to give this on a pass.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What motivates a young woman to become MRS. BENEDICT ARNOLD?
Author, Emma Parry, proffers an unbalanced combination of historical research and fictional musings in this, her debut novel. We are introduced to Peggy Shippen, the 16 year old young woman who will become the titled character. Her family life and social experiences are filled with high profile, political and military figures. I wanted so much more from them in the developing story.
Much to the consternation of her mother, Peggy is not the demure, proper woman as expected by those of her social circle. She’d rather conversation and participation with the men, particularly when politics is involved. It’s fun to follow strong characters but this one is jarring due to the author employing contemporary language with anachronistic phrases
and feminist leanings. Hopefully, the manuscript will visit a good editor prior to publication.
Pacing is rough. If there were less discourse about clothing, jewelry and decor, things Peggy wasn’t much interested in, the story would be much tighter and pages shorter. Too much attention was directed to her relationship with Andre’ when the focus should have been on Benedict and the plot to deliver West Point to the British.
As has become too familiar in new titles, the ending is not long enough to satisfy. In fact, it reads like an info dump. Parry’s note in the back of the book fills in a few gaps but it too is insufficient. Actually, it brings attention to the shortcomings of the story line; sigh.
Readers of romance novels that take place during the American Revolution would enjoy this book. Historical Fiction aficionados will be disappointed for the reasons noted above📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC with thanks to the publisher and author.
Author, Emma Parry, proffers an unbalanced combination of historical research and fictional musings in this, her debut novel. We are introduced to Peggy Shippen, the 16 year old young woman who will become the titled character. Her family life and social experiences are filled with high profile, political and military figures. I wanted so much more from them in the developing story.
Much to the consternation of her mother, Peggy is not the demure, proper woman as expected by those of her social circle. She’d rather conversation and participation with the men, particularly when politics is involved. It’s fun to follow strong characters but this one is jarring due to the author employing contemporary language with anachronistic phrases
and feminist leanings. Hopefully, the manuscript will visit a good editor prior to publication.
Pacing is rough. If there were less discourse about clothing, jewelry and decor, things Peggy wasn’t much interested in, the story would be much tighter and pages shorter. Too much attention was directed to her relationship with Andre’ when the focus should have been on Benedict and the plot to deliver West Point to the British.
As has become too familiar in new titles, the ending is not long enough to satisfy. In fact, it reads like an info dump. Parry’s note in the back of the book fills in a few gaps but it too is insufficient. Actually, it brings attention to the shortcomings of the story line; sigh.
Readers of romance novels that take place during the American Revolution would enjoy this book. Historical Fiction aficionados will be disappointed for the reasons noted above📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC with thanks to the publisher and author.
May 13, 2026
As someone who history was a major turn off from school (worst teachers – sorry!) I can safely say my knowledge of general history really will not win at any quiz. I’m getting a little bit better thanks so some wonderful books and adaptations that have drawn me in and I’m pleased so say history isn’t as bleh as it was taught at school. That said my knowledge of American Revolution is even lower on the list of things I know about. So I was really looking forward to being drawn into this point of time. I was also really looking forward to another book retelling a woman’s history. This is an exciting time for women in history to have a new voice.
Mrs Benedict Arnold has obviously been deeply and carefully researched and brought together. She was written with such care and almost intimacy that I really was taken with Peggy and her story. The artwork and whole feel of this hardback book was also so carefully brought together.
I really liked the overall story for Peggy and I would be keen to know more, but there were a few niggles that made reading this book just not quite as immersive as I was hoping. The pace was a bit broken in places and I really struggled to keep up with the many names that popped up (probably my brain fog rather than anything else.) I was really hoping for a bit more world building and felt it was perhaps a bit too narrative driven for my personal taste.
The relationship between Peggy and Benedict was interesting, but I loved her relationships with the tailors and found the espionage and cipher she used really interesting as well. Part of me was almost rooting for Andre to whisk her away at the end, but I think Peggy would always stand by Benedict no matter what. She was strong in many ways and another reminder that though women of that era were mainly there for children and running households – they too had lives and secrets to keep.
Mrs Benedict Arnold has obviously been deeply and carefully researched and brought together. She was written with such care and almost intimacy that I really was taken with Peggy and her story. The artwork and whole feel of this hardback book was also so carefully brought together.
I really liked the overall story for Peggy and I would be keen to know more, but there were a few niggles that made reading this book just not quite as immersive as I was hoping. The pace was a bit broken in places and I really struggled to keep up with the many names that popped up (probably my brain fog rather than anything else.) I was really hoping for a bit more world building and felt it was perhaps a bit too narrative driven for my personal taste.
The relationship between Peggy and Benedict was interesting, but I loved her relationships with the tailors and found the espionage and cipher she used really interesting as well. Part of me was almost rooting for Andre to whisk her away at the end, but I think Peggy would always stand by Benedict no matter what. She was strong in many ways and another reminder that though women of that era were mainly there for children and running households – they too had lives and secrets to keep.
May 15, 2026
This is a historical fiction novel that follows Peggy Shippen and if you didn’t guess from the title it is set during the American Revolution. Peggy and her family live in Philadelphia and we meet them in 1777 when the Committees of Safety are policing the streets, forcing many families like the Shippens to leave the city.
When the British Army capture the city, Peggy and her family return, and there she meets her first love, Captain John Andre, but their happiness doesn’t last as the army pull out before the Continental Army march on the city. Peggy is heartbroken, unsure if she will ever see him again. Surprisingly she finds solace in the company of General Arnold.
It’s been a while since I’ve read what I class as a proper historical novel, i.e. one with no fantasy or magical elements in it… And I am so glad I took a leap. It is clear to see that a significant amount of time has ben taken in researching this book. It is incredibly detailed and rich in terms of the historical journey Emma takes us on. It is beautifully written and I for one am glad I took the chance on this book. It is easy to see the passion with which Emma writes every single word of this story. This is no retelling, changing the story into something more palatable, this is quite literally history in the making, by someone brave enough to tell Peggy’s full story, finally bringing it into the light, the truth of it, rather than the femme fatel accused of being a seducer and temptress, or perhaps even worse, a ditsy wife who is seen and not heard without any input or insight into her husband’s decision to change sides. This was a great 4 star read for me and if you love historical fiction I would definitely recommend.
When the British Army capture the city, Peggy and her family return, and there she meets her first love, Captain John Andre, but their happiness doesn’t last as the army pull out before the Continental Army march on the city. Peggy is heartbroken, unsure if she will ever see him again. Surprisingly she finds solace in the company of General Arnold.
It’s been a while since I’ve read what I class as a proper historical novel, i.e. one with no fantasy or magical elements in it… And I am so glad I took a leap. It is clear to see that a significant amount of time has ben taken in researching this book. It is incredibly detailed and rich in terms of the historical journey Emma takes us on. It is beautifully written and I for one am glad I took the chance on this book. It is easy to see the passion with which Emma writes every single word of this story. This is no retelling, changing the story into something more palatable, this is quite literally history in the making, by someone brave enough to tell Peggy’s full story, finally bringing it into the light, the truth of it, rather than the femme fatel accused of being a seducer and temptress, or perhaps even worse, a ditsy wife who is seen and not heard without any input or insight into her husband’s decision to change sides. This was a great 4 star read for me and if you love historical fiction I would definitely recommend.
May 19, 2026
Peggy Shippen is a teenager living in Philadelphia in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783). Her family have Loyalist sympathies but more than anything wish to be seen as respectable. Peggy longs to educate herself and be able to join in with the debates and discussions around her but her family, and especially her mother, think it’s unladylike. Her horizons are widened as she begins to socialise with an influential group including John Andre, a soldier in the British Army. Later, after the British have left Philadelphia, she falls in love with and marries Patriot General Benedict Arnold and becomes involved in an infamous act of treason.
This book does assume prior knowledge of the political situation at the time and the events described, so I think you’d be a bit lost if you were unfamiliar with the context. I knew the basics but had to look up a few things for context. The American Revolutionary War is a part of history I always feel I should know more about so I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about some of the figures involved and especially to see it from a female perspective. I found the descriptions of fashion interesting and that women’s choice of clothes allowed them to display their allegiances even if they weren’t allowed to overtly engage in political discussions.
This book is about a woman finding her place in a man’s world and navigating conflicting loyalties to try and ensure peace/the best outcome.
Read if you love:
Historical and/or political fiction
Stories about female historical figures
Eighteenth century
True stories
Hamilton
Thank you to Love Books Tours and Zando for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed Peggy’s story and it reminded me to check out more books on the topic.
This book does assume prior knowledge of the political situation at the time and the events described, so I think you’d be a bit lost if you were unfamiliar with the context. I knew the basics but had to look up a few things for context. The American Revolutionary War is a part of history I always feel I should know more about so I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about some of the figures involved and especially to see it from a female perspective. I found the descriptions of fashion interesting and that women’s choice of clothes allowed them to display their allegiances even if they weren’t allowed to overtly engage in political discussions.
This book is about a woman finding her place in a man’s world and navigating conflicting loyalties to try and ensure peace/the best outcome.
Read if you love:
Historical and/or political fiction
Stories about female historical figures
Eighteenth century
True stories
Hamilton
Thank you to Love Books Tours and Zando for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed Peggy’s story and it reminded me to check out more books on the topic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
As we near our 250th celebrations, here is the other side of the story! We often hear about the revolutionaries, the founding fathers, the patriots and the minutemen - but not much about the loyalists who were not interested in their lives being disrupted or the colonies being separated from the King.
The Shippen family, especially the young Peggy, were interested in parties and preserving their way of life waiting for the patriots to give up and go home. But they had to live in this world, so did their best to put on a show or be rooted out.
I loved the history of the book. The imagery of the place and time was strong. I didn't like her at all which is probably part storytelling and part patriotism. Her shallowness and boy-crazy attitude early on was trying.
The book was really quite slow to get going and it took about halfway in for it to start moving along and get exciting - probably lending to too many details early on that weren't necessary. My big issue with this book, and why it won't work for my book club, is that the author does a fantastic job of using colonial language but then whiplashes to modern terms and expressions. Once you spotted one, you couldn't help seeing them everywhere. Was this an artistic choice? I kept stopping and trying to look up the origins of some of the expressions used, taking me out of the story.
I liked it for the history and for the last quarter's excitement. I needed more authenticity and maybe even more authors notes for a historical fiction.
3*
As we near our 250th celebrations, here is the other side of the story! We often hear about the revolutionaries, the founding fathers, the patriots and the minutemen - but not much about the loyalists who were not interested in their lives being disrupted or the colonies being separated from the King.
The Shippen family, especially the young Peggy, were interested in parties and preserving their way of life waiting for the patriots to give up and go home. But they had to live in this world, so did their best to put on a show or be rooted out.
I loved the history of the book. The imagery of the place and time was strong. I didn't like her at all which is probably part storytelling and part patriotism. Her shallowness and boy-crazy attitude early on was trying.
The book was really quite slow to get going and it took about halfway in for it to start moving along and get exciting - probably lending to too many details early on that weren't necessary. My big issue with this book, and why it won't work for my book club, is that the author does a fantastic job of using colonial language but then whiplashes to modern terms and expressions. Once you spotted one, you couldn't help seeing them everywhere. Was this an artistic choice? I kept stopping and trying to look up the origins of some of the expressions used, taking me out of the story.
I liked it for the history and for the last quarter's excitement. I needed more authenticity and maybe even more authors notes for a historical fiction.
3*
May 21, 2026
I think I'm still fixated on the fact that it took Emma Parry, the author of Mrs. Benedict Arnold, 10 years to research this book!!
Having absolutely zero background knowledge of American history, I dived in, and although it took me a few chapters to adjust to the writing style and the various characters, it didn't take long for me to be absorbed in the story.
As much as it's a historical novel, reimagining the American Revolution and the struggle between the Loyalists and Patriots, at its heart, it's a story about love and the journey taken by Peggy Shippen from girl- to woman-hood.
We first meet Peggy as an incredibly naïve young girl, whose wide-eyed, innocent dreams of love and a proposal of marriage from the much-adored John André (who has Society hearts a-flutter) almost broke my heart.
But with the help and support of some well-placed friends and acquaintances, Peggy learns fast. Her marriage to Benedict Arnold is a clever manoevre, and although she is viewed as a frivolous young girl, she is able to use her position and the way others perceive her, to manipulate and influence her way in, through and around her world and the people in it.
Expect loads of political tension and espionage, romance, moral ambiguity, divided loyalties, and high society intrigue. The descriptions of the many social events were lavish and simply gorgeous!
British-occupied Philadelphia in the 1700's comes to life in this unique re-imagining of one of the most treasonous acts in American history. As I said previously, I had no prior knowledge of any of this, and Emma Parry brings it all to life in vivid, intricate colour.
Highly recommended!
Having absolutely zero background knowledge of American history, I dived in, and although it took me a few chapters to adjust to the writing style and the various characters, it didn't take long for me to be absorbed in the story.
As much as it's a historical novel, reimagining the American Revolution and the struggle between the Loyalists and Patriots, at its heart, it's a story about love and the journey taken by Peggy Shippen from girl- to woman-hood.
We first meet Peggy as an incredibly naïve young girl, whose wide-eyed, innocent dreams of love and a proposal of marriage from the much-adored John André (who has Society hearts a-flutter) almost broke my heart.
But with the help and support of some well-placed friends and acquaintances, Peggy learns fast. Her marriage to Benedict Arnold is a clever manoevre, and although she is viewed as a frivolous young girl, she is able to use her position and the way others perceive her, to manipulate and influence her way in, through and around her world and the people in it.
Expect loads of political tension and espionage, romance, moral ambiguity, divided loyalties, and high society intrigue. The descriptions of the many social events were lavish and simply gorgeous!
British-occupied Philadelphia in the 1700's comes to life in this unique re-imagining of one of the most treasonous acts in American history. As I said previously, I had no prior knowledge of any of this, and Emma Parry brings it all to life in vivid, intricate colour.
Highly recommended!
Read
April 19, 2026I read this book because I’ve always been a little curious about Peggy Shippen, especially since I pass almost weekly a house with a historical marker identifying it as the Shippen House, the summer home the family used to get away from the heat of Philadelphia. Although fictional, I was hoping that this book would give me some of the answers I’d been looking for. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Because the story is told from Peggy’s perspective, and not a non-fiction account of events, there are frequent name drops of people in her circle, with little explanation of who they are (or will become) in history. Things that seem to be vitally important, such as the Shippen family raising Aaron Burr when he’s orphaned, are thrown in casually at odd moments. While Peggy waxes on about her anxieties, especially her repeated refusal to have a child until after the war is over, other things she accepts without question, such as the apparent couple of two men, her dressmaker and his poet, (which is also apparently accepted by all). Other times, she is incredibly tight-lipped, stating simply that she made love or is pregnant; all while neglecting to mention at all what is happening to the rest of her family when she isn’t present. The passage of time is difficult to judge, especially since Peggy seems to be narrating the story at a later point in time, so she frequently makes references to how awkward her next or final encounters with certain friends or family members, however, we never get to see those meetings.
May 24, 2026
I was kindly sent a free copy of this book as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review. Honestly it’s taken me a little while to decide what I think about this one but in the end I feel it was justified in getting 4 stars. This was Parry’s debut historical fiction and it takes a unique look into Mrs Benedict Arnold, nee Peggy Shippen - a lady who I had never previously heard of being based in the UK and not that clued into American history. The book draws from fresh evidence to reframe Peggy’s influence on her husband and her involvement in his treason against America in their fight for independence under King George the third and Queen Charlotte. It is clear that Parry has done an impressive amount of research and it really does shine through in her storytelling. I actually found myself rooting for Peggy even though it seems historically she has been portrayed as either a frivolous idiot or a suspected manipulator/villainess. The only issues I did have with the book were the slow beginning and how it often felt like we were being given a summary rather than a real account from Peggy’s POV. I also felt sometimes the language used was out of context for the time period. I highly doubt a woman like Peggy would have described a dress as one that would “slay” for example, that just feels like far too modern a phrasing for me when this is all set in 18th century America. Overall though the book was still a relatively enjoyable read and I did find myself intrigued enough to find out more about Peggy’s story so for that reason I’ve gone to 4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5/5
Miss Benedict Arnold is a work of historical fiction set in the 1770s, a pivotal era in the colonial United States. Told from the perspective of Peggy Shippen, a young woman coming of age in a world filled with political unrest, hatred, and violence, the story offers readers a glimpse into the deeply personal side of the American Revolution. We see how the turmoil of the time didn't just shape a nation - headshaped families, relationships, and individual identity.
The novel blended historical facts with emotional debt. Peggy's lying to be loved, to find peace, and to have her own voice in a society where a woman's thoughts were expected to remain quiet was powerful. Even as she desired a normal life, there was also a clear yearning for something more - for independence, for purpose, and perhaps for control in a time when women had very little.
Overall, this book felt slow to me. I kept waiting to feel fully immersed, but something was missing. I love this time. - History has always been one of my favorite subjects. Yet I didn't feel as drawn into Peggy's world as I expected to be. The story leaned heavily into her personality and social dynamics. I found myself wishing for a deeper focus on the relationship with Benedict Arnold rather than a flirtatious and romantic distraction with other men.
It wasn't a bad read - it just didn't capture me the way I had hoped. I'm hoping when the audio comes out I will have a better draw to the book.
Miss Benedict Arnold is a work of historical fiction set in the 1770s, a pivotal era in the colonial United States. Told from the perspective of Peggy Shippen, a young woman coming of age in a world filled with political unrest, hatred, and violence, the story offers readers a glimpse into the deeply personal side of the American Revolution. We see how the turmoil of the time didn't just shape a nation - headshaped families, relationships, and individual identity.
The novel blended historical facts with emotional debt. Peggy's lying to be loved, to find peace, and to have her own voice in a society where a woman's thoughts were expected to remain quiet was powerful. Even as she desired a normal life, there was also a clear yearning for something more - for independence, for purpose, and perhaps for control in a time when women had very little.
Overall, this book felt slow to me. I kept waiting to feel fully immersed, but something was missing. I love this time. - History has always been one of my favorite subjects. Yet I didn't feel as drawn into Peggy's world as I expected to be. The story leaned heavily into her personality and social dynamics. I found myself wishing for a deeper focus on the relationship with Benedict Arnold rather than a flirtatious and romantic distraction with other men.
It wasn't a bad read - it just didn't capture me the way I had hoped. I'm hoping when the audio comes out I will have a better draw to the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I can’t remember when I first learned the story of Peggy Shippen, and her supposed role in Benedict Arnold turning traitor, but I do know that I’ve had a hard time separating the two ever since. The 40-y.o. Arnold, smitten with his teenage wife, betrayed his country with her help and urging.
However, what often seems debated was her motivation (as people focused on Arnold). She was close to John Andre. How close is not known. This is why I was excited about reading this book, a fictionalized account of events from Ms. Shippen’s point-of-view.
I was not disappointed. This book intrigued me from the opening page and presented some of the situation that affected all as Philadelphia changed back and forth between American and British hands. The book presented Shippen as idealistic instead of the young idealogue about which I’ve read. Readers will need to decide for themselves.
I recommend this book as it was enjoyable. It also incorporated details that seemed new. It is impossible to make Peggy Shippen likable, given her actions in America history (unless you were on the losing side). However, she doesn’t have to be likable to us. Where the author shines is showing how Shippen’s actions remained a secret for so long: the truth was difficult to fathom.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley.
However, what often seems debated was her motivation (as people focused on Arnold). She was close to John Andre. How close is not known. This is why I was excited about reading this book, a fictionalized account of events from Ms. Shippen’s point-of-view.
I was not disappointed. This book intrigued me from the opening page and presented some of the situation that affected all as Philadelphia changed back and forth between American and British hands. The book presented Shippen as idealistic instead of the young idealogue about which I’ve read. Readers will need to decide for themselves.
I recommend this book as it was enjoyable. It also incorporated details that seemed new. It is impossible to make Peggy Shippen likable, given her actions in America history (unless you were on the losing side). However, she doesn’t have to be likable to us. Where the author shines is showing how Shippen’s actions remained a secret for so long: the truth was difficult to fathom.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley.
July 5, 2026
In this new historical fiction novel about Peggy Shippen Arnold, Emma Parry reimagines Peggy’s experiences in wartime Philadelphia and the oddness of entertaining British soldiers with exciting and glamorous parties before war breaks out. Peggy dearly enjoys Captain John Andre’s company, and their separation devastates her, but she soon finds consolation in General Benedict Arnold’s presence. Trading Loyalist balls for Patriot salons and entertaining the most prominent Americans in a tense political environment, Peggy’s plan for peace and her family’s survival might be her most dangerous venture yet. Packed with historical details and fascinating characters, readers will love how Philadelphia society evolves over the course of the decade, while the tension between the two parts of society contrasts against the glamor of high society. Peggy is a complex protagonist who does grow up over the course of the novel, and readers will particularly enjoy seeing how she changes in different settings and with different groups of people. Knowing how her story ends, readers will be particularly interested in her journey to that point and the breaking point in her relationship to her country, and Emma Parry masterfully captures the emotional depth and complexity inherent in Peggy’s personality in this fascinating new novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Zando for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Zando for the advance copy.
June 25, 2026
3 and a half Stars
This is the second historical fiction book I've read about Peggy Shippen the other being The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki. In that book Peggy is portrayed as a flirty spoiled rich girl also that book is told from the perspective of another character. This book features Peggy as our narrator and here she is somewhat more grounded. She starts off as a boy crazy teenager to grow up into the wife and concerned mother (although her concern is severely misplaced). This representation feels a little bit more realistic than the super sneaky fem fatal some historians see her as.
This book was a slow cooker with extremely lengthy conversations in the first part of the book as Peggy has her flirtations with Major Andre. We also have cases of colonial feminism being spoken of but with it being the 1700s you know no action is going to be taken. Things move a lot faster once Peggy marries Arnold. At the point of Arnold's treachery we actually see what a broken disgraced woman Peggy has become. This is something that Traitor's Wife was lacking.
However it doesn't matter how many books fiction or nonfiction are written about Peggy that humanizes her. History will show that she still played a part in the most notorious treachery in American history. As it should be.
This is the second historical fiction book I've read about Peggy Shippen the other being The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki. In that book Peggy is portrayed as a flirty spoiled rich girl also that book is told from the perspective of another character. This book features Peggy as our narrator and here she is somewhat more grounded. She starts off as a boy crazy teenager to grow up into the wife and concerned mother (although her concern is severely misplaced). This representation feels a little bit more realistic than the super sneaky fem fatal some historians see her as.
This book was a slow cooker with extremely lengthy conversations in the first part of the book as Peggy has her flirtations with Major Andre. We also have cases of colonial feminism being spoken of but with it being the 1700s you know no action is going to be taken. Things move a lot faster once Peggy marries Arnold. At the point of Arnold's treachery we actually see what a broken disgraced woman Peggy has become. This is something that Traitor's Wife was lacking.
However it doesn't matter how many books fiction or nonfiction are written about Peggy that humanizes her. History will show that she still played a part in the most notorious treachery in American history. As it should be.
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