A Most Clever Girl

by Stephanie Marie Thornton

A Novel of an American Spy

A thrilling tale of love, loyalty, and espionage, based on the incredible true story of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent spying for the Russians and the United States, from USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Marie Thornton.

1963: Reeling from the death of her mother and President Kennedy's assassination, Catherine Gray shows up on Elizabeth Bentley's doorstep demanding answers to the shocking mystery just uncovered about her family. What she doesn't expect is for Bentley to ensnare her in her own story of becoming a controversial World War II spy and Cold War informer...

Recruited by the American Communist Party to spy on fascists at the outbreak of World War II, a young Bentley--code name Clever Girl--finds she has an unexpected gift for espionage. But after falling desperately in love with her handler, Jacob Golos, Elizabeth makes another unexpected discovery when she learns her lover is actually a Russian spy. Together, they will build the largest Soviet spy network in America and Elizabeth will become its uncrowned Red Spy Queen. However, once the war ends and the U.S. and U.S.S.R. become embroiled in the Cold War, it is Elizabeth who will dangerously clash with the NKVD, the brutal Soviet espionage agency.

As Catherine listens to Elizabeth's harrowing tale, she empathizes with her, that is, until she uncovers startling revelations that link the two women's lives in shocking ways. Faced with the idea that her entire existence is based on a lie, Catherine realizes there can be many sides to the truth. And only Elizabeth Bentley can tell her what that truth really is.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Espionage, Historical, Audiobook, World War II, Book Club

416 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2021

About the author

Stephanie Marie Thornton is a writer, librarian, and history teacher who has been obsessed with women from history since she was twelve. She is the USA Today bestselling author of Her Lost Words, And They Called It Camelot, and American Princess. She lives with her husband and daughter in Alaska where she enjoys running, baking, and beekeeping.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Most Clever Girl A Novel of an American Spy by Stephanie Marie Thornton

I wasn't aware of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent spying for the Russians and the United States, until I read A Most Clever Girl and did some further research on my own. Eventually Bentley exposed two networks of spies, ultimately naming more than 80 Americans, who had engaged in espionage for the Soviets, but before that time she was a member of the Communist Party USA. With her handler, Jacob Golos, a Russian spy, they built the largest Soviet spy network in America.

As this historical fiction unfolds, Bentley is now in her mid fifties, facing a young woman and a gun, being forced to tell her story before the young woman kills Bentley. The young woman knows she has a connection to Bentley, through her mother, and she wants to know the truth before she kills Bentley and commits suicide. The few minutes she originally gives Bentley to spill her guts turns into hours of relating the past.

The story is not pretty. Bentley was extremely intelligent in a book smart way but also extremely needy, lonely, and prone to following those who she could have a chance of befriending. It's almost as if she joined the Communist Party of the United States so she could hang out with and fit in with the "cool" people. Bentley felt she was at her worst when she was alone and she avoided it at all costs.

Once she began her affair with her handler, Bentley seemed to be at her happiest but she comes to realize just how dangerous her world has become. As much as she doesn't want to be alone, that is really all she can be, when she can eventually trust no one, anyone connected with her network can be eliminated at any time, and when any step she takes can mean the death of one or more people.

Later Bentley contacts the FBI and defects from the Soviet Union spy network. Nothing Bentley did seems to be noble or for a good cause but as an effort to save her hide. The fictionalized part of the story gives Bentley some redeeming values through her connection to the young woman, Catherine Gray. So often I prefer the earlier timelines in stories that contain dual timelines but in this case I enjoyed the story as it applied to Catherine since I could not understand Bentley and her motivations in life, at all.

Publication: September 14th 2021

Thank you to Elisha, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always drawn to books about spies, especially women spies. This novel is about Elizabeth Bentley. If you didn’t read the blurb for the book, which is extensive, here is the most informative part of the blurb:

“Recruited by the American Communist Party to spy on fascists at the outbreak of World War II, a young Bentley--code name Clever Girl--finds she has an unexpected gift for espionage. But after falling desperately in love with her handler, Jacob Golos, Elizabeth makes another unexpected discovery when she learns her lover is actually a Russian spy. Together, they will build the largest Soviet spy network in America and Elizabeth will become its uncrowned Red Spy Queen. However, once the war ends and the U.S. and U.S.S.R. become embroiled in the Cold War, it is Elizabeth who will dangerously clash with the NKVD, the brutal Soviet espionage agency.”

The majority of this book is told in the form of dialogue between Elizabeth Bently and a character named Catherine Gray. I found this form of writing to be slow, repetitive and I didn’t feel engaged with the characters.

I guess I would call this a “tell me” instead of “show me” narrative, 1st person point of view for most of the novel. It switches later to 3rd person for the last quarter of the book.

Through this dialogue we learn how and why she decided to work with the Communists in the United States. Her love affair with her “handler” known by several different names throughout the novel, but finally settling on Yasha was extensively described. Her sexual exploits were commented on many, many times and I grew tired of it.

In the end she decided to work against Russia during the Cold War and helped the US identify and bring to light many of the top Russian spies in the US, most notably Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, American citizens who were convicted of spying on behalf of the Soviet Union.

I usually enjoy Author’s Notes but Ms. Thornton wrote 19 pages of notes explaining all of the changes that she made in persons, places and timelines.

I was most surprised to learn that one of the main characters, "IS ENTIRELY A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION". "THIS PART OF THE NOVEL WAS ACTUALLY VERY LOOSELY INSPIRED BY MY OWN FAMILY HISTORY . . ."

Though I appreciate the extensive research and the author’s dedication to bringing this character to the eyes of the public, I really can’t recommend this book.

THIS NOVEL READS MORE LIKE NON-FICTION BUT WITH UNRELIABLE FACTS

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.

The novel is set to publish on 9/14/21.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical fiction tackles the true story of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent. I was totally unaware of her and her part in American history. I do feel like I learned quite a bit, although I wasn’t completely impressed by the book.
I will admit to being turned off by Elizabeth, a young woman who joins the American Communist Party to make friends and then gets involved in spying because she falls in love with her handler, even if it happens her handler was one of the highest ranking men in the CPUSA. The reasons just felt so trite. Her belief in a better world seemed secondary to her personal desires. Even as more vile things are learned about Stalin, she continues to stay the course. And then I totally couldn’t buy into her argument that what she was doing was patriotic, since Russia and the US were allies during the war.
Thornton employs the use of a secondary character, Catherine, who shows up intending to shoot an older Bentley, to convey the story. Bentley convinces the young woman to first hear her story. I would have preferred a more direct approach which would have allowed the story to move faster, IMO.
The book was very uneven for me. In the beginning, it came across more as a romance than a spy novel. I found the first half dry and it didn’t pick up for me until Elizabeth turned double agent. There is one scene that would make anyone hate the Russians.
I was disappointed about some of the liberties Thornton took writing this, especially regarding J. Edgar Hoover.
My thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another powerful historical narrative from Stephanie Marie Thornton! This book tells the story of Elizabeth Bentley, the Red Spy Queen, who spied for the Russians during WW II and then set off the Red Scare in the 50's when she flipped. What I found so fascinating about her story was the fact that during the war she was working for Russia when they were aligned with the Axis powers and then with the Allies. How much of the Cold War occurred due to all the US technology that was leaked to the Russians when they were our allies? In the 50's, would Joe McCarthy have made as many waves without Elizabeth Bentley and her immaculate memory paving the way? Then there was her adoption of the Victory Red Lipstick for confidence just as Nancy Augusta Wake did (Code Name Hélène). Thornton gives Elizabeth the task of telling us her own story after being confronted by a young woman whose life trajectory was greatly influenced by the spy and her comrades. Fascinating!



Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I want to read historical fiction which is often because it's my go to reading genre I can always find a fabulous book to read.
This most engaging book is based on the incredible true story of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent spying for the Russians and the United States.I have never heard of this woman but it's so important to write books such as this so this time in history won't be forgotten.
I was so fascinated with this book that I checked a nonfiction book out at the library today to further educate myself on the life of the "Clever Girl".
This book had me completely engaged in this meticulously researched ultimately tragic tale of Cold War espionage.
This is a must read for all lovers of history!
Highly recommended!

Pub Date 14 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Renée Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary!!! I have loved all of Stephanie Thornton's novels, especially AMERICAN PRINCESS & AND THEY CALLED IT CAMELOT. Trust me when I say, John Le Carré has nothing on Stephanie Thornton. Fans of "The Americans" will devour this. Thornton takes the Cold War spy novel to a whole new level with this fast-paced, multifaceted drama about Elizabeth Bentley, the real-life Russian Spy turned FBI informant. Thornton gets to the heart of a woman seeking redemption after leading a tortured life of bad politics and impossible choices. I couldn’t put CLEVER GIRL down and now I can’t stop thinking about it. Bravo!

[Joan Happel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping story about the real Elizabeth Bentley, a member of the American Communist Party who became an informant for the FBI. The novel begins in 1963 when fictional Catherine “Cat” Gray, distraught about the death of her mother, shows up at Elizabeth’s home with the intention of killing her and herself. Elizabeth buys time by telling her story to Cat and what unfolds is a wild tale of love and espionage.

In 1933 New York, a lonely Elizabeth is recruited to work for the Communist Party and supply information to help defeat the Fascist Party in American and Europe. By the end of WWII and the onset of the Cold War, the rules have changed, but by then Elizabeth is deeply embroiled in the selling of state secrets with a large network of operatives passing on information to her. She is also in love with Jacob Golos, a Russian spy and a high-ranking member of the NKVD. When Jacob dies, Elizabeth finds herself caught in the crosshairs of the Soviet secret police, and her life is threatened. To save herself, she turns to the FBI, giving up the names of her contacts, testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee, and helping to convict Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and others.

This is a thrilling ride through the dangerous world of espionage, filled with harrowing moments of danger and suspense. Elizabeth is the classic unreliable narrator and Cat must decide what parts of Elizabeth’s story to believe. Well researched and deftly crafted, readers will love this fictionalized account of a real-life double agent.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has written a gripping story based on real life American spy for the Russians, Elizabeth Bentley. I’d not heard of her before and found myself intrigued by this complex woman who later turned course and helped the American government instead.

The first line grabs you and the tale deepens quickly, propelled by Thornton’s elegant narrative and sensitive character development. I felt as if I were in Elizabeth’s head at times, experiencing her thoughts and feelings as she makes choices I could never make as an American citizen. Only the best psychological portraits give you that sense of inhabiting a character so completely, and Thornton does this masterfully. I ran through a range of emotions — anxiety, fear, anger, relief, pity, grief, acceptance — until I reached the touching end.

Highly recommended for readers who love thrilling tales of complex women who changed history.

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 14 Sep 2021
#CleverGirl #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Stephanie Thornton as an author. I greatly loved And Then There Was Camelot, as well as American Princess. I understand there were older books about very early time figures. She is another author that raises female characters in history to have them better illuminated. In this novel, Elizabeth Bentley, Red Spy turned FBI informant, is explored. At first, I wasn't sure of I cared for the premised that got Elizabeth to start telling her story, but it grew on me, and I came to understand how these women were connected, as they did. The book was really interesting and touched a topic I really didn't know much about. I like the way Stephanie Thornton writes. Elizabeth was a complicated character, but she does elicit some sympathy, despite a rough exterior. One does come to care for her. And to understand the sad life and sacrifices of a spy.

I am very much looking forward to her next book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction especially when it introduces me to women whom history has forgotten.

In this case, Elizabeth Bentley ran the largest Soviet spy ring in the United States and then later turned the information over to the FBI for the McCarthy hearings. I was hooked from page 1. Loved all the included features- author's note, book list, and reading guide.

Stephanie Marie Thornton is one of my instant author buys. I highly recommend any of her books. In fact, I created a shelf just for her books.


Goodreads review published 05/04/23

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading historical fiction novels because it provides me the opportunity to learn a thing or two. I had never heard of Elizabeth Bentley prior to picking up this book. She was a Cold War double agent, a spy for the Russians and the United States. No matter what you might think of her as a person, she sure did lead a fascinating life.

Historical fiction writers have some leeway to use their imaginations with the story. In this case, I think the author did a good job bringing everything together. Yes, there are some key things that are complete fiction, but after reading this book I do feel like I got to know Elizabeth Bentley. The author got it right when it comes to presenting the important facts so it didn't matter to me at all that some things were introduced for storyline purposes.

It's an interesting read as in 1963 Elizabeth finds herself in a dangerous situation and she then recounts how she was recruited by the American Communist Party decades ago and how she got her start as a spy. I'll admit, the 1963 storyline came across as melodramatic at times but it served a purpose to set the stage for Elizabeth explaining her life and the choices she made over the years.

If you are interested in Cold War espionage, I definitely recommend this book. I found it to be a more satisfying read than another recent book in the genre that covered the same topic.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A Most Clever Girl is based on the incredible true story of Elizabeth Bentley, a Cold War double agent spying for the Russians and the United States. She is one of the United State's most controversial spies in American history.

Using several fictional characters, as well as fictional interactions between Elizabeth and J. Edgar Hoover, Thornton cleverly builds a story detailing Elizabeth's real life from becoming a spy, to her early passing at the age of 55. By introducing a fictional character to aid Elizabeth's account of her life, readers get an insider view of this sweeping tale of love, loyalty, espionage, and a handsome doggy called Vlad.

Here's my reasoning for only giving it a 3.5 star rating. The book itself is 4.5 star read for me. But I listened to it on audio via Libby and the narrator annoyed me to no end during more than fourteen hours of listening to her reading the romantic scenes between Elizabeth and Jacob Golos in a breathy, close-to-tears, voice. Similarly I couldn't stand how she portrayed Catherine Gray's character. Even at the book's conclusion I still couldn't understand what Cat was so angry about. It was very frustrating listening to her anger and not understanding why she was angry. I have to give credit where credit is due though. The narrator was excellent doing the different accents.

I recommend reading this book instead of listening to it on audio, unless you're into listening to romance read to you breathlessly. I enjoyed the fact that this book is based on a real-life character who spearheaded one of the largest Soviet spy networks in America in the early twentieth century.

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 Hello Book Friends! A MOST CLEVER GIRL by Stephanie Marie Thornton was an extraordinary account of a Cold War double agent spying for the Russians and the United States. The story is fast-paced and has unexpected twists. It takes place in the 30s’, WWII, and during and just after the Cold War. I do not know much about the Cold War and what it meant. This book inspired me to research more about that time period and Elizabeth Bentley’s involvement in gathering information for the USSR. I enjoyed the account of her involvement with her handler, Jacob Golos, it was very emotional. I also enjoyed the author’s notes explaining why she chose to write this book. I recommend this thought-provoking book.

#bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #amostclevergirl #stephaniemariethornton #berkleypub #penguincanada #bookreview

[Amanda M (On The Middle Shelf) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf at 20%

I am always intrigued by books about Cold war/Communist spies, but this one was just too dry and detailed for me. I honestly was just bored with it and with such a backlog of books I've been wanting to pick up I'm giving myself permission to set it aside for something else.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was unfamiliar with Elizabeth Bentley, a double agent in the Cold War era, until reading this story. This tale is very loosely based on the history of a real woman, and the fictional biography sent me on my own research trail to learn more. Elizabeth is not particularly complex or nuanced, rather she is a woman who cannot bear to be alone and who yearns for acceptance. That need for a community leads Elizabeth to the American Communist Party, to an intense love affair with her handler as she spies for the USSR, and then later to spying for the Americans after her lover dies. The story spans from the 1930s through the Cold War, and the vehicle for the storytelling did not quite work for me. An older Elizabeth is recounting her past to a spoiled sorority girl holding her at gunpoint because of a frankly absurd vendetta. The narrative style lent itself more to telling than showing, and this story of a spy was not as tense and suspenseful as I was hoping for. What I enjoyed about the story, though, is Elizabeth herself. I am always intrigued by stories of women who are not particularly likable and whose motivations and morals are questionable. Elizabeth is a wonderfully unreliable narrator who is determined, selfish, biting, and, yes, certainly clever. This story of a woman caught in a labyrinth of intrigue and betrayal is best paired with a White Russian.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Most Clever Girl
By: Stephanie Marie Thornton
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Based on Elizabeth Bentley, a double agent spying for the Americans and Russians.
⏳
In her younger years she became involved with her handler, Jacob Golos a Russian spy. They built one of the largest spy networks.
⏳
In her fifties, a young women, Catherine shows up at her place with a gun demanding her attention. She has questions! The women has a connection to her based on a letter from her mother. As her story unfolds Bentley became personally involved with her handler and their connection defied all odds. They are in constant danger. Her story is told to Catherine and she must decipher what is true.
⏳
Bentley ends up contacting the FBI and defects. The trial and outcome is something I want to explore more. I loved the author notes because Thornton tells you what is fiction a s how she weaves her story. My first book by her, but definitely not my last. #stephaniemariethorton, #berkley, #bokreview, #bookstagram, #audiobook, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50

[Morgan]

Lost interest about 40 pages in. I think it's the writing style that put me off.

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading Stephanie Marie Thornton’s books years ago and absolutely feel in love with her story telling style! One of the things I found the most compelling was she wrote stories about women in antiquity. Women that wouldn’t be likely to have a ‘story’ that was well known. For example the Empress Theodora and the women of Genghis Kahn. I loved that she took well known women in antiquity, but were unlikely to generate mainstream stories, and then created a story for them. I adored her early books and when I saw that she was making the shift into the more modern era, I was a little sad.

That said, I have read her more ‘modern’ books which, I am happy to report, were all wonderful too! Although I am still waiting for a story about Boudica, but I have loved her modern novels. But this book was one I was looking forward to above all others to date! I have been really enjoying books set in a post WWII world that include early espionage. This book is set a little later than I was hoping (set in 1963) but still compelling in content and espionage!

This is more of a ‘Cold War’ era spy type novel rather than immediate post WWII, but the content and suspense was on fire and I absolutely loved this one! I devoured it in like a day. It was so good and Thornton’s storytelling style just keeps getting better and better. I still have a special place in my heart for the ancient history novels but this more modern novel has a lot to recommend itself!

I wish I had Stephanie Thornton as a history teacher in school because, damn does she have a great way of making history exciting and interesting! This book hooked me from the beginning. Not only if the cover positively stunning, but the story within matches the beauty of the cover! Like Thornton, I have a passion for women in history and I have a whole list of female figures I would love to read stories about directly from Thornton’s brain!

This story is based on the real American spy, Elizabeth Bentley who spied on the Americans for the Russians but then later switched and spied on the Russian’s for the Americans. I couldn’t imagine what would have to go through someone’s mind to choose another country over their own but I thought that Thornton did a wonderful job providing the psychology and introspection for readers in Elizabeth’s character. No doubt it would have been a tough character to write but Thornton was equal to that task. Elizabeth Bentley was such a rich character who really came alive in this story under Thornton’s pen. I absolutely loved it.

I don’t know that I actually ‘liked’ Elizabeth’s character in the book or in general once I did more research on her. But I thought that Thornton crafted an interesting story and that story and psychology in Elizabeth’s character drew me in and made me not want to put this one down. It was an incredibly good book and I enjoyed every single minute. This book has a lot to process and unpack and I think would be a good one for book clubs. I think it would generate a lot of interesting conversations for sure! I simply love Thornton and I cannot wait for more books by her! It you love historical fiction about women then you need to read this one! So good!

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story if there ever was one. Based on the life of Elisabeth Bentley we dive into a most confusing time in recent history. How does a young woman decides she wants to become a spy? Well, she doesn't. It sort of happens after she meets a girl who takes her to a meeting with members of the communist party in the early 30's. Communism was and still is a very dirty word in most parts of the world, but in the US in the '30s you could get sentenced to death for being a member of that party. But Elisabeth is not a communist as such. She is young, poor and naive and just wants to do something for her country. Yes, well, before she knows it, she's a spy and she even proofs to be very good at it. Which was quite remarkable for a woman, especially in those days when woman were still not seen as intelligent beings.
Although a big part of the book is fiction, it ties in neatly with Elisabeth's story and I liked the way the author mixed fact and fiction to create a captivating story. I'm not a big fan of biographies but I think this way you can get to know more about someone without just reading the bare facts. There's enough interesting material in this book to want to follow up with reading other books about Elisabeth.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this WWII/Cold war spy story featuring Elizabeth Bentley, an American woman spy code named "Clever Girl" who falls for her handler (a Russian spy) and ends up running an international espionage network. Told in dual perspective from the 'present' in 1963 post Kennedy assassination where Catherine Gray has shown up to confront Elizabeth and her past actions, and Elizabeth's life as a spy in the previous two decades. We get to know how these two women's lives are intertwined along with Catherine.

Elizabeth Bentley was such a smart, strong woman. I listened to this on audio and Tavia Gilbert does an absolutely AMAZING job narrating!! HIGHLY recommended for anyone who enjoys good spy stories like The secrets we keep, A woman of intelligence, Our woman in Moscow, American spy or An unlikely spy. A little long but I didn't mind it because the story was just so juicy and hard to put down plus based on the life of a real woman! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC!

[Kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5/5 Stars**
Grab a steaming cup of coffee, tea, or mulled wine. Settle into a comfortable chair in your pandemic pants and fuzzy socks. Prepare yourself for a story of excitement, heartbreak, intensity, and high stakes. A Most Clever Girl by Stephanie Marie Thornton is a well-written work of historical fiction. Stephanie Marie Thornton keeps her readers plugged in to the story from beginning to end as she tells the tale of Elizabeth Bentley. Known by a variety of codenames, including “Clever Girl,” “Gregory,” and “Miss Wise,” Elizabeth Bentley goes from a naïve young woman searching for acceptance to a skilled spymaster for the NKVD during WWII and the beginning of the Cold War.

I have noticed a trend in my readings of historical fiction: The novels often begin in one decade and jump back to another, providing interludes of past memories from the views of certain characters. For the most part, I am a linear thinker. My preference is that stories follow from one scene to the next in chronological order. A Most Clever Girl has two different timelines, occurring simultaneously. I do not like this about historical fiction, but I can deal with it. What I didn’t like about A Most Clever Girl, though, was that when the novel focused on the past, a character would provide commentary from the story’s present. Unique manner of writing a book? Surely. But I wanted to be wholly transported back in history, and by having the interludes in parentheses, Thornton broke that vision in my mind.

Thornton wrote A Most Clever Girl as a narration, for the most part: Elizabeth Bentley recounting her background to another person. That’s why I suggested readers get comfortable, because the book is like sitting at your grandfather’s feet in his living room, listening to his wartime tales. So in that sense, the present-day comments in A Most Clever Girl were appropriate. I just…didn’t like them, even if they were Elizabeth Bentley saying how she learned from her mistakes.

The other present-day character, Catherine Gray, I also found to be cliché. I correctly identified who she was from early in A Most Clever Girl, and Catherine was very one-note. I didn’t like her, besides maybe in the last couple chapters. Additionally, Stephanie Marie Thornton suffered from a common error in novels that drives me bonkers: Using characters’ names in two-person dialogue. You don’t need to say “Catherine” or “Elizabeth” at the end of every spoken sentence. The reader gets the picture, especially since the only two people in Elizabeth Bentley’s house during her story? Catherine and Elizabeth.

Unintentionally, I listened to the audiobook version of Agent Sonya by Ben Macintyre at the same time I read A Most Clever Girl by Stephanie Marie Thornton. Agent Sonya is a biography, following the life of Ursula Burton, a German Jew who spied for the Soviet Union during WWII. So, I simultaneously experienced the tales of two different female spies of the time period. I normally prefer fiction over nonfiction, but I liked Agent Sonya more. Both Elizabeth Bentley and Ursula Burton were spies of importance and influence, but Macintyre was just a little more successful at telling Burton’s story than Thornton was with Bentley.

I enjoyed A Most Clever Girl, and I don’t regret reading it; I just think it could’ve been better.

*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are my own.

[Ashley Marie]

2/11/21
The cover's all over IG and FB, why isn't it here yet? *flails*

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A MOST CLEVER GIRL
Stephanie Marie Thornton


This is a historical fiction about a real Elizabeth Bentley, who justified her status as a spy during WWII and the following Cold War because Russia was an ally during the war and she was lonely and needed friends. Really? Surely this is the idea and justification of the author, I can only hope.

The book is told by the fictionalized Bentley when she is faced with her death by another fictional character, Catherine who is intent on killing Bentley and then herself. Instead, she allows Bentley to rattle on and on in a long justification about how and why she was communist but not a spy and that J. Edgar Hoover would back her up. I guess that part was factual, Wikipedia says so and there is no better source than that!

Personally, I had a hard time liking either Elizabeth or Catherine. The reasons Thornton planted in the book for their actions are rather absurd to me. I do understand that joining the Communist party was a thing at the time she did so, so maybe it isn't that far off. But more likely she remained for HER personal emotional connection with her handler even after she is aware that Stalin was a horrible person.

I would think that if I went to kill someone, surely I would just do it and not end up staying for hours and making that person dinner. Wonder what she did with her gun while she was cooking? Put it on the counter? In her pocket?

Overall, I found the story a bit disjointed and a tad draggy. It took a roundabout way to get to the story... at first, I thought it was a historical romance... I guess life includes romance, so ok. It wasn't the worst I have read, but certainly not the best.

3 stars

Happy Reading!

[Christine Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

With meticulous research and a rare gift for breathing life into historical figures, Stephanie Marie Thornton follows the true story of a complex and fascinating woman—American spy Elizabeth Bentley. Filled with danger, intrigue, love and loss, Clever Girl is a powerhouse novel, exquisitely written and utterly gripping. ~ Christine Wells, author of Sisters of the Resistance

[Lecia Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

An elegant story that reads like a film noir. Elizabeth Bentley is a real-life character who infuriates, mystifies, and fascinates.

[Sydney Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thornton is an amazing writer and deserves to be well known. Writers will love (and could study) the devises used in this book to tell the story in a highly entertaining way. But readers will eat it up just because it’s so damned good.

And this is a different offering for Thornton, an exciting one, especially as we grow more aware of the spies in our none-to-distant past. How does one get into it? Why stay? How live to see another day? Read on and find out. Bravo.

[Des · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Elizabeth Bentley is captivatingly presented in this biographical history.
Stephanie Thornton provides an illuminating account of the Elizabeth’s troubled life as she navigated the contradictions brought about by he life decisions as a member of the American Communist Party and spy.
The personal, practical and political issues are presented in the context of her desire to bring about a more just world and stand up against fascism.
The detail does not get lost in the discussion of the contemporary politics of the era.
The backdrop of the 1940’s and the Cold War brings many threads together to help relive and appreciate the time.
The author writes very well and presents Elizabeth Bentley as we might know her, without becoming over judgemental or stereotyping.
This is an uplifting book that portrays Elizabeth Bentley as a sad but highly principled woman operating in a dangerous environment and time.
I would recommend “A Most Clever Girl: A Novel of an American Spy” as a very good historical biography that is very well written and easy to read.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel trying to decide what it wants to be. For the first half of the book, it read like a romance novel where the main characters just incidentally happen to be spies. Then, it pivoted to being a "true crime" type of book where it focused on the espionage and treachery. Finally, it became a novel of confession and tugging on heartstrings. But, overall, it was historical fiction as Elizabeth Bentley did exist; she did become a spy for the Communists; and, she did "defect" to the American side and testify before HUAC.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

ho hum. a spy novel should be filled with suspense, intrigue, sit on the edge of your seat excitement. none of these existed. elizabeth bentley was an actual spy involved with sending american military secrets to the russians. her life was amazing as she spent years gathering contacts and information. a most clever girl dully told her story in slow moving monotone. and the introduction of an extraneous fictional heroine added nothing of consequence or importance to this tale.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie Marie Thornton, author of “A Most Clever Girl” has written a captivating, intriguing, and memorial historical fiction novel. The genres for this novel are Biographical Historial Fiction, and Biographical Fiction. The story is written in two timelines. This is a story of espionage, betrayal, danger, romance, and loyalty. I love the way the author has one of her characters weave her story much as the character Scheherazade who saved herself through many tales. There are twists and turns, danger and murder.

Catherine Gray has lost her mother and President Kennedy’s assassination has made her seek out Elizabeth Bentley. Catherine wants vengeance, and wants to understand a letter that her mother left her, as well as what motivates Elizabeth Bentley, who is known as a “Red Spy Queen”. What Catherine doesn’t expect is for Elizabeth to tell her how she got involved with communism in college.

I appreciate that the author has her character explain the reasons for her involvement, and some readers will be ambivalent and some sympathetic. The author describes her characters as complex, complicated, and determined.

Kudos to the author for the hours of research into the Communist Party in America and Russia. I would recommend this thought-provoking book.