Double Death: The True Story of Pryce Lewis, the Civil War's Most Daring Spy

by Gavin Mortimer

After an elderly man jumped from New York's Pulitzer Building in 1911, his death made the front page of the New York Times : "World Dome Suicide a Famous War Spy." By then Pryce Lewis had slipped entirely offstage; but, as Gavin Mortimer reveals, the headline did him justice, speaking to the dramatic, vitally important, and until now untold role he had played in the Civil War. Emigrating to the United States in 1856, Lewis was soon employed as an operative by Allan Pinkerton in his newly established detective agency. Early in the Civil War Pinkerton offered the agency to President Lincoln as a secret service, spying on Southern forces and insurrectionists. Civilian spies proved crucial to both sides early on; indeed, intelligence gathered by Lewis helped give the Union army its first victory, three days after the defeat at Bull Run. Within a year, though, he and fellow Brit Timothy Webster, another Pinkerton operative, were captured in Richmond, and their high-profile trial and conviction in a Confederate court changed the course of wartime espionage. Lewis was spared the hangman's noose, but Webster was executed, and thereafter spying was left to military personnel rather than civilians. Narrative history at its best, in recounting Pryce Lewis's gripping story, Double Death offers new angles on the Civil War, illuminating the early years of the Pinkerton Agency and the shadow world of spying throughout the war, as well as the often overlooked impact that Britain had on both sides.

Genres: History, Biography, Civil War, Nonfiction, American Civil War, Military History, American History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 2, 2010

About the author

For a detailed biography, to learn more about all the books I have written and to discover my forthcoming projects, please visit my website at the above link.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must for anyone who is interested in Civil War or spy history. The reader will not only find thoroughly researched and detailed information on the life and activities of Pryce Lewis but also of all people and places involved. An orderly extensive list of sources makes it easy for anyone to see where Mortimer obtained his information but will also aid in any personal searches.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this book at a thrift store almost a year ago and just got around to reading it. I loved it even more than I thought I would. Living in West Virginia and having spent time in the areas where Pryce Lewis traveled, it was thrilling to read about what was happening here 150 years ago. I'm also thankful that Mortimer was able to finally get Lewis's story in print.

Mortimer did a great job. The book was detailed, well-researched, and entertaining without feeling like he "spiced" any parts up to keep readers entertained. The incredible amount of additional sources he provides is helpful for any history buff. Double Death is a great glimpse into the past.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this ARC off of first reads.

This book is a great account of a forgotten Union spy. Perfect literature for history, spy and Civil War fans.

In order for me to appreciate non-fiction, I have to go into that mode and usually I can. I have to step out of wanting to be entertained (by good fiction) and step into wanting to learn something true.

***Spoiler alert***

Shortly after immigrating to United States in 1856, Pryce Lewis joined a detective agency, run by Allen Pinkerton. This agency soon became a secret service for the Union. Lewis and few others employees acted as if they were Englishmen touring the south when in reality, they were spies. Because of Pinkerton’s greed for power and his disconnect with his men, a few of his agents were captured and thrown in jail when misfortune fell into the wrong hands. For 19 months they suffered from hunger, rats, lice, and being shackled, plus their guilty sentences hung over their heads. One agent, Timothy Webster, was accused for being a double agent and was hung. Lewis & his partner, Scully, were also sentence to be hung but were able to escape the noose. When they were finally released from jail the damage was done. Instead of thanking their former boss for his role in getting them released, Lewis went out against him accusing Pinkerton of forgetting his men and letting one be executed.

This heartbreaking book is full of lies and deceit from one man. Lewis was the honest man. He stayed true to his mission, never faltering, doing his best to be honest and brought so much to our country that was never recognized. But because of one man, Lewis’s live was affected to the point the he gave up and as a penniless grandfather, committed suicide.

DOUBLE DEATH, by Gavin Mortimer was constructed brilliantly. There were some slow parts but they all were essential to Pryce Lewis’s history.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved this as a goodreads first read giveaway. It's a true story based on civil war spy Pryce Lewis. He did a great service to our country and was all but forgotten.
I had a hard time getting into this novel at the beginning. Although the book is well written. History is not my genre of choice. I believe that says something about the author's ability as a writer. By the end of the book, I was very fond of Pryce Lewis and saddened by his mistreatment by both the U.S. and his home country, England.
This was an advanced reading copy and it did have several typographical errors. These in no way interfered with my enjoyment of the book. I definitely recommend this book.

[Shannon Futch · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the last paragraph of the book, "Nevertheless, despite his six frustrating months in Washington, Pryce Lewis was one of the most successful spies of the Civil War, and he was certainly the most unsung. Greenhow immortalized herself in her book, as Belle Boyd did in her memoirs, and Lafayette Baker did in his. In his own account of the war Pinkerton tooted Webster's horn nearly as loudly as his own. But no one lauded the achievements of Pryce Lewis."

Until now, nobody gave this man his dues. Pryce Lewis deserves all the praise he was never given. I throughly enjoyed every bit of this book.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb look into people's antics and thinking during the Civil War. Some were honorable, others were driven by greed, power, revenge, fear, or plain stupidity. Hhhuuummm... Sounds a little like today in America.

I could imagine the battle scenes, the motivations (or lack thereof) of people caught up in war, and the fear that Pryce Lewis endured as a spy for the North.

Excellent word pictues throughout added to my knowledge of the Civil War in a "behind the scenes" way as seen throught the eyes of a spy.

I enjoyed it all from beginning to end.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through goodreads first reads program.

I usually prefer fiction to non-fiction, but this book was so well written that I had trouble putting it down.

It's the true story of a spy during the Civil War. It's written in a non-stuffy style, unlike so many other books on history. You learn quite a lot about the individuals as well as receiving good coherent/cohesive background information on the Civil War.

If you are in to Civil War history, it's a must read and even if you're not, you'll enjoy it.

[Katie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through the first reads program.

I thought this was a very interesting account of the spy agencies during the Civil War. I knew little about the subject before reading the book. I found the content to be well-researched and informative. The life of Pryce Lewis is somewhat sad, but I enjoyed reading the story.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story (though bookended by deep sadness about how his life ended) of Pryce Davis, a Union spy during the early years of the American Civil War.

I am curious at how the author arrived at his conclusions regarding the veracity of Davis' memoirs as opposed to the stories about Confederate spies like Belle Boyd & Rose Greenhow (sp?).

[Daniel Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title and writeup were pretty intriguing, so I had to try it out. I thought it dragged and I thought a lot of the war events that were covered were in here just for fillers. Sorry to say, I was a bit disappointed.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of Pryce Lewis was interesting, but not always engaging. I certainly want to know more about Civil War spies though!

[MBP]

This was actually pretty good - I just put it down because I had other things to read with deadlines, and I never got back to it. Hope to finish it sometime.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. I'd never heard of the guy, but he played a big part in some much needed Union victories.

[April Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally fascinating and fun to read. Story of a Civil War-era spy who worked for Allan Pinkerton and the Union. Well-researched, cleverly-written and suspenseful. Read like a good spy novel.

[Jamey Rivera · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the story is intriguing, this book was written so...poorly...I couldn't stay awake. Boring as all get out.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting look at Pinkerton's spy network in Richmond. Pyrce Lewis' story was intriguing, but tragic. Mortimer does a good job telling the entire story.

[Joan Porte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have had much better, tighter writing. However, it is an interesting story of this by spy other spies pervasive during the Civil War.