Buy the Book:
Bookshop.org
Simon & Schuster
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Winchester Book Gallery
Hudson Booksellers
Walmart
Published by: She Writes Press
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Pages: 256
ISBN13: 979-8896360988

Synopsis

For fans of novels featuring strong, smart female protagonists, the first in a series about the novice female American spies in North Africa and the Mediterranean that changed the tide of World War II.

In 1942, during the height of World War II, Wild Bill Donovan, the director of the United States’ first spy agency, believes women are the key to winning the intelligence battle with the Nazis. To that end, he partners fledgling agent Kit Thomas with British MI6 agent Mark Williams and sends them to one of the most perilous places in the world—Massawa, Eritrea—to investigate the theft of millions of military payroll dollars.

In Massawa, Kit and Mark discover a conspiracy by Nazi sympathizers, known as the Vichy, to shut down the only Allied naval base on the Red Sea—which is an essential resource in stopping the Nazi invasion of North Africa. As they work to reveal the conspirators, Kit and Mark engage in a dangerous and tempestuous dance of trust versus mistrust.

---

Praise

"...keeps readers engaged with a heady mix of adventure, romance, and surprising revelations, all amplified by the high stakes of wartime espionage. Fans of WWII thrillers will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series."
—KIRKUS, starred review

"…immersive...emotionally layered …richly detailed…combines impressive research with vivid geographic detail, depicting the key roles of American female spies during the Second World War. Comparable to Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BOOKLIFE

"...gripping... masterful… sustains taut tension throughout, guiding readers across Eritrea’s rugged landscapes... a rollicking adventure made all the more compelling by its basis in true events…will keep readers turning pages to discover what happens next to a young American spy. We at SLR will eagerly anticipate the next installment.”
—SOUTHERN LITERARY REVIEW, READ OF THE MONTH FOR JULY 2026

“A meticulously researched account of an overlooked theater of World War II, this is a compelling story of courage, love and espionage…perfect for readers of Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network…”
—SUSAN BREEN, BEST-SELLING, AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, ESTEEMED FACULTY AT GOTHAM WRITERS  

“The African desert is hot, the history is cool, and you’ll find yourself clutching the book as you follow every twist and turn.”
—DAVID ROBBINS, NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR

“Come away to places whose names you may never have learned when studying WW II history in school – but whose names you’ll likely never forget once you’ve read this intoxicating story of intrigue, conspiracy, theft, betrayal, and illusion.”
—LEE AMBROSE, LITERARY CRITIC