Inspired by the real story of
investigator Kate Warne, this
spirited novel follows the detective's rise during one of
the nation's times of crisis, bringing to life a fiercely
independent woman whose forgotten triumphs helped sway the
fate of the country.
With no money and no husband,
Kate Warne finds herself with
few choices. The streets of 1856 Chicago offer a desperate
widow mostly trouble and ruin—unless that widow has a knack
for manipulation and an unusually quick mind. In a bold move
that no other woman has tried, Kate convinces the legendary
Allan Pinkerton to hire her as a detective.
Battling
criminals and coworkers alike, Kate immerses
herself in the dangerous life of an operative, winning the
right to tackle some of the agency's toughest
investigations. But is the woman she's becoming—capable of
any and all lies, swapping identities like dresses—the true
Kate? Or has the real disguise been the good girl she always
thought she was?