15 Gripping Books About Female Spies to Read Now!
These days, books about female spies are everywhere! It used to be that women’s roles in espionage were grossly ignored.
But with books like The Nightingale and The Alice Network hitting the bestseller lists, the world is finally aware of just how badass female agents really are.
Below are the best spy books about female spies from many periods in history. If you are looking to pick one of these for your book club, we have suggestions on how to theme your book club discussion around them!
The Best Books about Female Spies
Non-fiction Books About Female Spies
The Light of Days by Judy Batalion
This harrowing non-fiction book tells the stories of the Jewish female resistance members during WW2. These women have not been given nearly enough attention for their bravery, fearlessness, and sacrifice.
As Battalion explores the different experiences each female operative goes through during the war, I had tears streaming down my face. The sheer gall of these women was inspiring to me, especially in light of the danger they were in if caught out.
I picked this up during International Holocaust day and I couldn’t put it down. A must-read for those looking for WWII books and courage in the face of hatred.
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II
Author: Liza Mundy
Year: 2017
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This fascinating book tells the story of the code girls, the women who worked to decode messages during WWII. They worked incredibly hard to save the men on the frontlines, yet their work has been largely overlooked. Mundy shines a light on their story, which was almost lost completely.
Trigger Warnings
War, Sexism
Why Kirsten loves it
I’m not generally a huge non-fiction reader unless the topic is of particular interest to me. Having seen the Imitation Game and read quite a few non-fiction books about coding in war times, I thought this one would be interesting and it did not disappoint. I loved finding out about the trials and tribulations of the real-life heroes of the war that we rarely hear about.
Find this book in: Good Nonfiction Books for Beginners / Books like Lessons in Chemistry / Books about WWII / Books about Female Spies
The Best Spy Novels about Female Spies
Plot
Luisa Voekler is in the CIA and while her colleagues are working on Cold War assignments, she is stuck decoding messages from World War II.
Harris Voekler is a journalist who was separated from his daughter after the Berlin Wall went up. When Luisa discovers letters written to her by the father she thought was dead, she begins to learn the truth about her family and risks everything to rescue her father.
Why Jackie loves it
I have not read many historical fiction books about Germany between 1961 and 1990. I found this book fascinating. The book starts as a dual timeline narrative until the stories come together. The codebreaking, the politics, the secrets, and the lies made for a fast-paced read that I absolutely loved.
Find this book in: Books About Female Spies / Best Books About Puzzles / Ultimate List of Best Historical Fiction Books / Best Beach Reads 2024 / Best Historical Fiction of 2024 / Books Set in the 80s
The Nightingale
Author: Kristin Hannah
Year: 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: March 2023 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a remarkable story of two sisters who live in France. As historical fiction goes, this one set the standard for me. It is one of my all-time favorite books. It details how they survive the Second World War under Nazi Occupation. The sisters are separated by time and have completely different experiences in the war.
This book is one of the books that should be read in a lifetime. It is a total tear-jerker and should be essential reading! If you have not read this book and are looking for a pick for your next book club, you should consider this one. I will also point out that this is a book about WWII, not the Holocaust. While there is a subplot with a Jewish character, this by no means is a book about the Jewish experience during the war.
Trigger Warnings
WWII
Why Jackie loves it
The powerful story and the bonds of sisterhood in this book make it an unforgettable book. I cannot wait to see the movie adaptation
Why Kirsten loves it
I love historical fiction and read them all the time. This book was still filled with surprises and the writing grabbed me from the first page.
Adaptation Information
Elle and Dakota Fanning are set to produce and star in the film adaptation of this book which has been in the works for quite some time!
Find this book in: Books about WWII / Books Set in France / Books About Sisters and Sisterhood / Books About Female Spies / Books Becoming Movies / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon 2023
The Rose Code
Author: Kate Quinn
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of The Alice Network
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
While the main portion of this story features 3 code breakers at Bletchley during WWII, one of the main characters is dating Prince Philip. You know, the same Prince Philip who eventually marries the queen?
It’s a dual-timeline story and one of those storylines is set against the backdrop of Philip’s wedding to QE2.
Trigger Warnings
Death, child death, forced institutionalization
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a Kate Quinn royal novel, so the writing and story are both top-notch.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Mystery Books / WWII Books / Royal Reads / Books With Color in the Title / Best Books of 2021 / Books With Flowers in the Title
Mr. Churchill’s Secretary
Author: Susan Elia MacNeal
Year: 2012
Genre: Historical Mystery
More info: Maggie Hope #1
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The thing I love about Susan Elia MacNeal is that she doesn’t make the females in her series meek. She puts them center stage in the middle of the war; solving mysteries, spying, fighting, and the like.
In 1940’s London, Maggie Hope has just started working at 10 Downing Street as a secretary for Winston Churchill. Soon, Maggie is drafted to serve her country as she attempts to thwart an assassination attempt.
Why Kirsten loves it
The women in this historical fiction mystery series are tough cookies who don’t need a man’s protection. I adored Maggie Hope who is a whipsmart, fearless protaganist. I’m only a few books into this British mystery series but I love each one.
Find this book in: Best Historical Mystery Books / British Mystery Books / Best Books About WWII / Books about Female Spies
WWI Female Spy Books
The Alice Network
Author: Kate Quinn
Year: 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: July 2017 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This historical fiction takes place during the First World War and after the Second World War as the story of two women come together. One is a female ex-spy another is a pregnant single woman, and they are joined by a shady ex-con as they embark on a quest.
Why Kirsten loves it
This was such a good book to listen to and although the subject matter was serious, there were moments when I was laughing out loud. There was just the right amount of humor to make this a very readable book and a perfect book for book clubs to discuss.
Why Jackie loves it
This was such engaging historical fiction. I liked the characters and immediately wanted to know how the story would come together. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Find this book in: The Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Host a Spy-Themed Book Club / WWI Books / Reese Witherspoon 2017
Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini
This books was fascinating but SOOOOOOOOO long. It felt like I was listening to it for weeks on end and I think some of it could have been cut out for sure, but the writing was captivating and the story was fresh.
A lot has been written about WWII but this story focuses on the before. The years before WWII broke out, the people that tried to stop the atrocities and those that tried to prevent Hitler from coming to power.
It was so interested, and frankly scary, to see the slow slide of acceptance from the German people. It was also frightening to see the parallels that seem to be coming about today in America.
WWII Books about Female Spies
The Golden Doves
Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Year: 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 16+
Plot
From the best-selling author of The Lilac Girls comes a story based on the lives of “The Doves”. These former spies for the French resistance accept an assignment a decade after the war to find the infamous Nazi doctor who committed heinous atrocities during the war.
Why Jackie loves it
This long book was definitely worth the read. Do not let the size scare you off, this book is very readable and I felt compelled to find out how the story ended.
Find this book in: Historical Fiction / WWII books / Female Spy Novel / Books with Color in the Title
The Paris Library
Author: Janet Skesklien Charles
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller, Washington Post Bestseller, USA TODAY bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
In 1939, Odile is working at The American Library in Paris. There, she and her fellow librarians do everything in their power to try to save their patrons. But when the war is over, she faces a betrayal she didn’t anticipate.
In 1983 Montana, Lily is looking for an adventure which she finds whileinvetigating her neighbor’s past. But she was not expecting a dark secret to connect the two of them!
Trigger Warnings
Antisemitism, War
Why Kirsten loves it
WWII books felt a little been-there, done-that to me recently but this book has me back to loving the sub-genre. What makes this story different is the setting – The American Library in Paris. I loved hearing about the librarians and how they tried to help their Jewish subscribers. The story sucked me and had me thinking about the war in a new light.
Find this book in: Books Set in Paris / Books Set in France / Books About WWII / Books About Books / Books About Libraries
Plot
A gripping novel about the life of tennis superstar, Alice Marble, that also includes a look at her little-known spy work during WWII. Alice started playing tennis and was an absolute powerhouse whose unbeatable strength and drive made her a trailblazer on and off the court. Her love life was as enthralling as her rise to tennis stardom, but her work in WWII really got this book over the net.
Trigger Warnings
Miscarriage
Why Kirsten likes it
I found Jenni’s telling of Alice’s life to be interesting and engaging. I learned a lot about the classism in tennis, what it took to be a spy, and Alice’s life. I found the struggle she had balancing life and love with tennis to be so compelling, There was maybe a touch too much tennis for me, but if you are a tennis fanatic I know it’s probably not enough and this would be a perfect selection for you!
Find this book in: Women in Sports Books / Female Spy Books
Lana’s War by Anita Abriel
I loved this story and I need to sing its praises. If you love WWII Historical Fiction, this one is for you! I’ve never read a book set in the French Riviera during this time, so I found the new setting particularly intriguing.
After watching her husband get shot by an SS officer for hiding Jewish children, Lana joins the French Resistance. Lana, Guy, and Odette have stolen my heart. I can’t recommend this one enough!
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
I love Pam Jenoff’s previous book, The Orphan Train. So, It did not surprise me that I loved this book too. In 1946 Grace is passing through Grand Central station when she finds a suitcase.
Inside she finds a dozen pictures of women and is determined to find out who they are and who owns the suitcase. The story moves between Grace and Eleanor Trigg, the owner of the suitcase and leader of a ring of female spies throughout World War 2.
Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black
Did you know that Hitler only visited Paris once during the occupation of WWII? I didn’t but I loved this fictional story of why that might have been.
It was so refreshing to read a book about female spies in WW2 that actually didn’t need saving from the men in their life. This heart-pumping historical fiction is worth the listen (or read!)
Click for more WW2 books worth reading!
Cold War Books About Female Spies
The Secrets We Kept
Author: Lara Prescott
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: September 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:16+
Plot
At the height of the Cold War, Irina is chosen by the CIA and given a mission: help smuggle Doctor Zhivago into the USSR.
Trigger Warnings
Rape
Why Kirsten likes it
This was an interesting look at the subversive tactics the CIA took during the Cold War. I had no idea that they engaged in cultural espionage. As always, it’s fascinating to see the role that females play within a spy network. It’s crazy to me that after WWII, many former female spies were sent to the typing pool while their male counterparts got to remain active in the spy community.
Find this book in: Books With Secrets in the Title / Books About Female Spies / Reese Witherspoon 2019
When We Left Cuba by
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:
Plot
We are back with the Perez family in this sequel to Cleeton’s smash hit, Next Year in Havana. This time we get to explore the life and loves of enigmatic Beatriz Perez – a character I was intrigued by in the first novel.
The story of Beatriz’s life as a spy during the Cuban Missile Crisis was quite compelling. It was so interesting to see how the Cubans felt about America’s involvement or lack thereof during the time.
Why Kirsten loves it
The love story was compelling and realistic in my opinion, though I know others who didn’t love it at much as the first book. I breezed through it quickly and happily.
Find this book in: Female Spies / Chanel Cleeton Books / Beach Reads 2019 / Books Set in the 1960s
Plot
I was interested to read this book about a housewife turned female informant for the FBI. I went in interested to learn about the government’s efforts to root out Communism in the 50s but stayed to understand Katharina’s story.
Trigger Warnings
Alcoholism, Miscarriage
Why Kirsten loves it
I loved seeing Katharina find herself through her undercover work, but sometimes those scenes of her life at home were hard to read about because I came to despise her husband.
Find this book in: Historical Thrillers / Books Like Lessons in Chemistry / Ultimate Thrillers / Books About Women in the Workplace / Books About Female Spies
More Books about Female Spies
The Prince (Spy Girl #1) by Jillian Dodd
This female spy book is just so fun! Spy Girl has been training at Blackwood Academy for her entire life. Not graduated, she’s got her first assignment – to play Huntley Von Allister, a rich socialite whose job is to get close to – and protect – the Prince of Montrovia.
But when her feelings come into play, her assignment gets harder. I finished this YA book and immediately dove into the next one!
What books on this list of the best spy novels about women spies do you want to read?
9 WWI Books Like the Alice Network to Read Now
If you love these spy books, try these WWI books!
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