Source: Review copy from NAL
Rating: ★★★★☆
“They hang men. Women disappear. It’s only glamorous in the novels, Kate. If we are successful, we can’t boast. Spying is a dishonorable trade for women, for precisely the reason you despised me this afternoon, and you despise yourself now. We exchange our virtue for their secrets. If we fail, we don’t have the privilege of a public trial and famous last words. Our reward for failure is an unmarked grave.”
(from The Turncoat, page 40)
The Turncoat is the first novel in Donna Thorland’s Renegades of the Revolution series, but readers don’t have to worry about starting a new series as it looks like each of the books will stand alone. Set in 1777 amidst the British occupation of Philadelphia during the American Revolution, The Turncoat is the story of an innocent Quaker girl whose determination, outspokenness, and bravery get her into a whole heap of trouble.
When Kate Grey’s father goes off to serve with General Washington, she’s left on the family farm with Angela Ferrers, a.k.a. the Merry Widow, a Rebel spy determined to destroy Colonel Bayard Caide, who is busy drinking, looting, and raping his way through the Colonies, and steal the plans he is to pass on to General Howe. But it’s his cousin, Major Peter Tremayne, Lord Sancreed, who arrives at the Grey’s farm…and there’s something different enough about him and Kate that they immediately are intrigued by one another.
Months later, Tremayne, disgraced by the Merry Widow, seeking to rebuild his career, and still thinking about Kate, enters Philadelphia and finds a very different Kate working her charms on his cousin. Having witnessed the evils of war, Kate puts her Quaker pacifism aside and puts her life (and virtue) on the line to help the Rebel cause. But she is torn between her loyalty to the revolution and her feelings for Tremayne, and one slip will lead to their downfall.
I wanted to read The Turncoat because I’ve always been fascinated by stories about female spies, but I soon worried that the romance and the sex would overpower the danger and the war. However, there was just something about these characters and the time period that made it impossible for me to put the book down. Thorland’s characters are well drawn and complex, especially Bayard Caide, who comes off as evil but has a story that makes you think twice about him. I loved Kate and Tremayne, the passion and tension between them, and the obvious conflicts that arise between a Rebel and a Redcoat, a plain Quaker and an aristocrat. Thorland’s portrayal of the historic figures, including Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John André, General Howe, and Peggy Shippen, seemed realistic, though I didn’t know more than the basics about them before reading this book.
The Turncoat covers so much ground, from the battles at Forts Mercer and Mifflin and the decadence of occupied Philadelphia to espionage and the treatment of women during war. Readers should be warned that there are some pretty steamy sex scenes in this book, along with several instances of rape, but I thought for the most part, they were well done and contributed to the development of the characters. There is much suspense and danger throughout this novel, and I was on the edge of my seat and up past my bedtime, needing to know how it all played out. Thorland really brings the American Revolution to life in The Turncoat, with a strong heroine and plenty of historical facts, fascinating characters, and exciting adventures to hold readers’ interest from the first page.
Book 1 for the American Revolution Reading Challenge
Book 7 for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Disclosure: I received The Turncoat from NAL for review.
© 2013 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
Not sure about the romance and sex that almost took over, that felt unnecessary in a book like this
It ended up not bothering me because it actually made sense, character development-wise, at some points.
This is a maybe for me. I’m having trouble finding American Revolution Books for the challenge that keep my interest. Worth trying I suppose – to the library!
I hear you about having a hard time finding books for the challenge. I have some middle-grade books earmarked, but I wish there was more adult fiction on my list. This one certainly kept my interest!
I’m glad you enjoyed this one but I’m just not sure it’s for me.
Well, like all books, it’s not for everyone. ;)
I would be attracted to a book about female spies too. Thanks for mentioning the content in the book. The plot is interesting, but I could do without the steamy sex scenes.
At least there weren’t too many of those scenes, but one of them is particularly long, lol.
I am not usually a huge fan of a lot of sex in the books I read but if they are done well I don’t mind. I am interested in the setting of this novel as it is a time period I know little about but would like to read about. I think I will have to make a note of this one. Thank you for sharing :-)
I thought they were well done. They didn’t make me cringe (too much) or make me want to stop reading, lol.
You are ahead of me in the challenge!
I’ve only read 1 book! lol
The Turncoat sounds like a great book. I don’t mind the love scenes if they are well written and don’t overtake the story. The setting here sounds interesting too.
I think they worked. I just worried at the beginning that I was actually reading a romance novel with a little war and espionage thrown in, but that wasn’t the case, though romance is a big part of it.
Wantwantwant! I don’t mind some smut so this one sounds perfect!
I really think you’d like it!
Steamy..sounds good!! :)
Actually I am intrigued by this time period and the story sounds great!
Oh, I’m almost positive you’d enjoy this one as much as I did!
I think I’d enjoy this one.
It was a good blend of history, war, and romance.
I really liked this one and I am glad to have at least read one book for the challenge! I am a bit worried about finding more, although I guess I could reread Christine Blevins! That would work right?
Sure, you can re-read books for the challenge. I think I’m going to read some of Ann Rinaldi’s middle grade books. I enjoyed her novels for the Civil War challenge.
I don’t mind the romance and sex (if it fits into the story) and love female spies so I’ll be adding this to my wish list.
I was surprised by how it worked and fit the story here. Usually the sex scenes are put in there for no reason but to have a sex scene, but not so with this book.