Girl in Disguise

When one thinks of the famous Pinkerton detectives, one imagines nondescript but serious men, intent upon their mission, able to blend into any background, and devoted to justice. I always imagine them as the human equivalent of bloodhounds. In Girl in Disguise, Greer Macallister puts faces to the nameless detectives but also introduces someone much more interesting, the first female Pinkerton detective.

Joining the agency during a time when women, especially gentile women, did not work, Kate Warne must prove herself to her fellow agents. The distrust and animosity she faces is by no means surprising and not unlike the opposition women still face when entering what has been traditionally deemed a male career. Through her trials and early show more cases, not only do we get to imagine the difficulties she faced, but we also get a picture of the work the Pinkertons actually did and their methods for solving their cases. It is fascinating information for anyone with any interest in detective work.

Having not read Ms. Macallister’s first novel, I have no idea of knowing whether this is her writing style or not, but the writing in Girl in Disguise is clunky. The descriptions are effective but less than elegant, and the character development, while minimal, is anything but subtle. To make matters worse, the story, especially in the beginning, has no apparent plot but jumps from vignette to vignette. One gets the distinct impression that the novel is nothing more than reminiscences because there is no seamless transition from one scene to another. It is only upon the dawning of the Civil War where the story smooths into something with a distinct plot and genuine conflict.

Yet, in spite of all of that, Kate is an appealing character and one that captures your interest regardless of the writing style. She is a take-no-prisoners type of gal, and her devotion to her craft is extraordinary. While one never feels any danger on her behalf, her exploits are nevertheless thrilling and suspenseful. After the first few cases, the lack of fluidity between her stories matters not a whit as you are thoroughly engrossed in her work. Moreover, the few scenes where she is deep undercover provides a compelling glimpse into the psychology of such work and even greater insight into the work of the famous Pinkertons.

Given the dearth of resources regarding this remarkable woman, Ms. Macallister does a tremendous job gleaning as much as she can from the few sources available to her and balancing that with the fictional filler. Even if half of what the story says is true, there is no doubt that Kate Warne was a remarkable woman who was not afraid to break the severest of gender boundaries. Immensely readable and highly enjoyable Girl in Disguise makes you proud to be a woman and confirms the fact that we can indeed do anything we want. show less

Kate Warne’s up against it. Chicago in 1856 is a rough town for a young widow with no money, no job prospects, and no desire to remarry. Mistreated by parents who never loved her, exploited her, and taught her never to love or trust anyone, Kate has learned to lie and dissemble, as circumstances seem to require. That skill, at least, she picked up from her father, a down-on-his-luck actor who, when not putting on stage makeup to perform, tried his hand at con games.

Which explains why, when Kate reads a want ad run by Allan Pinkerton looking for an operative to join his agency, she applies. After all, doesn’t she have the natural talent? Pinkerton nearly throws her out of his office; his profession is no place for a woman, he says. show more But Kate perseveres, of course, and Pinkerton reluctantly gives her a trial run — which doesn’t work out too well.

How that happens, and what she does about it, I’ll leave for you to find out, for Girl in Disguise is well worth your exploration. Be warned, however: Readers expecting a whodunit or thriller or even a unified plot will be disappointed, but, I expect, not for long. Such is the brio with which Macallister tells her story, and the loving attention she pays her protagonist, that it hardly matters.

Girl in Disguise is a coming-into-her-own novel, as Kate settles into her profession and masters it. Sometimes that process feels too easy, but rest assured, reversals arrive. The chapters represent cases, some of which are connected, especially in the narrative’s latter stages. But most stand alone, showing Kate’s progression, the professional and personal obstacles she faces, and, above all, how she handles a line of work that excites and fascinates her, yet leaves little or no room for a private life, let alone intimacy.

That, in turn, leads her toward self-discovery, because she must ask herself what she wants, and whether she’s lied so well to the world, she has fooled herself in the process. As such, her character drives the narrative, an essential, given that the plot is episodic and fragmented. It’s an unusual way to approach a suspense novel, but here, it works.

Kate Warne was a real person, but little is known about her. Macallister does an impressive job re-creating her in plausible fashion. I particularly like the family history, which both brings out her character and influences the story line. Better yet, she lets Kate remain emotionally scarred. No miraculous transformations mar this book, for the author is too psychologically astute for that.

The most exciting parts involve what few traces the real Kate Warne left in the historical record, and what tantalizing bits they are. She helped spirit Lincoln safely through Baltimore just before his first inauguration, foiling an assassination attempt. Later, during the Civil War, she performed surveillance on Rose Greenhow, a Washington socialite and clever Confederate spy, an excellent characterization.

I wish Pinkerton’s portrayal reached this level, but I don’t see his inner life or motivations as clearly as Kate’s or Greenhow’s. I wanted more from this major character. Lincoln’s cameo appearance provides just enough detail, I suppose, though I could have used a little more with him too, and George B. McClellan gets even shorter shrift, which I understand, yet which sets off my historian’s itch. During the war, McClellan would later command the Army of the Potomac and employ Pinkerton to run informants, who invariably offered inflated estimates of Confederate strength. McClellan swallowed them whole and used them as an excuse not to fight, driving Lincoln crazy. Maybe some other novelist will tackle that triangle.

The relative shallowness of the male characters is the most serious weakness of Girl in Disguise. With one exception, a suave, dapper colleague at Pinkerton’s agency who has a secret to protect, the men don’t measure up to Kate, Greenhow, or two women whom Kate trains as operatives.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed Girl in Disguise, which richly imagines a complex tale based on a sketchy historical record. show less

I picked this one up as I had read and really enjoyed Macallisters previous novel, The Magicians Lie. I was hoping for all the same elements that I enjoyed with her first novel; action, danger, and a kick ass female led.

Let me tell you guys, Macallister delivers yet again!

Kate Warne has quite literally no where to turn. A young widow in the 1850’s (don’t feel too bad, she was coerced into a loveless marriage by her good for nothing parents) with no income, she was quite literally almost out on the streets when an ad in the newspaper caught her eye. Pinkerton Detective Agency was hiring a new detective. The fact that there was no such thing as a female detective did not dissuade Kate; if anything, it made her want it even more. Kate show more is determined and quick witted and Pinkerton takes a chance and hires her on. Kate works twice as hard as every man on the payroll to prove herself, and prove herself she does. With the country on the verge of a civil war, Kates life as an operative takes her on countless dangerous missions, all over the country. Inspired by the real woman who was Americas first detective, this read is one you won’t be able to put down.

Y’all, Kate Warne is such a badass! I could read about her operations all. damn. day. This is a historical fiction done right. I do love some action and suspense in my reading and sometimes with a historical fiction, it really just isn’t there (obviously, I mean I’m not expecting them ALL to be, just that for that reason- they normally aren’t my cup of tea) but Girl in Disguise was such a perfect blend of action and plot to the back drop of one of the most important times in American history- the Civil War. The politics of it all are more a backdrop to Kate and her navigating her life as not only an operative at a prestigious detective agency, but a woman fighting gender norms and societal stereotypes on how she should be living her life. Kate is smart, and she uses these stereotypes to her benefit. After all, who would suspect a woman * gasp * of subterfuge and deceit? Kate was firery and brave- just such a great character to read. In addition to the action and danger that the life of an operative entails, we also are shown a more vulnerable side to Kate which was really moving to read. There was loss and heartbreak, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t tear up at some scenes.

Do yourself a favor and add this gem to your reading list. I will certainly continue to read anything Greer publishes and look forward to her next book! show less

It took me a while to get into this work; my beginning it timed up with a stretch where I didn't read that much due to the other aspects of life that intervened. So how long it took me to read this novel shouldn't reflect on how I ultimately felt about it. I enjoyed this look at an obscure female historical figure whose life reads like a James Bond novel. Near death getaways, the trials of detective work, and war make this book hard to put down. Once you're in there, you can’t get away.

I bet most people will hear the name Kate Warne and not know the significance of it. Yet, this woman blazed so many trails for women in law-enforcement, showing that just because she wore skirts didn't mean she couldn't think or shoot with the best of show more the men. The author does a great job in getting into Kate’s head, letting us see the woman behind the detective. While she's highly intelligent and earns the respect of her peers and Pinkerton himself, there's also a vulnerable side, a woman who wants a connection to family, friendship, or romance. The author does a fantastic job and balancing both aspects of this complex woman.

I loved getting into the nitty-gritty of Kate’s 19th century detective world as well. With no forensic evidence or fingerprints, the work of bringing justice and ferreting out information is much harder. Exploring the different, clever ways in which Kate and her colleagues went about their work was amazing. Their intelligence and acting skills were showcased to perfection. Then there were the difficulties Kate faced as a woman in this dark world. Having to work extra hard to gain the respect of her clients and fellow detectives, the world at large still feeling it abnormal, unnatural for a woman of her time. My heart went out to her every time she was faced with a slur or accusation; a woman truly ahead of her time.

As another reviewer pointed out, this novel contains a ton of life events that Kate experienced and that shaped her. There's enough material in here for a full series, I felt. Yet, the author chose to just provide really snapshots of Kate’s life. I felt like I wasn't getting as deep as I could have if this tale had been spread over multiple books. Maybe the book might have been better served focusing on a part of Kate’s timeline rather than her whole life? But then that has its own problems too. It probably speaks to the writing skills of the author overall that even though I only got my appetite whetted by a few of Kate’s life events, I still felt deeply connected to her.

Even though I personally felt like we could have gotten deeper to Kate’s life, I still found myself enthralled by this look at Kate Warne. She's an incredible woman, born before her time, whose intelligence, courage, and strength of will make her a figure for admiration. That's all balanced out with a very human vulnerable side that makes her very relatable. This book is a fantastic first look at this obscure historical figure. While I was left hungry for more, this book still stands out as a solid work. Definitely recommended reading.

Note: Book received for free via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less

Girl in Disguise by Greer Macallister is a 2017 Sourcebooks Landmark publication.

‘Someone has to go first’

This is a biographical novel based on Kate Warne, the first female Pinkerton detective.

I enjoyed reading this fictional account of Kate’s life, how she convinced Pinkerton to hire her, how she eventually garnered the respect of the other detectives, trained other female operatives, and became a spy during the civil war.

What a fascinating life!

Yet, it would seem Kate was often conflicted about the lies and subterfuge, she was forced to use in order to get the job done, questioning the morality of it, while at the same time reveling in the adventure, and satisfying her need to contribute and be a productive citizen.

‘The show more Woman I’d become since Pinkerton hired me- excited by subterfuge, capable of any and all lies, slipping into and out of identities like dresses- was she the real me?
Had I been her all along, and the good girl I thought myself the real disguise?”

I enjoyed reading about the cases she worked, the costumes or disguises she wore, and the roles she played in order to trap the suspects. I was equally impressed with her humanity and fortitude, her loyalty, and remarkable grace under pressure and the mark she left behind for women to someday embark on careers in law enforcement.
Her story is compelling, sad in some ways, but ultimately inspiring.

Overall, this was a very interesting and absorbing read, and a must for those who enjoy historical fiction.

4 stars show less

Girl in Disguise is the historical fiction story of Kate Warne who was hired by Allan Pinkerton and became the first female detective in America. When the story opens, Kate is a widow with no work experience. There aren't many options for women in that position in the 1850s, so she answers a Pinkerton Detective Agency advertisement in the local paper. Of course, Pinkerton refuses to hire her but she persuades him to give her a chance and goes on to have a long and successful career.

I'm not sure what I expected when I first started the book, probably more of a straightforward telling of her story. It turned out to be more of an episodic collection of several of her cases. Some of the cases are years apart so that was a bit disconcerting show more at first. I did feel like some of the characters were less developed than I would have liked, but by the time I was a third of the way through, I was really enjoying it.

The author's note at the end of the book was quite interesting and gave me a real appreciation for what an extraordinary woman Kate was. Even though it has some flaws, it's still a book I would recommend to fans of American historical fiction. Because many of the records that detailed her career at Pinkerton were lost in the Great Chicago fire, I did feel like the author created a believable story about Kate. show less

This historical fiction is based on the first female Pinkerton agent in the mid-1800’s. The settings are primarily Chicago and the South prior to and up through the Civil War. The documented historical events included the Pinkertons working as police for the railroads and their participation as spies on behalf of the Union during the war. Much of the narrative was fictional as the author explained there was very little information about Kate Warne other than the basic facts of her employment. I found it light, but entertaining providing some detective history that was new and interesting to me. Definitely adds to the canon of female historical figures who made their mark despite the customs of their day.