American Spy

This unflinching debut weaves together espionage and racial complexity, creating a narrative that is both timely and timeless. Set in 1986 during the Cold War, Marie Mitchell, an intelligence officer with the FBI, navigates the challenges of being a brilliant black woman in a predominantly white male environment. Her career stagnates until she is recruited for a covert task force aimed at undermining Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary president of Burkina Faso, whose Communist ideals have made him a target for U.S. intervention. Over the course of a year, Marie observes, seduces, and ultimately plays a role in the coup that topples Sankara. This experience forces her to confront her beliefs about espionage, love, and what it means to be a good American. Inspired by true events, this sweeping historical fiction combines an enthralling espionage thriller with a profound exploration of identity and morality, introducing a powerful new literary voice.