The Long Island spy ring provided valuable information on British military operation during the Revolutionary War to General George Washington. After the failed attempt at spying by Nathan Hale, George Washington set up intelligence operatives in and around New York City.
The spies used many of the standard techniques used today including, unique invisible ink. Code names, a code book and people to transport the documents. The identities of individuals in the ring were kept secret. The lone woman in the ring remains unknown to this day.
The book provides more information about the activities and motivations of Benedict Arnold than the light gloss given during a typical history lesson. His wife's Tory sympathies played a significant role.
The authors provide a good description of the main players working for British and American espionage. Each person handled the emotional stress of the spy work differently. Some masked their American sympathies so well that George Washington had to offer them protection after the war to prevent them from being attacked as traitors.
Be aware that some of the dialogue in the book is fictionalized for narrative purposes. This did not take away from the well researched information provided in book.
Culpeper spy ring on Long Island, NY 5min.
Radio interview with Author Brian Kilmead - 14 min.
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