Review: The Traitor's Wife

THE TRAITOR'S WIFE by Allison Pataki in 2014 by First Howard Books. This is historical fiction about Benedict Arnold and his wife. There were some liberties taken in regards to the names of staff that worked for the Shippen's and the Arnold's. This book is about Clara the new ladies maid as much as it is about the the treasonous Arnold's. The book starts off with a prologue in which General Washington is sending his regards to the Arnold's about his delay in attending breakfast. Which starts Benedict on a scramble to exit the premises. Then we go back in time, not that far back, to May 1778 when Clara becomes apart of the Shippen household to become the Ladies Maid to both girls. She is warned by Mrs. Quigley the housekeeper that Miss Peggy has a temper and will try to keep Clara for herself. Clara is so enamored with her surroundings and the concept that she has a bed to herself instead of mat in front of a hearth that she maybe did not listen so well to the warning.

As forewarned Peggy takes Clara over and pretends that she is her friend, causing much commotion as the book ensues. Peggy is a loyalist and is flirting with John Andre' who she calls Johnny. He has an assistant who becomes enamored with Clara, so Peggy uses this to her advantage. But then the revolutionaries arrive in Philly and John runs with the British much to Peggy's dismay. But she is an opportunist at best, and even though she vows to hate Benedict Arnold for the things he has done since arriving to Philly, she flirts with him.

Now this book told me things that I did not know about Benedict Arnold, as we were only taught in school that he was a traitor. I did not know the battles he fought in, or the monies he put into the war effort. I did not know about his wife and her role in the treason. I either did not pay attention, or they just did not want to delve into the bits and pieces. In the back section of this book are questions for the author, I suggest you read this, because it seems she used many historical facts in this book. She tells you where she got her information and how she was drawn to write the story.

I really liked her writing style and the history aspect of this book. A great read.