The Princess Spy - by Larry Loftis

About the Book

Chronicles the extraordinary life of OSS spy Aline Griffith, who performed deep-cover intelligence missions during and after World War II throughout the upper echelons of European politics and society.

Book Synopsis

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

"As exciting as any spy novel" (Daily News, New York), The Princess Spy follows the hidden history of an ordinary American girl who became one of the OSS's most daring World War II spies before marrying into European nobility. Perfect for fans of A Woman of No Importance and Code Girls.

When Aline Griffith was born in a quiet suburban New York hamlet, no one had any idea that she would go on to live "a life of glamour and danger that Ingrid Bergman only played at in Notorious" (Time). As the United States enters the Second World War, the young college graduate is desperate to aid in the war effort, but no one is interested in a bright-eyed young woman whose only career experience is modeling clothes.

Aline's life changes when, at a dinner party, she meets a man named Frank Ryan and reveals how desperately she wants to do her part for her country. Within a few weeks, he helps her join the Office of Strategic Services--forerunner of the CIA. With a code name and expert training under her belt, she is sent to Spain to be a coder, but is soon given the additional assignment of infiltrating the upper echelons of society, mingling with high-ranking officials, diplomats, and titled Europeans. Against this glamorous backdrop of galas and dinner parties, she recruits sub-agents and engages in deep-cover espionage.

Even after marrying the Count of Romanones, one of the wealthiest men in Spain, Aline secretly continues her covert activities, being given special assignments when abroad that would benefit from her impeccable pedigree and social connections.

"[A] meticulously researched, beautifully crafted work of nonfiction that reads like a James Bond thriller" (Bookreporter), The Princess Spy brings to vivid life the dazzling adventures of a spirited American woman who risked everything to serve her country.

Review Quotes

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

Florida Book Awards bronze medal
Featured on Today
What to Read in 2021 by The Washington Post
A Wall Street Journal monthly pick

"[A] meticulously researched, beautifully crafted work of nonfiction that reads like a James Bond thriller." --Bookreporter

"If you enjoy reading about women doing their bit during World War II, you're going to love this." --Woman's Own Magazine (UK)

"The Princess Spy is one of the most glamorous and thrilling espionage tales ever told." --Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Book Review

"[A] thrilling romp across 20th-century Europe filled with intrigue and unforgettable characters, and will have any reader thinking twice about what they're revealing at their next upper-crust cocktail soiree." --Town & Country

"As exciting as any spy novel." --New York Daily News

"[A] real life espionage thriller...Fast-paced, edgy and highly engaging." --The Wall Street Journal

"A richly-detailed narrative full of twists and turns." --Library Journal

"An entertaining biography [with a] fast-moving narrative...Espionage buffs will be enthralled." --Publishers Weekly

"Filled with glamour, glitz, and mysterious characters...Sumptuous...A lively history of a spirited woman." --Kirkus Reviews

"Spellbinding...With splashes of glamour set against dire stakes and covert operations, The Princess Spy is a cross between Code Girls and The Only Woman in the Room ." --BookBub

"Loftis, a historian who's written two previous nonfiction spy thrillers, delivers a rich, deeply researched account of Griffith's espionage escapades." --Washington Post

About the Author

Larry Loftis is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the nonfiction spy thrillers, Code Name: Lise--The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII's Most Highly Decorated Spy, and Into the Lion's Mouth: The True Story of Dusko Popov--World War II Spy, Patriot, and the Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond, which have been published in multiple languages around the world. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Mr. Loftis was a corporate attorney and adjunct professor of law. He can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and at LarryLoftis.com.