I think this book would be a great read for both scholars and for those that just enjoy history.

Although the writing is very much academic, this book gives insight to why the myths and fantasies of female spies are so pervasive even into modern history and media. Women who don't fit into the paradoxical roles of women of their time are often shrugged off and feared for their blending of perceived male & female roles. This books uses war time accounts, uses memoirs from those who were active during the first world war in occupied Belgium, as well as spy "writers and historians" that helped shape these myths.

It took me a good minute to finish this read because it is very much a scholarly read but I really enjoyed learning about how most intelligence agencies and resistences were founded by the "invisible" women of the time that didn't see the fame like that of martyrs or seductresses of the state.

I do however want to point out that the author does tend to repeat herself a lot, which is very off putting even tho the subject matter is interesting.