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The Counterfeit Wife: A Revolutionary War Mystery Paperback – September 20, 2022

by Mally Becker (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
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Philadelphia, June 1780. George Washington's two least likely spies return, masquerading as husband and wife as they search for traitors in Philadelphia.

Months have passed since young widow Becca Parcell and former printer Daniel Alloway foiled a plot that threatened the new nation. But independence is still a distant dream, and General Washington can't afford more unrest, not with food prices rising daily and the value of money falling just as fast.

At the General's request, Becca and Daniel travel to Philadelphia to track down traitors who are flooding the city with counterfeit money. Searching for clues, Becca befriends the wealthiest women in town, the members of the Ladies Association of Philadelphia, while Daniel seeks information from the city's printers.

But their straightforward mission quickly grows personal and deadly as a half-remembered woman from Becca's childhood is arrested for murdering one of the suspected counterfeiters.

With time running out-and their faux marriage breaking apart-Becca and Daniel find themselves searching for a hate-driven villain who's ready to kill again.

Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 3
    A Revolutionary War Mystery
  2. Print length
    276 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Level Best Books
  5. Publication date
    September 20, 2022
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.62 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1685121586
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1685121587
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review


"...Becker has crafted a riveting and unpredictable crime drama that also works as an affecting love story...An entertaining blend of American history and fictional drama." Kirkus Reviews

"...[A] solid and amusing mystery with many scattered allusions to 18th-century authors and books, all delivered with sharp prose in short, smoothly flowing chapters. Those seeking entertainment in fiction with an American Revolution bent will not be disappointed." Historical Novel Review

About the Author

Mally Becker combines her love of history and crime fiction in mysteries that feature strong, independent heroines. She is the Agatha Award-nominated author of The Turncoat's Widow, which Kirkus Reviews called, "A compelling tale ... with charming main characters." Her first novel was also named a CIBA "Mystery & Mayhem" finalist. A member of the board of MWA-NY, Mally was an attorney until becoming a full-time writer and an instructor at The Writers Circle Workshops. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime and the Historical Novel Society. Mally and her husband live in New Jersey, where they raised their wonderful son and spend as much time as they can hiking and kayaking.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books (September 20, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1685121586
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1685121587
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.62 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

About the author

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Mally Becker

Mally Becker

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Mally Becker combines her love of history and crime fiction in mysteries that feature strong, independent heroines. Kirkus Reviews called her first book, The Turncoat's Widow, "A compelling tale ... with charming main characters,” and her most recent, The Counterfeit Wife, “A riveting and unpredictable crime drama that also works as an affecting love story.”

Her debut novel, The Turncoat's Widow, was nominated for an Agatha Award and named a Killer Nashville Silver Falchion finalist. Published in September 2022, The Counterfeit Wife has also been nominated for an Agatha Award.

A member of the board of MWA-NY, Mally was an attorney until becoming a full-time writer. She and her husband live in Somerset County, New Jersey, not too far from Morristown, where her first book is set. Mally is happily at work on the third installment of her American Revolution mystery series.

Mally thought she'd be clearing trails when she volunteered at the Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey but found herself, instead, sifting through one of the Park's collections of old documents. That's where she found an indictment for the Revolutionary War-era crime of traveling to New York City "without permission or passport." That curious crime became the spark for her Revolutionary War historical mystery series.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
44 global ratings
Nothing About My Enjoyment of This Book was Counterfeit
5 Stars
Nothing About My Enjoyment of This Book was Counterfeit
Becca Parcell and Daniel Alloway have been sent by General Washington to Philadelphia. Someone is flooding the colonies with counterfeit money, and they believe this is where it is originating. It is critical to shut down the supply in order to keep the economy from crashing, thereby destroying the war effort. Just as the two of them get a suspect, a murder takes place, and someone surprisingly close to Becca becomes the prime suspect. Can they figure out what is going on?I was thrilled with this second trip back to 1780. Once again, I felt like I was in that era while I was reading, including what life was like during that time. The mystery was strong with several twists that kept me reading. There is a strong romance between Becca and Daniel, and it strays a little beyond the cozies I typically read, but not too far. Both of them are strong lead characters, and the story is told from both of their points of view. Meanwhile, the rest of the cast, both real and fictional people, are just as strong. The ending of the book is extremely satisfying, but I’m ready to jump into the next in the series.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviews by Elizabeth K. Corbett
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Delightful, Fast-Paced Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2023
Verified Purchase
Rebecca “Becca” Parcell is at it again. In The Counterfeit Wife, the sequel to the Turncoat’s Widow, Becca is under orders to travel with her complex co-conspirator, Daniel Alloway. This time they travel to Philadelphia under the guise of a married couple. The shocking truth is that the marriage is nothing more than a ruse. While in the city, the faux married couple is welcomed by the elite of Philadelphia society. Becca makes some powerful friends in the Ladies Association of Philadelphia, such as Sally Franklin Bache, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin. On the other hand, Daniel returns to his roots and reconnects with different printers across the city. There is counterfeit money going around and the two spies are determined to figure out who is behind it all. When a mysterious woman from Becca’s past emerges and later is arrested for the murder of one of the counterfeiters, their mission is thrown into chaos. Who really murdered the counterfeiter? Can Daniel and Becca keep it together to find the real murderer?

The Counterfeit Wife was a delight to read from start to finish. In Mally Becker’s masterful suspense, I was often on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Ms. Becker writes beautifully and her vivid use of description brings the world of 1780s Philadelphia to life. The characters were well developed, and came across as humanly flawed and genuine. In this novel, Becca maintained her strong, fiery nature that we saw in the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed the intricacies of the plot and the consistent pacing of the story. At no point did I feel lost or like the pacing was slow. I think my favorite character was Sally Franklin Bache. She was such a breath of fresh air in the Ladies Association of Philadelphia where many of the other ladies were dull or proper. She was a lot of fun. This is a book that I would definitely reread in the future. I eagerly await Ms. Becker’s next book!
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Reader Lady
4.0 out of 5 stars My Musings
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023
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Another intriguing story with compelling characters and a great plot. The historical aspect of this book added greatly to my enjoyment. Glad I found this one in a FB ad. Happy reading!
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Beth Ann
5.0 out of 5 stars Even Better than the First!
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2022
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This second installment in the Revolutionary War Mystery series is even better than the first. Becker’s well-researched 1780 Philadelphia comes to life in this novel. Young widow Becca Parcell and former printer Daniel Alloway are working for General Washington. Posing as newlyweds, they are in Philadelphia to uncover the traitor who is printing and circulating counterfeit paper money and threatening to destabilize the new country’s economy. Becca befriends Benjamin Franklin’s daughter Sally and rubs elbows with the city’s high society ladies, seeking clues to the business dealings of their husbands. Meanwhile Daniel puts his printing expertise to use to locate the counterfeiter. Their investigations turn up surprises and dangers for both of them.
This plot is expertly woven with enough complexity to fully engage me and keep me guessing. The secondary characters, especially Eli the servant and Hannah the healer, are very well crafted. I feel like I stepped into a world of real people with unique personalities and genuine emotions. This novel somehow manages to be a great mystery and a lovely romantic sub-plot woven together. The relationship between Becca and Daniel grows in ways that seem both realistic to modern life and yet not wrong for 1790.
Becker does a beautiful job of incorporating period details. The customs of the time are interwoven in the story without bogging it down. The expectations placed upon women vs. men, the wealth vs. the poor, and free vs. enslaved servants are expertly crafted within the plot. I don’t read much historical fiction, yet I found myself deeply drawn in by these considerations. They truly raised my interest in the story. I also enjoy how the author includes slang and idioms from that time period and slips in the definitions in ways that are natural and not at all heavy-handed. I came away with a true feeling for what life was like in 1780, for the upper-crust curtsying to Mrs. Washington, the servants cooking and cleaning, and the dirty dock workers unloading the ships in the harbor. The clothing, hairstyles, homes, streets and prisons are described with just enough detail to appear vividly in my mind without slowing down the plot of this mystery. (Note: be sure to read A Note from the Author at the end of the novel for insights into the historical research.)
Strong issues related to slavery, the treatment of women and prisoners, corruption and greed are handled expertly. They are noticed as they naturally occur in the story and the author gives them proper respect without allowing the story’s tone to become melancholy.
I loved the ending! I found it so satisfying. I love the characters of Becca and Daniel. They really blossom in this book. Their personalities and emotions feel so natural and yet distinctively theirs. They are endearing.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Turncoat’s Widow, and I see Becker’s writing growing richer and more confident in The Counterfeit Wife. I can’t wait for book number three!
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chava
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing, rich, historical mystery
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2023
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This is a true gem of a series. Becker's work evokes Anne Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt detective mysteries. Wonderful, rich, dynamic characters and beautiful, descriptive detail that draws you right into the time period. A fantastic, engrossing next installment in a great historical mystery series. Thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one!
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Gerard Sullivan
5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As The First
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2022
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I was very excited to finally get to catch up with Becca and Daniel in Mally Becker's second Revolutionary War era novel, and I was not disappointed. The 2 main characters are as well written as they were in The Turncoat's Widow. The story itself is full of historical background and the mystery isnt easily solved but makes sense in the end. My only disappointment is having to wait for the third book.
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