Classified Agent Dossiers
Agent 355 remains one of history's most enigmatic figures—a female spy whose true identity was never revealed. Operating within the Culper Spy Ring during the American Revolution, she provided critical intelligence from within the enemy territory of occupied New York. My admiration of 355 began as a child while visiting West Point, and only grew the more I learned about her and the rest of the Culper Spy Ring. My hope is that one day, there will be a memorial dedicated to her as the "mother of American Intelligence," honoring her courageous work and respecting her humility and sacrifice of having taken her identity and those of her peers to her grave.
Her contributions to the Revolutionary cause were invaluable, yet her name has been lost to history. Some historians believe she may have been a socialite with access to British officers, while others suggest she was a tavern keeper who overheard vital conversations. What is certain is that her intelligence helped turn the tide of the war.
In this novel, I have chosen Sarah Tilghman as the identity for Agent 355, although there is no record such a person existed. Tench Tilghman was one of at least eleven children in the Tilghman family, whose mother was sister to Margaret Francis Shippen. The Shippen's daughter, Peggy, married General Benedict Arnold. Because we know from Culper Spy Ring documents that 355 had knowledge about Arnold's planned treason, I placed Sarah Tilghman, who would have been a cousin to Peggy Shippen if she existed, in the family's orb.
This first novel in the series intertwines the Culper Spy Ring with modern espionage through the friendship 355 develops with Ruth Batten. Ruth does not immediately make the connection that the young Sarah is the legendary 355, whom Ruth and her CIA sisterhood have long admired. Ruth may have far more contemporary tradecraft training, but it is Sarah - or rather Agent 355 - who does the teaching.
Ruth Batten is a brilliant CIA counterintelligence officer whose field experiences in recognizing enemies and deftly avoiding them makes her uniquely qualified for assignments that bridge past and present. Daughter of an American diplomat with unusual habits that Ruth mimics, Ruth is known as the "Bad One" for her unconventional but successful methods of investigating.
The character has roots in real-life former CIA officers. Two women, in particular, inspired my Ruth. She has a few hard edges, but only because her life's work has made her tough. Women are expected to behave like men in a man's business, and often ridiculed for doing so. Yet, it is the fact of their being women that so often positions them to gather unique and vital information. Not simply because they are, as women, overlooked, but also because their natural skills of observation, pattern recognition, nonverbal signals, and other instincts enable them to see what men tend to overlook.
Ruth's sharp analytical mind and refusal to accept convenient answers make her both an asset and liability to the Agency. And her Agency life sometimes proves to be a liability to her family. Walling off the cognitive and behavioral habits of counterintelligence - where you must suspect every one of being an enemy or even a double agent - is difficult to do. Such habits are not conducive to a normal family life, and Ruth's experience throughout the series makes this form of emotional and psychological sacrifice quite clear.
Anish Kumar is technically Ruth's boss during her assignment at CIA headquarters, but he is also a trusted friend. Ruth has great admiration for Anish's leadership qualities and his integrity, as well as dedication to the mission. He can be a little tough on Ruth, but only because he knows she sometimes needs a little shove to get past a mental block.
Anish's appearance in this first novel is fleeting, but he is an important character to the series and to Ruth's development. His management skills and ability to lead the whole team, which includes some of Ruth's dearest friends and colleagues, will become increasingly clear in subsequent books. And because Anish has been with the Agency longer than the team members he manages, his ties to the past will become more critical as the mole-hunt grows more complex.
The character of Anish Kumar is inspired by real life individuals whom I had the good fortune to work for and with over the years. They all exhibited the honesty, commitment, friendship and care that my Anish demonstrates. But his quick wit and humor, sharp mind, and vigilance in observing the needs of his team are very much the traits of the man who inspired most of this character.
Serena Hoffbert is one of my favorite characters! An indispensable member of the "misfits" on Anish's team in the Counterintelligence Mission Center, Serena brings a paradoxical mix of acerbic humor and genuine outpouring of warmth and affection. She is difficult to predict and is prone to saying whatever comes to her mind with no filtering involved, but it is often what everyone is thinking (though most dare not say out loud). Her inspiration, drawn from a Buffy the Vampire Slayer character, "Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass," and it seems that Serena lives by the motto.
Serena is modeled after an amazing colleague and dear friend, with a few twists. Her character represents some of the most unforgettable teammates I've ever had. In times of crises, you need the friends who will insert humor precisely when it is most inappropriate. Not out of disrespect, but from a place of caring about everyone's emotional wellbeing. When you are in the thick of things, you need someone to remind you that the bad is as fleeting as the good.
In the novel, Serena is an experienced officer and fastidious researcher, making her indispensable to the team. She will make appearances in future novels as the band of misfits continue to work together to uncover some of the darkest and most secretive threats against the United States.
Every espionage operation needs a Victoria Tooey to stay a step ahead of the enemy. The great strength of both this character and the woman who inspired her is the ability to quickly anticipate the most likely moves of an opponent with astonishing precision. One of the most dangerous temptations in the Intelligence game is mirror-imaging. When we project the way we think onto our adversaries, we fail to predict their next move with accuracy. And we lose the game.
I have tried to faithfully capture the incredible intellect and sharpness of mind of so many of my colleagues, and I know they may sound too good to be true. They are real, and Victoria is definitely one of them. In addition to her lethal critical thinking skills, she is also a warm, generous, and loving soul. You couldn't have a better friend, or colleague, in your corner.
In the first book, Victoria's role appears limited to interactions within the team of "misfits," but as the series progresses, you will see more of her in action. My favorite scenes to write are those with Victoria and Serena. And fortunately, I have a LOT of inspiration to draw upon for them!
Cassidy Dell is the "uber analyst" and trained futurist among the team of "misfits." Think of him as the guy with the crystal ball. He may charm you with his soft-spoken, North Carolinian accent, but don't discount his brain! This character contributes quietly, unseen, and without ever asking for acknowledgement. Nonetheless, the team could not succeed without him.
In real life, the men who inspired the character of Cassidy are even more amazing. They are kind, patient, humble, and dedicated to the mission and their teammates. One individual, in particular, inspired much of this character. His unassuming personality has a sneaky way of growing larger than life and the machinations of his brain truly astonish. His ability to absorb both minute details and massive, seemingly static trends and reconfigure them into a projection of what the future holds is pure wizardry.
Cassidy makes a small appearance in the first novel, much like his colleagues Serena and Victoria. But his skills will become increasingly necessary as the series progresses, and the warmth of the man will make you feel gooey inside!
Jessica T. is the American version of "Q" in the James Bond series. But CIA's gadgetry wizards blend the cool mastery of technological knowledge portrayed by MI6's fabled Q with the unique brand of ingenuity of Angus MacGyver. Need to short-circuit a bomb with your hands tied behind your back? No problem, I have a gum wrapper for that. Jess is not part of the "misfits" team, but her encyclopedic knowledge of the evolution of espionage gadgetry is a major contribution to everything Ruth does.
As with my other characters, Jess is an amalgamation of several individuals I've had the good fortune to work with and know. I love her special mix of quiet, understated shyness with her ability to expound on history and science until your mind is blown. Never judge a book by its cover is the lesson every "Jess" I've met has taught me!
Her character's appearance is limited in the first novel. Her knowledge and skills will become increasingly important in the series, however, frequently exasperating the far more extroverted Serena.
There are a few other characters that readers will encounter throughout the series whose true identities I would like to remain a mystery. Trust me, you will prefer it this way! If you are looking for answers, there are no right or wrong solutions to any of the problems in my stories. What happens next is always a matter of a choice. Those choices made in one context may turn out to be disastrous in another. And vice versa.
My mystery characters are still inspired by the wonderfully cast of colorful friends and family members in my life. They are genuine. I know as an author, I could fictionalize every aspect of any character. But I prefer that they be real people, with real flaws and annoying habits. Getting to know people in their most authentic form is the only way to know them. I hope you love them as much as I do (well, except the bad guys).
If you have an idea for a character, I'm always open to making a new friend!