The Prince of Spies is a twist on the Romeo and Juliet story, complete with feuding families and threats of poison.

When Luke Delacroix helps a lady save a dog, he is immediately intrigued and wants to get to know her better. Unfortunately, she is Marianne Magruder, from the Magruder family who have been Delacroix enemies for decades. She’s the adopted daughter of Congressman Clyde Magruder, who Luke wants removed from office because of his history of favouring his own business interests over the public good. (In this case, “public good” means not producing food that kills people.)

Luke volunteers for medical trials intended to determine if the food additives Magruder and others use are safe. The men become known as the Poison Squad, which is based on real-life research conducted by Dr Wiley, the man responsible for the establishment of the US Food & Drug Administration in 1906. It is thanks to Dr Wiley and his Poison Squad that we now understand what preservatives are safe for use in food, and in what quantities.

That’s the kind of historical factoid which fascinates me and is the element that raises Elizabeth Camden’s novels into the must-read category for me. Anyway, back to the story …

Marianne is attracted to Luke, enough to go behind her father’s back when he forbids her to see Luke again.

But she’s fiercely loyal to her father and the Magruder family, despite Luke’s accusations. As the story goes on, it becomes apparent that she’ll have to choose between her family and Luke (although historical record, as well as the fact this is a romance novel, makes her choice obvious). This doesn’t detract from the plot – if anything, it strengthens it as I wonder how the author is going to achieve the impossible.

The Prince of Spies is the third novel in Elizabeth Camden’s Hope and Glory series. I suspect it’s the final one, as the Delacroix siblings are now all married. however, it’s definitely a cast of characters I’d like to read more about, for the historical context, for the brilliant writing, and for the characters themselves.

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden by is a must-read for fans of Christian historical romance, or those historical fiction fans who enjoy a good story based around real-life events. #BookReview Click To Tweet

This is definitely a must-read for fans of Christian historical romance, or those historical fiction fans who enjoy a good story based around real-life events. Recommended.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.

Find Elizabeth Camden online at:

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About The Prince of Spies

Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington, DC. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world.

But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman’s only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne’s quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke’s driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.

Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?

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