Books like The Scarlet Spy by Andrea Pickens

Raised in London’s harshest slums, the women of Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Select Young Ladies learn the art of spying and seduction. When England’s political fortunes are threatened by whispers of corruption, Sofia—one of the academy’s most graceful and deadly agents—receives a perilous assignment: infiltrate the glittering courts of Mayfair and unearth the truth. Her mission forces her into the sophisticated social circles of the ton and the shadowy underbelly of the city. A delicate game of cat and mouse evolves as Sofia must keep a wary eye on the charming Deverill Osborne, a dashing society figure sought by the Marquess of Lynsley to host an Italian contessa. Suspicion, betrayal, and desire swirl as Sofia and Osborne navigate the tangled web of deception—each step potentially deadly and each heart growing entangled. With swagger, wit, and an arsenal of martial skills, these women challenge the era’s rigid expectations, proving that beauty and danger can coexist in the struggle for truth and love.

First publish date: 2008