Wise Gals The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage

New York Times Bestseller

From the author of Rise of the Rocket Girls comes a fascinating true story that feels like it should be fiction—but every word is real. Wise Gals pulls back the curtain on four remarkable women who helped build the CIA from the ground up, proving that the most dangerous spies weren’t always the ones you’d expect.

Adelaide Hawkins, Mary Hutchison, Eloise Page, and Elizabeth Sudmeier weren’t glamorous femme fatales. They were brilliant, sharp-witted strategists who cracked codes, forged international alliances, and risked their lives gathering intelligence on Soviet weapons—all while fighting for equal recognition in a world dominated by “male, pale, and Yale” colleagues. Their nickname, the “wise gals,” was earned through quick intelligence and an even quicker sense of humor.

What makes this book extraordinary is how Nathalia Holt brings these women to life through meticulous research, declassified documents, and firsthand interviews. You’ll follow them through the precarious post-WWII era and into the heart of the Cold War, where their innovations in cryptography, scientific operations, and counterterrorism shaped modern espionage. Their friendship sustained them through triumphs and heartbreaks alike.

This is more than a spy story—it’s a testament to persistence, brilliance, and the power of women who refused to be sidelined. Perfect for readers who loved Hidden Figures or anyone fascinated by the untold stories that changed history.

A compelling read that belongs on every history lover’s shelf.

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