I’m excited to introduce my author-friend, Kathleen Y’Barbo, as my guest today. Kathleen is talking about Lady Detectives, a subject in her newest book, Sadie’s Secrets.
The Legend of Lady Detectives
by Kathleen Y’Barbo
When I set out to write a heroine equal to the task of catching the charming villain Will Tucker in Sadie’s Secrets, there was no doubt Sadie Callum, the well-bred Louisiana-born daughter of sugar cane planter, would be a Pinkerton agent. After all, what other nineteenth century organization allowed women not only to populate their ranks well before they could vote, but also made great use of their unique talents?
Early on, Allan Pinkerton respected the ability of a woman to go where a man might not be allowed. Thus, he made sure that he always had a few well-trained ladies in his employ for those difficult cases where a feminine touch was needed.
Pinkerton agents—both male and female–were well trained and well paid. Their expertise in surveillance was beyond comparison. Allan Pinkerton was an early proponent of using female agents, determining that often it was the lady who was least suspected of being a detective.
One famous lady Pinkerton was the widow, Kate Warne, thought to be the clean-shaven person standing behind Mr. Pinkerton in the photograph from the Library of Congress archives. Kate Warne, a woman who it is claimed walked into the Pinkerton offices seeking a secretarial job only to leave as a detective, is one of the more memorable Pinkertons, and definitely the first female agent.
Among Mrs. Warne’s many accomplishments was the detection of a plot against President-elect Abraham Lincoln. Not only did she learn of the plot, but she also saved the president’s life by helping to smuggle him into Washington DC for his inauguration disguised as her invalid brother. Later, during the Civil War, it has been alleged that Mrs. Warne was quite adept at fitting in on both sides of the lines and brought back valuable intelligence to the Pinkerton offices. Quite the accomplishment considering women were not yet accepted as valuable members of any other crime fighting organization.
And although Sadie Callum is only a fictional detective, I believe Allan Pinkerton would heartily approve of her methods of bringing Will Tucker to justice once and for all. Take a peek at Sadie’s Secret, the third book in The Secret Lives of Will Tucker series, and find out just how she manages such a feat.
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About Sadie’s Secret (released February 1, 2014 from Harvest House Publishers):
Louisiana, 1890—Sarah Louise “Sadie” Callum is a master of disguise, mostly due to her training as a Pinkerton agent but also from evading overprotective brothers as she grew up. When she takes on a new assignment with international connections, she has no idea her new cover will lead her on the adventure of a lifetime.
Undercover agent William Jefferson Tucker is not looking for marriage—pretend or otherwise—but his past is a secret, his twin brother has stolen his present, and his future is in the hands of the lovely Sadie Callum. Without her connections to the world of upper-crust New Orleans and Newport, Jefferson might never find a way to clear his name and solve the art forgery case that has eluded him for years. Only God can help these two secret agents find a way to solve their case and uncover the truth about what is going on in their hearts.
Click here to read the first chapter of Sadie’s Secret!
About Kathleen Y’Barbo:
Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of forty-five novels with almost two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified family law paralegal, she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award as well a Reader’s Choice Award and several Top Picks by Romantic Times magazine. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and a former member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, she is currently a proud military wife and an expatriate Texan cheering on her beloved Texas Aggies from north of the Red River.
Visit Kathleen’s website to learn more about her and her books.
Had you lived in the time of the Pinkerton Agency, might you have been a lady detective? Or perhaps someone you know?
Congratulations to Polly Schneider, who won the signed copy of Sadie’s Secret. Thank you, Kathleen, for the Book Giveaway.
Comments 46
Not me, but my youngest sister, definitely!!
Thanks for sharing!
RW620 [at] aol [dot] com
Author
Your sister sounds spunky, Robin. Good to see you here! Blessings, Mona
I have always like mysteries so it would have been kind of cool!
Thanks for joining us here, Angie. Blessings to you! Mona
I love mysteries. I would be a detective. If CSI had been on TV in 1977 I would have gone into that field instead of nursing.
Author
Fun, Summer. Thanks for joining us here. Blessings! Mona
I think back in those days it would of been an exciting time, the country was developing and people were interesting back then and life was an adventure!
I have read all of the books following Tucker and his crew! Looking forward to reading this book!
Author
Good to see you here, Christina. Blessings!
Forgot email. srankintx (at) yahoo (dot) com
I don’t think I could have been an agent. But I love reading about this period in time.
Author
So good to see you here, Andrea. Blessings to you! Mona
Dangerous, yet exciting, thought provoking and never dull…. Sign me up! I would have loved it! Since we can’t go back in time, I would love to read about Miss Sadie. Thank you for the opportunity.
melback at cebridge dot net
Author
Hi Melanie. Good to see you here. Blessings!
I definitely would have been a lady detective. I dreamed of being a detective growing up, even had my parents purchase me a Sherlock Holmes costume to wear around the house. Now I am about to become a librarian and that is detective work in its own way.
csaunderson123[at]gmail[dot]com
Author
Fun, Camille. Thanks for joining me here. Blessings!
I love this history of Lady Detectives and would have enjoyed the job of surveillance and sleuthing!
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Author
Glad you enjoyed the post, Britney! Blessings, Mona
I really don’t see myself as a detective now much less back then. I would probably be a farmers wife where I would be just as content. 🙂
Campbellamyd at gmail dot com
Author
Hi, Amy. Blessings to you! Mona
yes I think I might have been a lady detective.
Author
Good to see you here, Angela. Blessings, Mona
Yes, most definitely!!! 😀
emeraldelena[at]hotmail[dot]com
Author
Hi Julianna! Good to see you here. Blessings! Mona
I think I would have “followed” a female detective to study how she worked. But I doubt if I would have become one.
bettysunflower(at)hotmail(dot)com
Author
Betty, I think it would be fun even to follow a lady detective. Blessings! Mona
Never thought about being a detective but maybe so.
tjmc05@gmail.com
Author
Thanks for joining me here, Clauda. Blessings!
I love mysteries, i watch all the CSI shows and read mysteries and suspence, i would love to win, thank you
Shirley B jcisforme@aol.com
Author
Good to see you here, Shirley. Blessings, Mona
I could see myself as a lady detective. I love mysteries. My email is momndad243atyahoodotcom.
Author
Hi, Polly. Good to see you here. Blessings! Mona
Author
Congratulations, Polly! You won the signed copy of SADIE’S SECRET. Happy Reading!
Since I’ve always enjoyed mysteries and literally “ate up” every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on as a child, I think that I would have a fun time being a detective during this time period. I’m intrigued by puzzles and feel like I can figure out scenarios very well.
conniecape@aol.com
Author
Hi, Connie! So glad you enjoyed the post. Blessings! Mona
I would of enjoyed being a lady detective. I think it would have been interesting doing that in that time. Somehow some detective/mystery is to my liking and I think it would have been fun. Thank you again for the chance to win this book. Blessings!!! email: kerenhlyles@yahoo.com
Author
Hi Karen! Good to see you here. Blessings! Mona
I would have loved to have been something like that… I loved Nellie Bly as a kid! BUT that said… I do not feel that is my calling. I think I would still be a pastor’s wife. 🙂
Author
Hi, Tami. Thanks for joining me here. Blessings! Mona
I think it would of been neat to have been a detective. I like figuring things out. Sounds like awesome book.
Blessings
joeym11@frontier.com
Author
Diana, thanks for joining us here. Blessings! Mona
I love to solve clues and I hate to give up so I may have been lady detective. Thanks for this giveaway.
Connie
cps1950 at gmail dot com
Author
Connie, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Blessings! Mona
No I don’t think I would have made a good lady detective. I think my best friend would have been great at it!
thanks, book looks interesting!
mcnuttj(at)rocketmail.com
Author
Good to see you here, Jackie. Blessings! Mona
Sometimes I wonder if I could do it. It would be intriguing to have been a agent. I am persistent sometimes. I do think it took courage to do what these ladies did. I really enjoyed the post. Now I want to know more about women Pinkerton agents.
Author
Good to see you here, Nancy. Blessings to you! Mona