WHO IS VERA KELLY?

'The personal is most definitely political in Rosalie Knecht's crisp, lively and subversive second novel, Who Is Vera Kelly?... John le Carré and many other writers make hay with the personal repercussions of assuming false identity. Knecht flips the terms artfully, showing us a heroine who discovers her true tough self by going undercover'
- Jean Zimmerman, NPR, 'Best Books of 2018' 

'Knecht's novel is a slow-burn espionage thriller, a complex treatment of queer identity, and an immersive period piece all rolled into one delectable page-turner... Vera Kelly introduces a fascinating new spy to literature's mystery canon "• one we hope sticks around long beyond this snappy, intimate debut'
- David Canfield, Entertainment Weekly 

'Who Is Vera Kelly? is the twisty, literary, woman-driven spy novel you've always wanted to read'
- Amy Stewart, New York Times bestselling author of Girl Waits with Gun  

'Who Is Vera Kelly? is as sexy as it is brilliant, and as endearing as it is adrenaline-pumping. '
- Rachel Kaplan (Avid Bookshop)  

'Who Is Vera Kelly? is rich in detail, filled with suspense, and brings to life a young woman who defies the stereotype of the glamorous male hero that has been, more often than not, the public face of fictional espionage since the inception of the genre. It's a joy to lose yourself while discovering Vera'
- Anmiryam Budner (Main Point Books)  

'Rosalie Knecht paints a tense Buenos Aires vividly, while presenting Vera's origin story in vignettes throughout the novel, from teenage rebellion in Maryland to sexual self-discovery in underground Brooklyn jazz clubs. The end result is a Cold War novel worthy of a spot next to le Carré, Furst, and Ambler on any bookshelf and will have you wondering what's next for Vera Kelly'
- Javier Ramirez, The Book Table 

'I really enjoyed reading a plot so far from the normal tropes of lgbt+ story lines'
- Emily Sarah Cobden, Netgalley 

'Knecht imbues the novel with emotional depth that allows for meditation on human connection and the ties that bind us to life's worth'
- Kristen Martin, BOMB 

'A promising subversion of the classic espionage novel'
- Publishers Weekly 

'Knecht's crisp prose moves swiftly as Vera tails suspects and also accommodates moments of increasing self-awareness... A riveting, satisfying novel'
- Kirkus 

'A tangled, atmospheric story that gradually builds suspense to a satisfyingly surprising denouement. Spy-fiction fans will want to take note'
- Booklist 

'The book reads like the love child of John le Carré and Rita Mae Brown. I loved Vera immensely, even more so as the plot progressed and the threats became deadlier. What a fun read and what a terrific character! I can't wait for the next installment'
- William Carl, Library Journal 

'A good old fashioned spy thriller but with a brilliant kick-ass female protagonist'
- Nicola Sturgeon  

'I also really enjoyed this book called Who Is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht. It's a spy and Cold War espionage thriller about a closeted lesbian spy in Buenos Aires. I really liked that she was taking the genre of a spy thriller and subverting it by having the main character be an unusual kind of spy. And at the same time, having this character be the center of the story. Also, the writing is gorgeous'
- Angela Qian, Hyphen Magazine