American Spy is not the most creative book of book names. But author Lauren Wilkinson has taken the spy format and written an excellent lead character who subverts that sometimes tired and pro for a format by being well-rounded and human. Having a female lead that is both black and a mom really really works as Wilkinson creates a dangerous world for our protagonist Marie to navigate. I won’t give away the plot but it has the required twists and turns shown in a new light.
To drink with this, you could go in many different directions. Martinique for Island influenced beers. Washington DC or the Bronx for the main settings of the book. But I would recommend looking for beers brewed by women. Then take a moment to see how a spy operates differently based on gender and how the same occurs in brewing.
July is the summer month for me. A time to try to keep cool, have a staycation, visit the beach, use that accrued vacation time. Two out of four ain’t bad. But hopefully, I can brighten the world with news and fun about our favorite beverage.