Lea Carpenter’s latest spy novel, “Ilium,” introduces us to an unnamed narrator who is struggling to break free from the mundane aspects of her life. Little does she know that her lack of experience and ordinary nature are exactly what a group of spies is looking for in a recruit. She is quickly pulled into a high-stakes mission targeting a figure with a complex history involving American intelligence.
In this episode of Big Books and Bold Ideas, spy novel enthusiast Kerri Miller interviews author Lea Carpenter about her new book and the inspiration behind it. They discuss Carpenter’s family history and how it influenced her fascination with intelligence agencies, the effectiveness of women as spies, and the ways in which family life both complicates and clarifies their work.
Carpenter shares how her own experiences growing up around military families sparked her interest in espionage and intelligence work. She also talks about the challenges of writing a female spy protagonist and how she approached this topic in “Ilium.” The conversation delves into the various themes present in the book, including loyalty, betrayal, and identity.
You can listen to this engaging conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe to Thread newsletter for more book recommendations from Kerri Miller and other authors.