April 2026 Book Review: The Patriot’s Daughter

Book by: Brittany Butler
Review by: Dr. Wendy Hooper-Meletes, Ed.D., owner of Litchfield Books

Before becoming a novelist, Brittany Buttler served as a CIA targeting officer supporting U.S. counterterrorism operations, working in high-pressure e n v i r o n m e n t s w h e r e information was incomplete and decisions carried lasting consequences. That experience shapes my fiction today—stories grounded in real tradecraft, moral tension, and the human cost of living with secrets.

In this spy thriller, The Patriot’s Daughter is a fastpaced fresh new voice in spy fiction. Perfect for fans of Alma Katsu’s psychologically rich intelligence fiction and David McCloskey’s authentic CIA page-turners. It blends high-stakes intrigue with emotional depth, offering readers both the adrenaline of tradecraft and the heart of human drama. The Patriot’s Daughter is a ripped-from-tomorrow’s-headlines geopolitical thriller about how democracies fracture— attacking the media, threatening political opponents, and questioning the legitimacy of elections and what it costs to hold them together. When a wave of Russian cyberattacks ignites a nationwide disinformation firestorm, the United States is pushed to the brink of civil war. As states defy Washington and militias rise, the CIA races to expose the source behind the unrest before the country collapses from within. At the center is Ava, a brilliant CIA officer haunted by her mother’s disappearance. Ben a veteran counterintelligence officer becomes her complicated partner. Her duty to service is to uncover a conspiracy tied to her mother, a decorated officer accused of being a double agent. Ava is sent to infiltrate Russia’s foreign intelligence service. As her mission grows increasingly personal, Ava must navigate a world of deception where loyalty is fragile, truth is weaponized, and trusting the wrong person could be fatal. 

Meet CIA officer and TikTok sensation Brittany Butler on Friday, May 1 2026 from 11:00-1:00pm at Caffe Piccolo in Pawleys Island, SC. For tickets: www.litchfieldbooks.com/events A coastal bookshop gathering and luncheon centered on character, craft, and the personal cost of secrets in both life and fiction.