Lauren Wilkinson
2 SeriesLauren Wilkinson is an American author whose debut novel, "American Spy," received significant acclaim. The book was selected as one of the New York Times' 100 Notable Books of 2019.
In Lauren Wilkinson's debut novel, "American Spy," set during the Cold War in 1986, Marie Mitchell, a young Black FBI intelligence officer, faces career stagnation due to pervasive workplace biases. Frustrated by her lack of advancement and mundane tasks, she accepts a covert assignment with a task force aimed at undermining Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary president of Burkina Faso. Tasked with seducing and observing Sankara, whose Communist leanings have targeted him for American intervention, Marie grapples with her admiration for his reforms and the moral implications of her mission. As she delves deeper into her role, Marie confronts the potential transformation of her beliefs about herself and her country. "American Spy" was acclaimed as one of the best books of the year by multiple outlets.
