Mata Hari is still an example of many women who have chosen to live a life full of danger and mystery. The 100th death anniversary of the probably most famous spy of all times in October 2017 and the opening of the files around her espionage activity, were the occasion for this exciting book project. Author Hagen Kunze not only introduces Margaretha Geertruida cell alias Mata Hari, but also eleven other spies and their gripping life portraits. Twelve women, whose life stories could not be more different, some of whom put themselves into the service of the fatherland out of conviction, others simply for money or love, including Belle Boyd, Josephine Baker, Elisabeth Schragmuller, Benita von Falkenhayn, Hilde Kruger, Helene Barczatis, Ethel Rosenberg or Ursula Kuczynski alias Ruth Werner.
This gripping book is entirely dedicated to the female side of espionage and searches for the motives of these women for their play with fire. Some have paid dearly with their lives, others remained undisturbed until old age. In any case, these women are worth having their stories told and not forgotten.