iRead Book Tours: “Velvalee Dickinson: The ‘Doll Woman’ Spy” By Barbara Casey Book Review/Giveaway

By Ruth on May 29, 2019 in book, book tour, giveaway, review, review
19
1

Book Details:

Book Title: Velvalee Dickinson: The “Doll Woman” Spy by Barbara Casey
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 184 pages
Genre: True Crime / Historical / Biography
Publisher: Strategic Media Books
Release date: April 2019
Tour dates: May 27 to June 7, 2019
Content Rating: PG – Velvalee Dickinson is appropriate for all ages.

Book Description:

Velvalee Dickinson was born in Sacramento, California, graduated from Stanford University, married three times, and then in the early 1930s moved to New York City where she eventually opened her own exclusive doll shop on the prestigious Madison Avenue. It was there that she built her reputation as an expert in rare, antique, and foreign dolls. She traveled extensively around the country lecturing and exhibiting her dolls while building a wealthy clientele that included Hollywood stars, members of high society, politicians, and other collectors.

​When medical bills started to accumulate because of her husband’s poor health and business started to fail with the onset of World War II, she accepted the role as a spy for the Imperial Japanese Government. By hiding coded messages in her correspondence about dolls, she was able to pass on to her Japanese contacts critical military information about the US warships. After surveilling Velvalee for over a year, the FBI arrested her and charged her with espionage and violation of censorship laws. She became the first American woman to face the death penalty on charges of spying for a wartime enemy.

Velvalee Dickinson: The “Doll Woman” Spy is a carefully researched glimpse into the “Doll Woman’s” life as a collector of dolls, and as the highest paid American woman who spied for the Imperial Japanese Government during World War II.

To read reviews, please visit Barbara Casey’s page on iRead Book Tours.
Buy the Book:

 

 

 

Velvalee Dickinson: The Velvalee Dickinson: The “doll Woman” Spy by Barbara Casey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

I simply adore history, and this book has it all. A well-documented WWII espionage story I had never heard before, pictures, and just an unbelievable tale that if it were not absolutely, verifiably true, I would never believe it. This is a time when the old adage holds true: Truth is stranger than fiction!

This book is one of the most readable books on history I have ever read. The writing is straightforward, and the style is direct and entertaining. I have never read anything by this author, but if this is indicative of her work, I’m sold. I look forward to the day when Hollywood snatches this story up for a blockbuster movie. This is a story that needs to be told, and as it unravels, the reader cannot help but marvel that this actually happened.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who has a fascination with history and especially WWII.

View all my reviews

Meet the Author: ​

 

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. Her nonfiction book, Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave, is under contract for a major film. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency.

Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2018 Barbara received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three pets who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Reese, a black cat; and Earl Gray, a gray cat and Reese’s best friend.

Connect with the author: Website

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends June 14, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOLLOW ME
Spread the love
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Subscribe To My Daily Newsletter

Receive the latest interviews and reviews from the film, TV, and writing community!

Invalid email address
You can unsubscribe at any time.

About the Author

RuthView all posts by Ruth
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka Ruth is an inspirational entertainment journalist who instinctively sees the best in all and seeks to share universal beauty, love and positivity. She is an artist who leads with her heart and gives readers a glimpse of the best of this world through the masterful use of the written word. Ruth was born in Tacoma, Washington but now calls Yelm, Washington her home. She lives on five acres with her parents, a dog, two miniature goats, cats and a teenage daughter who is a dynamic visual artist herself. Ruth interviews fellow artists both inside and outside of the film/television industry. At the core of all she does is the strength of her faith.

19 Comments

  1. BARBARA CASEY June 14, 2019 Reply

    Debbi, I hope you get a chance to read my book. Thanks for stopping by.

  2. BARBARA CASEY June 14, 2019 Reply

    Cynthia, I agree. To read about individuals and their lives from the past helps to bring into focus how we live today. I appreciate your comment.

  3. BARBARA CASEY June 14, 2019 Reply

    Christian,

    The amazing thing to me was learning that so few people have ever heard of Velvalee Dickinson. Yet she played such a critical role during World War II. Thank you for your comment.

  4. BARBARA CASEY June 14, 2019 Reply

    Sarah,

    I am glad you stopped by. Good luck with the contest.

  5. Sarah L June 13, 2019 Reply

    Looks like an interesting book.
    Thanks for the contest. 

  6. Christian Alejandro June 13, 2019 Reply

    I like history stuff like this!

  7. Cynthia C June 10, 2019 Reply

    Reading individual stories helps bring history alive. This story sounds fascinating.

  8. Debbi Wellenstein June 10, 2019 Reply

    I am very intrigued!

  9. BARBARA CASEY June 1, 2019 Reply

    Thank you for your comment, Sunnymay. The thought behind the cover design was to somehow present Velvalee as a conflicted person. She never did admit that she had been a spy for the Imperial Japanese Government. It was almost like she was in denial.

  10. Sunnymay May 31, 2019 Reply

    Spies are pretty intriguing, so one with a doll is even more so. The cover looks disjointed with the photo torn and the dolls surrounding it. This story looks like a good read that might keep the reader up at night.

  11. BARBARA CASEY May 31, 2019 Reply

    I am so glad you like the cover, Gwendolyn. The background color reminds me of an antique satin and fits the theme of antique dolls which Velvalee collected.

  12. BARBARA CASEY May 31, 2019 Reply

    Thank you for following my tour, Rita.

  13. BARBARA CASEY May 31, 2019 Reply

    Susan, the dolls incorporated into the cover were part of Velvalee’s original doll collection. I am glad you like it.

  14. BARBARA CASEY May 31, 2019 Reply

    Thank you, Becky, for stopping by.

  15. BARBARA CASEY May 31, 2019 Reply

    Ruth, I certainly appreciate your review and kind words about my latest book. Velvalee was such an interesting woman. She was a lover of dolls, but yet used that love to spy against the United States. I am so glad you enjoyed my book about her. All best to you and your bloggers.

    ~ Barbara

  16. Becky Richardson May 29, 2019 Reply

    I enjoyed the book description.

  17. Susan Smith May 29, 2019 Reply

    Sounds like a great read, I like the cover.

  18. Rita Wray May 29, 2019 Reply

    Sounds like a great book.

  19. Gwendolyn Jordan May 29, 2019 Reply

    I like the cover

Add comment

Leave a Reply

Please know that comment moderation is in effect on this site. Comments may not appear immediately. Also, please note that any negative attacks on people, networks, or other comments that are deemed "inappropriate" or "overtly negative" may be removed and/or edited by the administrator.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

CommentLuv badge