Signed, Mata Hari

by: Yannick Murphy

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Reviewed by Ginger McBride

Margaretha learned the skill of disconnecting at an early age; a skill that would serve her well in her short, difficult life. After her fourteenth birthday, her father left her and her mother. Not long after, her mother died. Margaretha was sent to live with her godfather, an arrangement that didn’t last long because he could not support her. He quickly sent her to live and teach at a school. There Margaretha learned little about teaching and children, but much pleasing about men. At seventeen, she was sent to live with her uncle, ending the first of her many love affairs. Through a newspaper advertisement, Margaretha found what she hoped would be the answer to her dreary life. Captain Rudolph MacLeod, an Indies Army captain, was seeking a wife.

Soon Margaretha discovered that MacLeod was not the perfect husband. He often came home after heavily drinking and sleeping with other women, only to force himself on his wife. And despite his continued adulterous behavior, was a jealous and controlling when others showed interest in her. Soon after her son was born, Captain MacLeod was sent back to Indonesia, where he continued with his philandering ways. Margaretha changes her name to Mata Hari, Javaneyse for “sunrise.”

Since her husband continues to have many women, when both of their children are poisoned, killing one, Margaretha blames him. They move to a new area, but the situation does not improve. After years of unhappiness, infidelity and fighting, Mata Hari, her husband and child move in with his sister. Things continue to go down hill and eventually, Captain MacLeod leaves his sister’s house with his daughter and Mata Hari is left to fend for herself. This begins her decent into dating numerous men and eventually leads to her arrest.

Written from different perspectives and time frames, Signed Mata Hari, is a book of intrigue, deception and mystery that will keep you guessing and captivated. I found it sort of hard to follow sometimes and was slightly clueless about some of the terms used.

Armchair Interview says: A young woman’s struggles of survival.

Author’s Web site: http://www.YannickMurphy.com