I saw information for the book Spymom: The True Story of a Soccer Mom Turned Private Eye and I knew I HAD to read it. The press release mentioned that author Val Agosta had dreamed of being like Nancy Drew when she was a little girl, creating her own children’s detective agency to solve childhood mysteries. As it turned out, she was eventually granted the opportunity to become a real life Nancy Drew and she leaped upon the very idea of it and ended up making a success out of the venture!
Spymom was one of those books that I opened up and couldn’t stop reading once I had gotten started. It was too inviting. Simply put, it is the story about a mom of four teenagers who realized a childhood dream and pursued it. The cover art does raise a question about the level of cheesy behavior in the book, but once I got into her personal story, I realized that the cover art represented the author well (and I mean that in a good way.)
Agosta decided to open up her own private detective agency after she had completed battling a round of breast cancer. At a stage in life where her children didn’t need her 24/7 and wanting to go out and try something new and make the most of it, she remembered her childhood friend, Nancy Drew, and went to town. She established Hanady Investigations in 2000 with the full support of her husband and family. Val and her sister, Jan, comprised the first set of spy moms. They worked together until both of them were diagnosed with breast cancer – each for the second time – within a few weeks of one another! Jan decided to bow out of the business at that time, but at this point national magazines and television networks had picked up on the story of two moms sleuthing about the lives of private citizens and Spy Moms was going gangbusters. Val completed her second round of treatments and continued on with the business, taking on a new partner in Mollie.
On the whole, I found this to be a fascinating book about the life dreams and goals set by one amazing go-getter of a woman. As I said, I couldn’t put this book down.
My only frustration with this book was Agosta’s attitude towards having cancer. I recognize that what I’m about to say might not be very popular, but since my dad and my mother-in-law both died from this hideous disease within the last few years, and our whole families have suffered the effects, I feel mildly qualified. I watched my mother-in-law and my dad both meet this disease and challenge with faith, determination and humility. They focused on the positives, dealt with the negatives, and continued on with their life here on earth with a spirit of joy in the midst of great pain. I admire them both for their journey. I admire Agosta for hers as well as it is not a pleasant disease to have by any stretch of the imagination. What bothered me was her attitude (that was not remotely subtle) in which she would outright state that she was “owed” special treatment by virtue of the fact that she was sick. I really have a problem with that. She was complaining about a parking space that was located far away from the facility she was trying to enter. She says:
“I want a disability sticker so we can park closer,” I said, joking, but not really. “I should be able to get anything I want.”
In relation to using the disease she also makes the following statement in the book:
“I made good use of my survivor status. I had no scruples about moving to the head of a line or preboarding a plane. Before my hair grew in, I wouldn’t hesitate to whip off my wig to throw investigation subjects off-balance.”
This really, really bothers me in light of my own family history. I am confused by the attitude that would suggest that anyone who has cancer is entitled to place themselves above all other claims for respect and honor. Certainly cancer is a struggle and anyone who has had their life effected by it will testify to as much. My dad, and certainly my mother-in-law, had claims for sympathy but they never used their “free pass.” They met it, as I said, humbly, and so it was hard for me to read Spymom in some respects. It made me sad for Agosta’s family in some ways because when you think you are owed something by life, inevitably you end up extremely disappointed.
That said, on the whole, I’d still heartily recommend it as being a unique and amazing read. This woman dared to dream and then to pursue her dream with action. Not many people can say that about themselves and I admired her determination very, very much. She also had a rather wicked sense of humor and I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion.
If you get a chance to read this book, I’d suggest you take it. It makes you think, it makes you laugh, it brings you hope and it gives you pause. All of these attributes point to the makings of a good book, which I’d suggest that this one is.
Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know and Reading My Library.
edj says
Oh that sounds like a fun read! I’m going to keep my eyes out for that one.
Katrina says
As another mom who always wanted to be Nancy Drew, I might have to check this one out.