southern drawl: Duty, Deception, and Double Agents

After working for the CIA for 15 years in counterterrorism and cybersecurity, Brittany Butler transferred her espionage experience into the pages of her newest novel, “The Patriot’s Daughter.” In it, she combines all the best parts of a spy thriller with real-world experience that could only have come from an actual flesh-and-blood spy.

Mention the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and countless thoughts inevitably flood one’s mind. Images of spies, splinter cells, political coups. But rarely do everyday Americans get a glimpse into the mind of a CIA operative. Now, thanks to Butler, everyone can.

“The Patriot’s Daughter” offers a unique insight into modern espionage. Butler explains that if she were ever called back on a mission by the CIA, it would basically resemble the plot of “The Patriot’s Daughter.” She adds that espionage today has shifted significantly: “It’s no longer about counterterrorism missions; now it’s very different and relates to the cyber threats facing our country and the disinformation that goes along with that.”

Butler started writing “The Patriot’s Daughter” in 2024 after noticing massive amounts of misinformation spreading across social media. She noted that these platforms often become personal “sounding boards,” where algorithms reinforce a user’s pre-existing beliefs.

“You’re no longer asking yourself ‘is this information true,’ but rather ‘does this information align with what I already believe,’ and in our country that serves to deepen divides, opening the door for foreign powers like Russia or China to assert their influence towards becoming the next world superpower,” she explains.

These observations heavily influenced the novel, as Butler wanted to offer a genuine portrayal of a modern CIA operation. The book’s protagonist, Ava, is sent to Moscow to dismantle a Russian disinformation campaign—all while secretly investigating the disappearance of her mother 20 years prior.

Reader response has been swift and enthusiastic. Butler has since headlined numerous speaking events from local Charleston bookstores to notable D.C. venues like the International Spy Museum. She has also participated in panels alongside fellow spy thriller authors to discuss how their real-world backgrounds and experiences shape their fiction.

Her work has earned praise from some of the most respected voices in espionage fiction, including bestselling novelists and former CIA officers David McCloskey, Alma Katsu, and I.S. Berry.

Though Butler initially aspired to become a Foreign Service Officer, her career path took a turn in 2005. While interning for the State Department at the U.S. Embassy in Paris during her junior year of college, she was recruited by the CIA. She went on to spend a decade working in counterterrorism across the Middle East—including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan—focusing on regional security and terrorist threats.

Established in the wake of 9/11, the role of a targeting officer within the Directorate of Operations (DO) is to provide critical support for clandestine operations. Officers identify and assess individuals who have access to foreign governments, hostile intelligence services, and terrorist organizations. Given the nature of the work, personnel must maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance, which requires an exhaustive background investigation and periodic polygraph examinations.

Following her final CIA assignment, Butler vowed that her next endeavor would focus on women’s rights. This led her to join Women for Afghan Women, an organization dedicated to providing aid and shelter to women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

“I worked alongside these amazing Afghan women who were so brave and had endured years of civil war, so I wanted to weave their strength and perseverance into a story, and that’s what led to ‘The Syndicate Spy,’ my first novel,” Butler explains.

Her transition to fiction was also inspired by historical dramas like “Outlander.” “I love historical fiction, and the way I write comes from a place of authenticity. I know the lingo, I have the experience, and I wanted to create something genuine to the story, so when you read ‘Patriot’s Daughter,’ you are reading exactly how it would go down for someone in Ava’s shoes,” she adds.

Misdirection abounds in the new novel, starting with the title itself, leaving it entirely ambiguous as to whether Ava’s mother is a patriot or a traitor—a mystery, Butler notes with a laugh, that readers will have to finish the book to solve.

For Butler, the writing process has only grown more fluid, serving as a powerful creative outlet for a lifetime of unique experiences few others could ever imagine.

While “The Syndicate Spy” followed female operatives navigating complex religious and cultural divides, “The Patriot’s Daughter” dives deeper into the ethical gray areas inherent to espionage. “These are things that real spies grapple with, asking people to betray their own country,” Butler says bluntly. “Sometimes that requires some manipulation on our part that can really blur the lines of morality.”

Insider note: Fans of “The Patriot’s Daughter” can rest easy knowing Butler’s next book will be its direct sequel.

Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @BrittanyButlerBooks and go to brittanycbutler.com for more information. Her book is available for purchase at all major retailers.   

Occupations

CIA Targeting Officer, Author, Mom

Hometown

Atlanta, Georgia

Previously lived in

Washington, D.C.

Moved to 

Charleston 2020

Alma Mater

Florida State University (Go Seminoles!)

Major

International Affairs

Family

Husband, Charleston  native Matt, three sons  (5, 12, and 14)

Published Novels

The Syndicate Spy & The Patriot’s Daughter

Countries Worked In

Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates (plus numerous classified locations)

Favorite Spy Movie

“Zero Dark Thirty.”