Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network

by Kate Quinn

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 528

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: HarperCollins

Goodreads:  1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.

1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the "Queen of Spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.

Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth ...no matter where it leads.


Kritters Thoughts:  If you have been following me for a bit, you know that I love me some historical fiction and the big reason I love this is because I get to learn something without feeling like learning something.  

Two storylines going on in this story, but this one felt different as neither of the two are present day, one is 1915 and Eve Gardiner is the main character as she is trying to survive a war and finds a purpose for her life working in an interesting spot in the war and the other storyline is 1947 and Eve Gardiner is present, but the main character is Charlie St. Clair and she is trying to find her lost cousin as the war has ended.  

Unlike other two storyline books, the reader knows from the beginning that there is a connection and can assume sort of where the connection lies and I liked that.  I don't mind knowing where the connection is along as there is still some mystery to unfold.  

I feel like I knew ahead of this book that there was a collection of ladies who were spies and helped on both sides of the fence, but to get a story that focused on them and their story was so interesting.  I love reading all the stories that highlight how women were helping with any and all of the wars in any capacity that they were able to.  

I definitely loved this one and was excited to be a part of a live Q&A with the author and found it interesting to see what motivated her to take a step away from what she usually writes and see if she plans on doing more like this.  

Here is the link to a recording of the Q&A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK4C04ZOQbs



Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.