Featuring an exclusive excerpt from Kate Quinn’s next incredible historical novel, THE HUNTRESS
NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY BESTSELLER
#1 GLOBE AND MAIL HISTORICAL FICTION BESTSELLER
One of NPR’s Best Books of the Year!
One of Bookbub’s Biggest Historical Fiction Books of the Year!
Reese Witherspoon Book Club Summer Reading Pick!
The Girly Book Club Book of the Year!
A Summer Book … Fiction Books of the Year!
Reese Witherspoon Book Club Summer Reading Pick!
The Girly Book Club Book of the Year!
A Summer Book Pick from Good Housekeeping, Parade, Library Journal, Goodreads, Liz and Lisa, and BookBub
In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.
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.
“Both funny and heartbreaking, this epic journey of two courageous women is an unforgettable tale of little-known wartime glory and sacrifice. Quinn knocks it out of the park with this spectacular book!”—Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of America’s First Daughter
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Highlights what women did to help the war effort. About time, women’s input and impact is told.
An inventive twist on the old story of a young woman , abandoned, single, and pregnant. Charlie is sent to Europe to “take care of her problem”. Once free of her family’s presence, she instead heads off to London to search for her beloved cousin, Rose, who disappeared in the war, years ago. Rumor is that Rose was spying for the Allies. Charlie’s adventures and the folks- unconventional and daring-that she meets make for an action-filled, unpredictable tale.
Loved it!!
Never judge a book by its cover or by its first two pages. I was interested in the premise so I kept reading anyway. What a story! I was so sorry to see these brave and sometimes funny and marvelous characters leave me at the end. We tend to think of spy stories now as superheroes with a political agenda. These spies were brilliant and brave and quick-thinking, but given their struggles and the trauma some endured, they were hardly superheroes in the physical sense. They used their wits to get out of trouble. This is a great read. I dare you to put it down once you get into it!
It was a great historical fiction read. The characters were so alive and action packed.
500 page with last 100 pages pulling the story together. Book flipped from one of
the characters to another character with a 3rd character getting his
just punishment. The Alice Network is a story of women spies gathering info on German soldiers.
Little known story of WWII, women spies!
A wonderful, intense glimpse into the courageous actions of some women working secretly for the Allies in WWII. Gripping and touching. This is a book that stays with you long after you finish it.
This is the story of two women – Eve and Charlie. The time line flips back and forth between the early 1900s when Eve was a young girl who was recruited to be a spy during the first world war, and the late 1940s after the second world war. Charlie – 19 years old in 1947 is pregnant, single, and looking for her lost cousin Rose. Her mother and father want Charlie to “take care of” the baby, and put her on a train to Switzerland to have it done. But Charlie isn’t sure that is what she wants. While traveling with her mother, she sneaks away because she wants to find her cousin, Rose. She meets Eve and begs her to help her find Rose. Rose is now an older woman, in her 50s. She is drunk most of the time and not really looking to relive the past.
Charlie proposes money and will pay for the whole search, and mentions a name that Eve knows. Eve agrees to help Charlie. While together, Eve starts to tell Charlie of her time as a spy, and the mission launches them both in a direction they aren’t sure they want to go.
This was a good book. There are pieces of true history (The Alice Network and one of the characters who was truly in the Network, plus a bombing that really happened during the second world war) mixed in with fiction that made the story a good read. One half of the book takes place in 1915, and the other in 1947. The part during WWI is definitely the stronger of the two in this story – better written and more interesting. The story of the Alice Network is fascinating and learning what these women did to save 100s to 1000s of lives was amazing. The second half of the book was a little trickier to like. Charlie and the male “love interest” did not add much to the story, and neither were really likable or realistic characters.
Don’t skip it – I think it is worth a read especially the parts about Eve and the Alice Network. The evil characters are truly evil, and once again the horrors of those wars are brought to light.
I could not put this book down. Very well developed characters and storyline that kept me guessing until the end. Tragic overall but yet happy ending.
This is one of my favorite books. I loved every page of this book. I bought it for my daughter for Christmas.
The characters in this book are unforgettable. These heroines of WWl were admirable.
I loved this book. I loved the characters, the plot and the writing itself. It captivates the reader-how these brave women spied on the Germans right under their noses and were instrumental to the Resistance’s success during WWII.
From The Alice Network, I learned some history of which I was not aware. The plot centers on a fictional character, Eve Gardiner, who was a spy during WWI; however, there were real female spies from England who were in France sending important information about German plans back to England. This historical novel included names of real female spies, including Louise de Bettignies, the Queen of Spies. Eve and Louise become fast friends in the novel. deBettignies did run the female spy network and all the spies suffered deprivation and sometimes torture for the sake of the fight against Germany. Eve becomes friends with a young American woman Charlie) seeking her French cousin from whom she has not heard in three years. The novel moves seamlessly chapter to chapter from 1917 to 1947 telling the stories of hardship, friendship and resolution. It is well written and stunning in its detail and Quinn takes us on a journey that is sometimes painful, realistic and joyful. A wonderful way to learn some forgotten history.
What an incredible book! From the very first paragraph I was hooked! The characters are developed in such a way that the reader really feels like they know them personally. If you are looking for a historical fiction book about a few bad ass ladies, this book is for you!
This is a totally inspirational book that proves you can be anything you want to be if you only change your view of the world.
It was exciting and I couldn’t put it down!
Could not put this book down
An unbelievable story that while fiction, was definitely built on the reality of women in the service of their countries during WW 1 & 2. Very few books have ever put me on the edge of my seat but this one kept me there and when the plot resolved, I was both haunted by the ending and pumping my fists in victory for the characters. A truly fantastic read.
A little confusing, whipping back and forth through the decades and characters with multiple guises. But overall a good spy book. Very entertaining.
I enjoyed this book. The style of switching one era to another is at first confusing but it all ties together as the story moves along.