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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This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I don’t usually push books on people, but i’ve recommended this one to all my friends!
This is a must-read. A reader is introduced to both historical and fictional characters in a story deftly woven to create the experience of a network of spies, women spies–the challenges they faced, the horrors they endured, the ultimate cost of their bravery, and the hope that remains as a result of their work.
This is based on a true story. It’s inspirational for every women. One learns more about the war and the way the Germans treated people. I loved this book,
The Alice Network is a book that I could not put down. Great characters, interesting plot, and satisfying ending. The book is designed with alternating chapters of WWI story plot and then post WWII converging story. I highly recommend this book!
Passing this book on to others . Different information about women in the resistance in France during WWII. Exciting and memorable.
I have read several books of historical fiction about WWII, so i was intrigued to find one about WWI. The story involves Eve, a spy in WWI and Charlie, a pregnant teen looking for her lost cousin in France after WWII. The story unfolds through alternating chapters set in 1947 and 1915. The tale moves forward in 1947 as the two women join forces to find Charlie’s lost cousin and the man who tortured Eve during her spy days of WWI. The chapters during WWI fill in the back story about Eve, why she is so jaded, and how she and Charlie are connected.
Ultimately this is a story of determination, sacrifice, friendship, and hope. I was invested in the characters and the action kept my attention – not wanting to put the book down until i knew what happened. I found the author’s notes about the true facts she used to develop the story very interesting. This is a book I highly recommend!
Really enjoyed this story of survival during the war, and the chances these women took!
There are many books out there about WW2 …. and this is certainly among the best of them.
One of the best books I ever read!
Fantastic historical fiction about female spies during WWI. Shortly after the end of WWII, a young, American woman seeks out an older, English woman, who may have information about her missing French cousin. The grumpy, alcoholic old woman with mutilated hands turns out to be a former WWI spy, who reluctantly agrees to help the young American. The story moves back and forth between the that time period and flashbacks of the older woman’s experiences as a spy. There is tension, heart-wrenching pain, humor, romance, and healing.
The best book I have read in a long time…could not put it down,
It is about a female spy network and how they get information and pass it on..
As soon as I read the description, I knew I’d love this novel. What I didn’t expect is how emotionally invested I became in all of the characters, even the Rosebud, and how much I came to love all of the Fleurs du Mal.
Presents women in a different viewpoint. Strong resilient and brave. Historical basis fascinating to me!women in war not rolling bandages or pouring coffee at the USO but in the secret underground of information as spies!
A book from World War II about the role and work of female spies. In two parts; World War II and years after. Some parts are not too conviencing but a good story never the less.
I liked this book as it portrayed intelligence (spy) activity during WWI. (There seem to be a lot of books about WWII but little on WWI.) I also liked that much of the action was based on a real character who spied during WWI. The fictional characters were believable. Kate Quinn was able to link post WWII and the WWI characters in a plot that held my interest.
This was unpredictable, captivating and extremely interesting.
The Alice Network is a ring of spies operating during the World Wars. They are women who can gather information and send it across the border without suspension. Eve is desperate to do something for her country, and she is elated when a Captain recruits her as a spy. Due to Eve’s stammering speech and fluency in many languages, she is extremely qualified.
As soon as Eve is ready, she is sent to France where she gets a job waitressing for the German soldiers. This position is ideal for gathering information as the soldiers discuss military maneuvers over dinner.
Years later, Charlie St. Clair arrives in Europe. She is planning to attend ‘an appointment’ with her mother, but Charlie has another motive for coming to Europe. She leaves her mother to find Eve. Charlie is desperate to find her cousin Rose, who went missing during WWII. The unlikely pair journey across Europe to find Rose, and to issue revenge on Eve’s old enemy.
You know I’m a big historical fiction fan, and recently I’ve been disappointed. But this book has made it worth the wait! The Alice Network is unlike most other ‘female spy’ novels because it is so raw, real, dangerous, and sexy. Yes, I just used the word sexy. The life of a female spy is not glamourous. It’s ugly and difficult. They did what they had to do for information to help their country, and Quinn did not spare her readers. The Alice Network really struck home with the danger and experiences these women had.
Now to the post war part of the story. I didn’t really enjoy it. It was good, still in the past to make it historical. But I did not care for the character of Charlie. She strikes me as a spoiled brat, wanting her own way in a situation she landed herself in. I found Eve’s side of the story much more interesting, and I wanted to get back to her story than listen to Charlie’s.
Having said that, neither of the main characters are really that likeable. Eve was a spy who had to do gruesome things and lives a bitter and revengeful life. Charlie is a spoiled brat that you wish would take a back seat. But that’s the charm of this book. You don’t like either of the characters that much, but you love them just enough to want to know how the story ends.
Overall, The Alice Network by Kate Quinn receives 4 stars.
Fabulous novel about female spies in France during both World Wars. Absolutely one of the best novels I have ever read about WWII.
My most favorite novels are those which are set in the 1930’s and 1940’s before, during and right after the Second World War. I enjoy reading everything about that era in history and so was drawn to read “the Alice Network” by Kate Quinn. This novel is a fictional account of an actual British spy ring in Paris during the Great War, and the consequences that occurred both during and after the Second Great War.
Charlie St. Clair is a young girl who is unmarried, pregnant, and hounded by her parents to “take care of the situation”. Instead, Charlie takes off by herself with only one note that may lead her to her beloved cousin Rose, who is presumed dead. Charlie thinks that Rose was involved with the Resistance in France during WW II and is not ready to give her up for dead. She finds Eve Gardiner, a mouthy, drunken old woman, who may have information about Rose. Eve Gardiner was recruited to be a spy in France during the First Great War. She and two other women gave valuable information to the British about German troop movements and artillery. Something happened to her during that time, something that made her live a life of drunkenness and seclusion. When these two women join forces to find the truth, this is the story.
I thought this novel was very well researched and written and could not put the book down. The intrigue, suffering and patriotism of the female espionage agents during both wars were painfully shown. I applaud the author for bringing to light the escapades of our brave women who may have turned the tide of the war.
I received a complimentary print review copy of this book from Bethany House publishers and LitFusePublicity.com in return for posting a review. You can read this review on my blog at https://wp.me/p2pjIt-t7. Check out other book reviews at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com. I have also placed a review of this book on https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1954955276, and on Amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/review/R1JMYU3G9U5VSB.
The story was excellent and will stay with you long after you read it. It was upsetting to know this type of behavior exists in the world. The ending was a twist.