From the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel, THE ALICE NETWORK, comes another fascinating historical novel about a battle-haunted English journalist and a Russian female bomber pilot who join forces to track the Huntress, a Nazi war criminal gone to ground in America.
In the aftermath of war, the hunter becomes the hunted…
Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina’s bravery and cunning will keep her alive.
Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it.
Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes homes with a new fiancée, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking, Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother’s past—only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family . . . secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear.
In this immersive, heart-wrenching story, Kate Quinn illuminates the consequences of war on individual lives, and the price we pay to seek justice and truth.
This audiobook includes an episode of the Book Club Girl Podcast, featuring an interview with Kate Quinn about The Huntress.
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Kate Quinn did an excellent job of weaving three timelines from three different character’s perspectives into a story that built the suspense to the very end. And notably, we rarely get to see anything from the Huntress’ point of view, so her motives remain a mystery to be discovered by the team who have come together to hunt her down.
I liked that from the beginning, even though the characters were moving in different times and places, they were all connected by the images, folklore, and nightmares of the lake. It was thrilling to learn about the outstanding heroism of the Russian Night Witches. I had never heard of these women pilots before, and their exploits were truly amazing! It was also interesting to learn how those who were hunting down Nazi war criminals operated after the war. It took such dedication to sift through the minutiae of camp, financial, and army records when most people just wanted to forget the war and move on. And I enjoyed seeing Jordan as a young woman after the war, everyone expecting her to get married and start a family when she had such a passion for photography. It was very believable that she could be suspicious of her step-mother but at the same time crave the support and affection Anna offered. How people who have committed horrendous crimes can compartmentalize their actions and live seemingly normal lives was also a fascinating part of the story.
And we got a glimpse of Eve Gardiner from The Alice Network, so all is right in the world!
Kate Quinn is brilliant when it comes to writing historical novels. Highly recommend this book, as well as her other historical, The Alice Network.
As good as the Alice Project.
Brilliant from start to finish. I had to force myself to patient as each chapter switched between the 3 main characters….I couldn’t wait to see the next link woven in the story. Loved the follow up at end of book that shared Kate’s historical figures and events who inspired the story. Kate Quinn- thank you- LOVE your books!
A truly impressive, complex, masterfully written novel that delivers blow after emotional blow. I savored every word.
Well done. Post WWII couldn’t put it down. The last 10 pages of the true history is worth reading
Great read. I am always amazed when I learn something new about the events of WW2. The “night witches” were based on real women pilots who made an impact on the war. The characters all have depth from the pilots to the Nazi hunters. I definitely had a hard time putting the book down.
Debated between 3 and 4 stars but I LOVED the story-line about Nina and the WWII Night Witches – women who flew bombing missions for Russia (real history from WWII). Strong female characters but some of the story didn’t ring true.
Amazing. One of the most engrossing and fascinating books I’ve ever read. I was glued to the page and fully invested. I loved the adventure, the humour and the love stories, but mostly, I enjoyed reading about Nina’s journey west, from The Old Man to Boston. She’s an absolutely brilliant character!
I’ve enjoyed Quinn’s other book, but this one disappointed. Maybe I’ve just read too many stories set in that era and with the same basic WWII setting/characters. etc. Rather than not being able to put it down, I couldn’t get into it. And that after waiting a long time on hold before I got my copy from the library.
I listened to THE HUNTRESS on audio, and the narrator is outstanding. She switched sexes and accents with seamless dexterity. I cannot recommend this enough for audiobook fans and lovers of gripping, historical fiction. I had an
audiobook hangover for days…
The Huntress
by Kate Quinn
This historical novel is well worthwhile reading when you get into its rhythm. It is a fictional account of the hunt for a Nazi woman after the Second World War, based on several real women who were convicted of war crimes in the 1950s and 60s. All the characters are well portrayed by author Kate Quinn, the author of several other historical novels including The Alice Network.
The Huntress is the wife of a high-ranking Nazi officer. Her name is Lorelei Vogt, but during the story, her name changes to Anneliese Weber and then Anna Mcbride. But now she is the hunted.
The hunters are a trio who follow Lorelei Vogt from Europe to Boston, Mass., where Jordan McBride, the daughter of a Boston antique dealer, joins them.
Ian Graham is the dour English war correspondent who has seen just about all the horrors war can throw at a man, including the loss of his brother. Ian went to Spain in 1936, and on to WW2, landing on Normandy beaches in 1944 with only a pen and reporter’s note pad. He covered the Nuremberg War Trials in 1945 when the war ended and was shocked that most of Europe wanted to sweep further pursuit of war criminals under the table. Ian is joined in the hunt by Anton (Tony) Rodomovsky, a golden-tongued Jew from Queens, New York, who enlisted in the army the day after Pearl Harbor and survived to the end of the war with a similar hate of the crimes the Nazis had committed.
Ian and Tony are joined by Nina Markova, a young Russian woman who grew up near Lake Baikal in southern Siberia. Her father calls her a lake witch and tries to drown her, but Nina is too strong for him and escapes his grip. She flees to a nearby city where she learns to fly and eventually joins the Russian Women’s Air Force (real) where she conduct bombing runs on the Germans in wooden planes (also real). Even though the trio calls Madam Vogt The Huntress, the real huntress in the story is Nina. Her back story is compelling and richly explored by the author. By itself, Nina’s story is worth the price of the book, but there is much more.
Lorelei Vogt is actually hiding in plain sight in Boston. She has escaped detection by shedding her German accent, coming to the US, marrying Jordan McBride’s father, and becoming just another American housewife. Jordan is the first to become suspicious, but it’s only when she meets the trio of hunters that the chase warms up.
Because the compelling story of Nina’ war record and her early involvement with Lorelei Vogt during the war unfold chronologically, and the other chapters are set in the post-war years, the novel can seem somewhat convoluted at first, but it’s necessary for the way the author peels the onion. My one criticism is that there is far too much italic in The Huntress; too much internal monologue and head talk that becomes reader feeder at times. Much of it could have been revealed in compelling dialogue. But hey, that can be overlooked in pursuit of a great story.
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When I picked this up, I had high hopes that it would be just as good as The Alice Network. It did not disappoint!
I absolutely loved this story. It had that same back and forth between a few different characters and a couple of timelines. There’s Nina, a stubborn and resilient Russian girl from the Taiga who refuses to be killed. There’s Ian, the English journalist turned hunter of war criminals following WWII. There’s Jordan, a young American girl and aspiring photographer in Boston in the 1950s whose father marries a beautiful and seemingly benevolent woman she just doesn’t trust and can’t yet put her finger on why.
Every one of these story lines are so intriguing and interesting. Every one of these characters are vivid and cunning. Put them together, and it’s pure, literary magic.
I loved how the women ran this story. I loved how strong they were, how downright formidable they were – yes, even the bad ones! And especially Nina! I absolutely loved how fearless, courageous, and unapologetic she was. The mouth on her!! Haha! But also, the heart in her. The characters had their quirks and flaws, and it made them all that much more realistic and fun to read.
Then there was the mystery. Who is friend, who is foe? How do these people’s lives intertwine that won’t be revealed until later, little by little? And might I add, the narration for the audiobook was absolutely phenomenal. Excellent!!
I highly recommend this historical fiction, and this author will be an automatic buy for me from now on.
Excellent listen on Audible! Great story and great narration!
Well written suspenseful and richly drawn characters
Absolutely loved Kate Quinn’s new book, The Huntress. She is a master storyteller! If you loved The Alice Network, you will love Quinn’s new book. Wonderful characters and rich plot.
Great twists & turns. Did not want to put it down (or in this case, stop listening)
I loved this book. Was completely engrossed in all 560 pages. Filled with action, adventure, a chase, this book is never dull. Three compelling stories surrounding the atrocities and evils of war. Anna, hiding in plain sight, a former Nazi killer; Ian, the Nazi Hunter with a personal stake in finding her and Nina–my favorite character–the fearless Russian pilot driven to assuage her guilt. This is a well-researched book based on facts with well-drawn characters.
Nina is priceless. Fierce, loyal, authentic. Her dialogue, her Russian-accented broken English brings her to life. This comment in Filene’s Department Store made me laugh so hard and made her so very real. Trying on clothes to find something conservative to wear, she says to Ian, “Is this hateful fucking blouse. Deserves to die in an arctic gulag, this blouse. Deserves to wrap fish guts on a whaler and filter gasoline into jerricans.” One of the most memorable characters I have ever encountered.
It was excellent!
Really great read.