The Alice Network

Having arranged to interview Kate Quinn on the Rock, Paper, Swords! podcast, I decided to read one of her most popular novels in preparation. I was worried it might not be my kind of thing and that readint it would be a chore to read. I should not have been concerned. The Alice Network is a gripping, tightly plotted dual timeline thriller set around both 20th century world wars. It kept me gripped all the way from the first page to the explosive final scenes. A triumph!

Great book, with an amazing cast of characters. In 1947, Charlie St. Clair, young and pregnant, teams up with elderly, war-traumatized Eve Gardiner to find Charlie’s missing cousin Rose, and in the process, the two uncover the still-living villain who betrayed Eve’s WWI spy ring.

This dual timeline book will keep you on the edge of your seat and comes complete with a you’ll-jump-for-joy happy ending.

This book, a novel that spans two world wars, gripped my heart and made me fully realise how strong women can be in the face of adversity.

I was completely drawn in, and there were plenty of moments to cry, laugh, or gasp at the courage displayed. So often, the contribution of women gets pushed aside, but I felt here it was brought to life in the sacrifices and true grit displayed by the women as we made our way through WW1 and WW2. 

There is a vitality and optimism in this book, which shines through. I loved this story… show more.

This book has everything you want from a gripping historical novel – a pacy dual timeline plot which races along at breakneck speed featuring badass female spies, despicable villains, and moments of pure heartbreak, and it’s based on a true story.

I’m a sucker for an unlikely friendship and the one which develops between veteran spy Eve and young Charlie as they embark on a mission to find Charlie’s missing cousin, is a particularly special one. There’s a reason why Kate Quinn is one of the queens of this genre.

This story of sisterly love and endurance spoke to me because at the time I was reading it my own sister and I weren’t speaking. The courage and fortitude these two sisters possess in surviving the war and finding their way back together are remarkable and enviable at the same time. Reading it made me want to mend fences with my sister, which we have since done. Added to that is the inside look at life in war-torn France during World War Two. Highly recommended!

Like many of my favourite historical novels, this one combines real historical figures with fictional ones, and tells the story of female spies in World War I. Eve Gardiner is the sort of character who will stick with you forever: fierce and vulnerable, flawed and very, very real. Where so many female characters triumph through exceptional wit and beauty, Eve’s triumphs—and her failures—come about through grit and indomitable willpower. Tense, dark, and profoundly transporting, The Alice Network drops you into occupied France with nothing but your wits and the support of a sisterhood of amazing women determined to serve their… show more.

This book has parallel, connected storylines: an American girl, Charlie, teams up with Eve, a former British WWI spy. Charlie’s trying to find a lost cousin; Eve is out for revenge on the man who destroyed her life. The fact that they have a hot ex-convict Scotsman in tow just adds to the appeal. I love the glimpse into WWI espionage, something I haven’t seen elsewhere in fiction yet. 

I admit, I can’t read too many books set during wartime because they are so heavy and sad. But this book, while heavy and sad, somehow feels like an exception. The two storylines of this dual timeline novel are set in 1915 and 1947 and are connected by the Alice Network of women spies who served in the Great War. In the latter story, unmarried and pregnant Charlie sneaks away to look for her missing cousin and enlists Eve, a sad drunk who once was a member of the Alice Network, to help her. Together they unravel the truth of… show more.