Book Review for The Alice Network (Giveaway)

Do you enjoy reading historical fiction novels?  If so, The Alice Network, written by Kate Quinn, should be on your list of books to read.  I recently received a copy of The Alice Network in exchange for a review, and as always, all opinions are my own.  Keep reading below for a book review for The Alice Network as well as the chance to win a copy of your own!

Book Review for The Alice Network

While psychological thrillers are my favorite genre, historical fiction is a very close second.  I couldn’t put The Alice Network down once I started reading it.  Not only is it a great book to read for those of us who are fans of historical fiction, but it also introduced me to a subject matter that I’m not familiar with:  female spies during World War 1.

The book is written from two different perspectives:  Eve Gardiner, a British spy, and and Charlie St. Claire, an American woman from an affluent background.  The book takes place during different time periods.  Eve’s story begins in 1915 when she is recruited to become a British spy.  Charlie’s story begins in 1947, as she embarks on a trip to Europe with her French mom.  However, Eve and Charlie end up meeting each other when Charlie begins searching for her French cousin Rose, who has disappeared.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is the character development.  While Eve and Charlie are the main characters, there are other characters introduced in the novel that are also very interesting.  However, if I had to pick a favorite character, it would be Eve.

This was my first introduction to a book written by Kate Quinn, and she left quite an impression with me.  I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.  I, along with other reviewers, also had the opportunity to participate in an interview with her and it was very interesting to learn more about her writing process.  For example, she said that it took her about a year to write The Alice Network and that a lot of the work involved research.  She’s currently writing another historical fiction novel, and I can’t wait to read it once it’s released.

About The Alice Network

Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (June 6, 2017)

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

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn is a native of Southern California. She attended Boston University, where she earned bachelors and masters degrees in classical voice. A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two books set in the Italian Renaissance detailing the early years of the infamous Borgia clan. All have been translated into multiple languages. She and her husband now live in Maryland with two black dogs named Caesar and Calpurnia.

Find out more about Kate at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

GIVEAWAY

Please enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win a copy of The Alice Network. The contest ends on June 30, 2017 at 12 am (Mountain Time), and I will notify the winner via email.  The winner will need to respond to my email within 48 hours, otherwise another winner will be selected.  Good luck!  This contest is only available to U.S. residents.

a Rafflecopter giveaway