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Book on CD narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
3.5***

Charlie St Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and heading to Europe with her mother to take care of “the little problem.�� It’s 1947 and Charlie is reeling from the death of her brother and worried about her beloved cousin, Rose, who has not been heard from in a couple of years. She decides to find Eve Gardiner, the one name and only clue she has to Rose’s whereabouts. But Eve is an alcoholic recluse with her own demons. During WWI she had been recruited as a spy working with the French Resistance. Along with other women they formed The Alice Network.

Based on the real stories of women who served as spies during World War I, Quinn has crafted an interesting, engaging story of wartime heroines and the price they paid for their service. She uses a dual timeline, moving back and forth between Charlie’s search for Rose, and Eve’s remembered experiences thirty years earlier.

I found Charlie irritating. She was in turns stubborn, hysteric, weepy, lost and determined. I though she was mostly immature, and she got on my nerves almost as much as she got on Eve’s.

I was much more interested in Eve’s story. She’s a broken woman when we meet her, racked with survivor’s guilt and trying to numb her pain with alcohol. But as I learn more about her back story, how she came to be recruited for the spy network, her courage and bravery in the face of very real danger, I grew to admire her. Her story is what compelled me to keep reading / listening.

I found the ending rather rushed and implausible. I am referring mostly to (view spoiler)[ the final confrontation between Eve, Charlie and Rene, but also to the Epilogue set in 1949. (hide spoiler)] Lost half a star there.

The author’s note at the end expounds on the real people and events that inspired the novel. Additional historical information (letters and trial records) is also included.

Saskia Maarleveld did a marvelous job performing the audiobook. She sets a good pace and has the skill needed to differentiate a large cast of characters from a number of countries (Scotland, USA, France, England, and Germany). My only complaint about the audio is that is does NOT include the author notes and historical documents that the text.



LINK to my review

I loved the Alice Network!

This was a five star read for me too, and I was most most attached to Eve too

Book Concierge wrote: "Book on CD narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
3.5***

Charlie St Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and heading to Europe with her mother to take care of “the little problem.�� It’s 1947 and Charlie is reeli..."

I agree with you about how annoying Charlie especially at the beginning of the book. I did feel more sympathetic to her by the time the book ended. She was another victim of the war. Her outrageous acting out and the predicament it left her with were consequences of traumatic loss.

Even so I couldn't go with more than 4 stars. I agree with you about the ending.

Eve was definitely the star. I gave this four stars, probably because of Charlie. I found her frustrating at the beginning, disliked her mother even more! She grew on me though.

I loved this book too. Eve is definitely a stand-out but she’s a seriously feisty woman in an adventure story, which helps. I thought Charlie’s growth was really interesting - she’s definitely immature but for a reason that isn’t immediately apparent and I liked her storyline though it was more passive. Both of them had to escape from the confinement of social and family expectations

I gave it 4.5 stars and it made my favourites last year. This is what I said about the two main characters:

"I liked both storylines equally. Everyone had flaws, but I liked all the main characters, even the cantankerous Eve! "

I enjoyed this book, but I agree about the early character of Charlie. I think one thing I really liked was how much she changed. Great review!

I'll probably read Quinn's latest book as well.

BC, Joanne can send you the Huntress in about 2 months.