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.
Review: The Alice Network is your standard historical fiction though it had potential to become a memorable read. The story is told in two point of views. In May 1947, we follow socialite Charlotte "Charlie" St. Clair who is a pregnant and unwed. She and her mother have crossed the Atlantic so Charlie can discreetly rectify her "problem". Lately, Charlie has been thinking about her cousin who was more like a a sister, Rose, who disappeared during World War II. A chance to search for Rose, gives Charlie the courage to break free and head to London. Rose may have been involved in the French Resistance, and her last known connection was a woman named Eve, who carries her own war secrets.
Eve Gardner was a spy in the Alice Network, a real-life network during the World War I. Being a spy allowed Eve to show herself and others her capabilities despite having a speech impediment. Presently, Eve suffers from PSTD and alcoholism as she tries to escape the horrors of the wars. As Eve and Charlie join forces to solve the mystery surrounding Rose, Eve also has her own special mission of seeking revenge on the individual who destroyed the network.
What lessened my enjoyment of the book was the uneven plot-lines. I found Charlie's chapters to be boring and the mystery surrounding Rose was anticlimactic as you knew from the beginning that it can end only one way. Eve's chapters is what kept me reading this book. Her chapters are written earnestly and were suspenseful as you never knew what would happen to her. I wanted to know more about the Alice Network and Eve's comrades who were full of life. The book would have been much stronger if you took Charlie's story line completely out. As a result, the story drags quite a lot until the end where Eve finally meets her past. Despite the backdrop of two horrific wars, the story ends up on a hopeful note. I would recommend this book to readers who can't get enough of World War II historical fiction.
Rating: 3 stars
Words of Caution: There is some strong language in the book, fade to black sex scenes, a scene where a character has an abortion, and a scene of torture. Due to the complex themes in the book, I would recommend it only to adults and mature teen readers.
If you like this book try: Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin
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I actually really do love reading about this time period so I might actually like this. Thank you for the thoughtful review!
This sounds like it has such potential to be good, what a disappointment
Oh I think the uneven plot lines would bother me in a book like this one. I would think that to keep it suspenseful it would have to be a bit tighter.