The Alice Network: A Novel

I finished this book last night and I haven't stopped thinking about it. I would like to preface this by saying that I read a lot. Probably about 3 books a week. I do work a full-time job, so for me, that's a lot. If you look at my bookshelves you may have the impression that I rate all books 4 or 5 stars. Not true. I only rate the ones I love, that leave a mark. And while I would like to write reviews for all of them, I just don't have a whole lot of time for writing out everything I love about them. Regretfully so. As an author myself, I know how important reviews are, so I do hope to one day be able to go through my bookshelves and write at least a few words for them. But certain books that truly and utterly sweep me away while reading, I try to write something because I want others to experience a truly amazing book. And this book - it was truly amazing.Let me add that this isn't my typical genre. I probably wouldn't have even read it had my friend, Christie, not messaged me one night and said how much she was loving it. I waited for her to finish to get her final thoughts and what she said was... "You have to read this! I can't stop thinking about it. I know you and you will LOVE IT." That's true...she does know me and she knows what books will likely make me all aflutter and get my heart racing. So, with that in mind, I bought the book. I didn't even need to second guess it. But I didn't start on it immediately. I had some writing of my own to do and another book I had started reading that I wanted to finish. But every time I turned on my Kindle this book was staring me down, so I finally gave in and said..."I'll read the first chapter now and pick it back up later." Well...so much for plans. I started reading and before I knew it I was a few chapters in and glued to my Kindle. Page after page, I was IN it, totally invested and completely spellbound. I had just a vague idea of what the book was about as I tend to avoid reading reviews until after I've finished a book. Basically, I look to see who liked it and take that into account, but I don't want to know anything else. I love going into a book blind. And so, blind is how I started this journey.From the start the author had me at the first line in the first paragraph in the first chapter.The first person I met in England was a hallucination."I remember thinking...whaaat? I had to keep reading. I needed to know what kind of character I was dealing with here. Is she supposed to be a little crazy?Well, the answer to that is, no. She wasn't crazy. But she was brilliant and brave and troubled and worried and grief-stricken. She also, like many women in those days, had to deal with double standards and prejudices against women. It was a battle on every front. Literally. But her "hallucinations" were just her mind and heart pushing her to search for her cousin, Rose, who had gone missing during WWII in France. And when she decided she would follow her "hallucinations" until she found answers the story takes off - almost straight away. I loved Charlie. To be so young, she set out to find her best friend/cousin and I love her for loving Rose so much.Enter Eve. Eve was the woman who could help her find Rose. Maybe. All Charlie had was a name on a report. The journey began there - at Rose's doorstep. The two women did not like each other one bit. Eve was much older and had lived a hard, unhappy life. She was not thrilled to have trouble knocking on her door late at night. And when you dive into her character and find out what all she had to endure your heart will break. Mine did. So many times. Because the story spans across two wars and many difficult choices. The past, 1915, and the present, 1947.Throughout this book's journey so much is discovered about Eve and her past. Why was she so bitter and angry? What made her this way? While reading Eve's timeline (1915) we learn it all. Oh my God, do we learn it all. Not a detail is left to wonder. It's all laid out for us with every turn of the page. I can honestly say I have never been so affected while reading a book. Eve's story is one of the most heartbreaking stories I have ever read, and yet, I felt so much pride for her too. She was probably the most 'real' character I have ever had the pleasure of reading. And not just her - but every single character in this book is completely real to me. I feel like I not only read a piece of our history, but that I was actually there while it happened, while it all unfolded in real time.So many characters I fell in love with. So many of them. The Alice Network, for which Eve was a part of, is not made up. It existed. These women did so much for the war effort during WWI, made unspeakable sacrifices, suffered the likes we will never fully comprehend. They are true heroines and real events are threaded throughout this fictionalized story. I am regretful that I had never heard of the Alice Network before reading this book. But now that I have I am better for having read it and I have been forever changed.I could talk about this book for days. There is just so much I can't discuss here in this review for fear of giving away spoilers, but I will never forget it. I will never forget a single word written. So many quotes I have read and re-read. So many scenes I think about even now and get teary eyed over. The ending was perfection. A beautiful and long-lasting friendship was forged between Charlie and Eve by the time we make it to the end. More than friendship, even. A family was formed. And I can't think of a single thing I would change. Hard to read at times, yes. But it was the hard times that made the sweet spots so much sweeter.There is even a developing romance between these pages. While not the central focus, it was a beautiful thing to witness and I certainly didn't expect it. I was simply swept away by the entirety of the book. Every word was precious to me. Every scene so brilliantly depicted. If I had to break this book down into just one word I would say that this book is quite simply a heartbeat. It lives. It breathes. It teaches. It inspires.It endures. And when you find out exactly what I mean by that...you will understand why I fell in love with these characters so damn hard. And maybe, just maybe, you will too.

This year marks the Centennial of the entrance of the United Stated into World War I (April 6, 1917). a fair number of books – both fiction and non-fiction – about it are being released. And since I, too, am writing a novel set in Phoenixville during the Great War, I am trying to read most, if not all of them. It’s a bit daunting, to say the least, but I am learning a lot of interesting and often obscure facts.For example, did you know that one of the largest and most effective underground spy rings operating in France and Germany was started by a woman? Louise de Bettignies, to be exact, who took the code name of Alice Dubois. Her fascinating story has been carefully brought life in "The Alice Network" by Kate Quinn, a young author who has penned seven previous novels. Although her eighth is quickly topping the best-seller lists – I am sure you’ve already heard of it, if not already read it – I thought I’d review it anyway.In 1947, promiscuous Charlie St. Claire is pregnant. About to be disowned by her wealthy family, she and her mother are on their way to Switzerland to “take care of the little problem”. In Southampton, Charlie takes off, travels to London, and knocks on the door of a stranger whom she hopes will be able to help her find Rose, her older cousin who disappeared in France during World War II.Flash back to 1915. Bored with her menial office job, ambitious Evelyn Gardiner is eager to fight the Germans. She gets her chance when she is unexpectedly recruited as a spy. After a grueling month of training, she is sent to Lili where she meets up with the intriguing and nearly outrageous Lilli, the leader of the Alice Networ, aka "the Queen of Espionage". Eve becomes Marguerite and works undercover as a waitress in a prestigious restaurant frequented by top-level German officers. Her job is to listen in on their conversations with the hopes of garnering secrets about troop movements and planned attacks on French and British forces. She reports these back to Lili, who transports them to their “handler” in England.Rene, the nefarious owner of the restaurant is a corrupt collaborator who colludes with the enemy for the sake of money and power (sound familiar?). He seduces Marguerite who sacrifices her virtue and high moral standards to glean even more war secrets. But then, Rene begins to suspect she just might be a spy…Charlie joins forces with the much older Evelyn as well as her handsome chauffeur/butler. She asks for their help in finding Rose. Evelyn reluctantly agrees; she has a secret search of her own to conduct and Charlie becomes her perfect co-conspirator. Thus, the plot thickens and quickly begins to unfold.Quinn is a really good writer. Her style is straightforward and down-to-earth, using accurate colloquialisms of each war era. Her plot lines twist and fold in alternate fast-paced and often insightful chapters about Charlie and Eve’s parallel quests and united journey. It’s easy to see why – and how – this historical novel is wending its way to the top of the charts. Characters are grippingly life-like and the situations they find themselves in are, to the most part, based upon historical fact. In essence, it has all the qualities that I look for in a substantively great read. And, it is chock full of story twists, turns, with an unexpected surprise, but satisfying, ending.Not only did I enjoy "The Alice Network" as a compelling adjunct to my own research, but I also found it an inspiration for my own writing.Enjoy the read!

Couldn’t put the book down. I really enjoyed the two perspectives of characters from WWI and WWII. I also really enjoyed the recap at the end by the author describing the real life people who inspired the characters and story.

It took me a bit to really get into this book but once I did, I couldn’t put it down, alternating between reading on my Kindle and listening on Audible. The story is told along two different timelines by two exceptionally strong women. Parts are incredibly hard to read because they are the real stories and experiences of so many people during World War I and II. If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love this book.

This is a novel with a mix of fictional and historically based characters based on events from WWI. It has two storylines, one being the events of the war, the other in 1947 as the two sets of characters intersect. This story unfolds beautifully, pulling us deeper into the mystery of what happened and into the lives and hearts of three imperfect, wounded souls who have hearts almost too big for this world. And into the amazing life of one bigger than life, nonfictional, queen of spies.. The story is full of unparalleled bravery, unthinkable horrors of war, love and redemption. It's a tapestry of events, winding around us and pulling us relentlessly with the need to know. Highly recommended.

“The Alice Network”, weaves both World Wars and two unshakable women Eve and Charlie into a splendid work of historical fiction that is based on a true spy ring named in its title. It is a fascinating story of two unlikely friends both in pursuit of one cruel and wicked man Rene Bordelon as they search for the truth and ultimately justice with Finn, a Scottish man with his own demons forever at their side. It’s an enthralling read, the narrative is breathtaking, comedic at times, but heartbreaking. Its pace between the dual storylines is perfect and strategically placed making it a powerful novel. The reader will be a cheerleader for both Eve and Charlie, a former spy and a young lady who is a math wiz, respectively as their unification sets the stage for a great novel.It pays homage to those women who were relentless in spying for France in order to keep the Germans at arms length, foiling their plans for advancement and it was a dangerous task. One of the main themes throughout this novel is female friendships as they grow and change over the course of time. It is an emotional roller coaster. Everyone in the network suffers from emotional distress due to war and the reader can connect with all of the characters involved, they are relatable. The novel is well executed for both timelines from 1915 & 1947, and I easily felt connected to both main characters and to Finn as well.This book is well written, absolutely interesting, historically based and the pages kept on turning. Pick up “The Alice Network”, it is a wonderful read.

Characters act, talk and relate as if they were 21st century women not born in the early and mid 1900’s.

The story was touching and 'real' with a clever use of factual historical events intertwined with the author's creation of the fictional characters. I went to to research more information about Oradour-sur-Glane - a tragic war-time event which should never be forgotten!A really great book!

Well written, brilliant character building! RelatableAnd lovable characters! So much horror yet so much hope and love!!!! A happy ending amidst so much pain.

Je l'avais lu en français et souhait le relire en VO