The Alice Network book review

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Published by William Morrow Paperbacks on June 6, 2017
Pages: 503
Goodreads

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, code name Alice, 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.

This book was something completely different than what I was expecting and I think a big part of that was that I didn’t know what it was going to be like. The Alice Network follows two distinct storylines, one from WWI and the other from just after WWII. It explores two women and their experiences with war, Eve is an ex-spy and Charlotte is pregnant and unwed. They go on this extraordinary journey through France together with a driver and confront their pasts. I did have a few issues with some elements being a little predictable, but I really came to love the characters and I became extremely invested in their lives and the outcome of everything. This book does handle some hard-hitting things including rape and torture, so I just want to put it out there that if you’re not comfortable with those subject matters this book isn’t for you.

The two main characters are what makes this story. I cannot begin to tell you how great they both were and how great the dynamic between them was. I did find the added distraction of Finn a little predictable and awkward at times, especially some of the dialogue and scenes, it just didn’t feel as though it fits in this poignant story. I definitely think the strength of The Alice Network is in the two female characters and how they cope and interact with one another. It was a beautiful friendship with the coarseness and brutality of real life. I think watching these two grow not only as people but as friends and allies in an impossible situation.

I learnt so much from this book, it left me feeling wrung out and completely heartbroken. I can’t think about how everything got so bad and how humans can be so awful to one and other. I loved how this book didn’t shy away from the awful parts of the history and I really appreciated the author note at the end where she discussed the process she went through to make sure the story was as authentic as it could be. The Alice Network is a beautiful look at grief, revenge and love and how they can all mingle in together into one story. It was brilliantly done and it really made the aspect come alive.

I don’t think I had worst bits of The Alice Network but there were definitely issues I had with some parts of the storyline. I think my biggest problem was the romantic elements, they just didn’t seem to be fleshed out and it seemed like an added complication rather than adding to the story. I wish they would have left that side out and focused on the women and had that being the main part and how the story ended.

I would definitely recommend The Alice Network, it is a beautifully written book with some really great characters and history. It was easy reading considering the subject matter and I flew through it, I was so gripped and thrilled with it. Definitely a great book and so much history.

Have you read The Alice Network? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!