The Alice Network: A Gripping Historical Fiction Novel by Kate Quinn

Connie J.Taylor: Kate Quinn compressed the reality and emotions of two horrific German occupations into a living, breathing story. As a baby boomer, I often have little understanding of WWI because of the direct influence of WWII on my generation. The horrors and heroes of both wars must be understood to realize the evolution of our deep appreciation and comraderie with our allies. We must remain united in our defense against evil and inhumanity.

United States on Oct 02, 2023

Yvonne Waterhouse, Mrs: I thoroughly enjoyed this book It is well written and very captivating I really new these characters and couldn’t wait to see how the plot developed

United Kingdom on Oct 01, 2023

smmlaf: The Alice Network was a very interesting story. It tells of courageous women during the war. It goes from present day and jumps back and forth to explain how things came to be. I found it riveting.

United States on Sep 27, 2023

Lara: Perfect holiday reading.

United Kingdom on Sep 12, 2023

dee: Diamond eye still my favourite but this was very very good. Drew you in to characters that you weren’t sure you liked but realised in the end you loved.

United Kingdom on Sep 04, 2023

Music Man: Of the several major characters in this work of historical fiction are 3 who are truly drawn from history. Descriptions of them and their activities, as well as those of others around them on both sides of the conflict, are of interest as is inclusion of true locations and the documented behaviors of those engaged in the resistance, the collaborators and the Germans. For me, a bit too much time was spent on the love life of the two major characters, neither of which, most unfortunately, were historic characters, i.e., both main characters are entirely works of fiction, a fact which detracted considerably from my enjoyment of this book. I suppose it is properly called ‘historical fiction’ but it is more a work of fiction, with significant, and interesting, historical facts interwoven thru the fictional narrative.

United States on Aug 07, 2023

millhall: Based loosely on a genuinely heroic lady spy who ran a network of French spies in World War one this book is good. At times, it drifts into rather too much unnecessary embellishment but still it is gripping, well written and a real page turner. Life in occupied France is well depicted and the horrors experienced by ordinary French citizens are well portrayed. The central characters are carefully crafted and even if the plot is somewhat unlikely, many authors need to be forgiven for that fault. Mingling the interactions between a drink sodden and guilt ridden ex spy, a pregnant American girl of substance and a Scottish ex con mechanic seems an unlikely combination, but the author makes it work. Together they travel through France in search of one vicious collaborator and vintage cars find a way of becoming involved. A good read and a well worked yarn.

United Kingdom on Aug 03, 2023

Geoffrey M Moss: Marvellous writing. Suspense intrigue sex violence fast cars moral challenges war and spying. The ultimate risk and moral tester. Great read.

Australia on May 27, 2023

Clem: Although it’s a very politically incorrect statement to make, The Alice Network is obviously a book written by a woman. That’s not a complaint, merely an observation. As a man, I found I enjoyed it overall, but the overall feeling of the book was not really what I come to love and enjoy about reading novels; especially one that might be deemed a “spy novel”. After reading the book, I can’t help but consistently wonder how much better I would have enjoyed the book had the story been told a bit differently.

We start in 1947 post-war Europe. Charlie St. Claire is a 19-year-old unwed pregnant girl. Her posh, upscale mother is taking her to Switzerland to see a doctor who will take care of her “little problem”. Pregnant women with no wedding ring were quite the abomination back then. However, Charlie soon ditches her mother somewhere in England and decides to go look for her cousin Rose in France. Rose disappeared during WWII, and Charlie is so infatuated with her cousin, that she needs to find the truth. Is Rose possibly still alive? Charlie has one lead - a crochety older woman named Eve who drinks whiskey for breakfast and seems in a persistent state of...

United States on Aug 14, 2022

psparkman: 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...

United States on Jul 14, 2017