The Alice Network

I'm working my way through the books and authors which will be featured in the upcoming 2018 BookMania!  Kate Quinn will be there to speak about her latest historical fiction novel The Alice Network (#697).


I remember trying to read one of Ms. Quinn's Empress of Rome novels previously, but was put off by the sex and vulgar language.  It's still here in The Alice Network, but it serves its purpose in the plot, so I persevered and was rewarded by a fascinating glimpse of a real World War I heroine, Louise de Bettignies, the "Queen of Spies" and head of The Alice Network.


It's 1947, and Charlotte St. Clair has gotten herself into a "spot of trouble".  On route to Switzerland from New York with her mother for an appointment at a discreet clinic, Charlie jumps ship when her vessel docks at Southampton.  Her beloved cousin Rose has gone missing in the chaos of occupied France in 1945, and although no one has heard from her, every pretty blond girl Charlie sees is Cousin Rose.  Although efforts have been made to locate her, the only link uncovered to Rose's disappearance is a name - Evelyn Gardiner -  and an address in London.


Evelyn Gardiner is, indeed, the clue to unraveling the mystery of Rose Fournier's disappearance. Her fictitious role in real World War I spy ring dubbed "The Alice Network" by British Military Intelligence, proves to be pivotal here, as the story switches between the events of World War I and post World War II France.  Charlie St. Clair, Evelyn Gardiner and her handsome Scottish war veteran driver Finn Kilgore make an unlikely set of allies, but each, in the end, come to find their own kind of peace and closure.  A very satisfying read.