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'the alice network' is a crackling tale of spies and suspense.

Jean Zimmerman

The Alice Network

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"Solve for X." That's the phrase invoked repeatedly by Charlotte "Charlie" St. Clair, the brainy college student at the center of Kate Quinn's exciting new novel, The Alice Network . In the aftermath of World War II, Charlie is thrown together with a veteran female spy from the previous war in a high-stakes journey to locate disappeared figures from the past. Unsolved puzzles and cryptic riddles crop up like weeds in a bomb crater, and as math-whiz Charlie puts it, "There was always an answer and the answer was either right or it was wrong." But her adventures turn out to be messy, non-formulaic and not so black and white, which after all is what makes life — and novels — interesting.

The year is 1947. Charlie's posh Bennington College existence gets derailed by an unwanted pregnancy. Her domineering French mother hauls her off to Europe, heading for a clinic that will take care of her "Little Problem," as she calls her condition throughout the novel. En route, Charlie hatches an alternative plan — to track down her beloved cousin Rose, lost somewhere in France. In Europe, the "hangover of war was still visible in a way you didn't see in New York." Rose is a refugee amid a horde of displaced persons, a single grain of sand on a blasted, nearly obliterated beach, but Charlie is determined to "solve for X" and find her.

Enter Eve Gardiner, a raging, hard-drinking, foul-mouthed WWI espionage agent who just might possess a clue to Rose's whereabouts. When Charlie first comes into her room, Eve cocks a Luger pistol and demands, "Who are you, and what the bloody f--- are you doing in my house?" In alternating chapters with alternating world wars as backdrops, we follow Eve's exploits in 1915 in "the Alice Network," a historically accurate cabal of spies.

Shedding the overbearing chaperone of a mother, Charlie and Eve set off to find Rose in a real beaut of a car, a dark-blue convertible Aston Martin Lagonda. Cherchez l'homme : Serving as their driver is a charming but war-stunned Scotsman, Finn, master of the "one-pan breakfast." In romances and historical novels alike, the word "tousled" is a tell-tale signifier, and it certainly works that way here: "Finn's tousled dark head leaned out the window, and I saw the ember glow of his cigarette," Charlie says at one point. Equipped with Eve's ever-ready Luger, the intrepid trio travel through Lille, Limoge and Grasse, vielle French towns that Quinn renders in exquisite detail. Charlie sponsors the journey by pawning a precious rope of pearls inherited from her grandmere .

Both women experience transformations, Charlie by dumping her New Look full skirts and petticoats for slim black slacks and a Euro-chic striped sweater, Eve by learning to treat her traveling companions with a modicum of respect. Charlie's arrogance doesn't change — "there wasn't a bill anywhere I couldn't tot up faster than an adding machine" — but she lets her guard down enough to find kinship with both Finn and Eve.

And at the heart of Quinn's telling is the true story of the covert Alice Network , through which courageous men and women infiltrated the German lines in rural France. Lili, in the novel the chief handler of the group, is based on a real woman who at the time was called a "regular Joan of Arc." With dozens of operatives under her command, Lili asserts that the Germans will never be able to find her: "I'm a handful of water, running everywhere."

Despite this brand of courageous self-assurance, displayed by all the women in the story, Quinn's novel gives us tragedies, too, both from war and from pursuing the ghosts and demons of the past. But these pains are offset by the invigorating pleasure of the read. In The Alice Network , the lives of two indomitable women intertwine in a plot crackling with suspense. We root for Charlie and Eve, and cheer when they triumph.

Jean Zimmerman's latest novel, Savage Girl, is out now in paperback. She posts daily at Blog Cabin .

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Book Review

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Publisher: William Morrow | Genre: Historical Fiction, World War II

Title: The Alice Network

Author: Kate Quinn

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre:  Historical Fiction, World War II

First Publication: 2017

Major Characters: Charlie St. Clair, Rose Fournier, Evelyn Gardiner, Maman St. Clair, Rene’ Bordelou, Finn Kilgore

Theme: Power of Friendship; Forgiveness and Second chances; heroism, revenge, redemption, and courage.

Setting: France & London, England during WWI and WWII

Narrator:  Alternating Point of View, The first part is told in the third person, while the second is told in the first person

Book Summary: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

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.

Book Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn reads as a fascinating piece of historical fiction torn between the events of World War I and post-World War II France. Despite a few criticisms, it’s quite a page-turning gem that illuminates the unfortunate German-occupied France time periods with real and historical characters brought to life in a believable fashion. If anyone has read Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Nightingale,’ they will enjoy this book, and vice versa.

Chapters alternate between Eve Gardiner in 1915 and Charlie St. Clair in 1947. Eve, recruited into an English led spy network operating against the Kaiser and Germany, has the more enjoyable story-line, in part due to the raw and gripping events she faced as a spy and woman in German occupied territory. The characterization of her stutter and venerability make her enduring to the reader, and as her story progresses in both timelines you can’t help but admire and root for her.

Charlie, while admirable in some respects, isn’t quite the heroine Eve is made out to be. The story begins with her and her mother travelling to Switzerland via the United States looking to remedy an unplanned pregnancy that Charlie has found herself in, and on the stop in England, she runs away to London to the doorstep of Eve, who 30 years after the events in 1915 has become a confrontational alcoholic shocked by her time in the spy network.

“Hope was such a painful thing, far more painful than rage.”

Charlie seeks Eve out due to the notion that Eve may have a lead about her French cousin Rose, who mysteriously disappeared during WWII. Annoying isn’t always the word to describe Charlie, but her jaded aspects, socialite type ignorance, and the fact that she consistently refers to her early pregnancy as the “little problem” gets old at times. She does have admirable aspects, like her knowledge of mathematics and drive for a career, which at that time wasn’t expected for a woman, but she doesn’t come close to the Eve and her incredible story arch.

What Kate Quinn does particularly well in The Alice Network besides writing a convincing story and characters is how she highlights the little known history of female spies during WWI. Some people may be familiar with the SOE during WWII, but the espionage during WWI is just as exciting and heroic if lesser known. As a character, Charlie St. Clair represents the American ignorance of the sorrow and devastation that countries like France faced during WWI, which was eerily similar to Nazi-occupied France 20 years later. As Charlie gets to know Eve and her story, her knowledge of just how tragic that time period was comes to fruition. It’s quite an interesting piece of historical fiction, and one worth reading.

“Poetry is like passion–it should not be merely pretty; it should overwhelm and bruise.”

I found this book to be completely immersive. Charlie is very annoying at times but she is a true to type and such a wonderful contrast to the acerbic Eve, it is a fluff versus steel relationship. It is a serious story but with moments of fun. If you are a fan of historical fiction then this is the perfect book to get your hands on. To discover after reading this book that the spy network was real and that Eve and Lilli were based on fact was fascinating. The danger and threat these people faced at all times must have been horrific. It is said they saved the lives of over 1000 troops.

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Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is historical fiction novel that is full of adventure and intrigue. The book lived up its hype and more. You must read it!

I’ve always loved history and one of my favorite aspects of reading historical fiction is learning something new about a specific time in the past. Before reading this book, I was not familiar with the real-life Alice Network, the WWI secret female spy ring. Even now, with a simple Google search there’s not much information about the Alice Network, other than the book, of course. So, I very much appreciate that Quinn decided to focus her book on real-life heroes who haven’t received the attention they deserve.

Like many historical fiction books, this is a dual narrative in different timelines. But where this read is different is that the narratives aren’t so far apart, one takes place during WWI and the other right after the end of WWII. This allows the two narratives to eventually come together in a really exciting and interesting way.

The story is about two women—Eve Gardiner, a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and the other, Charlie St. Clair, an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947. Charlie seeks out Eve’s help as they both are trying to locate missing people from the past.

The characters

I loved Eve and Charlie, they’re such well-written characters with plenty of flaws. Eve suffers from a stutter, which becomes an advantage when she’s undercover as no one suspects a woman with a stutter as a spy. When we meet her at the beginning of the book, she has an urge to do something more with her life and the Alice Network grants her that. But working as a spy takes its toll on her and when a betrayal splits apart the Alice Network, she’s becomes a recluse drunk. Until Charlie comes along.

Charlie is so great. She fully admits her mistakes and why she made them and despite it all, she’s still optimistic. For a serious-tone book, she has plenty of humorous observations. And the dynamic between her and Eve and how their relationship develops is so well-done and also authentic. Both characters experience a well-defined character arc.

The other characters are also full of depth. Finn is the Scotsman who works for Eve and joined the two women on their journey but he’s still recovering from the horrors of WWII. Captain Cameron is the one who recruits Eve to join The Alice Network and he’s also experienced the unimaginable in war. But of course, the best character is the real life Louise de Bettignies, known as Lilli in the book, and head of the Alice Network. Lilli is courageous, brave and full of wit, despite dark times.

Women in the war

While there’s countless books, movies and TV shows dedicated to men at war, it’s not the same for women. But luckily, we do have writers like Kate Quinn who bring these war stories about women to life. A major theme in the novel is gender equality. Especially in WW1, women weren’t seen as equals but working in the Alice Network gave some woman a chance to use their skills to help a greater cause. Gender equality issues are still present after WWII when Charlie seeks to get money from her account but because she doesn’t have a husband or father with her, the bank won’t give her the money.

Still, despite society trying to keep them down, these women in the books are smart, capable and strong.

One thing to keep in mind is that the book is set during two wars and there are tragedies that happen. But I think compared to other books about wars, this one is such a joy to read with plenty of suspense and I loved the ending.

Bottom line, you must read this original story about real-life female spies.

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The Alice Network : Book summary and reviews of The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

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The Alice Network

by Kate Quinn

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Published Jun 2017 560 pages Genre: Literary Fiction Publication Information

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About this book

Book summary.

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, 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.

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New York Times & USA Today Bestseller #1 Globe and Mail Historical Fiction Bestseller One of NPR's Best Books of the Year! One of Bookbub's Biggest Historical Fiction Books of the Year! Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick! The 2017 Girly Book Club Book of the Year! A Summer Book Pick from Good Housekeeping, Parade, Library Journal, Goodreads, Liz and Lisa, and BookBub "This fast-paced story offers courageous heroines, villains you love to hate, and dramatic life-or-death stakes. A compelling blend of historical fiction, mystery, and women's fiction, Quinn's complex story and engaging characters have something to offer just about everyone." - Library Journal (starred review) "Amazing historical fiction... a must read!" - Historical Novel Society, Editor's Choice "...Kate Quinn announces herself as one of the best artists of the genre. The plotting is seamless, the pace breathtaking, and the prose is both vivid and laced with just the right amount of details. Fans of historical fiction, spy fiction and thrilling drama will love every moment..." - BookPage "Lovingly crafted and brimming with details, readers are sure to be held in Quinn's grip watching as the characters evolve. Powerful reading you can't put down!" - RT Book Reviews (top pick) "Kate Quinn delivers an enthralling tale filled with breath-taking narrative that will make the reader feel as if they're in the back of the roadster, riding along with the raucous Eve and courageous Charlie on their clandestine adventures. Suspenseful and engrossing, The Alice Network is a must-read!" - Heather Webb, Author of Rodin's Lover "Kate Quinn strums the chords of every human emotion with two storylines that race over continents and through decades to converge in one explosive ending." - Marci Jefferson, author of Enchantress of Paris "The Alice Network... perfectly balances a propulsive plot, faultlessly observed period detail, and a cast of characters so vividly drawn that I half expected to blink and see them standing in front of me. This is historical fiction at its best--thrilling, affecting, revelatory." - Jennifer Robson, international bestselling author of Moonlight Over Paris "Both funny and heartbreaking, this epic journey of two courageous women is an unforgettable tale of little-known wartime glory and sacrifice. Quinn knocks it out of the park with this spectacular book!" - Stephanie Dray, author of America's First Daughter

Author Information

Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with The Alice Network and The Huntress . All have been translated into multiple languages. Kate and her husband now live in San Diego with two rescue dogs.

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The Alice Network

Written by Kate Quinn Review by Viviane Crystal

1949 London: Charlie St. Clair is unmarried, pregnant, and unwilling to end her “little problem.” She is also dealing with the death of her brother and a determination to find her cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi Germany during WWII. Charlie refuses to accept that Rose is probably dead. Through a series of unlikely circumstances, Charlie becomes acquainted with Eve Gardiner, a hard, disgruntled woman with mangled hands. Eve has a passionate obsession as well: to find the man who was her boss, in 1915, in a restaurant catering to German officers.

This novel doesn’t have the usual plot about the Resistance in WWI and WWII. The “Alice” in the title is the head of a widespread female WWI resistance group. The bond and the passion of each spy’s work are the center and essence of the story. The reader comes to feel their fear before, during and after they complete each mission, as well as the exhilaration experienced with each success. The German enemies are shown as foolishly arrogant and careless in their conversations, which become fodder for the Resistance’s victorious actions. Seduction and pregnancy are volatile and dangerous acts that could easily end in a woman’s death as a collaborator. Advising and protecting each other become pivotal in surviving the numerous overt and covert ways a spy can be exposed.

The reader follows Charlie, Eve, and Eve’s driver Finn through a series of nerve-wracking events that end with a breath-stopping scene, and eventually an acceptable resolution that gives a form of peace to the characters’ numerous traumatic memories. Amazing historical fiction that this reviewer recommends as a must read!

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Judith McKinnon

writer, reviewer and all-round bookworm

Book Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

There have been quite a few novels telling the story of World War II female British agents dropped into France, and their resistance fighter counterparts, and they often make good reading. It was a time for women getting to do some gutsy jobs, involving danger and cunning – not the usual ‘keep the home fires burning’ roles they were often accustomed to. But what about the earlier war? Kate Quinn puts us in the picture with one particular network run by Alice Dubois (real name Louise de Bettignies) in German occupied France during the First World War.

Although The Alice Network is partly written through the eyes of a fictitious character – Evelyn Gardiner, a British spy (code name Marguerite Le Francois) – Dubois and her network of spies are also incorporated into the story. We first meet Eve years later as an ageing drunk with deformed hands, a bad temper and a tendency to wave her Luger around, firing off a round when startled.

It’s an evening in 1947 when nineteen-year-old New Yorker, Charlie St. Clair, hammers on Eve’s door demanding to be let in. It’s pouring with rain, and Charlie has escaped her mother during a visit to Europe for a completely different purpose. Charlie is determined to track down a long lost French cousin, Rose, angry that no one has found out what happened to Rose in the recent war. Without a death certificate or witness statement, she still hopes Rose is alive. Eve, working at a bureau that helped locate refugees, had corresponded with Charlie’s father about Rose giving no reason for hope.

That’s not the only problem for Charlie – she’s three month’s pregnant and was supposed to be going to a clinic for an abortion. But Charlie needs to track down Rose before it’s too late and take control of her own life. Eve is set to turn Charlie out into the street, but a new lead sparks her curiosity. Before long they form an unlikely alliance, heading to France with Eve’s Scottish hired help, Finn Kilgore, in his ageing Lagonda. Finn also has his own war story, which eventually emerges, but the narrative is mostly Eve’s and Charlie’s, flipping between WWI and 1947 to fill us in on the story of the Alice Network, and Charlie’s journey of discovery.

This is a nicely paced novel. The story of Eve’s war is a grim one, unfolding to reveal how women spies picked up gems of information about troop movements and planned attacks. Eve, with her stutter, looks naive and youthful, but as a waitress in the only decent restaurant in Lille, is an ideal spy with her ease in both French and German. There’s lots of tension here and the sudden switches to Charlie’s story give a bit of light relief. Although her’s is a sad story too, there’s a bit more fun in the way the three travellers interact and develop a grudging respect for each other. Things simmer between them until the past finally catches up with the present and everything comes to a dramatic finish.

I enjoyed the novel immensely as an escapist read, but was also really interested to learn more about the spy-ring run by Alice Dubois and the fate of those who were captured. Remembering that this is a time before women had the vote in Britain, it’s remarkable how these female agents were allowed to take on dangerous missions behind enemy lines. The execution of Edith Cavell, a nurse shot for aiding the escape of Allied soldiers, is a stark reminder that this wasn’t a game.

The characters of our three main players are both interesting and engaging, and the cliff-hanger chapter endings keep you racing through the story. It’s not surprising this novel has been extremely popular and well-recommended, and many will be eager to read Quinn’s new book: The Rose Code. The Alice Network is a four out of five read from me.

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2 thoughts on “ Book Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn ”

I enjoyed your review. Have you read The Rose Code, the author’s new novel? I really love it.

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Thanks, Joyce. I haven’t read The Rose Code yet, but it’s on my list.

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Book Review: “The Alice Network” by Kate Quinn

Posted at 3:15 am by laura , on june 22, 2017.

Publisher: William Morrow Published: June 2017 Genre: historical fiction ISBN: 9780062654199 Rating:  ★★★★★

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, 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.

Eve Gardiner’s stutter has held her back for ages. Everyone assumes she’s a half-wit — except for one man who can tell she’s sharp, cunning, and intelligent. She’s recruited to work as a spy in a restaurant run by a collaborator in France, and trained alongside Lili, who manages an entire network of secret agents. Thirty years later, Charlie St. Clair is on a mission to find her missing cousin, and runs away from her mother and their travel plans to get rid of her Little Problem in Switzerland. Recruiting Eve’s assistance, Eve and Charlie work together to find Charlie’s cousin, come to the truth of the disbanding of the Alice Network, and seek revenge on the man who brought these ladies together across the years.

All the stars. All the awards. I haven’t read historical fiction like this in a long time. The voice, the plot, the structure, the characters…oh my goodness.

Quinn’s novel is written in parallel narratives across two timelines and in two perspectives. That, I think, is what kept the pages turning and the investment in the characters so deep. There are several parallels between the two wars already, so writing Eve’s storyline in third person and Charlie’s in first person helped differentiate the stories. Eve was also such a firecracker, and Charlie was breaking out of her socialite shell and into who she really is. These women were ahead of their time, and all it took was support and confidence from another encouraging person to help them become their true selves.

Eve is intelligent and cunning, and utilized her stutter in such a brilliant way as she spied on the German patrons of her creepy boss’s restaurant. The things she went through to pass on messages to Lili and Uncle Edward (the code names of her spy network’s superiors) is just…remarkable. And frightening. To know that so many women in history  were spies and  did  these things and  experienced this is just mind-boggling. I cried. Quite often.

Charlie is a brilliant mathematician, but no one will take her seriously as a single woman. She’s constantly thwarted in her efforts without a husband by her side. After meeting Eve and working alongside her in her mission to find her beloved cousin, Charlie musters up the courage to forge her own path in life, consequences, leaps of faith, and all.

What struck me most about this novel was the power of female bonds. So many fierce women are in here, and while they do not all get along with one another, they understand how difficult it is (especially in this time in history) to simply live life as a woman. The consequences of speaking one’s mind or standing up for oneself, dealing with abuse or torture or pregnancy, and being used or abandoned are some of the issues all women faced. Women, in history and now, understand this unspoken bond of sisterhood through adversity. It was powerful. This novel made it all the more moving.

If you love WWI and WWII stories about fierce women facing all sorts of hardship and adversity and  rising above it all , this is for you.

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Author: Laura

2 thoughts on “ book review: “the alice network” by kate quinn ”.

June 24, 2017 at 12:27 am

I’ve been seeing rave reviews of this one, but I didn’t realize one of the main characters had a stutter. Being a speech-language pathologist, I’m even more interested now to check this one out! Plus, I am all about stories of women triumphing over adversity, especially set in WWI/II settings. Clearly I am going to have to get my hands on this one!!

July 8, 2017 at 8:50 am

It’s AMAZING! I hope you’re able to read it soon!

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Book Review: The Alice Network

by The Snug Bookworm | Apr 29, 2023 | Book Reviews , Historical Fiction

The Alice Network  by Kate Quinn is a captivating read that pays tribute to the incredible resilience of women and the indomitable human spirit. 

This book kept me hooked until I finished the book at 3 am because I just had to know what would happen next. Through Quinn’s incredible storytelling, I was pulled into the world of espionage, felt the pain of loss, and discovered the hope that remains even in the most challenging situations. With its engaging plot and richly developed characters,  The Alice Network  explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and female empowerment while shedding light on the far-reaching consequences of war.

So, what’s this book all about? Let’s dive in and get to know Charlie, a headstrong American college girl from 1947, and Eve, a fierce spy during the Great War.

The Alice Network Summary

The Alice Network  is a gripping historical fiction novel that weaves together the journey of two courageous women from different eras, crafting a riveting narrative of redemption and bravery. The book switches between Eve’s story from 1915-1919 and Charlie’s story in 1947, which keeps things exciting and readers on the edge of their seats as the two storylines gradually merge for an exhilarating finale.

In 1947, Charlie St. Clair, a nonconformist American college girl, faces disapproval from her conservative family because of her pregnancy. Determined to find her beloved cousin Rose who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, Charlie defies her family’s expectations and sets off for London. 

In 1915, during the Great War, Eve Gardiner eagerly wanted to join the fight against the Germans. Her opportunity arises when she’s recruited to work as a spy in the real-life Alice Network in France, led by the charismatic Lili, the “Queen of Spies.” Fast forward thirty years, and the once formidable Eve, haunted by the betrayal that destroyed the Alice Network, has become a confrontational alcoholic, living in her decaying London home.

When Charlie arrives at Eve’s doorstep and utters a name she hasn’t heard in decades, the two women go on a quest to uncover the truth, no matter where it leads them. Throughout their journey, both Charlie and Eve experience personal growth. Charlie’s mathematical talent and determination combine with Eve’s grit and resilience, creating an unlikely yet powerful alliance.

Expertly weaving together the stories of these two remarkable women, Quinn highlights the lesser-known history of female spies during WWI, bringing attention to the heroic actions and sacrifices made by the real-life Alice Network members.  The Alice Network  is a beautiful work of historical fiction that delves into the complexities of war and its aftermath. It features well-developed characters and a plot that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.

Historical Background

The Alice Network is deeply rooted in history, showcasing the thorough research done by author Kate Quinn. The book features real-life historical figures and organizations, like the Alice Network, a group of female spies who worked in occupied France during World War I. The novel also explores the aftermath of World War II, touching on events like the Nuremberg trials and the mysterious world of Nazi collaborators.

The actual Alice Network was a spy group in France during World War I, led by the fearless and determined Louise de Bettignies. This network gathered intelligence for the Allies and helped smuggle soldiers and civilians out of occupied areas. The women of the Alice Network risked their lives every day in the fight for freedom and justice.

The novel also explores the complex world of Nazi collaborators, who worked with the enemy during the war and often escaped punishment afterward. Quinn’s portrayal of these characters is nuanced and multifaceted, emphasizing the moral complexity of their actions and the devastating impact they had on the lives of others.

Final Thoughts

I loved how  The Alice Network  focused on female empowerment. The book highlights the strength and bravery of women, especially when facing challenging situations. The Alice Network itself stands for female unity, as these fearless and clever women risked their lives to fight against the Germans in World War I. Charlie, the main character, breaks the rules of what society expects from her as she searches for the truth. This book truly captures what it means to be determined and the power of women.

While The Alice Network undoubtedly captivates with its celebration of female tenacity, it also weaves a tapestry of blossoming friendships and unwavering loyalty. The women in the Alice Network embody loyalty and courage, inspiring us to stand up for our beliefs and support those who fight for what’s right.  The Alice Network  serves as a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, hope always prevails, and this message resonated with us on a personal level.

If you found this review helpful, you can check out the book at Bookshop.org here and support local bookstores along the way!

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Book Review: The Alice Network

** spoiler alert **

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is a raw, vivid, moving account of two women’s stories: Evelyn Gardiner, a spy in World War I and nicknamed Eve, and Charlotte “Charlie” St. Clair, an American searching for her French cousin lost in World War II. Eve and Charlie at first seem foils for each other. As their stories unfold, overlap, and intertwine, they seem more like mother and daughter, tethered by a shared grief and quest for justice.

After reading the book, I have a new appreciation for the achievements of female spies. What sacrifices they made to save lives and help rout the Germans. Yet my readerly contempt was focused on the French turncoat, René. Quinn masterfully constructs him as someone to be loathed. War turns everyone inside-out—winners, losers, and those in-between. No one really wins, though. Some manage to survive. Survivors are haunted by unfading images of mankind at its worst.

Women have long been oppressed. Evidence of that was stark during the world wars. Female spies sharpened the dull ends of their oppression into weapons of knowledge, turning it on their unwitting enemies. When women work together—not against each other, as we often do—we achieve remarkable feats. We help win wars. That’s the stuff of this book.

At the book’s end, I would’ve preferred to see René hauled off to trial and sentenced to life in prison. I understand that his death helped bring closure for Eve, but like Charlie had said, it let him off too easily.

On Goodreads, I gave the book four stars. I refrained from giving it five because of its overemphasis on intimacy and bedroom scenes, especially with Charlie. I see the importance of it with Eve and René. But less is more. Quinn could’ve suggested intimate scenes and allowed the theater of her readers’ minds to do the rest.

On the whole, this is an excellent read. I got through most of it in audio form. But my print copy is marked up with instances of well-crafted sentences and phrases, like “No fatal streak of romanticism or nobility in her [Eve’s] soul, not like Cameron’s [Eve’s boss in World War I].” Quinn used these words to explain why Cameron fell by his own hand.

I appreciate how Quinn depicts Cameron’s suicide and that of Charlie’s older brother, James, a WWII veteran. My brother ended his life six years ago. He wasn’t a former soldier with PTSD. He fought a personal war that spurred a PTSD-esque response as violent and wretched as those of James and Cameron. My brother shared their romantic streak of romanticism and nobility. That streak fueled his belief of how life should be. That streak was my brother’s wiring, his hamartia.

Tragic flaws lie within us all, pointing to our brokenness. But as Charlie aptly says, we don’t need to stay broken. When the book opens, Eve and Charlie languish in their brokenness. Throughout the book they serve each other as unlikely sources of redemption, giving way to healing and hope—for themselves, and their readers.

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Book Thoughts from Bed

A place for book reviews and recommendations.

Book Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network is a gripping novel about women who risked everything in service of their country. By turns harrowing and suspenseful, it’s overall a very satisfying read.

This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, from qualifying purchases. (This in no way affects the honesty of my reviews!) All commissions will be donated to the ALS Association.

A short summary of The Alice Network:

It’s 1947 and 19-year-old American Charlie St. Clair is in England, searching for her missing French cousin, Rose. Rose disappeared in Nazi-occupied France a few years earlier, so it’s possible she was a war casualty, but there aren’t any definitive records. Charlie wants to find her. She NEEDS to find her.

The last lead she had about Rose was from a woman named Eve Gardiner who worked at one of the British agencies that helped track down war refugees. Charlie visits Eve’s home and finds a bitter, drunk older woman with damaged hands holding a loaded pistol. Eve doesn’t have any ready answers but something about the details of Rose’s case obviously strike a chord with her. Grudgingly, and for a fee, Eve agrees to accompany Charlie as she follows the few crumbs that may lead to Rose. Accompanying them is Finn, a Scottish war veteran with baggage of his own.

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The three head to France to see if they can find Rose. Along the way, we learn, though a series of flashbacks, about Eve’s past. During World War One, she was a British spy collecting intelligence about the German war efforts in occupied France. She was part of the spy network run by Frenchwoman Alice Dubois (Alice and the network were real things although Eve is a fictional character). Eve’s story is heartbreaking and harrowing. The fear of being discovered is palpable, although Eve handles her fear with steely resolve. Until it all comes apart.

In 1947, a ghost from Eve’s past resurfaces as part of their search for Rose and it ends with a dramatic confrontation.

The Alice Network was at times riveting and at times difficult to read due to the nature of some of the topics, which included torture, abortion, suicide and PTSD. There was some heavy stuff in this novel. But there was also a message of hope and salvation. Eve, Charlie and Finn were three very troubled people who ultimately saved each other. They gave each other love and it helped each of them find purpose. That message was made brighter by superimposing it on Eve’s very dark past. Overall, a very well done story.

If you’ve read The Alice Network tell us what you thought. Also, read any good spy novels recently? I’d love some recommendations.

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2 thoughts on “ Book Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn ”

This sounds like a great story! I will get it from the library – thanks for a compelling recommendation!

Ooooh, this sounds good. Loved the review! Don’t have any spy novel recommendations but did just read about a new non-fiction book (broken record, I know) called Knitskreig: A Call to Yarns about the role of knitting in three centuries of conflict (think encrypted codes being knitted into garments sent overseas).

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The Alice Network

45 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-11

Chapters 12-17

Chapters 18-23

Chapters 24-29

Chapters 30-36

Chapters 37-Epilogue

Character Analysis

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Summary and Study Guide

The Alice Network is the seventh novel by author Kate Quinn. First published in 2017, the book is classified as historical fiction. It became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller and was also listed as a Summer Pick by Good Housekeeping , Parade , Library Journal , and Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. Quinn has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two books set during the Italian Renaissance. The Alice Network and her latest title, The Huntress, take place in the 20th century. All of Quinn’s books have been translated into multiple languages.

The Alice Network is told from the perspective of two characters in various English and French locations during two distinct time periods. Chapters alternate between the points of view of 19-year-old Charlotte “Charlie” St. Clair and 22-year-old Evelyn “Eve” Gardiner. Charlie’s chapters are narrated in first person and cover the months of May and June 1947. Eve’s chapters are told from the perspective of a limited third-person narrator. Eve’s chapters span the period between May 1915 and March 1919, with an Epilogue set in Summer 1949.

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The book centers on the search for Charlie’s missing French cousin, Rose. Charlie enlists the aid of Eve because the latter worked in a government bureau and handled Rose’s emigration paperwork in 1945. Eve is a battle-scarred World War I spy who has no interest in helping Charlie until she realizes that her own hunt for a French collaborator and Charlie’s hunt for her cousin may lead to the same man. The odd pairing of a pregnant 19-year-old and an abrasive, drunken crone explores the themes of broken lives , guilt and redemption , and what it means to be a warrior woman.

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In May 1947, Charlie St. Clair is on her way to have an abortion in Switzerland. When her boat docks in England, she makes a detour to London to seek the aid of Eve Gardiner in finding her lost cousin, Rose. A broken survivor of World War I, Eve has no intention of helping Charlie until she learns that Rose once worked in Limoges at a café called Le Lethe for a man named Monsieur René. Eve doesn’t initially tell Charlie her motive for becoming interested in the case but agrees to help for a fee.

Eve’s hired man, Finn, owns a Lagonda, which the two women commandeer for their journey across France in search of Rose. Each town they visit triggers one of Eve’s memories of World War I, when she was an agent with a spy ring called the Alice Network. Eve’s job was to infiltrate a restaurant in Lille called Le Lethe, whose owner was named René Bordelon .

René collaborates with the Germans to gain preferential treatment for himself. He makes Eve his mistress but later learns her true identity. Before handing her over to the Germans, he breaks all the bones in her fingers and drugs her to extract information about the head of her spy ring. Eve is tormented by the belief that she betrayed her contacts during this ordeal. She hates herself and wants to kill René. After hearing Charlie’s story, Eve is sure René also owns the restaurant in Limoges, where Rose disappeared. Eve plans to hunt him down and murder him.

As the search for Rose continues, Charlie learns that her cousin was killed during a Nazi massacre. The man who alerted the Nazis was none other than Eve’s nemesis, René. The two women now realize they’re hunting the same man. They manage to track him down in Grasse, where he has retired to live as a country gentleman. A final confrontation occurs in René’s villa, where Eve kills him just as he’s about to shoot Charlie: “Surprised to the end that there was pain he couldn’t outrun, vengeance he couldn’t escape, consequences he couldn’t evade. Women who couldn’t be beaten” (474).

Charlie discovers evidence that Eve never betrayed her spy contacts. René lied to her. This knowledge lifts Eve’s burden of guilt and allows her to move forward with her life. Charlie, too, learns to appreciate her own courage and resourcefulness. Even though she couldn’t save Rose, she has succeeded in saving Eve. In saving Eve, Charlie ultimately saves herself. 

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Book Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Rating:  ★★★ Audience:  Historical Fiction Length:  502 pages Author:  Kate Quinn Publisher:  William Morrow Release Date: June 6th, 2017 Image & Other Reviews on:  Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

NOT MY FAVORITE .

The only other Quinn book I’ve read with The Diamond Eye and I LOVED it. When I happen to pick up this one I was hoping for the same kind of experience but I’m left wanting more. I think mood wise I wasn’t quite prepared for all of the topics covered (see trigger warnings because there’s a lot).

I felt let down by one of the plot lines. I thought there would be a different kind of reveal and when that wasn’t the case I then was left with some thoughts about the plot overall. It was as if it was missing some larger over arching story rather than the meandering story that was given.

The ending was very intense and that was one of the few times I felt really invested in everything happening. And I did like the characters for the most part too. Like I said, this book was FINE. But that’s it for me.

Overall audience notes:

• Historical fiction
• Language: some strong
• Romance: fade to black
• Violence: high
• Trigger/Content Warnings: antisemitism, Nazism, sexual assault, suicide, pregnancy, abortion, blood/gore depiction, emesis, death of a child, torture, stalking, drinking/smoking while pregnant

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"This fast-paced story offers courageous heroines, villains you love to hate, and dramatic life-or-death stakes. A compelling blend of historical fiction, mystery, and women's fiction, Quinn's complex story and engaging characters have something to offer just about everyone." - Library Journal (starred review)

"Amazing historical fiction... a must read!" - Historical Novel Society, Editor's Choice

"...Kate Quinn announces herself as one of the best artists of the genre. The plotting is seamless, the pace breathtaking, and the prose is both vivid and laced with just the right amount of details. Fans of historical fiction, spy fiction and thrilling drama will love every moment..." - BookPage

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