In this historical novel, author Kate Quinn gives us alternating perspectives of two main characters, one of them a female spy recruited to the Alice Network in France during World War I, and the other an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947.
In 1915, Eve Gardiner wants to join in the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly, gets her chance when she's recruited as a spy and is sent into enemy-occupied France. Trained by Lili, the "Queen of Spies," Eve works right under the enemy's nose, putting herself in greater and greater danger.
Thirty years later, Eve spends her time drunk and secluded in her London house until a brash young American knocks on her door, uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades. Charlie St. Clair, as it turns out, is on a mission to find her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France. Complicating things are a few facts: Charlie's pregnant (and her mother is determined to take her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of), Eve drinks a lot and has a brusque and difficult temperament, and, let's not forget, Charlie's cousin Rose disappeared a few years ago. In helping Charlie, Eve discovers she's on the trail, herself, to find someone from her past.
Based on some real people and real events, I found this story entertaining, but it also made me want to know more about the real Alice Network. The back-and-forth in time and the two narratives made the story really compelling, and the sense of danger that underlies Eve's story just helps to increase the pace. Both women are well-written characters and Eve's story, in particular, is very believable. Good story.
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