The Alice Network: A Novel
Written by Kate Quinn
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
4.5/5
()
Betrayal
Survival
Friendship
Revenge
World War I
Power of Friendship
Haunted Past
Femme Fatale
Reluctant Hero
Road Trip
Determinator
Loyal Friend
Haunted Protagonist
Enemy Within
Fish Out of Water
War
Espionage
Courage
Fear
Love
About this audiobook
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.
Editor's Note
All the feels…
Set in post-WWII Europe, “The Alice Network” brings together two women from different generations and backgrounds. With espionage, scandal, redemption, and rage-provoking examples of at least five ‘isms,’ the story has a bingability score equivalent to “Game of Thrones: Season One.” In other words, get ready to stay up all night reading and feel all the feelings.
Kate Quinn
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 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classical voice. A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two books set in the Italian Renaissance before turning to the 20th century with The Alice Network, The Huntress, The Rose Code, The Diamond Eye, and The Briar Club. The Astral Library is her first foray into magic realism. She and her husband now live in Maryland with their rescue dogs.
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Reviews for The Alice Network
6,048 ratings435 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a captivating and emotional story with excellent narration. The characters are well-developed and the plot is gripping, with twists and turns that keep readers hooked. While some reviewers felt that the story could have been more exciting or had too much focus on sexual content, overall, readers highly recommend this book. The dual-context of the story, set during World War One and after World War Two, adds depth and intrigue. The narration brings the characters to life, making it a truly immersive experience. A must-read for fans of historical fiction.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5
Sep 8, 2023
Sorry. Chapter 15 and can’t do it any longer. Maybe if I read paper book and skip some parts ? I really wanted to like it. But it is just so monotone. There are lots of descriptions on other reviews. But this is my confession.....1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Sep 8, 2023
I’m a big fan of historical fiction, but I found this book lacking. One of the storylines (Eve’s story in 1915) is brilliant and I wish the entire book could have been about her and the spy network. Chalie’s story in 1947 was unnecessary, long and boring.
It doesn’t make any sense that Charlie would go to such lengths to look for her cousin that no one else seems to care about. Their relationship was not portrayed well enough to justify. Why does Finn like Charlie? she has no personality or traits other than being pregnant and looking for her cousin. Mostly, she's an entitled brat, and he's perfect except for his angry outbursts that no one ever seems to mention ever again? If he miraculously fixed?
This book really didn’t need to be as long as it is, and after the 70% point it was difficult to get through until the ending which was good, albeit predictable.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
May 18, 2025
I love all the women in that story period as well as camaraderie and support I really don’t know right each other. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Mar 4, 2025
Absolutely not what I meant to read but wow! What a great book! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Feb 17, 2025
I really liked this book. The characters were very well developed and I enjoyed their journeys. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Feb 9, 2025
One of my favourites of hers, there were some surprises with the plot and she kept enough hidden throughout that it made you not want to put the book down. Very good read - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Dec 10, 2024
Amazing book about a different side of the war!! Kate Quinn never disappoints! Enjoyed the narrators’ voices too! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Nov 24, 2024
Holy Poop-wads. That was a fun, dramatic and intriguing listen. Well written and superbly narrated. I could feel a bit of modern writing in the 1940s characters but still it was both believable and plausible. Once it got rolling it didn't stop. Thoroughly enjoyed it. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Nov 10, 2024
I loved this book because it dealt with the women involved in the war as spies. Well written. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Oct 7, 2024
Fabulous plot full of intrigue and interesting characters. Once it got rolling, I couldn’t stop listening. Fantastic VO performance as well. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Sep 26, 2024
This is a really good listen. I’ve had the paper copy for a while but never got around to reading it. Great story. Interesting characters.
Very beautifully narrated! - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Sep 5, 2024
The voices for each character were good, made the story come alive. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Aug 10, 2024
I put it off for so long to read this but now how i wish i didn’t. It’s now one of my favorite historical fiction books. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Aug 6, 2024
Excellent book, and great narration. I was so absorbed by the story and the captivating characters. I will say that there are some scenes that are a bit upsetting in terms of violence, but nothing you wouldn't expect from a book about wartime. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Mar 24, 2024
Way better then the description let's on. An interesting story of ww1 and briefly ww2 of someone wronged deeply and with a happy ending which is silly but fun - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Feb 27, 2024
Love the story and the mix of real personages the pace was great. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Feb 6, 2024
It took me until about halfway through to really get into the story, but I enjoyed the ending. And I liked Eve’s story better than Charlie’s. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Feb 5, 2024
Excellent, engrossing. Great characters and fantastic storyline... female spies during ww2, what more could you want - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Dec 31, 2023
Beautifully and heartbreakingly done. A story that will not be forgotten, filled with strong, smart, dedicated, truly inspiring characters that remind us of our inner strengths, values, and sacrifice. Patriotic to the core, women who should be remembered and cherished for centuries. They are the unseen, unimportant, and unimpressive ghosts of all females. Some play victim, some, play their part in Society. And then SOME, are our unknown heroes. This is THEIR story. And I feel it's a reminder as well. Of our own inner strength and courage. Beautifully written, I could not put it down. Filled with concern, fear for them and their safety, wanting to know MORE but hesitant and afraid to find out. Very gripping. I highly recommend. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Dec 31, 2023
Amazing story. Totally got into it. Great listening always. Factual - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Dec 29, 2023
The story is mind captivating, very easily switching from one time period to another. I liked listening to it. The important thing I liked about this novel is that its protagonist is a female and who is not an ideal woman, just a woman who went through a lot and is still standing. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Dec 27, 2023
Absolutely must read! It's a riveting historical fiction that left me guessing and wanting more. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Nov 12, 2023
Some of charlie’s story are not necessary for me and not really interesting. I hope they just focus on Eve’s story. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Oct 19, 2023
Beautifully written and wonderfully narrated! So many breath taking discriptions. I couldn't stop listening, it had a wonderfull pace. A fantastic novel built around so many interesting historical facts. Recommending this to everyone! History, suspense, romance and so much more! - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Sep 10, 2023
The beginning was a little slow but about the middle it got really good and I loved the end. A sad story but very well written. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Sep 8, 2023
This book has it all. It has become one of my all-time favourites. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Sep 8, 2023
I never thought I could finish a 500 + page book so soon but this book hooks you from the start.The two main protagonist Eve and Charlie's stories go back and worth from world war1 to present state in 1947.The two stories reach a point where they are interconnected to each other in a way you couldn't think of.Loved the simple narrative of the author and her amazing ability to keep her readers interested in what's to come. - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Sep 8, 2023
The plot is okay but the narrative pace is really slow and that really makes the book boring. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Sep 8, 2023
The narrator did a great job. I now understand why this book had such rave reviews. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Sep 8, 2023
Beautifully fleshed out characters. Deft interweaving of time and place.
