THE ALICE NETWORK BY KATE QUINN


BY Cheryl Till 

Having a tendency to choose books by the (back) cover, the interwoven dual narrative of Kate Quinn’s historical fiction The Alice Network held a particular promise of intrigue.

Set both in 1915 and 1947, Quinn explores two wars and two women with vastly different ideas of hardship and strife. For Evelyn Gardiner, sinking into the intrigues of life as an undercover spy in France mid World War I is more than a patriotic duty – it is a thrilling opportunity for a stuttering young girl to step out of her shell. 

For Charlie St. Claire, taking on the life of an unmarried, pregnant college girl in the chaotic aftermath of World War II is a “little problem” in the face of tracking down her missing cousin. When their worlds collide, a mission for truth overshadows all else and unites them in an unlikely bond.

Personally, I usually find that you can tell after the first twenty pages of a book, if the story will be your cup of tea. But despite the thrilling promise of the synopsis, it wasn’t until I was well past the first hundred pages that Quinn’s intricately woven narrative began to reveal itself and truly pique my interest. That being said, once the enticing conflict laced with a brilliant air of mystery was introduced, I was hooked.

While the World War I timeline holds a 5-star narrative, the book can seem tad too long given that the World War II perspective is nowhere near as agreeable. As for the historical aspect, it can at times seem repetitiously tiresome.

Still, the mix of positive storyline with the sub-par writing notwithstanding, The Alice Network does make a good travel book if you can fight through the slow start to the real crux of the story.

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