The Alice Network: A Novel

Kate Quinn’s "The Alice Network" is a captivating novel that follows Charlie St. Clair, a young American woman in 1947 searching for her missing cousin, and Eve Gardiner, a former spy haunted by her past. Their lives intersect in unexpected ways, revealing themes of resilience, deception, and the lasting scars of war.I strongly recommend this book, and these are the four key themes that stood out most to me:(1) Gender and SocietyWhile gender divides persist, this novel is a powerful reminder of how far we have come. The female characters struggle against systemic limitations simply because they are women:“No one lets girls do anything at all. Not spend our own money, sell our own things, or plan our own lives.”Another character laments, “Why is it always about being pretty with us?” and observes, “Boys always come first.”Charlie’s journey challenges societal expectations. She is thrust into a situation that her world deems hopelessly unconventional and highly problematic, yet it remains recognizable—especially for a woman who has endured hardship. She struggles to fit in, but slowly realizes that there may be a place just for her—if she is willing to explore paths others avoid. As she searches for meaning, she attempts to construct a new equation for her life, one that aligns with the possibilities emerging after the world wars.(2) Adulthood and Personal GrowthFor women, "The Alice Network" highlights the importance of courage and pursuing one’s own path, even when it makes sense to only a few. The novel also suggests that those labeled as misfits may, in fact, be the most valuable allies and advocates. The choices one makes may not always be clear, but support from others who have faced similar struggles can lead not just to survival, but to success.Charlie experiences a pivotal moment of maturity when she realizes the reason behind her mother’s controlling nature. She comes to understand that her mother is not simply oppressive, but fearful of her father’s reaction if she does not keep Charlie within rigid bounds. The way Charlie is treated in this context reminded me of "The Ten Thousand Doors of January," which highlights how a young girl could be severely punished for any expression of nonconformity or independence. Once Charlie sees her mother in this light, the dynamic between them shifts. She begins to feel like the true adult in their relationship, and while love remains, Charlie steps into womanhood on her own terms.Eve, too, has a defining realization: “There are two kinds of flowers when it comes to women. The kind that sit safe in a beautiful case, or the kind that survive in any conditions… even in evil.” She then asks, “Which are you?”—a question that, in many ways, separates girls from women.The novel also highlights what separates boys from men: “It’s not a matter of age. There are boys aged fifty, and men aged fifteen. It’s all in what they do, not how old they are.” While this suggests that it is action that defines maturity, I would say that in this novel, the true indicator is how men treat women.Boys in the novel are callous and careless, while men value their relationships with women and seek to uphold them. A persistent gender divide remains nonetheless, however, even between the mature men in the novel and women. The men who recruit Eve into espionage, for instance, fail to grasp the unique dangers she faces as a woman in the field.For both men and women, maturity in this novel involves accepting the harsh reality of doing the right thing. Success is not straightforward, often goes unrecognized, and can even lead to punishment. The novel also explores how misunderstandings can lead people to unfairly judge themselves or others. Those deserving of advancement may be overlooked, while others rise unfairly through the ranks, and a soldier expresses a sobering truth: “There’s always another war.”Eve, early in her journey, declares: “I will be the best.” She enters a world where she does not yet understand who her competition is or what success even means. In hindsight, this confidence might seem naïve, but it also turns out to be an essential trait for survival.(3) The Nature of DeceptionBecause espionage is central to the novel, Quinn explores deception as a fundamental aspect of survival.One striking moment occurs when Charlie can only assert her independence— even to withdraw her own money from the bank—by wearing a fake, ill-fitting wedding ring and pretending to be married. Those around her likely know she is lying, but they accept the falsehood because it aligns with societal expectations.The novel suggests that deception is both necessary and forced. Engaging in society often requires playing a role. This raises an interesting question: If we must modify our behavior to fit society’s expectations, can we ever truly be honest? One character advises:“It is best, when forced to lie, to tell as much of the truth as possible.”This underscores the tension between authenticity and survival, making the reader question how much of their own identity is shaped by external expectations.(4) Evil and the Consequences of WarAnother central theme is how people respond to the presence of evil. One of the novel’s villains, René, reminded me of the antagonist in Katherine Arden’s "The Warm Hands of Ghosts," in which an evil figure creates a deceptive haven in the midst of war. In "The Alice Network," the so-called safe place is a restaurant named Lethe—named after “the river of forgetfulness that runs through the underworld.” René proclaims:“There is nothing more potent than forgetfulness.”However, in both novels, forgetfulness is not the solution. While enticing, it is ultimately a destructive coping mechanism.The novel also explores how evil—like war—takes on a life of its own.“A machine like war was a vast thing, not easily stopped once set in motion.”Once war is initiated, it consumes lives, and stopping it is far more difficult than starting it.“Life does not simply return to normal after V-E Day,” the novel also reminds us, which calls to my mind conflicts such as the Angolan Civil War and the wars in Mozambique and Sudan, which continued long after they should have ended. As the novel describes, the land itself bears the scars of war for decades, sometimes deliberately left untouched as reminders of past tragedies. The novel makes it clear that war does not just end—it lingers in the land, in people’s lives, and in their psyches.- Final ThoughtsThe Alice Network is a deeply engaging novel that highlights the resilience of women, the complexities of deception, the lasting scars of war, and the courage required to defy societal expectations. It also sheds light on lesser-known aspects of history, making it both an educational and emotionally powerful read.I highly recommend it.

I finished this book last night and I haven't stopped thinking about it. I would like to preface this by saying that I read a lot. Probably about 3 books a week. I do work a full-time job, so for me, that's a lot. If you look at my bookshelves you may have the impression that I rate all books 4 or 5 stars. Not true. I only rate the ones I love, that leave a mark. And while I would like to write reviews for all of them, I just don't have a whole lot of time for writing out everything I love about them. Regretfully so. As an author myself, I know how important reviews are, so I do hope to one day be able to go through my bookshelves and write at least a few words for them. But certain books that truly and utterly sweep me away while reading, I try to write something because I want others to experience a truly amazing book. And this book - it was truly amazing.Let me add that this isn't my typical genre. I probably wouldn't have even read it had my friend, Christie, not messaged me one night and said how much she was loving it. I waited for her to finish to get her final thoughts and what she said was... "You have to read this! I can't stop thinking about it. I know you and you will LOVE IT." That's true...she does know me and she knows what books will likely make me all aflutter and get my heart racing. So, with that in mind, I bought the book. I didn't even need to second guess it. But I didn't start on it immediately. I had some writing of my own to do and another book I had started reading that I wanted to finish. But every time I turned on my Kindle this book was staring me down, so I finally gave in and said..."I'll read the first chapter now and pick it back up later." Well...so much for plans. I started reading and before I knew it I was a few chapters in and glued to my Kindle. Page after page, I was IN it, totally invested and completely spellbound. I had just a vague idea of what the book was about as I tend to avoid reading reviews until after I've finished a book. Basically, I look to see who liked it and take that into account, but I don't want to know anything else. I love going into a book blind. And so, blind is how I started this journey.From the start the author had me at the first line in the first paragraph in the first chapter.The first person I met in England was a hallucination."I remember thinking...whaaat? I had to keep reading. I needed to know what kind of character I was dealing with here. Is she supposed to be a little crazy?Well, the answer to that is, no. She wasn't crazy. But she was brilliant and brave and troubled and worried and grief-stricken. She also, like many women in those days, had to deal with double standards and prejudices against women. It was a battle on every front. Literally. But her "hallucinations" were just her mind and heart pushing her to search for her cousin, Rose, who had gone missing during WWII in France. And when she decided she would follow her "hallucinations" until she found answers the story takes off - almost straight away. I loved Charlie. To be so young, she set out to find her best friend/cousin and I love her for loving Rose so much.Enter Eve. Eve was the woman who could help her find Rose. Maybe. All Charlie had was a name on a report. The journey began there - at Rose's doorstep. The two women did not like each other one bit. Eve was much older and had lived a hard, unhappy life. She was not thrilled to have trouble knocking on her door late at night. And when you dive into her character and find out what all she had to endure your heart will break. Mine did. So many times. Because the story spans across two wars and many difficult choices. The past, 1915, and the present, 1947.Throughout this book's journey so much is discovered about Eve and her past. Why was she so bitter and angry? What made her this way? While reading Eve's timeline (1915) we learn it all. Oh my God, do we learn it all. Not a detail is left to wonder. It's all laid out for us with every turn of the page. I can honestly say I have never been so affected while reading a book. Eve's story is one of the most heartbreaking stories I have ever read, and yet, I felt so much pride for her too. She was probably the most 'real' character I have ever had the pleasure of reading. And not just her - but every single character in this book is completely real to me. I feel like I not only read a piece of our history, but that I was actually there while it happened, while it all unfolded in real time.So many characters I fell in love with. So many of them. The Alice Network, for which Eve was a part of, is not made up. It existed. These women did so much for the war effort during WWI, made unspeakable sacrifices, suffered the likes we will never fully comprehend. They are true heroines and real events are threaded throughout this fictionalized story. I am regretful that I had never heard of the Alice Network before reading this book. But now that I have I am better for having read it and I have been forever changed.I could talk about this book for days. There is just so much I can't discuss here in this review for fear of giving away spoilers, but I will never forget it. I will never forget a single word written. So many quotes I have read and re-read. So many scenes I think about even now and get teary eyed over. The ending was perfection. A beautiful and long-lasting friendship was forged between Charlie and Eve by the time we make it to the end. More than friendship, even. A family was formed. And I can't think of a single thing I would change. Hard to read at times, yes. But it was the hard times that made the sweet spots so much sweeter.There is even a developing romance between these pages. While not the central focus, it was a beautiful thing to witness and I certainly didn't expect it. I was simply swept away by the entirety of the book. Every word was precious to me. Every scene so brilliantly depicted. If I had to break this book down into just one word I would say that this book is quite simply a heartbeat. It lives. It breathes. It teaches. It inspires.It endures. And when you find out exactly what I mean by that...you will understand why I fell in love with these characters so damn hard. And maybe, just maybe, you will too.