Kate Quinn's historical novel takes as its title the name of an actual network of female spies who operated in France during World War I and saved countless Allied lives. One of the two main characters, the fictional Eve Gardiner, was part of the Alice Network in 1915. Decades later, Eve joins up with the other main character, Charlie (Charlotte) St. Clair, who is searching for her French cousin lost in Nazi-occupied France in World War II.
Charlie is an American college student whose socially conscious mother has taken her to Europe in 1947 for an abortion. Hoping to find her beloved cousin Rose, Charlie escapes her mother and heads to London to track down Eve, whose name appeared on a report about Rose.
Eve turns out to be a hard-drinking, angry, foul-mouthed recluse who is still haunted by a betrayal that exposed the Alice Network. During World War I the German-speaking Eve had worked in a restaurant owned by a French Nazi sympathizer. She overheard German secrets and passed them on to Alice Network leader Louise de Bettignies (aka Alice Dubois), a real-life character. Eve's role was more dangerous than many in the network because the restaurant owner took her as his mistress.
When Charlie turns up at her London home in 1947, Eve tries to send her away until she learns that Charlie has information that might help her get revenge on the Nazi sympathizer. Eve and her driver, Finn, accompany Charlie to France. They not only find out what happened to Rose but also uncover information that absolves Eve of her longstanding guilt.
An inspiring story of female bravery and friendship, The Alice Network was the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award winner for best historical fiction.
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