How and when did you see the young Eve begin to change into her older self? What was the catalyst of those changes?ģ. The young Eve introduced in 1915 is very different from the older Eve seen through Charlie's eyes in 1947. How does each friendship grow and change over the course of events?Ģ. Clair and Eve Gardiner begin as antagonists,whereas Eve and Louise de Bettignies (Lili) are friends from the start. Female friendship is a constant theme throughout The Alice Network. Visit Concord Public Library online at .1. Fans of historical fiction, strong female characters, and espionage during the two world wars will enjoy this book. Something for everyone! The female spies of this era are little known or appreciated and I enjoyed learning about their contributions and sacrifices. This novel brings together true events and people from history, some imagined characters and situations, and a romantic alliance between two of the characters. All are haunted by people from the past and they set out on a quest to find answers and redemption. The two women, along with Eve’s driver Finn, ultimately form an alliance. Charlie finds Eve dealing with the aftermath, both mental and physical, of her time as a spy with the Alice Network and less than willing to get involved in Charlie’s search for her cousin Rose. She seeks out Eve, whose name she was given as a possible lead.

When her parents arrange a trip to Switzerland to obtain an abortion, Charlie decides to take advantage of the trip to Europe to search for Rose. Charlie, an unmarried, pregnant college student is in a difficult situation of her own. Clair is desperate to find her French cousin Rose with whom she lost contact after the Nazis invaded France. As their lives become increasingly entwined, Eve finds herself in a dangerous situation.

Unfortunately, the owner of the café, Rene Bordelon, a man vilified in the community as a collaborator, is not so easily fooled. She uses their miscalculation to her advantage. The fact that she stutters causes some to assume she is “simple” and to underestimate her intelligence. Eve listens to their conversations as she serves food and drink and goes mostly unnoticed in the guise of an unsophisticated country girl. Eve completes her training with Louise de Bettignies, whose code name is “Lili.” (Lili is based on the actual person who led the spy organization called the Alice Network.) Eve is hired to work in a café in Lille, a French town occupied by the Germans and frequented by German officers. Her ability to speak several languages - German in particular - catches the attention of Captain Cecil Cameron who recruits her to work as a spy. In 1915, Eve Gardiner longs to do her part for England during World War I.

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