The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

 

After watching the story on the Codebreakers of The Bletchley Park on Netflix, I was intrigued on the story of women spies. The Alice Network was a fantastic choice and I listened to it on Audible. 

“Welcome to real spy work. Mostly tedious, occasionally exhilarating.”

This was one of the first audiobooks I was indulging in. I lost track many times and this is a long book even in audio format. I had to rewind so many times to remember the events. I could not completely understand the relevance of the characters until I came to the middle of the story. Then everything just fell into place like a puzzle. By the second part of the book, there are truly some endearing moments and the end will leave you misty eyed. The Alice Network shines its secretive light on the female spy network that worked so diligently, giving it all and dedicating a lifetime for their country. More than just contributing to the war, it was a way of proving that women needn't necessarily have to go to battlefield to prove her mettle. She was intelligent and strong even when she was working in the shadows. The book alternates each one's life through the chapters like two parallel lines and the by end of it all, coming together and joining hands to form one brilliant story.

The Alice Network was based on the true events and life of a historical figure, Louise de Bettignies. She was called the queen of spies. Louise's code name was Alice and hence, The Alice Network.

This is the story of Evelyn (Eve) and Charlie (Charlotte) mostly. 2 women in search of truth and seeking to set things right.

1947 is Charlie's timeline and she is a brilliant college student who feels math was much easier than life. It was logical. The calculations gave a sure shot solution. Unlike life. She drops out of college because of an unwanted pregnancy.

“One college sophomore minus one small encumbrance, divided by six months’ passage of time, multiplied by ten Paris frocks and a new haircut will not magically equal one restored reputation.”

Her mother, is ready to pack her to Europe to a clinic that would take care of her "little problem". Who would want to waste an entire lifetime just for a little hitch such as this. Once back, Charlie could find a good husband and aim to be a good wife. On the way, Charlie is enveloped with the need to find her cousin, Rose who disappeared somewhere in France. The world was still reeling under the aftermath of war and how she would find Rose was anybody's guess. Zilch.

1915 is Evelyn Gardiner's timeline. Her entry in the story opened as someone who's morning did not begin and nightfall didn't end with a drink. She was bitter and ill tempered. Charlie somehow finds out that Rose may have some connections with people who could help her find Rose. Charlie knocks Eve's door and leaves her frustrated. Evelyn agrees to Charlie's idea of looking for her cousin and they set off to French towns of Lille, Limoge and Grasse, with their driver and confidante, Finn.

What then enfolds between the three is just beautiful. Each one having their own stories to tell and seeking refuge in each other's company. Eve discloses her story of how she was a spy and what she went through. This is a story of resilience and a true test of a woman's strength in adversary. As they say, a woman is like a tea bag - she realizes her strength when in hot water.

Some beautiful lines to remember amidst the sadness of it all:

"What did it matter if something scared you, when it simply had to be done?"

"There are two kinds of flowers when it comes to women," Eve said. "The kind that sit safe in a beautiful vase, or the kind that survive in any conditions.... Which are you?"

“Many a gem lies hidden in darkness and oblivion”

“I'd often wished I could work out people as easily as I did arithmetic: simply break them down to their common denominators and solve."

"Numbers didn't' lie; there was always an answer, and the answer was either right or it was wrong. Simple. But nothing in life was simple, and there was no answer to solve for.”