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The Book Spy
Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Marie Benedict, and Pam Jenoff and inspired by true stories of the heroic librarian spies of WWII, the new book from the internationally bestselling author of Churchill’s Secret Messenger transports readers from the New York Public Library to Portugal’s city of espionage in a thrilling, riveting tale.
An American librarian. A Portuguese bookseller. A mission to change the tide of the war.
1942: With the war’s outcome hanging in the balance, every sliver of intelligence can be critical. Though far from the battlefields, cities like Lisbon, Portugal’s neutral capital, become lynchpins in a different kind of warfare, as President Roosevelt sends an unlikely new taskforce on a unique mission. They are librarians and microfilm specialists trained in espionage, working with a special branch of the Office of Strategic Services. By acquiring and scouring Axis newspapers, books, technical manuals, and periodicals, the librarians can gather information about troop location, weaponry, and military plans.
Maria Alves, a microfilm expert working at the New York Public Library, is dispatched to Lisbon, where she meticulously photographs publications and sends the film to London to be analyzed. Working in tandem with Tiago Soares, a brave and honorable bookstore owner on a precarious mission of his own—providing Jewish refugees with forged passports and visas—Maria acquires vital information, including a directory of arms factories in Germany.
But as she and Tiago grow closer, any future together is jeopardized when Maria’s superiors ask her to pose as a double agent, feeding misinformation to Lars Steiger, a wealthy Swiss banker and Nazi sympathizer who launders Hitler’s gold. Gaining Lars’ trust will bring Maria into the very heart of the Fuhrer’s inner circle. And it will provide her with a chance to help steer the course of war, if she is willing to take risks as great as the possible rewards . . .
An American librarian. A Portuguese bookseller. A mission to change the tide of the war.
1942: With the war’s outcome hanging in the balance, every sliver of intelligence can be critical. Though far from the battlefields, cities like Lisbon, Portugal’s neutral capital, become lynchpins in a different kind of warfare, as President Roosevelt sends an unlikely new taskforce on a unique mission. They are librarians and microfilm specialists trained in espionage, working with a special branch of the Office of Strategic Services. By acquiring and scouring Axis newspapers, books, technical manuals, and periodicals, the librarians can gather information about troop location, weaponry, and military plans.
Maria Alves, a microfilm expert working at the New York Public Library, is dispatched to Lisbon, where she meticulously photographs publications and sends the film to London to be analyzed. Working in tandem with Tiago Soares, a brave and honorable bookstore owner on a precarious mission of his own—providing Jewish refugees with forged passports and visas—Maria acquires vital information, including a directory of arms factories in Germany.
But as she and Tiago grow closer, any future together is jeopardized when Maria’s superiors ask her to pose as a double agent, feeding misinformation to Lars Steiger, a wealthy Swiss banker and Nazi sympathizer who launders Hitler’s gold. Gaining Lars’ trust will bring Maria into the very heart of the Fuhrer’s inner circle. And it will provide her with a chance to help steer the course of war, if she is willing to take risks as great as the possible rewards . . .
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2023
About the author
Alan Hlad
8 books985 followersAlan Hlad is the internationally bestselling author of historical fiction novels inspired by real people and events of WWI and WWII, including The Book Spy, Churchill’s Secret Messenger, A Light Beyond the Trenches, and the USA Today and IndieBound bestseller The Long Flight Home. A member of the Historical Novel Society, Literary Cleveland, Novelitics, and the Akron Writers' Group, he is a frequent speaker at conferences, literary events, and book club gatherings. He currently divides his time between Ohio and Portugal and can be found online at AlanHlad.com.
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May 28, 2023
The Book Spy
by Alan Hlad is a captivating and fascinating historical thriller. President Roosevelt sends librarians and microfilm specialists to neutral cities in Europe. Their task is to acquire and microfilm newspapers, books, technical manuals, and periodicals. The microfilmed information will be analyzed for troop locations, weaponry, and military plans. Maria Alves is dispatched to Lisbon and begins working with Tiago Soares, a Portuguese bookstore owner with his own mission. However, as Maria and Tiago grow closer, Maria is asked to take on an additional role that is more dangerous.
Readers get a great feeling for Maria and Tiago. Their outlooks and attitudes change over the course of the story. However, they seemed to have very few flaws.
The book takes place between December 1941 and September 1944. There’s a feeling of deep anxiety as Maria tries to make sense of her circumstances. The story is well written, with a stunning plot that was twisty and absorbing as well as heartrending at times. The author does a great job of weaving action and romance into a wonderful story.
Before reading this book, I had never heard of what some librarians and microfilm specialists did during the war. The author has done an amazing amount of research. Hlad’s note at the end of the book has a wealth of information in it about actual events and historical figures who show up in the novel. He explains that Maria’s two roles were inspired by two people rather than just one. There’s also a list of discussion questions for book clubs.
Overall, this story is intriguing, thought-provoking, suspenseful, and exciting. The author delivers a heartfelt story of love, loss, sacrifice, and duty. I’m looking forward to reading more novels by this author.
Kensington Books, A John Scognamiglio Book provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was January 24, 2023.
----------------------------------------
My 4.46 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Readers get a great feeling for Maria and Tiago. Their outlooks and attitudes change over the course of the story. However, they seemed to have very few flaws.
The book takes place between December 1941 and September 1944. There’s a feeling of deep anxiety as Maria tries to make sense of her circumstances. The story is well written, with a stunning plot that was twisty and absorbing as well as heartrending at times. The author does a great job of weaving action and romance into a wonderful story.
Before reading this book, I had never heard of what some librarians and microfilm specialists did during the war. The author has done an amazing amount of research. Hlad’s note at the end of the book has a wealth of information in it about actual events and historical figures who show up in the novel. He explains that Maria’s two roles were inspired by two people rather than just one. There’s also a list of discussion questions for book clubs.
Overall, this story is intriguing, thought-provoking, suspenseful, and exciting. The author delivers a heartfelt story of love, loss, sacrifice, and duty. I’m looking forward to reading more novels by this author.
Kensington Books, A John Scognamiglio Book provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was January 24, 2023.
----------------------------------------
My 4.46 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
January 25, 2023
The Book Spy by Alan Hlad was a most compelling and engaging book about aspects of World War II that I had known about. Over the years, I have read all of the books that Alan Hlad has written. His books always focus on little known aspects that occurred during World War II, have strong female protagonists, are well written and impeccably researched. I was so excited when I saw that he had written a new book. Even though I had previously read about how librarians had been used to help the war effort during World War II, Alan Hlad included so much more about their roles during the war and other significant information that occurred in the neutral countries where the librarians were involved in his book, The Book Spy. Author, Alan Hlad, shared in his author’s notes, that he based the female librarian protagonist, Maria Alves, on two incredibly brave and determined individuals. I was drawn into this fast paced, well plotted and factually based novel immediately. It was hard to stop reading and harder still to stop thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it.
Maria Alves was the only daughter of immigrant photojournalist parents. Her mother had been born in Germany and her father in Portugal. When Maria was a young girl, she often accompanied her parents on their assignments. Maria got to travel, live in foreign countries if only temporarily when her parents were working and learn several languages. When Maria was in college, her mother had died. Maria’s mother and father were in Madrid during The Spanish Civil War and her mother was killed by crossfire. Her father caught her mother as she fell to her death. Both Maria and her father were devastated by her death. As a result, Maria’s father no longer traveled to Europe for assignments. He and Maria shared an apartment in Newark, New Jersey. Maria’s father accepted local freelance assignments now.
After Maria graduated from college, she secured the position of head of the microfilm department at The New York City Public Library. Maria enjoyed her work but she had hopes and aspirations of doing more. One of her roles was to train new recruits. Her patience and vast knowledge and experience helped her to do this exceedingly well. Maria had trained Roy who was now her assistant. Roy was married and had children, where Maria was single and still living at home with her supportive and caring father. Despite the differences in their lives, Maria and Roy had a good working relationship.
One day, Roy came to the library and announced to Maria that he had been accepted as one of the librarians recruited by The Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications or the IDC. The IDC was Colonel William “Wild Bill” Donovan’s ingenious idea. It was approved by President Roosevelt just days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The premise of its mission was to train librarians that had worked with microfilm and send them to neutral countries like Portugal, Sweden and Spain to photograph books by foreign authors that the Nazis were burning. These librarians were also encouraged to obtain, photograph and turn into microfilm, any information that might prove crucial to the war. Roy was to be trained at The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and then be sent to one of the neutral countries. Maria was happy for Roy but a little jealous as well. She would have given anything to be accepted into this program as well. Fredrick Kilgour had been assigned to head this project. Over the next several weeks, Maria made numerous phone calls to Mr. Kilgour’s office and wrote several letters to him that outlined her education and experience with microfilm but to no avail. Mr. Kilgour was only taking candidates that had graduated from Ivy League schools and almost all of them were male. Maria was not ready to give up, though. When she learned from a newspaper article that Colonel Donovan was going to be in New York and that he was going to speak at the home of Vincent Astor, one of the wealthiest men in New York City, she began to cultivate a plan. Maria’s plan got her inside the Astor home and in front of Colonel Donovan. Although the way it all went down was not how Maria had envisioned it, the results were exactly what she had hoped for. Maria received a phone call from Fredrick Kilgour himself the very next day. She was to report to the Library of Congress for training. Roy was surprised but happy to see Maria when she arrived. As experienced as Maria was in handling microfilm, her training was grueling and quite competitive. Roy, her former assistant, and his partner Pilar, helped Maria get used to the equipment that was being used and the routines. Men had the upper hand in this program so women had to work twice as hard to prove their capabilities. Maria watched as more and more men were sent to the neutral countries as she was overlooked despite being more proficient than most of the men that had been chosen. Finally, Maria was given her assignment. She was to fly to Lisbon, Portugal on Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper.
Flying on Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper was Maria’s first flight on an airplane. When she had traveled with her parents as young girl, they had always traveled by boat. Maria was nervous and yet excited. All the passengers on board The Yankee Clipper were part of the war effort. There were journalists and entertainers. The government had spared no expense or detail. The plane was equipped with sleeping accommodations, changing rooms and anything the passengers could possibly want. Marie was lucky enough to have a window seat so she was able to see the views from her window as they flew. She had gotten friendly with the male journalist sitting next to her over the course of the trip and offered to change seats with him for the last part of the flight so he could peer out the window and she could get some sleep. As the plane was making its descent, something very wrong started to happen. The plane crashed into Lisbon’s Tagus River. Twenty-four of the thirty-nine passengers that were on board Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper died. Maria was injured but she survived. Her first few days in Lisbon were spent in a hospital. Maria’s hip was dislocated and she needed many stitches on a bad cut on her back. She later learned that the man that was sitting next to her did not survive the crash. Maria was so shaken from the crash. Besides her physical casualties, she was haunted by dreams about the crash for quite a while. Mr. Kilgour wanted Maria to return to the States but Maria insisted on staying in Lisbon. She was determined to do her job.
As soon as Maria was able to walk with the help of a pair of crutches, she started visiting book stores. One of her first visits was to a bookstore owned by a man named Tiago Soares. His shop contained mostly poetry but Maria browsed the shelves and found some pertinent books. When Tiago introduced himself to Maria and asked if he could help her find something in particular, Maria explained that she was an American working for The Library of Congress and trying to find books that were being either banned or burnt by the Nazis. During one of Maria’s visits to Tiago’s shop, she discovered a copy of A Secret Directory of German Manufacturers. Maria knew that the information in this book would prove to be valuable to the war effort and gathering information about Germany’s military capabilities. All the information that Maria found was photographed and converted into microfilm before it was sent to Britain by plane. That way it took up very little space and added little weight to the aircraft.
Maria soon discovered that Tiago had a mission of his own as well. Tiago was aiding Jewish refugees by helping them escape from Europe. Lisbon became known as the “last gate out of Europe “ during World War II. The refugees that made their way to Lisbon tried to secure passage on a ship going to the United States, Canada or Latin America. Tiago’s grandparents in Bordeaux, France and his parents in Portugal had helped set up an escape route for Jews to escape persecution. Both his grandparents in Bordeaux and his parents In Portugal owned wineries that had many caves that were perfect for hiding escaping Jews. They had established safe houses with local churches along the route as well. The escapees made their way to Bordeaux to Tiago’s grandparents winery, then to his parent’s winery and finally to Lisbon where Tiago helped forge passports and visas for them and raise enough money for their passages. Tiago was very worried about his grandparent’s safety. His grandmother was Jewish and France was occupied by the Nazis. Although both Tiago and his parents tried to persuade them to leave France, they refused to leave when there were still Jews that needed their help. Tiago decided to travel to Bordeaux himself to try and persuade them to leave. As Tiago got closer to his grandparent’s winery he learned that they were rounded up and taken away to a work camp in Poland. Tiago had been too late. He was so devastated as were his parents when he told him about it.
One night Maria, Roy and Pilar decided to go for dinner in Estoril and then to the casino. Roy and Pilar went off to try their luck at gambling. Maria decided to wander around by herself and just observe everything. By chance, Maria met Lars Steiger at the roulette table. He was quite a bit older than Maria but he engaged her in conversation. She learned that he was a widower, a Swiss banker and must have been quite wealthy the way he gambled. With Maria’s help and luck, Lars was quite successful at the roulette wheel that night. Maria’s choice of numbers, color and odd or even choices were extraordinarily good. Lars won very big that night and insisted that Maria take half of the winnings. At first she was reluctant but eventually she accepted. Maria planned to give her winnings to Tiago, who she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about. She hoped that this money could help another refugee escape. Before Maria left to meet up with Roy and Pilar again, Lars gave her his business card.
Maria had no intentions of ever seeing Lars again but when she received a visit from another operative and was asked if she had met a man named Lars Steiger, she was put on guard. The conversation that followed was very intriguing and scary. That was when Maria agreed to become a double agent. Maria was asked to feed false information to the Nazis through Lars and to learn as much about Lars as she could. As Maria and Lars forged a contrived friendship, Maria laid the groundwork to make Lars believe that she was a Nazi sympathizer, as he was himself. Maria made Lars believe that she had a network of spies that revealed Allied intelligence back to her. Lars and Maria devised a plan where Maria would report all her findings about Allied intelligence to a German intelligence officer. After the information was received and verified, Maria would be generously compensated for her work. In this way, Maria helped the Allied forces launch Operation Fortitude. The Allied forces sent Maria false information about the location and times of the invasion of France and Maria passed it onto the Germans.
During this time, Maria also learned about Wolfram or tungsten ore. Portugal was one of the few countries that produced Wolfram in large quantities. Tungsten was needed by the Nazis to make hard steel that was necessary in building tanks and making shells for military weapons. Having an abundance of tungsten and agreeing to sell it to the Nazis was enough for Portugal’s dictator, Salazar, to make a pact with the Nazis for neutrality during the war. As Maria got to know Lars, she discovered that he was prospering from the sale of tungsten as well. In addition, Lars was helping the Nazis launder gold retrieved from Jews. Maria discovered the hard way, when Lars deceived her, that Lars was highly infiltrated in the Nazi Party and their most powerful leaders. Maria was leading a very dangerous life. Would her efforts as a double agent help Operation Fortitude succeed? Would Maria’s role as a spy that fed misinformation to Hitler be believed? Would Operation Fortitude prove to be a complete surprise to the Nazis and allow the allied forces to defeat Hitler and the Nazis? What would become of Maria and Tiago? How would Maria handle the dangers was to encounter?
The Book Spy by Alan Hlad was an engrossing historical fiction novel based on the heroism of several people who actually lived. I enjoyed how Alan Hlad combined just the right amount of facts with fiction to make his book so compelling to read. Maria, Tiago and Rosa were my favorite characters. Maria was determined, brave, intelligent, confident, resourceful, independent and not afraid of taking risks or breaking rules. Tiago was selfless, determined, shy, intelligent, eager to help, and very brave. I loved the romance and love that Maria and Tiago shared. In my opinion, it only enhanced the story. Rosa was motherly, extremely intelligent, deceptive, loyal, trustworthy and a good friend. I really enjoyed reading The Book Spy by Alan Hlad and recommend it very highly. I can’t wait until Alan Hlad writes his next book. Publication was yesterday, January 24, 2023.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read The Book Spy by Alan Hlad through Netgalley in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
Maria Alves was the only daughter of immigrant photojournalist parents. Her mother had been born in Germany and her father in Portugal. When Maria was a young girl, she often accompanied her parents on their assignments. Maria got to travel, live in foreign countries if only temporarily when her parents were working and learn several languages. When Maria was in college, her mother had died. Maria’s mother and father were in Madrid during The Spanish Civil War and her mother was killed by crossfire. Her father caught her mother as she fell to her death. Both Maria and her father were devastated by her death. As a result, Maria’s father no longer traveled to Europe for assignments. He and Maria shared an apartment in Newark, New Jersey. Maria’s father accepted local freelance assignments now.
After Maria graduated from college, she secured the position of head of the microfilm department at The New York City Public Library. Maria enjoyed her work but she had hopes and aspirations of doing more. One of her roles was to train new recruits. Her patience and vast knowledge and experience helped her to do this exceedingly well. Maria had trained Roy who was now her assistant. Roy was married and had children, where Maria was single and still living at home with her supportive and caring father. Despite the differences in their lives, Maria and Roy had a good working relationship.
One day, Roy came to the library and announced to Maria that he had been accepted as one of the librarians recruited by The Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications or the IDC. The IDC was Colonel William “Wild Bill” Donovan’s ingenious idea. It was approved by President Roosevelt just days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The premise of its mission was to train librarians that had worked with microfilm and send them to neutral countries like Portugal, Sweden and Spain to photograph books by foreign authors that the Nazis were burning. These librarians were also encouraged to obtain, photograph and turn into microfilm, any information that might prove crucial to the war. Roy was to be trained at The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and then be sent to one of the neutral countries. Maria was happy for Roy but a little jealous as well. She would have given anything to be accepted into this program as well. Fredrick Kilgour had been assigned to head this project. Over the next several weeks, Maria made numerous phone calls to Mr. Kilgour’s office and wrote several letters to him that outlined her education and experience with microfilm but to no avail. Mr. Kilgour was only taking candidates that had graduated from Ivy League schools and almost all of them were male. Maria was not ready to give up, though. When she learned from a newspaper article that Colonel Donovan was going to be in New York and that he was going to speak at the home of Vincent Astor, one of the wealthiest men in New York City, she began to cultivate a plan. Maria’s plan got her inside the Astor home and in front of Colonel Donovan. Although the way it all went down was not how Maria had envisioned it, the results were exactly what she had hoped for. Maria received a phone call from Fredrick Kilgour himself the very next day. She was to report to the Library of Congress for training. Roy was surprised but happy to see Maria when she arrived. As experienced as Maria was in handling microfilm, her training was grueling and quite competitive. Roy, her former assistant, and his partner Pilar, helped Maria get used to the equipment that was being used and the routines. Men had the upper hand in this program so women had to work twice as hard to prove their capabilities. Maria watched as more and more men were sent to the neutral countries as she was overlooked despite being more proficient than most of the men that had been chosen. Finally, Maria was given her assignment. She was to fly to Lisbon, Portugal on Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper.
Flying on Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper was Maria’s first flight on an airplane. When she had traveled with her parents as young girl, they had always traveled by boat. Maria was nervous and yet excited. All the passengers on board The Yankee Clipper were part of the war effort. There were journalists and entertainers. The government had spared no expense or detail. The plane was equipped with sleeping accommodations, changing rooms and anything the passengers could possibly want. Marie was lucky enough to have a window seat so she was able to see the views from her window as they flew. She had gotten friendly with the male journalist sitting next to her over the course of the trip and offered to change seats with him for the last part of the flight so he could peer out the window and she could get some sleep. As the plane was making its descent, something very wrong started to happen. The plane crashed into Lisbon’s Tagus River. Twenty-four of the thirty-nine passengers that were on board Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper died. Maria was injured but she survived. Her first few days in Lisbon were spent in a hospital. Maria’s hip was dislocated and she needed many stitches on a bad cut on her back. She later learned that the man that was sitting next to her did not survive the crash. Maria was so shaken from the crash. Besides her physical casualties, she was haunted by dreams about the crash for quite a while. Mr. Kilgour wanted Maria to return to the States but Maria insisted on staying in Lisbon. She was determined to do her job.
As soon as Maria was able to walk with the help of a pair of crutches, she started visiting book stores. One of her first visits was to a bookstore owned by a man named Tiago Soares. His shop contained mostly poetry but Maria browsed the shelves and found some pertinent books. When Tiago introduced himself to Maria and asked if he could help her find something in particular, Maria explained that she was an American working for The Library of Congress and trying to find books that were being either banned or burnt by the Nazis. During one of Maria’s visits to Tiago’s shop, she discovered a copy of A Secret Directory of German Manufacturers. Maria knew that the information in this book would prove to be valuable to the war effort and gathering information about Germany’s military capabilities. All the information that Maria found was photographed and converted into microfilm before it was sent to Britain by plane. That way it took up very little space and added little weight to the aircraft.
Maria soon discovered that Tiago had a mission of his own as well. Tiago was aiding Jewish refugees by helping them escape from Europe. Lisbon became known as the “last gate out of Europe “ during World War II. The refugees that made their way to Lisbon tried to secure passage on a ship going to the United States, Canada or Latin America. Tiago’s grandparents in Bordeaux, France and his parents in Portugal had helped set up an escape route for Jews to escape persecution. Both his grandparents in Bordeaux and his parents In Portugal owned wineries that had many caves that were perfect for hiding escaping Jews. They had established safe houses with local churches along the route as well. The escapees made their way to Bordeaux to Tiago’s grandparents winery, then to his parent’s winery and finally to Lisbon where Tiago helped forge passports and visas for them and raise enough money for their passages. Tiago was very worried about his grandparent’s safety. His grandmother was Jewish and France was occupied by the Nazis. Although both Tiago and his parents tried to persuade them to leave France, they refused to leave when there were still Jews that needed their help. Tiago decided to travel to Bordeaux himself to try and persuade them to leave. As Tiago got closer to his grandparent’s winery he learned that they were rounded up and taken away to a work camp in Poland. Tiago had been too late. He was so devastated as were his parents when he told him about it.
One night Maria, Roy and Pilar decided to go for dinner in Estoril and then to the casino. Roy and Pilar went off to try their luck at gambling. Maria decided to wander around by herself and just observe everything. By chance, Maria met Lars Steiger at the roulette table. He was quite a bit older than Maria but he engaged her in conversation. She learned that he was a widower, a Swiss banker and must have been quite wealthy the way he gambled. With Maria’s help and luck, Lars was quite successful at the roulette wheel that night. Maria’s choice of numbers, color and odd or even choices were extraordinarily good. Lars won very big that night and insisted that Maria take half of the winnings. At first she was reluctant but eventually she accepted. Maria planned to give her winnings to Tiago, who she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about. She hoped that this money could help another refugee escape. Before Maria left to meet up with Roy and Pilar again, Lars gave her his business card.
Maria had no intentions of ever seeing Lars again but when she received a visit from another operative and was asked if she had met a man named Lars Steiger, she was put on guard. The conversation that followed was very intriguing and scary. That was when Maria agreed to become a double agent. Maria was asked to feed false information to the Nazis through Lars and to learn as much about Lars as she could. As Maria and Lars forged a contrived friendship, Maria laid the groundwork to make Lars believe that she was a Nazi sympathizer, as he was himself. Maria made Lars believe that she had a network of spies that revealed Allied intelligence back to her. Lars and Maria devised a plan where Maria would report all her findings about Allied intelligence to a German intelligence officer. After the information was received and verified, Maria would be generously compensated for her work. In this way, Maria helped the Allied forces launch Operation Fortitude. The Allied forces sent Maria false information about the location and times of the invasion of France and Maria passed it onto the Germans.
During this time, Maria also learned about Wolfram or tungsten ore. Portugal was one of the few countries that produced Wolfram in large quantities. Tungsten was needed by the Nazis to make hard steel that was necessary in building tanks and making shells for military weapons. Having an abundance of tungsten and agreeing to sell it to the Nazis was enough for Portugal’s dictator, Salazar, to make a pact with the Nazis for neutrality during the war. As Maria got to know Lars, she discovered that he was prospering from the sale of tungsten as well. In addition, Lars was helping the Nazis launder gold retrieved from Jews. Maria discovered the hard way, when Lars deceived her, that Lars was highly infiltrated in the Nazi Party and their most powerful leaders. Maria was leading a very dangerous life. Would her efforts as a double agent help Operation Fortitude succeed? Would Maria’s role as a spy that fed misinformation to Hitler be believed? Would Operation Fortitude prove to be a complete surprise to the Nazis and allow the allied forces to defeat Hitler and the Nazis? What would become of Maria and Tiago? How would Maria handle the dangers was to encounter?
The Book Spy by Alan Hlad was an engrossing historical fiction novel based on the heroism of several people who actually lived. I enjoyed how Alan Hlad combined just the right amount of facts with fiction to make his book so compelling to read. Maria, Tiago and Rosa were my favorite characters. Maria was determined, brave, intelligent, confident, resourceful, independent and not afraid of taking risks or breaking rules. Tiago was selfless, determined, shy, intelligent, eager to help, and very brave. I loved the romance and love that Maria and Tiago shared. In my opinion, it only enhanced the story. Rosa was motherly, extremely intelligent, deceptive, loyal, trustworthy and a good friend. I really enjoyed reading The Book Spy by Alan Hlad and recommend it very highly. I can’t wait until Alan Hlad writes his next book. Publication was yesterday, January 24, 2023.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read The Book Spy by Alan Hlad through Netgalley in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
November 22, 2022
Maria blinked back tears. “I’m so happy to see you.”
Roy placed a hand on the base of the bed. “How are you?”
“My hip was dislocated and I received stitches to a cut on my back, but I’ll be all right.” She clasped her hands and noticed that her mother’s sapphire ring was still on her finger. A wave of vulnerability surged through her. “I could really use a hug.”
They approached the bed and held her. loc.1876 Kindle ebook
THE BOOK SPY is a satisfying and thrilling novel that is so in part because it crosses a whole range of genres. It takes place during WWII and is based in part on historical fact, so it's historical fiction. It's also a romance that does more than change the characters-- it impacts the plot. This book is also an intrigue and spy novel about "librarian spies" and microfiche experts who helped the allied domestics forces in Europe during the war. There's nothing more satisfying to me than a bunch of book nerds having a profound impact on the outcome of WWII.
Perhaps my favorite element of this book is the women's fiction element, embodied perfectly in Maria and Pilar, two capable and resilient Strong Female Characters, who also expressed vulnerability, as can be seen in the above excerpt, both of whose arcs I enjoyed following. I found Maria, the lead, both believable and loveable. And the ending! I just wanted to embrace her tightly, for she is a real heroine, drawn in believable strokes.
I'm so choosy about historical fiction, and THE BOOK SPY is one of those that delighted me and hit all my enjoyment factors: intrigue, inclusivity, good history, nice style. I recommend it thoroughly. Thank you NetGalley, Alan Hlad, and Kensington Books for letting me read this delightful eARC!
Rating 5 stars
Finished November 2022
Read this book if you like:
♟️ Intrigue and spy work
📚 Bookish books
🥰 Sweet romance
🧨 WWII stories
🦸♀️ Strong female characters
Roy placed a hand on the base of the bed. “How are you?”
“My hip was dislocated and I received stitches to a cut on my back, but I’ll be all right.” She clasped her hands and noticed that her mother’s sapphire ring was still on her finger. A wave of vulnerability surged through her. “I could really use a hug.”
They approached the bed and held her. loc.1876 Kindle ebook
THE BOOK SPY is a satisfying and thrilling novel that is so in part because it crosses a whole range of genres. It takes place during WWII and is based in part on historical fact, so it's historical fiction. It's also a romance that does more than change the characters-- it impacts the plot. This book is also an intrigue and spy novel about "librarian spies" and microfiche experts who helped the allied domestics forces in Europe during the war. There's nothing more satisfying to me than a bunch of book nerds having a profound impact on the outcome of WWII.
Perhaps my favorite element of this book is the women's fiction element, embodied perfectly in Maria and Pilar, two capable and resilient Strong Female Characters, who also expressed vulnerability, as can be seen in the above excerpt, both of whose arcs I enjoyed following. I found Maria, the lead, both believable and loveable. And the ending! I just wanted to embrace her tightly, for she is a real heroine, drawn in believable strokes.
I'm so choosy about historical fiction, and THE BOOK SPY is one of those that delighted me and hit all my enjoyment factors: intrigue, inclusivity, good history, nice style. I recommend it thoroughly. Thank you NetGalley, Alan Hlad, and Kensington Books for letting me read this delightful eARC!
Rating 5 stars
Finished November 2022
Read this book if you like:
♟️ Intrigue and spy work
📚 Bookish books
🥰 Sweet romance
🧨 WWII stories
🦸♀️ Strong female characters
January 3, 2023
My inner history geek is jubilant! I’m so excited to share with you a book that needs to top every discerning historical fiction reader’s new year reading list. Part intrigue, part romance, part history and all heart, this one’s a contender for top historical fiction of 2023.
I thoroughly enjoyed author Alan Hlad’s latest novel, The Book Spy. Not only was it a rich and informative read, but it was also unique, oozed authenticity and was extremely well-written. Set in Portugal, this exciting espionage tale unites an American librarian on a task to acquire critical intelligence and a Portuguese bookseller on a mission to help Jewish refugees.
Hlad explores a true event in history that has been overlooked - the recruitment of real-life librarians to serve as intelligence agents for the Office of Strategic Services. You’ll read about Roosevelt’s executive order that created a force of librarians and microfilm specialists whose sole task was to acquire enemy newspapers, books and periodicals for American war agencies.
Hlad also highlights the Jewish refugees who fled German-occupied Europe without passports or visas and arrived in Portugal. Again, Hlad offers up little-known facts revealing neutral Lisbon’s transition into a city of espionage and a safe harbour for one million refugees.
Furthermore, Hlad makes us aware of a rare metal, discovered in Portugal, that became a critical element to supply Hitler’s war machine and how this need led to an international smuggling operation.
If you are a fan of intriguing historical fiction showcasing strong female characters, you’ll want to get your hands on this one A.S.A.P.
I was gifted this extraordinary novel by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I thoroughly enjoyed author Alan Hlad’s latest novel, The Book Spy. Not only was it a rich and informative read, but it was also unique, oozed authenticity and was extremely well-written. Set in Portugal, this exciting espionage tale unites an American librarian on a task to acquire critical intelligence and a Portuguese bookseller on a mission to help Jewish refugees.
Hlad explores a true event in history that has been overlooked - the recruitment of real-life librarians to serve as intelligence agents for the Office of Strategic Services. You’ll read about Roosevelt’s executive order that created a force of librarians and microfilm specialists whose sole task was to acquire enemy newspapers, books and periodicals for American war agencies.
Hlad also highlights the Jewish refugees who fled German-occupied Europe without passports or visas and arrived in Portugal. Again, Hlad offers up little-known facts revealing neutral Lisbon’s transition into a city of espionage and a safe harbour for one million refugees.
Furthermore, Hlad makes us aware of a rare metal, discovered in Portugal, that became a critical element to supply Hitler’s war machine and how this need led to an international smuggling operation.
If you are a fan of intriguing historical fiction showcasing strong female characters, you’ll want to get your hands on this one A.S.A.P.
I was gifted this extraordinary novel by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 24, 2022
A couple of weeks after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt forms a new task force and it's called the Office of Strategic Service. They need librarians and microfilm specialists, to purchase and go through Axis publications and their looking for anything that might help the allies win the war. Details about German troops, where weapons are being manufactured and military strategies, in newspapers, books, magazine and journals.
Maria Alves is a microfilm expect, she works in a tiny room at the New York Public Library, she spent her childhood traveling with her photojournalist parents and she can speak six languages fluently. At first only men with Ivy League educations are recruited by the OSS, this makes Maria mad and she takes matters into her own hands.
Lisbon, Portugal is a neutral country and it’s the last gateway out of Europe, thousands of refuges are flocking to the city and many of them are Jewish. Tiago Soares owns a bookstore in the center of Lisbon, with his assistant Rosa Alves, the pair create forged passports and visas for Jewish refugees. Maria meets Tiago, she works out what he’s doing and Tiago doesn’t believe Maria is just an American librarian working in Lisbon. He does what he can to obtain newspapers, books and printed material from Germany for her, Maria takes photo’s of the documents and the film is sent to London via her Lisbon contact.
Maria’s not a spy, after she meets Lars Steiger, a rich Swiss Banker and a known Nazi sympathizer. Lars is believed to be involved in money laundering for the Germans and also trying to obtain supplies of Wolfram needed for making weapons. Maria is recruited to be a double agent, her role is gain Lars trust, give him false information about when the allies are planning to land in France and where.
Both Maria and Tiago are involved in dangerous activities, despite the growing attraction between them, they can’t act on their feelings as both are only one simple slip up away from being exposed, arrested, tortured or worse!
I received a copy of The Book Spy from Edelweiss and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Alan Hlad has thoroughly researched what happened in Lisbon during The Second World War, he combines real facts and details and creates an interesting, enlightening and intriguing narrative. The characters of Maria, Tiago, Roy, Pilar and Rosa are brilliant and incredibly smart. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this novel and a perfect choice for a book club read.
Maria Alves is a microfilm expect, she works in a tiny room at the New York Public Library, she spent her childhood traveling with her photojournalist parents and she can speak six languages fluently. At first only men with Ivy League educations are recruited by the OSS, this makes Maria mad and she takes matters into her own hands.
Lisbon, Portugal is a neutral country and it’s the last gateway out of Europe, thousands of refuges are flocking to the city and many of them are Jewish. Tiago Soares owns a bookstore in the center of Lisbon, with his assistant Rosa Alves, the pair create forged passports and visas for Jewish refugees. Maria meets Tiago, she works out what he’s doing and Tiago doesn’t believe Maria is just an American librarian working in Lisbon. He does what he can to obtain newspapers, books and printed material from Germany for her, Maria takes photo’s of the documents and the film is sent to London via her Lisbon contact.
Maria’s not a spy, after she meets Lars Steiger, a rich Swiss Banker and a known Nazi sympathizer. Lars is believed to be involved in money laundering for the Germans and also trying to obtain supplies of Wolfram needed for making weapons. Maria is recruited to be a double agent, her role is gain Lars trust, give him false information about when the allies are planning to land in France and where.
Both Maria and Tiago are involved in dangerous activities, despite the growing attraction between them, they can’t act on their feelings as both are only one simple slip up away from being exposed, arrested, tortured or worse!
I received a copy of The Book Spy from Edelweiss and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Alan Hlad has thoroughly researched what happened in Lisbon during The Second World War, he combines real facts and details and creates an interesting, enlightening and intriguing narrative. The characters of Maria, Tiago, Roy, Pilar and Rosa are brilliant and incredibly smart. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this novel and a perfect choice for a book club read.
March 24, 2023
This amazing book deserves so much more than a shiny 5 star rating!!!!
This is one of those times where I am stumped as to what to say in my review because so much has already been said and written about this book, that I don't know what to add! So here's some of my thoughts about The Book Spy. When I heard that Alan Hlad had written this book,I pre-ordered it because I know that it was going to be a winner 🏆!
Alan Hlad is a fantastic author who knows how to draw you in from the first word and keeps you extremely interested throughout the entire book. Any book by this author is going to be great 😃 I love the dedication page " For the librarians who went to war" What a beautiful dedication!!
This story takes place in WW2 1942 - 1944. It tells the story of Maria, an American Librarian and her friends Roy and Pilar who become part of The OSS ( Office Of Strategic Services) They are librarians and microfilm specialists trained in espionage who are sent to neutral countries to acquire books, newspapers, technical manuals,ect. They gather information about troop location, weapons and military plans to help win the war. Maria is sent to Lisbon, Portugal and meets Tiago a Portuguese bookseller. Tiago is more than a bookseller, he's a man with a heart of gold because he and Rosa, his assistant, risk their lives to help free Jewish refugees. He gives them forged passports and new identities to sail for freedom in America🇺🇸 When Maria and Tiagos paths intertwine, the story really takes off. We're talking spies, double agents, coded messages written in invisible ink left in dead drop boxes, an attempt to take Hitler out and kill him, Swiss bank accounts and running away from the person who has found out that you decieved him. There's some romance and something for everyone!! This book really keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens, I truly had a hard time putting it down. What an amazing adventure! You really care about the characters and you want the best for them.
When you read this book, please read the authors notes because you'll learn how this book came to be. Alan Hlad really did his research and you are in for a treat! I very highly recommend this emotionally moving book to everyone! Enjoy and Happy Reading 📖🕵️♀️
This is one of those times where I am stumped as to what to say in my review because so much has already been said and written about this book, that I don't know what to add! So here's some of my thoughts about The Book Spy. When I heard that Alan Hlad had written this book,I pre-ordered it because I know that it was going to be a winner 🏆!
Alan Hlad is a fantastic author who knows how to draw you in from the first word and keeps you extremely interested throughout the entire book. Any book by this author is going to be great 😃 I love the dedication page " For the librarians who went to war" What a beautiful dedication!!
This story takes place in WW2 1942 - 1944. It tells the story of Maria, an American Librarian and her friends Roy and Pilar who become part of The OSS ( Office Of Strategic Services) They are librarians and microfilm specialists trained in espionage who are sent to neutral countries to acquire books, newspapers, technical manuals,ect. They gather information about troop location, weapons and military plans to help win the war. Maria is sent to Lisbon, Portugal and meets Tiago a Portuguese bookseller. Tiago is more than a bookseller, he's a man with a heart of gold because he and Rosa, his assistant, risk their lives to help free Jewish refugees. He gives them forged passports and new identities to sail for freedom in America🇺🇸 When Maria and Tiagos paths intertwine, the story really takes off. We're talking spies, double agents, coded messages written in invisible ink left in dead drop boxes, an attempt to take Hitler out and kill him, Swiss bank accounts and running away from the person who has found out that you decieved him. There's some romance and something for everyone!! This book really keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens, I truly had a hard time putting it down. What an amazing adventure! You really care about the characters and you want the best for them.
When you read this book, please read the authors notes because you'll learn how this book came to be. Alan Hlad really did his research and you are in for a treat! I very highly recommend this emotionally moving book to everyone! Enjoy and Happy Reading 📖🕵️♀️
January 15, 2023
I like historical fiction, but sometimes I get tired of the WWII books that read so similar. This book is about WWII but it is not like anything else I’ve read before. I’ll admit I had no idea about the librarians using microfiche technology to try to save books as the Nazis were burning them. This book had a little bit of it all: romance, history, adventure. Maria is determined to be deployed with the group of librarians going to neutral counties in Europe to microfiche enemy newspapers and books. She isn’t deterred when the leader of the program ignores her interest since she doesn’t have an Ivy League education (despite being fluent in 6 languages and an expert with microfiche. Maria is my favorite kind of narrator, full of moxie and she gets to go to Lisbon but the mission is more than she ever could have expected. Tiago is a half Jewish bookseller in Lisbon who secretly helps refugees escape to America. This book was beautiful.
March 25, 2023
The Book Spy by Alan Hlad
Historical fiction, WW II.
Librarians using microfiche are sent to countries to save books and newspapers for prosperity. Though they are not trained or considered spies, one takes the opportunity to infiltrate the enemies lives and create any chaos possible.
Thrilling and engrossing. It started just a bit slow as the world was built but the story soon had me anxious and concerned as the danger amped up.
The bravery of all those people fighting for their beliefs are inspiring.
I received a copy of this book from #BetweenTheChapters and @kensingtonbooks
4.5
Historical fiction, WW II.
Librarians using microfiche are sent to countries to save books and newspapers for prosperity. Though they are not trained or considered spies, one takes the opportunity to infiltrate the enemies lives and create any chaos possible.
Thrilling and engrossing. It started just a bit slow as the world was built but the story soon had me anxious and concerned as the danger amped up.
The bravery of all those people fighting for their beliefs are inspiring.
I received a copy of this book from #BetweenTheChapters and @kensingtonbooks
4.5
June 29, 2023
This is a well-written, entertaining, informative WWII historical fiction novel. It has a likable, intelligent, strong, resourceful and enterprising female protagonist, engaging secondary characters, intrigue, suspense, a touch of romance, and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narrator, Ms. Christa Lewis, has a lovely voice and does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.
February 11, 2023
Fictional Maria Alves is a microfilm expert employed at the NY Public Library who cons her way into being invited to join the newly formed intelligence branch of the US government (later to become the OSS) and gets herself sent to Lisbon to photograph publications for the Library of Congress.😉😉
Maria must obtain banned materials and she does so with the help of a bookseller sympathetic to the Allies.
The story is moved along when Maria takes matters into her own hands as the opportunity presents itself to become an actual spy, and a double agent.
This is an interesting look at the real librarians who were sent to neutral countries to do this important work. Maria is based on the real Adele Kibre.
Who would imagine a stodgy librarian carrying out clandestine work? Well some certainly did.
There are other books about librarians during the war and the incredible work they did but I liked the fictional Maria in this one. The author has presented an interesting look at these lesser known heroes of WWII.
Maria arrived in Lisbon on the Yankee Clipper that crashed upon landing on the River Tabgus in 1943. The singer Jane Froman was on board this flight which reminded me of the movie “With a Song in My Heart” where Susan Hayward played Froman and was nominated for an Oscar.
Maria must obtain banned materials and she does so with the help of a bookseller sympathetic to the Allies.
The story is moved along when Maria takes matters into her own hands as the opportunity presents itself to become an actual spy, and a double agent.
This is an interesting look at the real librarians who were sent to neutral countries to do this important work. Maria is based on the real Adele Kibre.
Who would imagine a stodgy librarian carrying out clandestine work? Well some certainly did.
There are other books about librarians during the war and the incredible work they did but I liked the fictional Maria in this one. The author has presented an interesting look at these lesser known heroes of WWII.
Maria arrived in Lisbon on the Yankee Clipper that crashed upon landing on the River Tabgus in 1943. The singer Jane Froman was on board this flight which reminded me of the movie “With a Song in My Heart” where Susan Hayward played Froman and was nominated for an Oscar.
February 28, 2023
First, I must start off by giving homage to the author, Alan Hlad, before talking about his new release, The Book Spy. There are often readers who want to know how much of a book is fact and how much fiction. My husband always asks me, after every movie we watch, “Was that a real story?” While I don’t know why that matters so much to him, most of the time, it does not matter much to me. A story is a story, and, with all the other planets in the universes, the aspect of multiverses, just everything, anything could have happened to anyone, thus, any story could be everyone’s, even if in a small way. And, what true story is ever really the whole truth, for that matter? When I read about Hall's process, in writing his books, that he takes real to life events and individuals, and uses them as major inspiration for what he creates, I liked the fact that he took true things and made them his own.
After all, that’s what I think most people do with everything in life, look at things, remember them and tell them as they remember them. One of the experiences the main character in the book, Maria has, when her plane crashes on the way to Portugal. Well, Hlad had taken a real life crash of the Yankee Clipper in Lisbon’s Tagus River on February 22, 1943, and put her in it. But, the reason why the writer used the little known crash was for a reason (there may have been many). To honor those who passed away in a harrowing incident that is now long forgotten. Even if we honor life in that way, honor those that died with the mention of them, in a fictional book, I feel that has genuine gratitude for their life, and a lot of class. As the time and work it takes to work situations like that into a story point can be consuming or even, derailing. However, the author took the long past event and worked it into the story with grace and ease.
The Book Spy is a World War II story exactly as the title says, Martha, the main character, is a librarian who recruits herself with panache for the newly formed U.S. government unit that goes overseas and microfilms war documents for the Library of Congress (papers, mostly, but books and what they could get their hands on). She is sent to Portugal, who claims to be neutral about their status during the war, despite what Martha will find out. From the moment readers learn of how Martha will get herself into the unit, for without a PhD she cannot apply, we know that this woman is going to get a lot of work done, but also, possibly get herself in a lot of trouble.
But, if there is anyone who will complete the tenets the unit sets out, while going above and beyond them, it will definitely be this librarian. And, even the crash she is in, mentioned above, that takes most of the lives of the passengers, Martha is not slowed down. Though she is asked to come home, when she declines, the director has learned already, Martha is not one to take direction but make her own way, hoping to help end this terrible war. And, since the program was birthed by the maverick William “Wild Bill” Donovan, Martha is very much respected for her “unique courage” (a political way to state her behavior). Martha is definitely a memorable and spirited heroine, and I will remember long after reading the book.
The story is shared with Tiago, the owner of a bookshop in Portugal. Part of an underground network to help Jews get out of Europe to America, he is constantly bothered by the PVDE, part of the police force, and must keep all he does a secret. Plus, there is a past he hides from his own country that, if found out, could put him in prison for the rest of his life (at the very least).
When the pair meet, they both find that the other is someone that they could spend the rest of their life with, and a romance blossoms. But, before it can bloom, the two remind themselves that they owe themselves to their cause, before all else. Both are determined to help end the war and, until then, help those in it, in danger, get out. But, will they both survive until the end, especially when Martha meets a Swiss banker, Lars, who is helping Germany buy wolfram from the Portuguese government?
Being a neutral country, the Allies would look unkind if this information was divulged. But, when Lars asks Martha to spy on her own country, Martha goes from taking photos of documents to passing false information right to the Nazi party, something that could, if she is found out, end her life. But, what is one life worth when so many are at stake?
This was my first time reading Alan Hlad, who has written several other books all revolving around United States history and World War II. As I felt that this was a unique topic, the fact that librarians were sent overseas, all sent carrying magazines (to trade) that could get them killed, doing a job that could get them killed, I looked into some of the other books and topics Hlad covers. They are all like this, books about instances during the Second World War which no other author has covered, unique but very much a part of recorded history. And, the manner in which Hlad presents his stories, using fact to write fiction, keeping and honoring instances readers would probably never know about, I find dear to my heart and something I would love to read more on.
So, as I go back and read more of this “new-to-me” author, I wait for the future and the next creative story Alan Hlad twists, hoping he once again honors the memory of those in the past, bringing a good read to the future. Something Hlad is now known to do.
After all, that’s what I think most people do with everything in life, look at things, remember them and tell them as they remember them. One of the experiences the main character in the book, Maria has, when her plane crashes on the way to Portugal. Well, Hlad had taken a real life crash of the Yankee Clipper in Lisbon’s Tagus River on February 22, 1943, and put her in it. But, the reason why the writer used the little known crash was for a reason (there may have been many). To honor those who passed away in a harrowing incident that is now long forgotten. Even if we honor life in that way, honor those that died with the mention of them, in a fictional book, I feel that has genuine gratitude for their life, and a lot of class. As the time and work it takes to work situations like that into a story point can be consuming or even, derailing. However, the author took the long past event and worked it into the story with grace and ease.
The Book Spy is a World War II story exactly as the title says, Martha, the main character, is a librarian who recruits herself with panache for the newly formed U.S. government unit that goes overseas and microfilms war documents for the Library of Congress (papers, mostly, but books and what they could get their hands on). She is sent to Portugal, who claims to be neutral about their status during the war, despite what Martha will find out. From the moment readers learn of how Martha will get herself into the unit, for without a PhD she cannot apply, we know that this woman is going to get a lot of work done, but also, possibly get herself in a lot of trouble.
But, if there is anyone who will complete the tenets the unit sets out, while going above and beyond them, it will definitely be this librarian. And, even the crash she is in, mentioned above, that takes most of the lives of the passengers, Martha is not slowed down. Though she is asked to come home, when she declines, the director has learned already, Martha is not one to take direction but make her own way, hoping to help end this terrible war. And, since the program was birthed by the maverick William “Wild Bill” Donovan, Martha is very much respected for her “unique courage” (a political way to state her behavior). Martha is definitely a memorable and spirited heroine, and I will remember long after reading the book.
The story is shared with Tiago, the owner of a bookshop in Portugal. Part of an underground network to help Jews get out of Europe to America, he is constantly bothered by the PVDE, part of the police force, and must keep all he does a secret. Plus, there is a past he hides from his own country that, if found out, could put him in prison for the rest of his life (at the very least).
When the pair meet, they both find that the other is someone that they could spend the rest of their life with, and a romance blossoms. But, before it can bloom, the two remind themselves that they owe themselves to their cause, before all else. Both are determined to help end the war and, until then, help those in it, in danger, get out. But, will they both survive until the end, especially when Martha meets a Swiss banker, Lars, who is helping Germany buy wolfram from the Portuguese government?
Being a neutral country, the Allies would look unkind if this information was divulged. But, when Lars asks Martha to spy on her own country, Martha goes from taking photos of documents to passing false information right to the Nazi party, something that could, if she is found out, end her life. But, what is one life worth when so many are at stake?
This was my first time reading Alan Hlad, who has written several other books all revolving around United States history and World War II. As I felt that this was a unique topic, the fact that librarians were sent overseas, all sent carrying magazines (to trade) that could get them killed, doing a job that could get them killed, I looked into some of the other books and topics Hlad covers. They are all like this, books about instances during the Second World War which no other author has covered, unique but very much a part of recorded history. And, the manner in which Hlad presents his stories, using fact to write fiction, keeping and honoring instances readers would probably never know about, I find dear to my heart and something I would love to read more on.
So, as I go back and read more of this “new-to-me” author, I wait for the future and the next creative story Alan Hlad twists, hoping he once again honors the memory of those in the past, bringing a good read to the future. Something Hlad is now known to do.
December 20, 2022
The Book Spy is one of the most interesting stories I have read in a while. How does an American official, a librarian, become involved in the WWII spy world? Maria Alves does it her way in trying to help bring an end to the war. She knows what she needs to do and will find a way or make a way.
To top it all this story is based on true stories of WWII librarians spies.
To top it all this story is based on true stories of WWII librarians spies.
May 4, 2023
When Marie Alves learned that her colleague at the New York Public Library got accepted for a position to work overseas, a flash of jealousy and disappointment swept over her. The position was for a microfilm specialist for the IDC (Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications,) and Maria was more than qualified. Unfortunately, however, the IDC was only accepting Ivy League graduates, which Maria was not.
Determined to secure the same position as her colleague, Maria devised a plan. That plan had many risks, but whe would go to great lengths to be of service to her country.
Eventually, Maria got dispatched to Lisbon, Portugal and teams up with Tiago Soares, a bookstore owner with a mission of his own. Together, Maria and Tiago’s partnership became a formidabble force that placed their respective lives in constant jeopardy.
The Book Spy is a noteworthy historical fiction novel that highlights the involvement of librarians during WWII. A fact that I had no idea even existed.
Author, Alan Hlad has done a superb job in crafting a story with illustrious characters that really shine throughout the novel. And because I also listened to the audiobook narrated by Christa Lewis, those characters really came alive.
The story flows wonderfully with a number of surprises and twists along the way. The narrative follows a linear timeline across different countries — an excellent method of storytelling.
I’ll place The Book Spy as one of my top historical fiction books this year. It’s a must read or listen in my opinion. Five oustanding stars.
I received a physical copy of the book from Kensington Books through BTC Insiders. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Determined to secure the same position as her colleague, Maria devised a plan. That plan had many risks, but whe would go to great lengths to be of service to her country.
Eventually, Maria got dispatched to Lisbon, Portugal and teams up with Tiago Soares, a bookstore owner with a mission of his own. Together, Maria and Tiago’s partnership became a formidabble force that placed their respective lives in constant jeopardy.
The Book Spy is a noteworthy historical fiction novel that highlights the involvement of librarians during WWII. A fact that I had no idea even existed.
Author, Alan Hlad has done a superb job in crafting a story with illustrious characters that really shine throughout the novel. And because I also listened to the audiobook narrated by Christa Lewis, those characters really came alive.
The story flows wonderfully with a number of surprises and twists along the way. The narrative follows a linear timeline across different countries — an excellent method of storytelling.
I’ll place The Book Spy as one of my top historical fiction books this year. It’s a must read or listen in my opinion. Five oustanding stars.
I received a physical copy of the book from Kensington Books through BTC Insiders. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
October 30, 2023
THE BOOK SPY is a solid four stars for me. Loved the story but Alan Hlad's sentence compositions are lacking in descriptive language.
This is a well researched book and I did learn about Wolfram. The Author's Notes were a pleasure to read and much of the stuff he writes about should have been included in the novel. My opinion.
This is a well researched book and I did learn about Wolfram. The Author's Notes were a pleasure to read and much of the stuff he writes about should have been included in the novel. My opinion.
October 6, 2022
This novel is different from other WWII novels because it takes place in the neutral country of Portugal soon after the U.S. joins the war. Marie, a librarian from the New York Public Library and Tiago, a bookstore owner in Lisbon are the key characters. These two intrepid characters face mounting difficulties with endurance and fortitude to make a difference in people's lives.
What touched me most was that this was a story about ordinary people that were willing to do extraordinarily brave and courageous things for other people, that they didn't know or would ever meet, in the fight against Hitler and fascism. These people did not close their eyes or turn their backs on what was happening. Instead, they were selfless and often sacrificed everything to fight against evil.
Alan Hlad is one of my favorite authors and this book should be a "must read" for fans of historical fiction and WWII. I think that it will be especially interesting to librarians and bookstore owners as well.
My sincerest thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book. Publication date: January 24, 2023.
What touched me most was that this was a story about ordinary people that were willing to do extraordinarily brave and courageous things for other people, that they didn't know or would ever meet, in the fight against Hitler and fascism. These people did not close their eyes or turn their backs on what was happening. Instead, they were selfless and often sacrificed everything to fight against evil.
Alan Hlad is one of my favorite authors and this book should be a "must read" for fans of historical fiction and WWII. I think that it will be especially interesting to librarians and bookstore owners as well.
My sincerest thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book. Publication date: January 24, 2023.
December 1, 2022
I am a sucker for historical fiction based on fact, particularly if it involves World War II. Add to that mix, people who make their living dealing with books, such as booksellers and librarians and I will jump on the book. ALAN HLAD has written just such a book. The title is THE BOOK SPY. It is the first book by Mr. Hlad that I have read. It will not be the last.
Shortly after December 7, 1941, Colonel William “Wild Bill” Donovan, head of what was to become the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) that later morphed into the Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.) went to see President Franklin Roosevelt with an idea for intelligence gathering in Europe. Send librarians to neutral cities such as Lisbon, Madrid and Stockholm to gather books, periodicals and other printed material from Germany. The librarians were to act under the banner of the Library of Congress. They were not to be spies. The gathered material was to be preserved for the Library so it would not be lost. Their technique was microphotography and the medium was microfilm. It was easier to ship microfilm to the U.S. and Great Britain than the actual documents.
At the time of the story, Maria Alves was the lead micro photographer of the New York City Public Library in 1941. Her parents were freelance news photographers. Her father had been born in Portugal and her mother had been born in Germany. They met and married in Europe before immigrating to the United States. They settled in New Jersey not far from New York City. Her mother Elise had been killed in a crossfire incident in Madrid during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. Maria had traveled extensively with her parents prior to 1937 and was fluent in seven languages. Maria is based in part on Adele Kibre who actually was based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Frederick Kilgour from Harvard University’s Library was put in charge of recruiting for the librarian/micro photographers. He had a bias against those who had not graduated from Ivy League universities such as Harvard, Yale and Columbia. Maria had gone to the University of California in Berkeley, which is an excellent west coast university. Thus, she was considered unsuitable for the role. Her assistant, Roy, was recruited despite the fact that he had a wife and child while Maria was single (she was about 28). Maria, with her father’s help, devises a plan to crash a party at the home of Vincent Astor, one the America’s wealthiest men, where William Donovan was to be the featured guest. Kilgour had not returned any of Maria’s phone calls asking to join the venture and Donovan was his boss.
Eventually Maria and Roy meet in Washington, D.C. where Roy has a new partner Pilar, another librarian. Eugene Powers, who started the company University Microfilms International, conducted her training at the Library of Congress. He had been in charge of microfilming at the British Museum. Maria, Roy and Pilar reunite in Lisbon, Portugal after their training.
In Lisbon, Maria meets Tiago Soares who owns a bookstore that features poetry. Tiago and his elderly assistant Rosa provide documents to refugees, primarily Jewish, who are trying to escape the Nazi purges and death camps. The bookshop is under surveillance by the Portuguese Secret Police and their investigator Martin Neves, a nasty individual. Tiago’s French grandparents near Bordeaux had started the network with which Tiago works. His grandmother was Jewish. They were winemakers, as were Tiago’s Portuguese parents.
At the Casino in Estoril, not far from Lisbon, Maria meets Lars Steiger, a wealthy Swiss banker, who was secretly helping Germany acquire tungsten ore used in military weapons. At this point, Maria becomes a spy as well. She reports to “Argus” (whose real name was H. Gregory Thomas, OSS chief for the Iberian Peninsula). Lars tells her that if she helps him, she could become very wealthy. The funds he provides Maria she donates to Tiago’s refugee network.
Maria feeds Steiger false information provided to her by the O.S.S. about the Allies plans to invade France. Because of her “friendship” with Lars, Maria gets to meet Prime Minister Antonio Salazar and his banker Ricardo Espirito Santo as well as Adolph Hitler, Eva Braun and her sister Gretl. The deception plan was called Operation Fortitude. It was real.
Alan Hlad is a terrific writer and storyteller. If you want to learn about a little-known WWII espionage operation, this book is for you. If you like adventure stories, read this book. If you like great writing of any kind, this is also for you. If I could, I would give the book 10 stars instead of five. EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
GO! BUY! READ! NOW!
Shortly after December 7, 1941, Colonel William “Wild Bill” Donovan, head of what was to become the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) that later morphed into the Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.) went to see President Franklin Roosevelt with an idea for intelligence gathering in Europe. Send librarians to neutral cities such as Lisbon, Madrid and Stockholm to gather books, periodicals and other printed material from Germany. The librarians were to act under the banner of the Library of Congress. They were not to be spies. The gathered material was to be preserved for the Library so it would not be lost. Their technique was microphotography and the medium was microfilm. It was easier to ship microfilm to the U.S. and Great Britain than the actual documents.
At the time of the story, Maria Alves was the lead micro photographer of the New York City Public Library in 1941. Her parents were freelance news photographers. Her father had been born in Portugal and her mother had been born in Germany. They met and married in Europe before immigrating to the United States. They settled in New Jersey not far from New York City. Her mother Elise had been killed in a crossfire incident in Madrid during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. Maria had traveled extensively with her parents prior to 1937 and was fluent in seven languages. Maria is based in part on Adele Kibre who actually was based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Frederick Kilgour from Harvard University’s Library was put in charge of recruiting for the librarian/micro photographers. He had a bias against those who had not graduated from Ivy League universities such as Harvard, Yale and Columbia. Maria had gone to the University of California in Berkeley, which is an excellent west coast university. Thus, she was considered unsuitable for the role. Her assistant, Roy, was recruited despite the fact that he had a wife and child while Maria was single (she was about 28). Maria, with her father’s help, devises a plan to crash a party at the home of Vincent Astor, one the America’s wealthiest men, where William Donovan was to be the featured guest. Kilgour had not returned any of Maria’s phone calls asking to join the venture and Donovan was his boss.
Eventually Maria and Roy meet in Washington, D.C. where Roy has a new partner Pilar, another librarian. Eugene Powers, who started the company University Microfilms International, conducted her training at the Library of Congress. He had been in charge of microfilming at the British Museum. Maria, Roy and Pilar reunite in Lisbon, Portugal after their training.
In Lisbon, Maria meets Tiago Soares who owns a bookstore that features poetry. Tiago and his elderly assistant Rosa provide documents to refugees, primarily Jewish, who are trying to escape the Nazi purges and death camps. The bookshop is under surveillance by the Portuguese Secret Police and their investigator Martin Neves, a nasty individual. Tiago’s French grandparents near Bordeaux had started the network with which Tiago works. His grandmother was Jewish. They were winemakers, as were Tiago’s Portuguese parents.
At the Casino in Estoril, not far from Lisbon, Maria meets Lars Steiger, a wealthy Swiss banker, who was secretly helping Germany acquire tungsten ore used in military weapons. At this point, Maria becomes a spy as well. She reports to “Argus” (whose real name was H. Gregory Thomas, OSS chief for the Iberian Peninsula). Lars tells her that if she helps him, she could become very wealthy. The funds he provides Maria she donates to Tiago’s refugee network.
Maria feeds Steiger false information provided to her by the O.S.S. about the Allies plans to invade France. Because of her “friendship” with Lars, Maria gets to meet Prime Minister Antonio Salazar and his banker Ricardo Espirito Santo as well as Adolph Hitler, Eva Braun and her sister Gretl. The deception plan was called Operation Fortitude. It was real.
Alan Hlad is a terrific writer and storyteller. If you want to learn about a little-known WWII espionage operation, this book is for you. If you like adventure stories, read this book. If you like great writing of any kind, this is also for you. If I could, I would give the book 10 stars instead of five. EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
GO! BUY! READ! NOW!
January 30, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this book. I don’t read a ton of historical fiction but I do enjoy the genre from time to time. This was a really interesting novel set during World War II that focused on librarians sent to gather documents during the war. I liked the fact that this book told a story based on an aspect of the war effort that I would have never imagined. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this wonderful story.
Maria was a great character and I loved her determination and willingness to risk everything for what she believed in. Maria was determined to become a part of the group under the Office of Strategic Services as soon as her male college is recruited. While there is no policy against women being a part of the group, there are obstacles that make it difficult for a woman to actually get a spot. Maria had to get creative to get noticed. She proved to be a stand-out in the field once she finally made it to Portugal to do the work.
I also really liked Tiago who did what he could to help the Jewish refugees flee to safety even at his own risk. He was a bookseller in Portugal who also helps Jewish people hoping to leave the country gain the papers that they will need. Along with his co-worker, he has provided passports and visas to countless individuals. Tiago’s and Maria’s paths cross as she is looking for books to microfilm and they soon form a closer connection. They both find themselves in a tremendous amount of danger and I wasn’t sure how things would work out for them.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be an incredibly interesting story with fantastic characters. I was surprised by just how much each character risked to achieve their goal. I would definitely read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books.
I really enjoyed this book. I don’t read a ton of historical fiction but I do enjoy the genre from time to time. This was a really interesting novel set during World War II that focused on librarians sent to gather documents during the war. I liked the fact that this book told a story based on an aspect of the war effort that I would have never imagined. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this wonderful story.
Maria was a great character and I loved her determination and willingness to risk everything for what she believed in. Maria was determined to become a part of the group under the Office of Strategic Services as soon as her male college is recruited. While there is no policy against women being a part of the group, there are obstacles that make it difficult for a woman to actually get a spot. Maria had to get creative to get noticed. She proved to be a stand-out in the field once she finally made it to Portugal to do the work.
I also really liked Tiago who did what he could to help the Jewish refugees flee to safety even at his own risk. He was a bookseller in Portugal who also helps Jewish people hoping to leave the country gain the papers that they will need. Along with his co-worker, he has provided passports and visas to countless individuals. Tiago’s and Maria’s paths cross as she is looking for books to microfilm and they soon form a closer connection. They both find themselves in a tremendous amount of danger and I wasn’t sure how things would work out for them.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be an incredibly interesting story with fantastic characters. I was surprised by just how much each character risked to achieve their goal. I would definitely read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books.
January 28, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC copy of this novel! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Two weeks after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, a new committee is formed, the IDC- Interdepartamental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications. Librarians, trained as microfilm specialists, would be sent to neutral European cities posing as American officials. Their assignment would be to collect books, magazines, and other materials for the Library of Congress. The materials would be Axis publications ordered through local bookstores in the neutral European cities. These materials would be microfilmed and sent to London or the US to be analyzed.
Maria Alves is one such Librarian, and with the help of one bookshop owner in Lisbon, Tiago, they are able to secure valuable information. But Tiago and Maria are both involved in the war more than each let on at first. Without any special training, Maria becomes a double agent, something she hadn’t anticipated on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from Alan Hlad!!! I finished it in 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down!!! I especially appreciated how well researched the facts and details were! Looking forward to more books from this author!
Two weeks after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, a new committee is formed, the IDC- Interdepartamental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications. Librarians, trained as microfilm specialists, would be sent to neutral European cities posing as American officials. Their assignment would be to collect books, magazines, and other materials for the Library of Congress. The materials would be Axis publications ordered through local bookstores in the neutral European cities. These materials would be microfilmed and sent to London or the US to be analyzed.
Maria Alves is one such Librarian, and with the help of one bookshop owner in Lisbon, Tiago, they are able to secure valuable information. But Tiago and Maria are both involved in the war more than each let on at first. Without any special training, Maria becomes a double agent, something she hadn’t anticipated on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from Alan Hlad!!! I finished it in 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down!!! I especially appreciated how well researched the facts and details were! Looking forward to more books from this author!
September 5, 2022
The Book Spy by Alan Hlad is a great WWII-era historical fiction that kept me entertained throughout.
This was a fascinating read taking us into Europe (Lisbon,Portugal) from the US in the form of an unconventional spy and heroine, Maria Alves. Through her adventures behind enemy lines, we read through suspense, mystery, action, romance, surprises, intrigue, and espionage.
I enjoyed this narrative that was action-packe and kept my interest. I liked the use of the atypical talent of Maria’s of librarian science/microfilms to add a new angle to this genre.
I also liked the author’s note at the end giving us more historical context of librarians being recruited by the OSS. Very interesting.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/31/23.
This was a fascinating read taking us into Europe (Lisbon,Portugal) from the US in the form of an unconventional spy and heroine, Maria Alves. Through her adventures behind enemy lines, we read through suspense, mystery, action, romance, surprises, intrigue, and espionage.
I enjoyed this narrative that was action-packe and kept my interest. I liked the use of the atypical talent of Maria’s of librarian science/microfilms to add a new angle to this genre.
I also liked the author’s note at the end giving us more historical context of librarians being recruited by the OSS. Very interesting.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/31/23.
August 9, 2023
opinião aqui: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvuDdLms6...
Um dos favoritos do ano!
Um dos favoritos do ano!
June 1, 2023
3.5 Stars
This is a fictional account about a true event where librarians from America were sent to neutral cities to gather information from the written word via microfilm. It is quite an interesting subject and one that I have not heard of until now. The author seemed to do a good amount of research to compile this book and give us a glimpse into this part of history.
Our main character, Maria, a librarian, is determined to help the Allies in the war effort. She finally gets her chance when she and 2 other librarians are sent to Portugal to microfilm any information that can help. There she meets a bookseller named Tiago. With his help she is able to get the publications needed. He is also doing his part by helping refugees with forged papers. When Maria is asked to become a spy, she can’t say no. From there, things get chaotic and everyone’s life is changed.
Although I enjoyed the story the characters were my biggest complaint. I liked them. Who wouldn’t like them? They were perfect in every way possible. Except if you were a bad guy, then you were really, really bad. You were either flawless or flawed. There was no in-between. I couldn’t help laugh at how ridiculous it all seemed. Especially with Maria. She was perfect in every way… strong, pretty, polite, smart, etc. She had no flaws. Characters stand out more when you can relate to them. No one is perfect. So, where the characters were likeable, they were not believable. The story itself is able to curb this fault and make it a satisfying story.
This is a fictional account about a true event where librarians from America were sent to neutral cities to gather information from the written word via microfilm. It is quite an interesting subject and one that I have not heard of until now. The author seemed to do a good amount of research to compile this book and give us a glimpse into this part of history.
Our main character, Maria, a librarian, is determined to help the Allies in the war effort. She finally gets her chance when she and 2 other librarians are sent to Portugal to microfilm any information that can help. There she meets a bookseller named Tiago. With his help she is able to get the publications needed. He is also doing his part by helping refugees with forged papers. When Maria is asked to become a spy, she can’t say no. From there, things get chaotic and everyone’s life is changed.
Although I enjoyed the story the characters were my biggest complaint. I liked them. Who wouldn’t like them? They were perfect in every way possible. Except if you were a bad guy, then you were really, really bad. You were either flawless or flawed. There was no in-between. I couldn’t help laugh at how ridiculous it all seemed. Especially with Maria. She was perfect in every way… strong, pretty, polite, smart, etc. She had no flaws. Characters stand out more when you can relate to them. No one is perfect. So, where the characters were likeable, they were not believable. The story itself is able to curb this fault and make it a satisfying story.
December 28, 2022
Unfortunately this book is just a list of facts and events, interspersed with repetitive information and unrealistic dialogue. I only got to chapter 6 and couldn’t make it any further.
January 17, 2023
It’s 1942 and the U.S. has entered World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. President Roosevelt has signed off creating a new committee - the Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications or IDC, whose purpose is to collect enemy newspapers, books, and periodicals for America’s war agencies. The IDC is to be staffed by librarians who will be deployed to neutral countries such as Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, acquire these materials and suss out information about enemy weaponry, plans, etc., microfilm the details, and send the images back to the U.S. Maria Alves is one of these librarians sent to Lisbon, Portugal. There she meets Tiago Soares, a bookstore owner who is on his own mission - helping Jewish refugees by forging passports and visas. Maria is smart, gutsy, and patriotic, and when the occasion arises, becomes a double agent posing as a spy for Germany feeding misleading information about one of the most significant Allied operations. This historical fiction was inspired by the true story of Juan Pujol Garcia (code name Garbo) a Spanish spy who worked as a double agent for Britain and Germany during World War II. His allegiance was to Britain and he provided false information to the Germans about the timing and location of Operation Fortitude - the Allied invasion of Normandy. I enjoyed the book. It had a good pacing and I appreciated that the author wove historical facts into the book as events in the book and stayed true to the timing. I hate it when author’s move real event timing in historical fiction just to suit their plots. I did feel that pieces fell into place a bit too conveniently, especially the Maria-Lars connection, but there’s always that willing suspension of disbelief to call upon. It didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment of the book though. Overall a good investment of time experiencing the life of a librarian in the U.S., becoming a double agent in beautiful Lisbon and having to take side trips to Austria and Germany! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 16, 2023
I enjoyed reading this book and even learned something new, which is always a bonus. What truly sets "The Book Spy" apart is its unique premise. The idea of using librarians as a means of espionage is thought-provoking and an aspect of WW2 I was unfamiliar with.
The plot is based on FDR’s agreement to establish the Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications (IDC). The agency deployed librarians and microfilm specialists to neutral countries to acquire, catalogue and reproduce printed material that would shed light on Axis operations.
However, it took me a while to get into the book. Initially the dialogue seemed halted and forced making it difficult to warm up to the characters, particularly, the heroine Maria. Some of the relationships that Maria developed didn't quite ring true with me either. You could see from the first chapters that a romance would develop, but the characters didn't spend enough time together to really make it seem realistic.
Still the book is a good read filled with espionage, uncertainty and danger. 3.5 stars rounded up
The plot is based on FDR’s agreement to establish the Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications (IDC). The agency deployed librarians and microfilm specialists to neutral countries to acquire, catalogue and reproduce printed material that would shed light on Axis operations.
However, it took me a while to get into the book. Initially the dialogue seemed halted and forced making it difficult to warm up to the characters, particularly, the heroine Maria. Some of the relationships that Maria developed didn't quite ring true with me either. You could see from the first chapters that a romance would develop, but the characters didn't spend enough time together to really make it seem realistic.
Still the book is a good read filled with espionage, uncertainty and danger. 3.5 stars rounded up
January 5, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Maria Alves, a young woman from New York, is working as a librarian and microfilm specialist at the NYPL. Inspired by the true stories of librarian spies who hunted down Axis intelligence throughout Europe, this novel creating an inspiring tale of bravery, intrigue and espionage.
The very beginning of the novel was slow for me and I found the prologue rather uninteresting. In particular, the author seemed to only use ‘[he] said’ constantly, rather than any other synonyms. However, once I got past this section and got into the meat of the book I was HOOKED. As in, still reading at 5am on a work night hooked. As in, could not put the damn book down.
Maria is a truly inspiring character, made even more impressive given the fact that she is based on a real life woman who was one of these ‘librarian spies’ during the war. The setting in Portugal is magical, and I learnt a lot about the Estado Novo, the authoritarian regime under dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. While I’ve read many books set in wartime Germany, France and Austria, this was the first that I read set in Portugal, which was a neutral country during the Second World War.
I highly recommend this book for anyone with a love of historical fiction, particularly those who want to read about other countries and how they were affected during WWII.
Espionage, bookstores and romance; what more could you want in a historical fiction novel?
Maria Alves, a young woman from New York, is working as a librarian and microfilm specialist at the NYPL. Inspired by the true stories of librarian spies who hunted down Axis intelligence throughout Europe, this novel creating an inspiring tale of bravery, intrigue and espionage.
The very beginning of the novel was slow for me and I found the prologue rather uninteresting. In particular, the author seemed to only use ‘[he] said’ constantly, rather than any other synonyms. However, once I got past this section and got into the meat of the book I was HOOKED. As in, still reading at 5am on a work night hooked. As in, could not put the damn book down.
Maria is a truly inspiring character, made even more impressive given the fact that she is based on a real life woman who was one of these ‘librarian spies’ during the war. The setting in Portugal is magical, and I learnt a lot about the Estado Novo, the authoritarian regime under dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. While I’ve read many books set in wartime Germany, France and Austria, this was the first that I read set in Portugal, which was a neutral country during the Second World War.
I highly recommend this book for anyone with a love of historical fiction, particularly those who want to read about other countries and how they were affected during WWII.
Espionage, bookstores and romance; what more could you want in a historical fiction novel?
June 30, 2024
It took me a minute to get into The Book Spy because Alan Hlad’s writing felt simplistic to me, and I initially thought I would be bored because of this. He’s not a “great writer”.
What he is, however, is a great storyteller. I became attached to the characters and their mission, and I learned so much about Portugal during WWII, librarian spies, and the dangerous game of espionage being played in this neutral country. I would definitely consider reading other historical fiction by Hlad.
What he is, however, is a great storyteller. I became attached to the characters and their mission, and I learned so much about Portugal during WWII, librarian spies, and the dangerous game of espionage being played in this neutral country. I would definitely consider reading other historical fiction by Hlad.
September 1, 2023
4,5*
Corro o risco de me tornar repetitiva mas... 2ªGM + bibliotecários + espionagem = tudo certo para mim! Com o bónus de ser passado em Lisboa, ainda melhor.
Corro o risco de me tornar repetitiva mas... 2ªGM + bibliotecários + espionagem = tudo certo para mim! Com o bónus de ser passado em Lisboa, ainda melhor.
February 19, 2024
Very well done book featuring behind the scenes work by librarians, for example, as Hitler's plans marched toward horrendous reality.
The main character is Maria, a brave and intelligent young woman who risked much.
This is just the second book I have read by this author and look forward to another soon.
Kindle Unlimited
The main character is Maria, a brave and intelligent young woman who risked much.
This is just the second book I have read by this author and look forward to another soon.
Kindle Unlimited
December 22, 2022
This was a really interesting book is based on true accounts of librarians that were used throughout WWII. This books is about ordinary people doing extraordinary things to aide the allied forces and more importantly the Jewish people that were so horrendously treated during that time.
There are two stories running through the book - that is until they converge. Tiago in Lisbon and Maria from New Jersey. I have to confess I liked Maria's story a little more than Tiago's.
This is a really wonderful historical fiction novel that was easy to read and easy to enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the change to read this novel
There are two stories running through the book - that is until they converge. Tiago in Lisbon and Maria from New Jersey. I have to confess I liked Maria's story a little more than Tiago's.
This is a really wonderful historical fiction novel that was easy to read and easy to enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the change to read this novel
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