What do you think?
Rate this book
Alias Emma #2
The Traitor
British spy Emma Makepeace goes undercover on a Russian oligarch’s superyacht, where she’s one wrong move away from a watery grave, in this electrifying thriller from the author of Alias Emma .
An MI6 operative is found dead, locked in a suitcase inside his own apartment. Despite an exhaustive search, no fingerprints are found at the scene. Emma Makepeace and her handler, Ripley, know an assassination when they see one, and such an obvious murder can mean only one Someone is sending a message.
As she digs into his past, Emma discovers that the unfortunate spy had been investigating two Russian oligarchs based in London. He’d become obsessed with the idea that the two were spies, aided by a third man—whose identity he had yet to uncover. When he shared his findings within MI6 in the weeks before he died, the response came back fast and Drop the investigation and move on. Had he uncovered a secret that cost him his life?
To pick up where he left off without ending up in a suitcase of her own, Emma goes undercover on one of the oligarch’s million-dollar yachts, scheduled to set sail from the Côte d’Azur to Monaco. Under other circumstances, this would be a dream vacation. But if Emma’s real identity gets discovered, it’s a death sentence.
As Emma’s work reveals secrets she’d be safer not knowing, the danger ratchets up. The killer may be closer to home than any of them imagined, and Emma won’t be safe until he—or she—is caught.
An MI6 operative is found dead, locked in a suitcase inside his own apartment. Despite an exhaustive search, no fingerprints are found at the scene. Emma Makepeace and her handler, Ripley, know an assassination when they see one, and such an obvious murder can mean only one Someone is sending a message.
As she digs into his past, Emma discovers that the unfortunate spy had been investigating two Russian oligarchs based in London. He’d become obsessed with the idea that the two were spies, aided by a third man—whose identity he had yet to uncover. When he shared his findings within MI6 in the weeks before he died, the response came back fast and Drop the investigation and move on. Had he uncovered a secret that cost him his life?
To pick up where he left off without ending up in a suitcase of her own, Emma goes undercover on one of the oligarch’s million-dollar yachts, scheduled to set sail from the Côte d’Azur to Monaco. Under other circumstances, this would be a dream vacation. But if Emma’s real identity gets discovered, it’s a death sentence.
As Emma’s work reveals secrets she’d be safer not knowing, the danger ratchets up. The killer may be closer to home than any of them imagined, and Emma won’t be safe until he—or she—is caught.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2023
About the author
Ava Glass
3 books502 followersAVA GLASS is a former crime reporter and civil servant. Her time working for the government introduced her to the world of spies, and she's been fascinated by them ever since. She lives in the south of England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 716 reviews
June 9, 2023
Emma Makepeace works for an agency in MI6 that’s so secret that it doesn’t even appear on any Government list. This small unit is responsible for identifying and stopping Russian spies from working inside Britain.
An MI6 agent is found dead in his apartment in a suitcase. The agent, Stephen, worked as an analyst, and had discovered links between chemical weapons and certain Russian oligarchs thought to be making a fortune from the sale of these weapons to anti Western countries.
This results in Emma being sent undercover on a Russian oligarch’s super yacht, on the hunt for the chemical weapons, and it goes without saying, it’s a very dangerous place to be! That’s bad enough but there are growing suspicions that there may be a traitor within MI6 itself.
This was another gripping read from Ava Glass with an action packed storyline, a terrific protagonist in Emma, and a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere was created thanks to a yacht full of bad guys in the middle of the ocean - making Emma a captive audience! Recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
An MI6 agent is found dead in his apartment in a suitcase. The agent, Stephen, worked as an analyst, and had discovered links between chemical weapons and certain Russian oligarchs thought to be making a fortune from the sale of these weapons to anti Western countries.
This results in Emma being sent undercover on a Russian oligarch’s super yacht, on the hunt for the chemical weapons, and it goes without saying, it’s a very dangerous place to be! That’s bad enough but there are growing suspicions that there may be a traitor within MI6 itself.
This was another gripping read from Ava Glass with an action packed storyline, a terrific protagonist in Emma, and a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere was created thanks to a yacht full of bad guys in the middle of the ocean - making Emma a captive audience! Recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
May 4, 2023
U.K. title The Traitor - not sure why the above popped up!
Emma Makepeace #2
Emma works for The Agency, a secret intelligence section run by Charles Ripley and is separate from MI6.
Stephen Garrick, an MI6 agent, is found horribly murdered in a padlocked suitcase, his latest investigation being into two oligarchs suspected of obtaining illegal weapons and who are now prime suspects for the murder. It becomes apparent there’s a traitor working inside the government and it’s agencies who is helping the Russians. Emma goes undercover on a potential suicide mission to unmask the traitor and those that murdered Garrick. She is given a legend and goes aboard a super yacht owned by one of the oligarchs. Can she learn the truth and keep herself out of danger?
First of all, Ava Glass has created a really good character in Emma who is gutsy, creative and brave. I really enjoy reading her backstory which is infused well in this follow up novel. The plot is interesting, the style of writing is very engaging and visual so scenes colourfully appear in front of my eyes. It’s an escapist, exhilarating, easy to read, entertaining page turner with a quick pace being maintained throughout. There’s plenty of tension especially as Emma has to be audacious if she’s to learn anything of value and danger seems to lurk around every corner. The super yacht and various Mediterranean cities make a vivid backdrop to the storytelling and these seem to enhance the excitement. I really like how the mood constantly changes which is especially true on board the luxury yacht but also towards the end back in London.
However, there is one twist that is so obvious that there is no ‘surprise, surprise’ when the big reveal happens, the only surprise being that Emma misses it!!!
Overall, though it’s a really diverting fun read and I look forward to seeing what Emma gets up to next.
Ps. This can easily be read as a stand-alone but book one is very good and well worth reading.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Emma Makepeace #2
Emma works for The Agency, a secret intelligence section run by Charles Ripley and is separate from MI6.
Stephen Garrick, an MI6 agent, is found horribly murdered in a padlocked suitcase, his latest investigation being into two oligarchs suspected of obtaining illegal weapons and who are now prime suspects for the murder. It becomes apparent there’s a traitor working inside the government and it’s agencies who is helping the Russians. Emma goes undercover on a potential suicide mission to unmask the traitor and those that murdered Garrick. She is given a legend and goes aboard a super yacht owned by one of the oligarchs. Can she learn the truth and keep herself out of danger?
First of all, Ava Glass has created a really good character in Emma who is gutsy, creative and brave. I really enjoy reading her backstory which is infused well in this follow up novel. The plot is interesting, the style of writing is very engaging and visual so scenes colourfully appear in front of my eyes. It’s an escapist, exhilarating, easy to read, entertaining page turner with a quick pace being maintained throughout. There’s plenty of tension especially as Emma has to be audacious if she’s to learn anything of value and danger seems to lurk around every corner. The super yacht and various Mediterranean cities make a vivid backdrop to the storytelling and these seem to enhance the excitement. I really like how the mood constantly changes which is especially true on board the luxury yacht but also towards the end back in London.
However, there is one twist that is so obvious that there is no ‘surprise, surprise’ when the big reveal happens, the only surprise being that Emma misses it!!!
Overall, though it’s a really diverting fun read and I look forward to seeing what Emma gets up to next.
Ps. This can easily be read as a stand-alone but book one is very good and well worth reading.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 30, 2023
Exactly what you think it'll be in the best way. If you love lady spies and realistic-sounding conspiracy plots set in the crystal blue waters off of France, The Traitor is exactly what you need... especially if you think you'd be a good spy!! ;) (Or you need a really great audiobook. The Traitor will be my pick for a spy novel recommendation for a while!!)
Sometimes, I forget I like spy novels. It catches me off guard every time I read one, and I am immediately entranced. Whose behavior is sneaky, who isn't what they seem... who will turn out to be smarter than they present themselves to be? Spy novels are amazing for figuring out if you're good at reading people and their purported body language!!
I don't want to give too much away - because even though I saw a few things coming - I definitely could not be a spy because a few other plot twists blew me away!!
NOTES:
- A bit graphic in describing people's demise, but overall - nothing felt egregious like some spy movies?
- The suspense was really well-balanced!!
- Also, I didn't read the first book, but I didn't notice and didn't feel like I was missing out on anything!!
**Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
Sometimes, I forget I like spy novels. It catches me off guard every time I read one, and I am immediately entranced. Whose behavior is sneaky, who isn't what they seem... who will turn out to be smarter than they present themselves to be? Spy novels are amazing for figuring out if you're good at reading people and their purported body language!!
I don't want to give too much away - because even though I saw a few things coming - I definitely could not be a spy because a few other plot twists blew me away!!
NOTES:
- A bit graphic in describing people's demise, but overall - nothing felt egregious like some spy movies?
- The suspense was really well-balanced!!
- Also, I didn't read the first book, but I didn't notice and didn't feel like I was missing out on anything!!
**Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
July 7, 2024
This is my second outing with author Ava Glass and the second book in the series starring female 'James Bond' Emma Makepeace. The Traitor starts with the quote "Courage is a capital sum reduced by expenditure," Ian Fleming, Doctor No.
Emma is outfitted with a "A low silver Porsche boxster convertible" for her mission. "It gleamed in the summer sunshine." Ripley lets her know, "It has speeds up to one hundred and eighty miles per hour although we're hoping you won't need that."
This was a very enjoyable read which included Russian oligarchs and an MI-6 traitor with locations on a luxury yacht and the Shard in London and I am looking forward to listening to the next book in the series, hopefully also read by the very capable Sophie Calhoun.
Emma is outfitted with a "A low silver Porsche boxster convertible" for her mission. "It gleamed in the summer sunshine." Ripley lets her know, "It has speeds up to one hundred and eighty miles per hour although we're hoping you won't need that."
This was a very enjoyable read which included Russian oligarchs and an MI-6 traitor with locations on a luxury yacht and the Shard in London and I am looking forward to listening to the next book in the series, hopefully also read by the very capable Sophie Calhoun.
September 21, 2023
******Now available *****
Part of a series, reads fine as a stand alone for those like me who had not read book one.
Emma Makepeace is part of the agency that is so secret it isn’t even on any government list and it’s her job to discover why one of their agents was murdered with chemical weapons in his home.
Fast read! Excellent spy novel that kept me wanting to read and enough character development that you could relate to characters. Very easy to follow and not wordy or lengthy with descriptions. Can’t wait to see where the series goes next!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random house publishing for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Part of a series, reads fine as a stand alone for those like me who had not read book one.
Emma Makepeace is part of the agency that is so secret it isn’t even on any government list and it’s her job to discover why one of their agents was murdered with chemical weapons in his home.
Fast read! Excellent spy novel that kept me wanting to read and enough character development that you could relate to characters. Very easy to follow and not wordy or lengthy with descriptions. Can’t wait to see where the series goes next!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random house publishing for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2023
Wow - really enjoyed this book from page 1! Although I had guessed one of the final plot twists, it was a pleasure to get there.
I loved the European scenery - I will definitely look for the first book in this series and more to come!
I loved the European scenery - I will definitely look for the first book in this series and more to come!
January 18, 2024
We first meet Emma in “Alias Emma.” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I even felt that this should be a series.
So…
Even though you can read this as a stand-alone, I recommend that you read “Alias Emma” first.
And…
Once again, the author delivers what spy fiction craves…
An absorbing plot. Shadowy characters. Page-gripping tension.
We meet Emma again on a mission. She is focused, but vulnerable. Pragmatic and compassionate. Loyal yet informed by her past experiences.
The author’s characters are fully formed taking readers to a surprising conclusion, and another feeling that more of Emma is to come.
November 14, 2023
Book Review
The Traitor
Ava Glass
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Move over Emma Peel from the beloved ’60s TV series The Avengers, and Eve Polastri from the more recent 2018 series Killing Eve. This is the second appearance of Emma Makepeace (real name: Alexandra) in her thrilling reprisal in this page-turning action espionage spy novel. This clever and ingenious heroine will grapple with hordes of Russian GRU spies and oligarchs living in England, along with their assassins.
Emma is part of a small intelligence unit of MI5 focused on identifying and stopping Russian spies working inside Britain. Tension between London and Moscow is at a new high. Emma was born to be a spy. Her Russian father had been a spy for Britain, sharing information he believed might prevent a nuclear war. Her mother proactively fled Russia with her while still pregnant. Her father was betrayed and executed when she was only several months old. After university, she joined the Army and was immediately placed in military intelligence, fluent in Russian, English, Polish, and German. After the service, she was snagged by MI5 by her current boss, Ripley.
She was summoned to a small flat and noted a large suitcase on the floor, slightly ajar. As she peered in, she shockingly noted the appearance of a naked man, kneeling and bent forward, with paper-white skin awkwardly stuffed inside. His face was contorted and bloated, with his tongue grotesquely protruding—the result of pain and fear. No fingerprints or DNA were found. This was obviously a targeted assassination—and perfectly executed by the Russians. Agent Stephen Garrick had stumbled upon some damning intel. He was a victim of VX (Venomous Agent X)—a chemical weapon developed during the Cold War. It disrupts the nervous system, paralyzing the muscles of respiration, resulting in a horrible death by asphyxiation. He was surveilling oligarchs Andrei Volkov and Oleg Federov, who orchestrated a massive organization with dozens of shell corporations funneling money all over the world to hide their involvement in the sale of chemical weapons and armaments out of Britain. But, most importantly, there was a third unidentified individual in the operation—probably embedded in MI5—a despicable mole.
To uncover the truth, Emma must go undercover and join the staff of Volkov’s superyacht, Eden. Currently docked off the coast of Nice, France, and about to set sail. Under the “Gold Dust” operation, Emma would become Jessica Marshall. She would be working alone on the yacht as it cruised toward Monaco. A painful death would be the result of discovery—working without backup. Tension and intrigue incrementally ratchet up as Emma discreetly searches and digs for evidence. Emma is an expert at deception, which will aid in her hair-raising forage on the yacht.
Ava Glass crafts a masterful narrative that is a cinematic gem, deftly capturing the reader’s imagination, as Emma against all odds searches for the truth. She must use disguise and subterfuge, and at times masterful hand-to-hand combat, to avoid capture by the Russians and their lackeys. A lethal cat and mouse contest plays out in the shadows of Monaco and Barcelona. The action is non-stop and explosive, ratcheting up to an exhilarating high-octane denouement. I couldn’t put this gripping novel down and finished it in one sitting.
In my mind’s eye, I pictured Diana Rigg or Uma Thurman playing Emma Makepeace—the female equivalent of James Bond. I’m on board for further travails of Emma.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Published at MysteryAndSuspenseMagazine.com .....
The Traitor
Ava Glass
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Move over Emma Peel from the beloved ’60s TV series The Avengers, and Eve Polastri from the more recent 2018 series Killing Eve. This is the second appearance of Emma Makepeace (real name: Alexandra) in her thrilling reprisal in this page-turning action espionage spy novel. This clever and ingenious heroine will grapple with hordes of Russian GRU spies and oligarchs living in England, along with their assassins.
Emma is part of a small intelligence unit of MI5 focused on identifying and stopping Russian spies working inside Britain. Tension between London and Moscow is at a new high. Emma was born to be a spy. Her Russian father had been a spy for Britain, sharing information he believed might prevent a nuclear war. Her mother proactively fled Russia with her while still pregnant. Her father was betrayed and executed when she was only several months old. After university, she joined the Army and was immediately placed in military intelligence, fluent in Russian, English, Polish, and German. After the service, she was snagged by MI5 by her current boss, Ripley.
She was summoned to a small flat and noted a large suitcase on the floor, slightly ajar. As she peered in, she shockingly noted the appearance of a naked man, kneeling and bent forward, with paper-white skin awkwardly stuffed inside. His face was contorted and bloated, with his tongue grotesquely protruding—the result of pain and fear. No fingerprints or DNA were found. This was obviously a targeted assassination—and perfectly executed by the Russians. Agent Stephen Garrick had stumbled upon some damning intel. He was a victim of VX (Venomous Agent X)—a chemical weapon developed during the Cold War. It disrupts the nervous system, paralyzing the muscles of respiration, resulting in a horrible death by asphyxiation. He was surveilling oligarchs Andrei Volkov and Oleg Federov, who orchestrated a massive organization with dozens of shell corporations funneling money all over the world to hide their involvement in the sale of chemical weapons and armaments out of Britain. But, most importantly, there was a third unidentified individual in the operation—probably embedded in MI5—a despicable mole.
To uncover the truth, Emma must go undercover and join the staff of Volkov’s superyacht, Eden. Currently docked off the coast of Nice, France, and about to set sail. Under the “Gold Dust” operation, Emma would become Jessica Marshall. She would be working alone on the yacht as it cruised toward Monaco. A painful death would be the result of discovery—working without backup. Tension and intrigue incrementally ratchet up as Emma discreetly searches and digs for evidence. Emma is an expert at deception, which will aid in her hair-raising forage on the yacht.
Ava Glass crafts a masterful narrative that is a cinematic gem, deftly capturing the reader’s imagination, as Emma against all odds searches for the truth. She must use disguise and subterfuge, and at times masterful hand-to-hand combat, to avoid capture by the Russians and their lackeys. A lethal cat and mouse contest plays out in the shadows of Monaco and Barcelona. The action is non-stop and explosive, ratcheting up to an exhilarating high-octane denouement. I couldn’t put this gripping novel down and finished it in one sitting.
In my mind’s eye, I pictured Diana Rigg or Uma Thurman playing Emma Makepeace—the female equivalent of James Bond. I’m on board for further travails of Emma.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Published at MysteryAndSuspenseMagazine.com .....
October 15, 2023
4.5 stars
This is the second in the Alias Emma series - but I think it could totally be read as a standalone as well. There's nothing crucial that you would need to know that they don't gloss over from the first book. This time the British spy, Emma, goes undercover, COMPLETELY UNDERCOVER (no communication basically), on a giant fancy yacht to catch a Russian man who may or may not have Russian weapons. Along the way, she discovers there's a traitor in her midst and she is out to find out who in her company is betraying her.
I actually enjoyed this book SOOO MUCH MORE than the first one. It's longer and more actual spy-type stuff rather than just a chase from one end of the city to the other side. I loved the aspect of her being a maid/housekeeper/waiter on the yacht and all the danger she got into. Then when it came down to the traitor aspect - that was even more interesting.
I will admit I knew exactly who the traitor was from like the first 50 pages, so that was a little disappointing. But it didn't take away from the story completely and I was on the edge of my seat trying to find out if they would discover her or not.
4.5-stars for the second book in this series. Glass writes an amazing spy tale that I thoroughly enjoyed even though this is not my usual genre. Emma's character is absolutely perfect and I cannot wait to see what the next book has in store for Emma and the rest of the British spy team. If you are a fan of spy thrillers, action movies or just need a quick palette cleanser - then check this one out!
Big thanks to Bantam Books and Ava Glass for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!
This is the second in the Alias Emma series - but I think it could totally be read as a standalone as well. There's nothing crucial that you would need to know that they don't gloss over from the first book. This time the British spy, Emma, goes undercover, COMPLETELY UNDERCOVER (no communication basically), on a giant fancy yacht to catch a Russian man who may or may not have Russian weapons. Along the way, she discovers there's a traitor in her midst and she is out to find out who in her company is betraying her.
I actually enjoyed this book SOOO MUCH MORE than the first one. It's longer and more actual spy-type stuff rather than just a chase from one end of the city to the other side. I loved the aspect of her being a maid/housekeeper/waiter on the yacht and all the danger she got into. Then when it came down to the traitor aspect - that was even more interesting.
I will admit I knew exactly who the traitor was from like the first 50 pages, so that was a little disappointing. But it didn't take away from the story completely and I was on the edge of my seat trying to find out if they would discover her or not.
4.5-stars for the second book in this series. Glass writes an amazing spy tale that I thoroughly enjoyed even though this is not my usual genre. Emma's character is absolutely perfect and I cannot wait to see what the next book has in store for Emma and the rest of the British spy team. If you are a fan of spy thrillers, action movies or just need a quick palette cleanser - then check this one out!
Big thanks to Bantam Books and Ava Glass for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!
October 11, 2023
3.5 / 5
Too predictable and obvious, for that this was rounded down for me. Tbf if you have ‘traitor’ as part of your title I think that gives away majority of the plot. Overall, this is your bog standard spy book with a little more believable substance than your audacious James Bond esc type book. This book is solid but work needs to be put in to improve the predictability of it.
Emma makepeace works for an agency so secret it doesn’t appear in any government list. When an M16 agent is found dead, killed by a chemical nerve agent and zipped up in a suitcase. Before, he was working to uncover the dealings between two Russian oligarchs illegal activity trading weapons - which are now two prime suspects. Emma goes uncover working on a yacht to monitor the movements of one of the oligarchs. Soon it becomes apparent that there’s a mole within the agency, Emma essentially makes it her mission to fish out the mole.
Honestly, my own issue with this book is the plot and the predictability of it. The development of the plot, pacing and writing style is all up there, but if you give me a plot that is too predictable that I can sniff from a mile away, I will always be disappointed. I loved the action packed thriller, the vulnerable relatable moments. But if you make the plot so dang obvious it zaps off all the joy out of the book. This is thrilling, this is captivating but a complete disappointment in plot. You’ll be able to sniff the mole out in this book very easily.
Too predictable and obvious, for that this was rounded down for me. Tbf if you have ‘traitor’ as part of your title I think that gives away majority of the plot. Overall, this is your bog standard spy book with a little more believable substance than your audacious James Bond esc type book. This book is solid but work needs to be put in to improve the predictability of it.
Emma makepeace works for an agency so secret it doesn’t appear in any government list. When an M16 agent is found dead, killed by a chemical nerve agent and zipped up in a suitcase. Before, he was working to uncover the dealings between two Russian oligarchs illegal activity trading weapons - which are now two prime suspects. Emma goes uncover working on a yacht to monitor the movements of one of the oligarchs. Soon it becomes apparent that there’s a mole within the agency, Emma essentially makes it her mission to fish out the mole.
Honestly, my own issue with this book is the plot and the predictability of it. The development of the plot, pacing and writing style is all up there, but if you give me a plot that is too predictable that I can sniff from a mile away, I will always be disappointed. I loved the action packed thriller, the vulnerable relatable moments. But if you make the plot so dang obvious it zaps off all the joy out of the book. This is thrilling, this is captivating but a complete disappointment in plot. You’ll be able to sniff the mole out in this book very easily.
June 13, 2023
I read Alias Emma last year and loved it so I was very excited for a second book in the series! I enjoyed the second installment also but not as much as the first. It took me about 20% to get into the novel and I felt like it should have ended about 20% before it did. I gave it 3 stars though and I will look forward to reading the next one! Thanks netgalley for the advanced copy! #netgalley #netgalleyreview
November 14, 2023
Book Review
The Traitor
Ava Glass
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Move over Emma Peel from the beloved ’60s TV series The Avengers, and Eve Polastri from the more recent 2018 series Killing Eve. This is the second appearance of Emma Makepeace (real name: Alexandra) in her thrilling reprisal in this page-turning action espionage spy novel. This clever and ingenious heroine will grapple with hordes of Russian GRU spies and oligarchs living in England, along with their assassins.
Emma is part of a small intelligence unit of MI5 focused on identifying and stopping Russian spies working inside Britain. Tension between London and Moscow is at a new high. Emma was born to be a spy. Her Russian father had been a spy for Britain, sharing information he believed might prevent a nuclear war. Her mother proactively fled Russia with her while still pregnant. Her father was betrayed and executed when she was only several months old. After university, she joined the Army and was immediately placed in military intelligence, fluent in Russian, English, Polish, and German. After the service, she was snagged by MI5 by her current boss, Ripley.
She was summoned to a small flat and noted a large suitcase on the floor, slightly ajar. As she peered in, she shockingly noted the appearance of a naked man, kneeling and bent forward, with paper-white skin awkwardly stuffed inside. His face was contorted and bloated, with his tongue grotesquely protruding—the result of pain and fear. No fingerprints or DNA were found. This was obviously a targeted assassination—and perfectly executed by the Russians. Agent Stephen Garrick had stumbled upon some damning intel. He was a victim of VX (Venomous Agent X)—a chemical weapon developed during the Cold War. It disrupts the nervous system, paralyzing the muscles of respiration, resulting in a horrible death by asphyxiation. He was surveilling oligarchs Andrei Volkov and Oleg Federov, who orchestrated a massive organization with dozens of shell corporations funneling money all over the world to hide their involvement in the sale of chemical weapons and armaments out of Britain. But, most importantly, there was a third unidentified individual in the operation—probably embedded in MI5—a despicable mole.
To uncover the truth, Emma must go undercover and join the staff of Volkov’s superyacht, Eden. Currently docked off the coast of Nice, France, and about to set sail. Under the “Gold Dust” operation, Emma would become Jessica Marshall. She would be working alone on the yacht as it cruised toward Monaco. A painful death would be the result of discovery—working without backup. Tension and intrigue incrementally ratchet up as Emma discreetly searches and digs for evidence. Emma is an expert at deception, which will aid in her hair-raising forage on the yacht.
Ava Glass crafts a masterful narrative that is a cinematic gem, deftly capturing the reader’s imagination, as Emma against all odds searches for the truth. She must use disguise and subterfuge, and at times masterful hand-to-hand combat, to avoid capture by the Russians and their lackeys. A lethal cat and mouse contest plays out in the shadows of Monaco and Barcelona. The action is non-stop and explosive, ratcheting up to an exhilarating high-octane denouement. I couldn’t put this gripping novel down and finished it in one sitting.
In my mind’s eye, I pictured Diana Rigg or Uma Thurman playing Emma Makepeace—the female equivalent of James Bond. I’m on board for further travails of Emma.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
The Traitor
Ava Glass
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Move over Emma Peel from the beloved ’60s TV series The Avengers, and Eve Polastri from the more recent 2018 series Killing Eve. This is the second appearance of Emma Makepeace (real name: Alexandra) in her thrilling reprisal in this page-turning action espionage spy novel. This clever and ingenious heroine will grapple with hordes of Russian GRU spies and oligarchs living in England, along with their assassins.
Emma is part of a small intelligence unit of MI5 focused on identifying and stopping Russian spies working inside Britain. Tension between London and Moscow is at a new high. Emma was born to be a spy. Her Russian father had been a spy for Britain, sharing information he believed might prevent a nuclear war. Her mother proactively fled Russia with her while still pregnant. Her father was betrayed and executed when she was only several months old. After university, she joined the Army and was immediately placed in military intelligence, fluent in Russian, English, Polish, and German. After the service, she was snagged by MI5 by her current boss, Ripley.
She was summoned to a small flat and noted a large suitcase on the floor, slightly ajar. As she peered in, she shockingly noted the appearance of a naked man, kneeling and bent forward, with paper-white skin awkwardly stuffed inside. His face was contorted and bloated, with his tongue grotesquely protruding—the result of pain and fear. No fingerprints or DNA were found. This was obviously a targeted assassination—and perfectly executed by the Russians. Agent Stephen Garrick had stumbled upon some damning intel. He was a victim of VX (Venomous Agent X)—a chemical weapon developed during the Cold War. It disrupts the nervous system, paralyzing the muscles of respiration, resulting in a horrible death by asphyxiation. He was surveilling oligarchs Andrei Volkov and Oleg Federov, who orchestrated a massive organization with dozens of shell corporations funneling money all over the world to hide their involvement in the sale of chemical weapons and armaments out of Britain. But, most importantly, there was a third unidentified individual in the operation—probably embedded in MI5—a despicable mole.
To uncover the truth, Emma must go undercover and join the staff of Volkov’s superyacht, Eden. Currently docked off the coast of Nice, France, and about to set sail. Under the “Gold Dust” operation, Emma would become Jessica Marshall. She would be working alone on the yacht as it cruised toward Monaco. A painful death would be the result of discovery—working without backup. Tension and intrigue incrementally ratchet up as Emma discreetly searches and digs for evidence. Emma is an expert at deception, which will aid in her hair-raising forage on the yacht.
Ava Glass crafts a masterful narrative that is a cinematic gem, deftly capturing the reader’s imagination, as Emma against all odds searches for the truth. She must use disguise and subterfuge, and at times masterful hand-to-hand combat, to avoid capture by the Russians and their lackeys. A lethal cat and mouse contest plays out in the shadows of Monaco and Barcelona. The action is non-stop and explosive, ratcheting up to an exhilarating high-octane denouement. I couldn’t put this gripping novel down and finished it in one sitting.
In my mind’s eye, I pictured Diana Rigg or Uma Thurman playing Emma Makepeace—the female equivalent of James Bond. I’m on board for further travails of Emma.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2024
When last we saw rookie agent Emma Makepeace, she'd just finished a marathon footrace across London, avoiding the gazillion CCTV cameras infesting every corner of the city and contending with several GRU assassination teams along the way. Since
Alias Emma
, the book that chronicled Emma's 10k-from-hell, did reasonably well (I rather liked it), it would've been natural for the author to follow it up with more of the same, except bigger and flashier. Luckily, the author restrained herself from forcing poor Emma to run across Paris or Mumbai while still opening up the arena in which she plays. This is both good news and bad.
In The Traitor, Emma gets her call to action when her off-books, MI5-adjacent employer discovers that an MI6 operative has been nastily killed in London after poking his nose into the business of two Russian oligarchs. There might also be a mole in MI5 or MI6 helping the baddies along. Emma's flinty boss Ripley assigns her to infiltrate the camp of one of the oligarchs by posing as a member of his megayacht's crew. Needless to say, this becomes hella messy, putting Our Heroine in near-constant mortal danger.
As before, Ms. Makepeace is a plucky, resourceful, risk-embracing young field agent who doesn't know how to stop when she's ahead. Unlike many of her fellow covert operatives in other stories of this ilk, she's neither omnipotent nor omniscient; she makes mistakes, trusts the wrong people, and gets tired, hungry, and frustrated as her assignment grinds her down. In other words, she's recognizably human, a blessing when she's on every page. It's not hard to root for her during her adventures.
The plot moves fast and breaks lots of things. Emma and the readers don't get much time to catch their breaths. (I finished reading the paperback's 316 pages in one day.) The settings--economical in Alias Emma--are positively skeletal this time around even though they're scattered along the French and Spanish Rivieras, some of the best scenery in Europe. The plot keeps going until the very end (not the case in the previous book), and the ending itself is more surefooted this time, a welcome development.
I know--some of this sounds like damning with faint praise. So do the three stars. What's up with that?
Emma had an equally sympathetic foil in Alias Emma who motivated her epic run and gave us another reason to cheer for them both. Unfortunately, there's no one person filling that role in The Traitor. We barely see the dead MI6 agent alive, rendering his life and death rather meaningless to us. The procession of oligarch girlfriends Emma tries to save are likely meant to be the story's relatable innocent victims, but they're so similar and have so clearly made their own problems that it's hard to care much about them. So Emma shoulders the reader-engagement load on her own and isn't always up to it.
The first book's plot was a tight, satisfying puzzle box. Its limited playing space created a palpably claustrophobic atmosphere that set off the action nicely. This story broadens the playspace, but the minimalist settings often fail to deliver either atmosphere or visuals. However, the biggest plot question--who is the mole?--becomes the plot's greatest liability. I figured out the traitor's identity nearly a hundred pages before Emma did, which kept me wondering why she wasn't able to see what should've been perfectly plain to her.
The Traitor is an okay but not stellar follow-up to a boffo freshman spy-thriller yarn. Plotting, setting, and character issues give the reader too much time to think about what's going on, never a good thing in this genre. If Alias Emma heightened your expectations for this sequel, you may be disappointed. If you start this series here, though, this book may be just fine for that beach trip or transcon flight, and you'll be primed to be blown away by the prequel.
In The Traitor, Emma gets her call to action when her off-books, MI5-adjacent employer discovers that an MI6 operative has been nastily killed in London after poking his nose into the business of two Russian oligarchs. There might also be a mole in MI5 or MI6 helping the baddies along. Emma's flinty boss Ripley assigns her to infiltrate the camp of one of the oligarchs by posing as a member of his megayacht's crew. Needless to say, this becomes hella messy, putting Our Heroine in near-constant mortal danger.
As before, Ms. Makepeace is a plucky, resourceful, risk-embracing young field agent who doesn't know how to stop when she's ahead. Unlike many of her fellow covert operatives in other stories of this ilk, she's neither omnipotent nor omniscient; she makes mistakes, trusts the wrong people, and gets tired, hungry, and frustrated as her assignment grinds her down. In other words, she's recognizably human, a blessing when she's on every page. It's not hard to root for her during her adventures.
The plot moves fast and breaks lots of things. Emma and the readers don't get much time to catch their breaths. (I finished reading the paperback's 316 pages in one day.) The settings--economical in Alias Emma--are positively skeletal this time around even though they're scattered along the French and Spanish Rivieras, some of the best scenery in Europe. The plot keeps going until the very end (not the case in the previous book), and the ending itself is more surefooted this time, a welcome development.
I know--some of this sounds like damning with faint praise. So do the three stars. What's up with that?
Emma had an equally sympathetic foil in Alias Emma who motivated her epic run and gave us another reason to cheer for them both. Unfortunately, there's no one person filling that role in The Traitor. We barely see the dead MI6 agent alive, rendering his life and death rather meaningless to us. The procession of oligarch girlfriends Emma tries to save are likely meant to be the story's relatable innocent victims, but they're so similar and have so clearly made their own problems that it's hard to care much about them. So Emma shoulders the reader-engagement load on her own and isn't always up to it.
The first book's plot was a tight, satisfying puzzle box. Its limited playing space created a palpably claustrophobic atmosphere that set off the action nicely. This story broadens the playspace, but the minimalist settings often fail to deliver either atmosphere or visuals. However, the biggest plot question--who is the mole?--becomes the plot's greatest liability. I figured out the traitor's identity nearly a hundred pages before Emma did, which kept me wondering why she wasn't able to see what should've been perfectly plain to her.
The Traitor is an okay but not stellar follow-up to a boffo freshman spy-thriller yarn. Plotting, setting, and character issues give the reader too much time to think about what's going on, never a good thing in this genre. If Alias Emma heightened your expectations for this sequel, you may be disappointed. If you start this series here, though, this book may be just fine for that beach trip or transcon flight, and you'll be primed to be blown away by the prequel.
September 20, 2023
Ava Glass is a new author to me and I haven’t read The Chase, the book which first introduced Emma Makepeace to the world. I’m pleased to say I didn’t feel at any disadvantage not having read the first book and that The Traitor can easily be read as a standalone, although there are spoilers for key events in The Chase.
The storyline of The Traitor with its Russian oligarchs and their luxurious properties, extravagant lifestyles, superyachts, trophy girlfriends and links to organised crime feels bang up to the minute.
Although the author gives Emma a very believable motivation for embarking on the dangerous missions she undertakes, at first I didn’t find her a very convincing spy. Some of her actions aboard the superyacht seemed rather naive such as assuming that just because she couldn’t see them there weren’t any hidden cameras. That all changes in the latter part of the book when she becomes the kick-ass ‘female James Bond’ we were promised, the master of the lock pick and someone able to turn just about any implement into a deadly weapon.
The pace picks up too as Emma and her colleagues embark on the hunt for the traitor who compromised the mission, taking the reader into real John le Carré territory. I liked the cast of secondary characters, such as Zach the tech wizard, Martha the expert in disguise and most of all, Emma’s boss, Ripley, the spymaster who heeds his own advice that a spy should always have a deadly weapon close at hand.
I also liked the way the author explored the challenges of being a spy: never being able to reveal your occupation, having to lie to friends, family and lovers, living a double life with a name that is not your own. ‘Everything suffers when you can never tell the truth.’
The Traitor is an entertaining, escapist thriller, ideal for reading on the beach or, dare I say it, the deck of a luxury yacht.
The storyline of The Traitor with its Russian oligarchs and their luxurious properties, extravagant lifestyles, superyachts, trophy girlfriends and links to organised crime feels bang up to the minute.
Although the author gives Emma a very believable motivation for embarking on the dangerous missions she undertakes, at first I didn’t find her a very convincing spy. Some of her actions aboard the superyacht seemed rather naive such as assuming that just because she couldn’t see them there weren’t any hidden cameras. That all changes in the latter part of the book when she becomes the kick-ass ‘female James Bond’ we were promised, the master of the lock pick and someone able to turn just about any implement into a deadly weapon.
The pace picks up too as Emma and her colleagues embark on the hunt for the traitor who compromised the mission, taking the reader into real John le Carré territory. I liked the cast of secondary characters, such as Zach the tech wizard, Martha the expert in disguise and most of all, Emma’s boss, Ripley, the spymaster who heeds his own advice that a spy should always have a deadly weapon close at hand.
I also liked the way the author explored the challenges of being a spy: never being able to reveal your occupation, having to lie to friends, family and lovers, living a double life with a name that is not your own. ‘Everything suffers when you can never tell the truth.’
The Traitor is an entertaining, escapist thriller, ideal for reading on the beach or, dare I say it, the deck of a luxury yacht.
September 15, 2023
4.5 stars
This is the second in the Alias Emma series - but I think it could totally be read as a standalone as well. There's nothing crucial that you would need to know that they don't gloss over from the first book. This time the British spy, Emma, goes undercover, COMPLETELY UNDERCOVER (no communication basically), on a giant fancy yacht to catch a Russian man who may or may not have Russian weapons. Along the way, she discovers there's a traitor in her midst and she is out to find out who in her company is betraying her.
I actually enjoyed this book SOOO MUCH MORE than the first one. It's longer and more actual spy-type stuff rather than just a chase from one end of the city to the other side. I loved the aspect of her being a maid/housekeeper/waiter on the yacht and all the danger she got into. Then when it came down to the traitor aspect - that was even more interesting.
I will admit I knew exactly who the traitor was from like the first 50 pages, so that was a little disappointing. But it didn't take away from the story completely and I was on the edge of my seat trying to find out if they would discover her or not.
4.5-stars for the second book in this series. Max writes an amazing spy tale that I thoroughly enjoyed even though this is not my usual genre. Emma's character is absolutely perfect and I cannot wait to see what the next book has in store for Emma and the rest of the British spy team. If you are a fan of spy thrillers, action movies or just need a quick palette cleanser - then check this one out!
This is the second in the Alias Emma series - but I think it could totally be read as a standalone as well. There's nothing crucial that you would need to know that they don't gloss over from the first book. This time the British spy, Emma, goes undercover, COMPLETELY UNDERCOVER (no communication basically), on a giant fancy yacht to catch a Russian man who may or may not have Russian weapons. Along the way, she discovers there's a traitor in her midst and she is out to find out who in her company is betraying her.
I actually enjoyed this book SOOO MUCH MORE than the first one. It's longer and more actual spy-type stuff rather than just a chase from one end of the city to the other side. I loved the aspect of her being a maid/housekeeper/waiter on the yacht and all the danger she got into. Then when it came down to the traitor aspect - that was even more interesting.
I will admit I knew exactly who the traitor was from like the first 50 pages, so that was a little disappointing. But it didn't take away from the story completely and I was on the edge of my seat trying to find out if they would discover her or not.
4.5-stars for the second book in this series. Max writes an amazing spy tale that I thoroughly enjoyed even though this is not my usual genre. Emma's character is absolutely perfect and I cannot wait to see what the next book has in store for Emma and the rest of the British spy team. If you are a fan of spy thrillers, action movies or just need a quick palette cleanser - then check this one out!
December 25, 2023
This spy thriller is engaging for those who appreciate the difference in following a female MI6 agent rather than the usual male. Because of the gender there are many interesting physical challenges that our intrepid agent manages with aplomb.
The bad guys are Ruskies, of course, but then a very special problem needs handling regarding a double agent in their midst. Plot well constructed.
Bargain Amazon price of $1.99
The bad guys are Ruskies, of course, but then a very special problem needs handling regarding a double agent in their midst. Plot well constructed.
Bargain Amazon price of $1.99
July 28, 2023
“The Traitor” is not a bad novel. But it’s not the “electrifying thriller” its promotional materials promise. While author Ava Glass gives us a likable protagonist in Emma Makepeace and delivers a plot that includes action and some moments of tension, on the whole, I found it to be a tame and sometimes not very believable offering.
An MI6 analyst investigating Russian oligarchs and their secret multi-million-dollar sales of chemical weapons to rogue nations has just been murdered. Now, MI6 wants to gain evidence concerning that murder and those weapons. They assign top agent Emma Makepeace to pose as a stewardess aboard one oligarch’s yacht and find that evidence without getting caught or killed by the oligarch’s dangerous retainers, or by a traitor within MI6. In a nutshell, “The Traitor” is a murder mystery, a “mole hunt,” and a tale of action and adventure all rolled into one.
I requested it because of author James Patterson’s praise (in the blurb) of protagonist Emma Makepeace as “a worthy heir to the James Bond mantle.” Unfortunately, I found this not to be so. In fact, I had lots of trouble believing Ms. Makepeace could have success as a spy or “world-saver.” While she’s likable, she lacks any of the distinctive qualities, and the edginess, that have made other sleuthing or spying or “adventuring” heroes and heroines so popular. She doesn’t have Bond’s mixture of tenderness and toughness, even cruelty, wrapped inside that gadget-toting package of urbane savoir-faire; or Bourne’s or Reacher’s or Katniss Everdeen’s physical prowess and close-combat proficiency; or Lisbeth Salander’s quirky brilliance and tech genius, or Gabriel Allon’s skills as an assassin/intelligence officer/brilliant painter/art forger. As the old Sondheim song from “Gypsy” goes, “You gotta have a gimmick.” Emma Makepeace doesn’t have one.
Nor does she possess the laser-like focus and commitment, or steadfast belief in herself and her abilities, displayed by other successful protagonists. On the contrary, at certain times—indeed at crucial moments—her self-confidence crumbles, and self-doubt takes over. In other instances, she’s more concerned about the safety of secondary characters she barely knows than accomplishing her supposedly high-stakes mission. While these vulnerabilities may serve to make Emma Makepeace a character that readers can like or relate to, they do not help to create a credible heroine who can be relied on to "save the world."
Other important characters, such as the villains of the piece and Makepeace’s fellow agents, are not all that distinctly drawn. They’re not cartoons or cardboard figures, but their passions and desires—the things they want that drive them to villainy or heroics—are more assumed and implied than they are spelled out. An oligarch is evil because…well…he’s an oligarch and all oligarchs are obsessed with greed.
Finally, I thought the novel lacked specificity and cleverness when it came to the “nuts and bolts” of espionage. For example, at one point Emma is captured and locked in a room. Despite a lengthy description of her lock-picking skills, it’s not those skills that free her. Instead, another character simply opens the door. And while Emma is given a special phone with lots of special apps, I don’t remember any of those apps being specified, much less used.
IMHO, all these deficiencies combine to render “The Traitor” a spy novel of the second tier. It’s readable, the plot hangs together, and the main character is a likable figure that some readers may care about. But it’s not the next Fleming or Silva or Ludlum or Larssen.
All in all, two and a half stars rounded up to three.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Ava Glass, and publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.
An MI6 analyst investigating Russian oligarchs and their secret multi-million-dollar sales of chemical weapons to rogue nations has just been murdered. Now, MI6 wants to gain evidence concerning that murder and those weapons. They assign top agent Emma Makepeace to pose as a stewardess aboard one oligarch’s yacht and find that evidence without getting caught or killed by the oligarch’s dangerous retainers, or by a traitor within MI6. In a nutshell, “The Traitor” is a murder mystery, a “mole hunt,” and a tale of action and adventure all rolled into one.
I requested it because of author James Patterson’s praise (in the blurb) of protagonist Emma Makepeace as “a worthy heir to the James Bond mantle.” Unfortunately, I found this not to be so. In fact, I had lots of trouble believing Ms. Makepeace could have success as a spy or “world-saver.” While she’s likable, she lacks any of the distinctive qualities, and the edginess, that have made other sleuthing or spying or “adventuring” heroes and heroines so popular. She doesn’t have Bond’s mixture of tenderness and toughness, even cruelty, wrapped inside that gadget-toting package of urbane savoir-faire; or Bourne’s or Reacher’s or Katniss Everdeen’s physical prowess and close-combat proficiency; or Lisbeth Salander’s quirky brilliance and tech genius, or Gabriel Allon’s skills as an assassin/intelligence officer/brilliant painter/art forger. As the old Sondheim song from “Gypsy” goes, “You gotta have a gimmick.” Emma Makepeace doesn’t have one.
Nor does she possess the laser-like focus and commitment, or steadfast belief in herself and her abilities, displayed by other successful protagonists. On the contrary, at certain times—indeed at crucial moments—her self-confidence crumbles, and self-doubt takes over. In other instances, she’s more concerned about the safety of secondary characters she barely knows than accomplishing her supposedly high-stakes mission. While these vulnerabilities may serve to make Emma Makepeace a character that readers can like or relate to, they do not help to create a credible heroine who can be relied on to "save the world."
Other important characters, such as the villains of the piece and Makepeace’s fellow agents, are not all that distinctly drawn. They’re not cartoons or cardboard figures, but their passions and desires—the things they want that drive them to villainy or heroics—are more assumed and implied than they are spelled out. An oligarch is evil because…well…he’s an oligarch and all oligarchs are obsessed with greed.
Finally, I thought the novel lacked specificity and cleverness when it came to the “nuts and bolts” of espionage. For example, at one point Emma is captured and locked in a room. Despite a lengthy description of her lock-picking skills, it’s not those skills that free her. Instead, another character simply opens the door. And while Emma is given a special phone with lots of special apps, I don’t remember any of those apps being specified, much less used.
IMHO, all these deficiencies combine to render “The Traitor” a spy novel of the second tier. It’s readable, the plot hangs together, and the main character is a likable figure that some readers may care about. But it’s not the next Fleming or Silva or Ludlum or Larssen.
All in all, two and a half stars rounded up to three.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Ava Glass, and publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.
June 7, 2023
Emma Makepeace is back in the game!
Still recovering from her first foray into international espionage she is sent on a mission to work on a super yacht owned by a Russian Oligarch suspected of buying nuclear weapons. Still reeling from her last job, Emma rushes to work but has to deal with someone in her own MI6 unit who may be a traitor.
In this thrilling and captivating novel, she is one breath away from death on every page. If you liked Alias, Emma, love some realistic espionage with a strong female lead or just want to vicariously take a ride of a super yacht, The Traitor is for you! #RandomHouse #Aliasemma #AvaGlass #TheTraitor
Still recovering from her first foray into international espionage she is sent on a mission to work on a super yacht owned by a Russian Oligarch suspected of buying nuclear weapons. Still reeling from her last job, Emma rushes to work but has to deal with someone in her own MI6 unit who may be a traitor.
In this thrilling and captivating novel, she is one breath away from death on every page. If you liked Alias, Emma, love some realistic espionage with a strong female lead or just want to vicariously take a ride of a super yacht, The Traitor is for you! #RandomHouse #Aliasemma #AvaGlass #TheTraitor
November 10, 2023
This was a fantastic sequel! It was even better than the first, and I enjoyed the first immensely.
While Alias Emma had British secret agent Emma Makepeace being hunted through the streets of London this time around, she's setting sail for Nice and Barcelona. In The Traitor, she is tasked with infiltrating the world of the Russian elite. In an attempt to solve the murder of an M6 data analyst.
This was an action-packed, fast-paced, and thrilling read filled with intrigue, danger, and spies. It was entertaining and very enjoyable. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
While Alias Emma had British secret agent Emma Makepeace being hunted through the streets of London this time around, she's setting sail for Nice and Barcelona. In The Traitor, she is tasked with infiltrating the world of the Russian elite. In an attempt to solve the murder of an M6 data analyst.
This was an action-packed, fast-paced, and thrilling read filled with intrigue, danger, and spies. It was entertaining and very enjoyable. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 15, 2023
Alias Emma (2): De verrader ~ Ava Glass
Ambo Anthos, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Was was die weer een geweldig verhaal! Emma is echt een enorme stoere chick, en het boek leest alsof je over je beste vriendin leest die de spannendste dingen mee maakt. Je wilt haar kennen, en voor de echt waaghalzen misschien: je wilt haar zijn. Ik waande me enkele dagen op luxe superjacht, zonder het gevaar uit het oog te verliezen. Het verhaal blijft, net als deel 1, vanaf het begin spannend, en ik heb echt enorm genoten. Ik kan niet wachten tot het volgende avontuur van Emma! Dikke aanrader,dus absoluut 5 sterren ♡
www.facebook.com/thebookbabecisz
Ambo Anthos, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Was was die weer een geweldig verhaal! Emma is echt een enorme stoere chick, en het boek leest alsof je over je beste vriendin leest die de spannendste dingen mee maakt. Je wilt haar kennen, en voor de echt waaghalzen misschien: je wilt haar zijn. Ik waande me enkele dagen op luxe superjacht, zonder het gevaar uit het oog te verliezen. Het verhaal blijft, net als deel 1, vanaf het begin spannend, en ik heb echt enorm genoten. Ik kan niet wachten tot het volgende avontuur van Emma! Dikke aanrader,dus absoluut 5 sterren ♡
www.facebook.com/thebookbabecisz
May 6, 2023
Did not enjoy this entry into the series. Emma is.. not a good agent. And the technology made it feel like it was taking place in the early 2000’s. I was not particularly impressed and will probably not bother with any more sequels.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing the ARC for review.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing the ARC for review.
December 11, 2023
3.75 Stars
Book two of the Alias Emma mystery/suspense series. Emma is a Russian ex-pat who has followed in her father's footsteps as a spy for British intelligence. Not surprisingly, her work concentrates on Russian affairs. This time, posing as a yacht employee for a Russian oligarch, she is looking for evidence to implicate him as the killer of a fellow agent and the illegal reasons behind it.
While the first book had the tone of a young adult mystery, this one felt somewhat more mature. Regardless, I enjoyed both books. The mystery wasn't that difficult to figure out, but the action and suspense made the reading compelling. These types of books aren't ever 100% realistic, but enjoyable all the same.
April 6, 2024
This is an excellent series and this second book is even better than the first. The bio says that Glass is a former crime reporter and “civil servant” and I love the vérité that her experience creates on the pages.
Only last week a GRU hit squad really assassinated a defector in Spain; this subject of the destabilizing influence of Russian infiltration on democracy and world affairs is absorbing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/31/wo...
Despite the Magnitsky Act, sometimes it seems as though the Russian oligarchs extreme wealth is being normalized - dark money is pumped into American and European society without transparency. I like that this series underscores that ongoing flaunting of their corruption. Ukraine’s allies have seized oligarchs’ superyachts, like the one in this story, in order to punish Putin for invading Ukraine.
Only last week a GRU hit squad really assassinated a defector in Spain; this subject of the destabilizing influence of Russian infiltration on democracy and world affairs is absorbing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/31/wo...
Despite the Magnitsky Act, sometimes it seems as though the Russian oligarchs extreme wealth is being normalized - dark money is pumped into American and European society without transparency. I like that this series underscores that ongoing flaunting of their corruption. Ukraine’s allies have seized oligarchs’ superyachts, like the one in this story, in order to punish Putin for invading Ukraine.
April 15, 2023
Having not read the first book in this series, I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to become engrossed in the fast paced world of Emma Makepeace.
The story is gripping, but the large plot points were very predictable so the ending felt anticlimactic.
The story is gripping, but the large plot points were very predictable so the ending felt anticlimactic.
October 10, 2023
When Russian oligarchs are suspected of selling arms to nations hostile to the West, a British spy risks her life to bring them down.
Emma Makepeace is the daughter of a Russian who spied for Great Britain, was ultimately discovered and killed. She grew up in England where she and her mother had fled to avoid a similar fate, and now works for a small and relatively unknown division of British intelligence. The work she does in uncovering Russian spies and other bad actors is her way of avenging her father’s death. When a member of MI6, a numbers analyst, is found dead in his own flat, killed by a nasty poison and stuffed into a suitcase, Emma’s group is tasked with finding out why he was killed, and by who, .His father has friends in high places, and he wants answers. It seems that the deceased was working on a case that had been officially closed, one concerning two Russian oligarchs who are suspected of selling arms to Syria, Iran, and other nations not friendly to England and the West Proof of their actions has never been uncovered, but maybe the dead analyst was closer to obtaining that proof than his bosses thought. Emma is tasked with going undercover on board a luxury yacht owned by one of the oligarchs as a worker, to look for evidence of the oligarchs’ criminal activities as well as to discover if there is a third member in that alliance as is suspected. From Nice to St Tropez to Barcelona, Emma is immersed in exotic locations, the excessive lifestyle of the super rich, and the heightened paranoia of the oligarch and his sinister bodyguard. Like Fleming’s James Bond, she has to rely on her training, her instincts, and nerves of steel to gain access to the information she and her country need to prevent future bloodshed. When time after time her actions come under suspicion and successful attempts are thwarted at the last minute, she begins to suspect that not only is there a third member to the criminal enterprise, that third person is someone from within the British government. Can she get to the truth and make her way to safety when she doesn't know whom she can trust?
The Traitor is fast paced and full of daring acts. Emma is smart, highly driven to accomplish her mission, and ready to risk it all in the name of a successful conclusion. She is human enough to feel uncomfortable at times at the way she must manipulate and take advantage of people who may be in the orbit of criminals but are not necessarily themselves throughly rotten, but she does what needs doing and deals with her conscience later. The toll that her job takes on her ability to lead a normal life is also demonstrated….can a spy have friends? A romantic partner? Or is she destined to live a life that is all work and no joy? The intelligence game is not for the faint of heart nor those who seek a regular life, and Emma is up to the task. The Traitor is the second in the Emma Makepeace series, a sequel to Alias Emma, and is a great read for those looking for a new espionage thriller. Fans of Alias Emma will be happy to see what Emma is up to next. Readers who enjoy the works of Gayle Lynds, Chris Pavone, and Stella Rimington (and Ian Fleming, of course) should also pick up a copy of Ava Glass’s novels. My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam/Random House Publishing for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of The Traitor, I look forward to more of Emma’s exploits.
Emma Makepeace is the daughter of a Russian who spied for Great Britain, was ultimately discovered and killed. She grew up in England where she and her mother had fled to avoid a similar fate, and now works for a small and relatively unknown division of British intelligence. The work she does in uncovering Russian spies and other bad actors is her way of avenging her father’s death. When a member of MI6, a numbers analyst, is found dead in his own flat, killed by a nasty poison and stuffed into a suitcase, Emma’s group is tasked with finding out why he was killed, and by who, .His father has friends in high places, and he wants answers. It seems that the deceased was working on a case that had been officially closed, one concerning two Russian oligarchs who are suspected of selling arms to Syria, Iran, and other nations not friendly to England and the West Proof of their actions has never been uncovered, but maybe the dead analyst was closer to obtaining that proof than his bosses thought. Emma is tasked with going undercover on board a luxury yacht owned by one of the oligarchs as a worker, to look for evidence of the oligarchs’ criminal activities as well as to discover if there is a third member in that alliance as is suspected. From Nice to St Tropez to Barcelona, Emma is immersed in exotic locations, the excessive lifestyle of the super rich, and the heightened paranoia of the oligarch and his sinister bodyguard. Like Fleming’s James Bond, she has to rely on her training, her instincts, and nerves of steel to gain access to the information she and her country need to prevent future bloodshed. When time after time her actions come under suspicion and successful attempts are thwarted at the last minute, she begins to suspect that not only is there a third member to the criminal enterprise, that third person is someone from within the British government. Can she get to the truth and make her way to safety when she doesn't know whom she can trust?
The Traitor is fast paced and full of daring acts. Emma is smart, highly driven to accomplish her mission, and ready to risk it all in the name of a successful conclusion. She is human enough to feel uncomfortable at times at the way she must manipulate and take advantage of people who may be in the orbit of criminals but are not necessarily themselves throughly rotten, but she does what needs doing and deals with her conscience later. The toll that her job takes on her ability to lead a normal life is also demonstrated….can a spy have friends? A romantic partner? Or is she destined to live a life that is all work and no joy? The intelligence game is not for the faint of heart nor those who seek a regular life, and Emma is up to the task. The Traitor is the second in the Emma Makepeace series, a sequel to Alias Emma, and is a great read for those looking for a new espionage thriller. Fans of Alias Emma will be happy to see what Emma is up to next. Readers who enjoy the works of Gayle Lynds, Chris Pavone, and Stella Rimington (and Ian Fleming, of course) should also pick up a copy of Ava Glass’s novels. My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam/Random House Publishing for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of The Traitor, I look forward to more of Emma’s exploits.
September 19, 2023
Emma Makepeace is at it again. She is a member of an anti-terrorist group that is so secretive that it has no name. This time the son of a Lord who was working on an investigation for British Intelligence is murdered. Emma is brought in to infiltrate the yacht of a a Russian oligarch who has made his millions criminally. He and his partners in crime are up to something and it’s up to Emma to figure out what. They also suspect that there may be a mole in the Intelligence community informing the Russians of what is going on. It is solid, quick reading and won’t disappoint. Thanks to Net Galley and Bantam Books for an ARC for an honest review.
November 19, 2023
Vroeg in de ochtend wordt een vermoorde medewerker van MI6 in zijn appartement aangetroffen, omgebracht met zenuwgas en opgesloten in een koffer. Hij probeerde te bewijzen dat twee Russische oligarchen chemische wapens verkopen op de zwarte markt en dacht dat er nog iemand deel uitmaakt van de organisatie, een Brit met connecties. Dit onderzoek heeft hem zijn leven gekost en Emma Makepeace krijgt de opdracht om de verrader te ontmaskeren. Ze gaat undercover aan het werk op het superjacht van Andrej Volkov om informatie te verzamelen, de verdachten in de gaten te houden en haar taak tot een goed einde te brengen. Operatie Goudpoeder kan van start gaan!
Na de introductie van de missie en de hoofdrolspelers in de zaak barst het verhaal echt los als Emma naar Zuid-Frankrijk vertrekt, een vermomming aangemeten krijgt, gebriefd wordt en op het jacht belandt. Ze krijgt handige gadgets mee om in contact te blijven met haar collega’s op het vasteland, maar staat er al snel helemaal alleen voor en moet al haar ervaring inzetten om in leven te blijven. Ze wordt in de gaten gehouden door de beveiliging, doorziet schimmige transacties en schaduwt personen, ze is getuige van het wegwerken van mensen en schuwt geweld niet als dat noodzakelijk is om uit situaties te ontsnappen.
Het tempo ligt hoog en dit is een verhaal vol actie, geheimen, goed doordachte plannen en af en toe wat impulsiviteit, de dreiging is constant aanwezig, ontdekking ligt altijd op de loer en in sommige scènes loopt je hartslag, samen met die van Emma, op. Maar Emma is slim en onverschrokken, ze denkt en handelt snel, ze bevindt zich in het hol van de leeuw en weet dat ze risico’s moet nemen in dit gevaarlijke kat-en-muisspel. De verschillende wendingen houden je alert, de setting draagt bij aan de spanning en niet alles gaat van een leien dakje, waardoor je ook een idee krijgt van de nasleep van een hoogoplopende missie en de impact van zo’n dubbelleven, waardoor het een compleet geheel wordt.
Dit boek is een absolute pageturner door de beeldende schrijfstijl, de harde dialogen, het gevoel van onveiligheid en de interessante personages, er wordt af en toe informatie uit Alias Emma herhaald om Emma’s achtergrond beter te begrijpen en hoewel de uiteindelijke verrader voor haar een grotere verrassing was dan voor mij, is dit meeslepende en frisse verhaal, waarin je vrijwel niemand écht kunt vertrouwen, erg goed opgebouwd en houdt dit avontuur je van de eerste tot de laatste bladzijde in zijn greep. Ik kijk nu al uit naar de volgende missie!
Na de introductie van de missie en de hoofdrolspelers in de zaak barst het verhaal echt los als Emma naar Zuid-Frankrijk vertrekt, een vermomming aangemeten krijgt, gebriefd wordt en op het jacht belandt. Ze krijgt handige gadgets mee om in contact te blijven met haar collega’s op het vasteland, maar staat er al snel helemaal alleen voor en moet al haar ervaring inzetten om in leven te blijven. Ze wordt in de gaten gehouden door de beveiliging, doorziet schimmige transacties en schaduwt personen, ze is getuige van het wegwerken van mensen en schuwt geweld niet als dat noodzakelijk is om uit situaties te ontsnappen.
Het tempo ligt hoog en dit is een verhaal vol actie, geheimen, goed doordachte plannen en af en toe wat impulsiviteit, de dreiging is constant aanwezig, ontdekking ligt altijd op de loer en in sommige scènes loopt je hartslag, samen met die van Emma, op. Maar Emma is slim en onverschrokken, ze denkt en handelt snel, ze bevindt zich in het hol van de leeuw en weet dat ze risico’s moet nemen in dit gevaarlijke kat-en-muisspel. De verschillende wendingen houden je alert, de setting draagt bij aan de spanning en niet alles gaat van een leien dakje, waardoor je ook een idee krijgt van de nasleep van een hoogoplopende missie en de impact van zo’n dubbelleven, waardoor het een compleet geheel wordt.
Dit boek is een absolute pageturner door de beeldende schrijfstijl, de harde dialogen, het gevoel van onveiligheid en de interessante personages, er wordt af en toe informatie uit Alias Emma herhaald om Emma’s achtergrond beter te begrijpen en hoewel de uiteindelijke verrader voor haar een grotere verrassing was dan voor mij, is dit meeslepende en frisse verhaal, waarin je vrijwel niemand écht kunt vertrouwen, erg goed opgebouwd en houdt dit avontuur je van de eerste tot de laatste bladzijde in zijn greep. Ik kijk nu al uit naar de volgende missie!
September 17, 2023
This is a spy novel like none I have ever read and one of the best ones ever! Featuring Agent Emma Makepeace from The Agency in Britain, the story revolves around an MI6 agent who is found assassinated after he was investigating Russian oligarchs. This is an intriguing premise that gets even better as the story moves at breakneck speed on a super yacht where Emma has gone undercover to try to find out the truth about Garrick’s death and expose the nefarious dealings of the murderous oligarchs. This book was amazing! The story was written in such a way that I could visually imagine each scene and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Emma and her team. This book was better than a James Bond movie because the action was realistic and the danger seemed imminent at all times. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Emma and the way she approached her problems as she sought solutions to being on her own in the middle of the water while surrounded by men who are intent on seeking out and destroying all traitors. This is a completely engrossing story with sharp writing and authentically portrayed details as well as dynamic and believable characters. The descriptions of the yacht and all of its amenities made it possible for me to visualize it and walk around with Emma as she stealthily investigated. My heart was in my throat more than once as Emma takes chances over and over and almost gets caught. I really liked not knowing who on the yacht could be trusted and who was an actual suspect. The clues are unraveled slowly and methodically, with some red herrings as an added bonus. No lie! This is the best spy thriller that I have ever read and I cannot wait to read more adventures from Emma and her courageous team of super spies!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connecton: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connecton: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
September 19, 2023
My thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone Century for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Traitor’’ by Ava Glass.
This is Book 2 in the Alias, Emma series of spy thrillers featuring Emma Makepeace, an agent working for a shadowy British intelligence organisation known as The Agency. Their specialty is identifying and stopping Russian agents working in Britain.
When a body is discovered at a West London hotel stuffed into a padlocked suitcase, alarm bells are set off. It is soon established that the victim was a MI6 officer and had died from exposure to an unidentified nerve agent. Yet the Agency knows that such targeted assassinations by Russian operatives are reserved for their own people believed to have betrayed Russia. So why would a British numbers analyst meet this grisly fate?
When it is discovered that the victim had been looking into the activities of two Russian oligarchs suspected of procuring illegal weapons in the U.K., the hunt is on to identify their contacts and uncover their plans.
Emma volunteers to go undercover as a hostess on the Eden, a superyacht owned by one of the oligarchs. It’s a risky assignment as out at sea she will be out of touch with her Agency handlers. In addition, it appears that the oligarchs have contact with a mole high up in the British government. Could they expose Emma’s mission? No further details to avoid spoilers.
‘The Traitor’ proved an exciting read that kept me glued to my seat from start to finish. I found that I preferred its more measured pace to its predecessor, ‘The Chase’, which had been nonstop action throughout. I enjoy Ava Glass’ crisp writing style that highlights her journalistic roots.
After these two positive experiences of the Alias, Emma series, I shall be looking forward to the next in this thrilling spy series.
This is Book 2 in the Alias, Emma series of spy thrillers featuring Emma Makepeace, an agent working for a shadowy British intelligence organisation known as The Agency. Their specialty is identifying and stopping Russian agents working in Britain.
When a body is discovered at a West London hotel stuffed into a padlocked suitcase, alarm bells are set off. It is soon established that the victim was a MI6 officer and had died from exposure to an unidentified nerve agent. Yet the Agency knows that such targeted assassinations by Russian operatives are reserved for their own people believed to have betrayed Russia. So why would a British numbers analyst meet this grisly fate?
When it is discovered that the victim had been looking into the activities of two Russian oligarchs suspected of procuring illegal weapons in the U.K., the hunt is on to identify their contacts and uncover their plans.
Emma volunteers to go undercover as a hostess on the Eden, a superyacht owned by one of the oligarchs. It’s a risky assignment as out at sea she will be out of touch with her Agency handlers. In addition, it appears that the oligarchs have contact with a mole high up in the British government. Could they expose Emma’s mission? No further details to avoid spoilers.
‘The Traitor’ proved an exciting read that kept me glued to my seat from start to finish. I found that I preferred its more measured pace to its predecessor, ‘The Chase’, which had been nonstop action throughout. I enjoy Ava Glass’ crisp writing style that highlights her journalistic roots.
After these two positive experiences of the Alias, Emma series, I shall be looking forward to the next in this thrilling spy series.
January 21, 2024
Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for allowing me to read and review The Traitor on NetGalley.
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Published: 09/19/23
Stars: 4.5
This is why I read and I keep trudging through the same genres. I know there are writers that tell good stories and Glass has done that with The Traitor. The synopsis is clear and I'm not repeating it.
The main character is smart, which I expect in police procedurals. Glass does not dumb down the character. Emma is an MI6 Agent. At no point in the book did I cringe and think real life MI6 Agents wish the author didn't know about them. I liked that Emma wasn't perfect nor did she have super powers. The character was respectful and human in her responses.
The ending was the ending. I didn't hate it, I didn't want to throw my Kindle, and I didn't want it -- it made sense.
There are a couple F--- words: the first I shook my head; the second didn't feel contrived.
I am going to read the author's other books in this series. This is potentially book #2, my first, and there is another coming in September.
Of note: at one point, my eyes were blurred and my brain said oh no keep going. I found the audio on Libby and bravo to Sophie Colquhoun -- she took Emma to the next level.
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Published: 09/19/23
Stars: 4.5
This is why I read and I keep trudging through the same genres. I know there are writers that tell good stories and Glass has done that with The Traitor. The synopsis is clear and I'm not repeating it.
The main character is smart, which I expect in police procedurals. Glass does not dumb down the character. Emma is an MI6 Agent. At no point in the book did I cringe and think real life MI6 Agents wish the author didn't know about them. I liked that Emma wasn't perfect nor did she have super powers. The character was respectful and human in her responses.
The ending was the ending. I didn't hate it, I didn't want to throw my Kindle, and I didn't want it -- it made sense.
There are a couple F--- words: the first I shook my head; the second didn't feel contrived.
I am going to read the author's other books in this series. This is potentially book #2, my first, and there is another coming in September.
Of note: at one point, my eyes were blurred and my brain said oh no keep going. I found the audio on Libby and bravo to Sophie Colquhoun -- she took Emma to the next level.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 716 reviews