Alias Emma

IN A NUTSHELL
'The Chase' was more John Wick than John Le Carré: fast-paced, violent, action-packed, exciting and requiring an enormous suspension of disbelief. If you want a thrill ride with a kick-ass woman as the lead and just enough contemporary context to give it some grounding in reality, then you'll enjoy meeting Emma Makepeace.

I’m a fan of contemporary British spy novels. Still, this series had passed me by until I heard Ava Glass being interviewed on ‘Woman’s Hour‘ on Radio 4 about the news that two of the candidates to become the next head of MI6 are women. She presented herself well, established her credentials as a journalist who has worked closely with spies for many years and then plugged her book in a polite show more low-key way that I admired. I looked her up and found the her 2022 debut novel, then titled ‘Alias Emma‘ and now, for reasons only publishing gurus understand, retitled ‘The Chase‘, was shortlisted for the 2023 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. I checked out the audiobook sample, thought Sophie Colquhoun was a great choice as the narrator and downloaded the book,

My wife and I listened ‘The Chase‘ on a couple of long drives. It provided a welcome distraction. It was engaging, easy to follow and nicely paced. Listening to the all-night-long chase across London with Emma Makepeace trying to keep her charge safe from Russian kill teams was dramatic and exhausting. If the story had only been about the chase, it might have been a sort of female version of a John Wick movie – all action and no character development. Ava Glass avoided this by intercutting the present-day action with scenes from Emma’s past that explained why and how she became a spy, gave context on why she was selected for this perilous assignment and why she wasn’t getting any support carrying it out.

This was entertaining in an action movie way but, like the action movies, it required a significant effort to suspend disbelief. Much was made of how heavily surveilled central London is but no mention was made of the many Armed Response Units the Met has in place. I struggled to believe in a scenario in which the police made no response to men firing shots from Range Rovers speeding along the banks of the Thames in the middle of the night.

I enjoyed the thrills the story provided and I admired Emma Makepeace's stubborn courage but I didn't feel that I was getting the kind of insider view of the British Intelligence Service that I get from Mick Herron or John Le Carré. Even so, I'll pick up the next two books in the series when I'm next in the mood for an espionage thriller.

I recommend the audiobook version of 'The Chase'. Click on the YouTube link below to hear a sample of Sophie Colquhoun's narration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JTAlYWMQf0 show less

How difficult is is to get from Point A to Point B? Oh you can’t even imagine and “Alias Emma” is going to take you over and under, up and down, hither and thither, while bullets are flying, menacing, hulking men are catching up and about to end our Emma’s job and very existence.

Say what you like about crazy and slightly exaggerated political thrillers, I had a good time with this book. I liked the characters, story and backstory and how well thought out the history and maneuvers were. The inherent message that the Russians, specifically their spy agencies, can and will do anything and everything to achieve their goal was timely and totally believable. Slightly over the top chases and get-aways - sure, but I was always engaged show more and never bored. Maybe one or two eye rolls but I was cheering for Emma on each page.

Thank you Bantam Books/Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a copy. show less

Alias Emma is an espionage thriller with the story’s central plot taking place during one very long night in London. Emma is a relatively new MI-5 agent when she is assigned to persuade Michael Primalov, the son of Russian defectors, to come into witness protection. Someone is killing Russian scientists and Ripley, her mentor, believes that Michael is in danger or could be used to draw out his mother.

After an attempt on his life, he reluctantly agrees to come in, but when she calls for a pickup she’s told she is on her own. The Russians have hacked into the CCTV that covers the city like a net and everyone is working on that. Somehow she has to get him across London without being seen and since taxis are part of the CCTV system, show more they can’t just hail a cab.

I made the mistake of starting this book before bed and didn’t get much sleep since I read it straight through. I don’t think you can read it and put it down, it’s frantically fast-paced and the jeopardy is constant.

I love the competence of both Emma and Michael. They come to rely on each other and respect each other’s skills. There is some smart thinking, on their part and on the part of their adversaries.

A few flashbacks provide Emma’s background, motivation for being a spy, and key moments in her training. Everything is neatly wrapped up in a final chapter that takes place several weeks after the main storyline. This gave me the feeling that Emma could be the start of a series and I would not mind one teeny-tiny bit.

I received an e-galley of Alias Emma from the publisher through NetGalley.

Alias Emma at Ballantine | Penguin Random House
Ava Glass

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/23/alias-emma-by-ava-glass/ show less

In ALIAS EMMA, by Ava Glass, British spy Emma Makepeace is abruptly removed from her current assignment and tasked with delivering the son of a Russian defector/British informant to Emma's government office safely and quickly. Trouble arises immediately and Emma has to race across London, dodging cameras, shady people, and conventional transportation to complete her delivery before being caught and likely killed.
The book begins with getting to know Emma, but only spends enough time to create a connection to her and then the main plot jumps into action. Glass balances bits of exposition, character development, and action-packed chase scenes masterfully. The reader also questions everyone's loyalty and honesty every step of the the way show more which adds to plenty of frenetic energy in the book. Glass also does a good job of describing the geography that is being traversed so that the reader can easily keep up, even if they are unfamiliar with London. The reader is rewarded with a great ending and some awesome final action sequences
Emma Makepeace is charming and powerful and I hope Glass will continue to write about Emma's spy adventures. ALIAS EMMA is one of the best spy thrillers I have read in a while and readers will have a hard time not getting swept up in the excitement of this great read.
Thank you to Random House/Ballantine/Bantam, Ava Glass, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! show less

Apart from some flashbacks (which do help advance the plot), this entire book takes place in one very exciting day. The relentless pace of action calls to mind a thrilling movie - fans of Alias or Covert Affairs are bound to enjoy this introduction to Alex (Alias Emma). I found the characters and story engaging (perhaps a bit farfetched at times but that is par for the course with this type of espionage thriller). The book is well-written and I loved that London is essentially another character in the story. All in all a enjoyable face-paced spy thriller with a delightful heroine - 4.5 stars!

For a fast and gripping read, Alias Emma does not disappoint. Emma is a secret agent, still very new in the job. Her mentor, Ripley, has trained her and thrown her into several surprise tests but Emma is still young and has little real experience. In some ways, that makes her the perfect person to convince Michael, the son of Russian nuclear physicists who gave intel to MI6 years ago before escaping to the UK, that he is in danger. Even if she can convince him, Emma has a tough task ahead - get him across London to a safe place without being seen. She's sure the Russian spy agency has hacked the CCTV system and she's been assigned no support, leading her to wonder if she can trust her own agency anymore. Emma is smart, skilled, and show more brave but she's not superhuman. The action sequences are extreme but believable. And, even though it's the first installment in a proposed series, the novel stands on its own as a complete and satisfying story. I look forward to Emma's next assignment! show less

Review of Advance Reader’s Copy eBook

Emma Makepeace is a new agent for the intelligence service where they are keeping track of Russian agents and the clandestine networks they use. Charles Ripley assigns her to escort Doctor Michael Primalov to a place of safety.

It’s anything but an easy task for Emma. The Russians seem to know her every move and, as Emma and Michael try to avoid capture, Emma puts her formidable talents to use as they slip through the traps set by the Russian hitmen.

But will Emma find a way to get him to the safety of MI16? Will she be able to keep Michael safe?

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Non-stop action keeps readers racing through this captivating spy caper as Emma manages to fight off attackers, hotwire a car, pick locks, and show more “borrow” a boat . . . all in her unflagging efforts to keep Michael safe. As the unfolding narrative twists and turns, readers learn a bit of her backstory [which is just as intriguing as the young woman]. The characters are likable; ingenious Emma is resourceful and well-suited to her chosen profession.

A strong sense of place anchors the telling of the tale while well-defined characters keep the story moving at a breakneck pace. Unexpected events keep the tension building, but some questions remain as the story comes to a close. [A sequel, perhaps? Yes, please.]

With the majority of the action taking place over a single night, readers are sure to find it impossible to set this book aside before turning the final page [and vehemently hoping there are more adventures in store for Emma].

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley
#AliasEmma #NetGalley show less