Emma Makepeace is 2 for 2.

I'm really enjoying these fast-paced spy mysteries/thrillers by Ava Glass. THE TRAITOR has a bigger cast than ALIAS EMMA did, with her on a properly planned undercover mission this time around (versus being on the run last time). Unfortunately, the title had me on the lookout for who the traitor was from page 1, and it was pretty easy to deduce, even with the larger cast.

That said, Emma is a great protagonist! She's young but fierce, intelligent, and loyal. She also isn't a robot, having anxieties, fears, and biases, which help make her feel more real. I wish we'd get more character development surrounding her MI5 counterparts, but perhaps that will come as the series progresses.

This can be read as a complete standalone story. I flip-flopped between my print copy and the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the narrator! She did a nice job with the different European accents, and she has a younger sounding voice, which fit Emma well.

If you're a fan of British spy thrillers, I'd highly recommend this series! They aren't overly complicated, which is both a good and a bad thing, but Emma reminds me a little of Jennifer Garner's Sydney Bristow from ALIAS, and I'm hoping the series only gets better as it continues.

RATING: B+ (4½ stars)

This book was a fantastic follow up to the novel Alias Emma. Emma Makepeace is a spy for an agency that has no name, other than The Agency, or records of its existence. This series is everything you would want in a spy thriller series, great characters, interesting and fast moving plot and lots of espionage!

Finally, a fun spy book with a female main character. And she's British!

When I requested this book from NetGalley, I didn't realize it was part of a series. I've already requested a hold at the library for the prequel to THE TRAITOR.

It is not necessary to have read the previous book to understand the crux of Emma and her spy life in THE TRAITOR.

This was a spy locked-room (sort of) mystery on a yacht and other locations.

I thought the pace of the story was easy to follow, although I did find the ending to the "mystery" a tad predictable.

Nonetheless, THE TRAITOR is an interesting read about a female spy.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an e-copy of THE TRAITOR to review.

I rate THE TRAITOR four out of five stars.

This was excellent time spent! I could absolutely see this as an excellent screen adaptation reminiscent of "Revenge" and similar twisty thrillers, with a bit of police procedural tossed in. You never know who you can trust...

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel. There are two types of spy novels: realistic spy novels and James Bond style novels. This is definitely the latter. Unfortunately, I prefer the former. There is almost no tradecraft here, and Emma's main spy skill for much of the book seems to be "keeping a straight face." The villains are none too smart and evil only in the cartoonish sense. I wish there had been gadgets. If you're creating a spy fantasy, you need to up the fantasy somehow. But the pacing, the yacht, even the predictability will appeal to folks looking for a.fun beach read.

This was another fast paced read about a new-ish spy, Emma Makepeace. Part James Bond with some Below Deck thrown in, the story begins as Emma is pulled from a current case to look into the death of an MI6 operative. Found in a suitcase, his death has the hallmarks of "teaching a lesson". Emma's handler Ripley is suspicious, but eventually has Emma on board a Russian oligarch's super yacht to determine which men are involved in these schemes.

This book follows Emma Makepeace, a spy for MI5, as she tries to take down a Russian oligarch who sells chemical weapons by going undercover on his yacht. I was fully engaged from page one. It's fast-paced and full of intrigue, and it's impossible to put down. I would compare it to James Bond but with a character that has more emotional draw. Highly recommended! Fingers crossed for a movie!

The Traitor is a bit of a wild ride, that's part Bond, part not-quite-Bourne, part-Smiley, and part-almost-Ripley!

The story is of Emma Makepeace (!), a British MI6 operative. Seriously, the last time I heard the name Makepeace was - probably same as many others outside Great Britain - was William Makepeace Thackeray, an English language novelist and illustrator from the 19th century. So, that took some getting used to, knowing that most of Thackeray's works were satires, while this book at times takes itself so seriously you begin to suspect if the author actually means it, or is earnestly trying to pull a fast one on you!

Those rather funny misgivings aside, the plot is not really innovative and overtly clever, but Emma makes the story more believable and is someone you can easily choose to root for. She is sincere, even if not quite on top of her game at critical moments, while being equal parts naive and experienced.

The Russian oligarch storyline is full of the usual Insta-ready but addicted girlfriend, ugly hulk of a bodyguard, and some more shadowy characters whose loyalties are questionable, but none too deeply explored. There are chase sequences, collateral damage, assassinations, and a prescription-plotline of a mole inside the agency.

Overall, not a bad read, but rather a bit of a middling attempt at a thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House and the author for a complimentary eARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

This is a Cold War spy novel with a twist-a young female agent is the protagonist. After another agent is killed and left in his suitcase (!) Emma is sent onto a Russian oligarch’s yacht to see what she can find out. There is danger around every corner, stereotypical bad guys and possibly a traitor in the midst of this “Man from Uncle” feeling thriller. Beautiful European scenery and the opulence of the yacht are described in vivid detail. A quick, fun read which can be read as a standalone.
I received this ARC at no charge from NetGalley and the author, but all opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing me with an eARC of The Traitor in exchange for my honest review!

I'm always up for some espionage thrills, and this does a solid job at delivering such entertainment. Sure, it does that formulaically and wraps things up with a predictable "twist" ending. And look, the conclusion truly does annoy me because of how blatantly foreseeable it is. However, I still enjoy spending time with MI6 operative Emma Makepeace (even though her surname is so damn cheesy) as she wrestles with gray morals and endures the obstacles of her secret mission onboard a suspicious Russian oligarch's yacht. And when I'm done reading the book, it leaves me feeling positive enough that I'd like to check out the preceding novel, Alias Emma, which is where the protagonist makes her debut.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Traitor 3.25 out of 5 stars, which I'll round down to 3 stars on Goodreads. I'll keep an eye out for more of Ava Glass's work.

Undercover, Sun, Sand, and Secrets (Oh, and Murder)

Forget paradise, the French Riviera just got deadly for investigator Emma Makepeace. When a "dead by drowning" screams murder, Emma dives in, only to find the victim linked to some shady oligarchs and illegal weapon deals. Gross, right?

To smoke out the culprit, Emma goes undercover on a mega-yacht fit for a Bond villain (minus the fluffy white cat). Sounds glamorous, but trust me, the champagne loses its fizz when you're constantly looking over your shoulder. Every guest, every crew member, could be the traitor hiding within the British government. Where is James Bond when you need him?

The turquoise waters turn treacherous as Emma navigates a world of hidden agendas and deadly secrets. Can she expose the traitor before they take her down? Buckle up, this sun-soaked thriller will keep you guessing until the very last page
I tried to give it a 3.5
You will enjoy this if:
* You like heroines who don't need rescuing, as a female I like James Bond on these assignments.
* Twists and turns that are too James Bond, umm that name pop up a lot here, or is it just me?
This was fun to write!
Thank you #Netgalley

Emma Makepeace is an intelligence agent in Britain. She is following in the footsteps of her father that was killed in Russian for his spy activity, years ago.

Emma takes a mission where she is employed on a yacht owned by a Russian
oligarch. Her assignment is to gather intelligence information on wealthy Russians selling weapons of mass destruction (nerve gas) to rogue nations.

This is a well-crafted spy novel. The characters are likable and the plot is detailed and makes sense. If you are a reader of thrillers and mysteries, you may be able to figure out ahead of time, who the traitor is. This really won’t take away from your enjoyment of reading this novel.

The author Ava Glass has another Emma Makepeace novel in this series, as The Traitor, is number two. I am interested enough in seeing the development of this character to go back and read number one in this series.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

The Traitor by Ava Glass is the second book in the Alias Emma series. Emma is an investigator/undercover spy for the British government. She is undercover on a yacht with a Russian oligarch, and there is a traitor that is making the operation even more dangerous for her. This story was fast-paced and fun to read. Emma is a very likable character. I had read the previous book in this series, which was also a lot of fun, but I think this second book could be read without knowledge of the first. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Emma Makepeace #2!
Emma is assigned to go undercover to investigate a Russian oligarch. She is shocked to find that their is a third man they should be investigating, and that it could be someone inside MI6. Emma gets close, but is pulled from the operation. She refuses to give up, and is shocked to discover the traitor.
I love Emma, and her gutsy response to danger. She also shows emotion, compassion, and grit as she does her job. I like the fast pace of these thrillers and am looking forward to book #3. Emma is the heroine we all love to support!
Would have been 5 stars, except it was obvious to me who the traitor was throughout the book - though I still loved it!

3.5-4 stars
Fun spy novel. Female MI6 agent goes undercover on a Russian oligarch's yacht. There was plenty of action and suspense. I didn't think Emma was a very good spy, however: making dumb decisions and missing obvious signs. Still, it was enjoyable and worked fine as a standalone.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I love the idea of a female 'James Bond' and Ava Glass has created that with this series.

The characters are lovable, flawed, and real. The story is perfect for a summer beach or a cruise. There is just enough love story, espionage, and suspense to keep the pages turning while building to a satisfying climax.

"The Traitor" by Ava Glass is a gripping tale filled with unexpected twists and a well-crafted narrative. The characters are intricately developed, and the author's writing style is engaging. The story's intensity keeps you hooked from start to finish, although a slightly more conclusive ending would have made it even more satisfying. Overall, a compelling read that delivers suspense and intrigue.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and Bantam books for my honest review.*

I loved the first in this series so much and I was very excited to get the second to read! It did not disappoint at all!

Taking the energy of Alias Emma running through London in one evening and add to it "Below Deck" on a super yacht and you have a super thriller mystery! Emma is investigating a dead MI6 operative and has to train to be a replacement steward on the yacht to investigate. And still trying to solve who the mole is within her MI6 department.

I cannot say enough good things about this book and this series. It is smart and sassy and fresh and well written and fast paced. I don't think you have to have watched all 15+ seasons of all the Below Decks, but it definitely helped me understand what obstacles Emma was facing by going undercover. Five stars! I think this is a standalone novel, but it is so good that I don't know why you wouldn't read Alias Emma first! Seriously.... do it!!

I am definitely recommending this book and this series to friends!

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.

A fast paced romantic suspense that tended to be a little on the predictable side but still good. It was also a fairly quick read. I kept turning pages because I had to know what happened.