Think a female James Bond using her wits, skill, and courage to get a man across London. Overnight. Chased by other Russians and with MI6 in chaos.

A spy story that kept me engaged. I liked the plot and would read more books by this author. I was no extremely invested in the characters though.

I was all in from the start and devoured this one. I love a good spy thriller and make her female and a new spy. I love it. This was action packed from start to finish. It starts quickly and never lets up. Emma, not really her name, is tough and courageous on her first assignment. And so very relatable. I was rooting for her the entire way.

I was guessing and second guessing who was after Emma and Michael and who she could trust. This reminded me a little of the show Covert Affairs. I’m so excited to see this is the start of a series because I could read a little more about Emma.

Oh my goodness this book. I did not know much about this author and I went into the book blind. I am so glad I did and I plan to read more in the future

Emma Makepeace is a relatively new agent for the Vernon Institute when she’s assigned to convince a pediatric oncologist he needs protection from the Russians, because his mother Elena, who escaped to the West twenty years ago is being targeted---and he may be a pawn to get to his mother. Emma's boss Ripley first denies her any additional support and then seems to disappear. Emma has to use her wits to get Michael across London to safety, mostly without using any means of communication or public transportation.

I was caught up in the story from the begining, and kept on edge until the end.

Ava Glass is a pseudonym for Christi Daugherty, who writes the YA series Night School. A new name, and a new take on the British spy game. Her hero, Emma, is still a novice. However, this novice comes fully prepared to assess and act. Other reviewers have compared her to a female James Bond.
Not so, she is above Bond in both emotion and potential. This fast paced novel invites late night reading to see how it will unfold. Cinematic writing, this reader looks forward to The Traitor, Emma's next adventure.
Full disclosure: I received this ARC from Netgalley and Bantam Press. Thank you for this opportunity.

Read this in one sitting! Quick, absorbing and fast paced as well as well written. Loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!!

fast and zippy, just the way i like my political-ish thrillers. if it's moving fast enough i don't have time to think too hard about my suspension of disbelief! not bad at all

A British, female spy/espionage thriller. Why did I take so long to get to this book? I ended up listening to the audiobook and I could not put it down. I love Emma and her colleagues. I also really like Michael and I hope we have not seen the last of him because yes there is a second book! I immediately put that on hold at my local library and I am eagerly awaiting this next installment.

This was a fun spy novel with a female spy! I enjoyed most of it, although I felt that the flashbacks could be a little long at times.

Thanks #netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. Good book with an excellent main character. Enjoyed the story and the backstory. Highly recommend.

ALIAS EMMA
Ava Glass

So, hear me out. I went into ALIAS EMMA with the wrong expectations and I want to make sure if you pick it up (which you definitely should) that you’ll have the absolute correct expectations and enjoy it from the beginning.

I was ready for a quirky, cozy, and quiet experience. Instead, it was “burn after reading”, ghost protocols, and impossible missions.

I was surprised,
I was impressed,
I was hooked!

ALIAS EMMA stars Emma Makepeace as a fresh-from-training secret agent. She just got her first mission. Her mission should she choose to accept it is to convince the son of the notorious Elena Priminov to go under protection and keep him safe in the process.

I was expecting a folly-filled undercover agent story where the main character blunders their way through cases and somehow ends up on top.

This is not that story. ALIAS EMMA is very serious and her job is risky with very high stakes. There are lives on the line and serious consequences should Emma fail.

Part of the fun in ALIAS EMMA is following along Emma’s character arc. Rooting for her is easy and reading as she solves the case is exciting and thoroughly enjoyable.

I can’t wait to pick up THE TRAITOR next to see what Emma is up to and be a mouse in her pocket.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Audio, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for the advanced copies!

ALIAS EMMA...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An exciting new voice in the spy genre with an amazing new character. I really enjoyed this story which takes place (essentially) over one long day. Action packed, you still get deep glimpses into Emma, the main character, and you get the beginnings of a new world of spies. Can’t wait for the next one!

a short, fast, engaging read.

it is not excessively "writerly" but has great pacing and some very memorable characters. the protagonist is compelling, both for her backstory as well as her doggedness.

this had a very cinematic feel, with vivid actions sequences but does push the envelope for believability, much like an action movie.

this makes a perfect beach read and i'm am very excited & grateful that i was selected to get access to the next in the series.

I apologize, I wanted to red this book, but was unable to read this book in the permitted timeframe. Life got in the way, but now I am back, so if this is released to me again, I will download, read and review it.

Emma Makepeace is fresh out of basic training for a British spy agency when she gets the call for her first major assignment. The job is not an easy one, as Emma must travel across the city to bring in a very reluctant son of Russian dissidents. Threats against him are grave enough to warrant protective custody, with the need to stay off the grid on the way paramount. Making things more challenging, London's CCTV cameras have been compromised by the Russian government, so the pair must use every trick in Emma's book to make it to safety undetected. When bullets start flying, will Emma's extensive training be enough to keep them alive?

I really enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to read the second book. I finished this book months ago, thinking I had written this review but finding out that it slipped through the cracks. From the fast moving plot to the well written characters, Alias Emma captivated me from beginning to end. The author brought to life a main character with grit and determination, steadfast in her convictions and resourceful. Overall, Alias Emma was a great read and one I would recommend to others.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book! I had seen it everywhere and decided to give it a go. Its 007 / Mission Impossible except that you get a female hero as opposed to a role that is usually male dominated. The book is a fast rand quick read at only around 258 pages. The story of Emma as a spy taking on her first case is exciting and fast paced and felt like you were reading what could be a script for a movie. Mr. Ripley adds a dose of fun too. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Remember the name Emma Makepiece. She may well become the next star in the Espionage pantheon. And her muse, Ava Glass, almost as well known as the current crop of spy novelists.
Emma is one of the youngest spies in MI-5. She is tasked with protecting the son of a Russian atomic scientist who was secretly helping Britain. She and her family barely escape arrest and execution before being spirited to England. Now the almost demonic head of Russia's spies in Britain is determined to find and kill the entire family.
Emma's assignment is to keep the son safe. He has become a doctor and does not think he needs protection. And, thereby the suspense and excitement begin, all across London, and even in the freezing Thames.
It's one of the best spy books in years!
James N

Thank you to the publisher for this copy. I enjoyed the read and appreciated having the backstory provided - always nice to know what drives the main character into service. I found it a little slow in parts and. Is ofter the case with the genre, far fetched in places, but not not enough to prevent me from Emma’s future adventures. Bring it!

Posted on GoodReads

Unfortunately, this book didn't capture me. I was really excited to read it, but when I sat down, I just couldn't get into it. It might have been the timing of when I read it, but I only got about 25% through it.