After a brief but stellar career in covert operations with the British Army, Emma Makepeace is recruited to MI5, where she undergoes intensive training in espionage. Now her boss, Ripley, has tapped her for her first real operation, and it’s a doozy.

Russian agents have been targeting scientist defectors living in the UK, and there is word that they plan to kidnap Michael Primalov, the son of a star scientist, so that they can bend her to their will. Ripley tells Emma that Michael has dismissed the seriousness of the situation, refusing to leave his life as a pediatric oncologist to go into hiding. Maybe Emma, being closer to Michael’s age, will be able to persuade him.

No sooner does Emma start the job than all hell breaks loose. It seems as if London—possibly the most CCTV-filled city in the world—is filled with murderous Russian agents tracking her and Michael as they try to make their way to safety. Worse yet, it quickly becomes clear that Emma is on her own, with no assistance from her agency.

This is a compact, fast-paced thriller with a cinematic feel. I read it in an afternoon and the time flew by. Yes, you could say there are occasional improbable aspects to Emma’s operation, but I’d say less so than your average 007 or Bourne film.

Summer read alert! Put this one on your list. Fast-paced - kept me guessing - super quick chapters - nothing heavy - what more do you want on a beach ? Love that it’s a woman spy - love how excited I was to see what would happen next. Heartfelt thanks to Ballantine for the advanced copy. I’m al in!

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, 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

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. This is an incredible spy story and I loved it! The action never stops and the twists took my breath away! The characters are so flawed but most are likable. I truly hope there are plans for more books featuring “Alias Emma”. I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy spy stories with a great ensemble of characters and non-stop action.

Thank you so much for giving me a chance to review Alias Emma! I appreciate it.

This was so fun! I haven't read a fast-paced story like this in a long time. There wasn't one moment where something crazy wasn't happening. I've seen so many male POV spy thrillers that this truly felt like the biggest breath of fresh air. I loved how determined, strong-willed, and intelligent Emma was. She was such a fully formed character; you get to see glimpses of her past and her training in between her rescue of Michael, which worked well in the long run. She felt completely real, and I enjoyed how her narration was written.
I also liked that it was complex and layered enough to be exciting but also "simple" enough that it didn't feel like something outrageous. It was the perfect blend of believable and crazy. And again, super fast-paced, so I think this is an ideal read if you want something quick, engaging, and entertaining.

I loved the author's writing and how well she wrote action. It was a good mix of the characters constantly moving, sharing personal stuff in between, and things building up to the end. And when I felt that the action was getting a bit tiring, I just took a break and felt it very easy to return to later.

I'm only giving it 4 stars because it didn't have the emotional connection I typically look for in books to give it that much. BUT that doesn't mean that it wasn't incredibly well written and well done! For an action spy thriller, it was very enjoyable and perfect in terms of that genre!

I'd love to see more of Emma and Ripley in the future! Especially a story where they have a little more interaction in the present time. Overall, very enjoyable!

Having grown up watching OO7 movies with my dad, I loved the cloak and dagger spy characters in this fast-paced story. Emma Makepeace is the perfect English spy against Russian operatives. She is fresh from her basic training but highly motivated, being the daughter of a spy who was killed by Russia. Emma is given a major assignment to protect the son of a Russian scientist who was helping England. However, Michael, a doctor, is reluctant at first to believe that his life is in danger until the first attack. As Emma and Michael race through London, they face many obstacles and attacks from Russian operatives as they try to make it to a safe house, all the while being monitored on the many CCTV cameras which had been hacked. To add another element of concern, Emma and Michael were on their own as her agency refused to offer any assistance or help after the disappearance of her boss. Emma knew something wasn’t right. To survive, Emma must rely on her training, intuition, and wit.
This is a great story, well written and intense. The characters are complex and well developed. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. I am hoping that there will be more books featuring Emma Makepeace as she is a courageous and admirable character. I was hoping that there would be a romance outcome between Michael and Emma, but perhaps that may be explored in another book. I’m excited to hear that this book will be made into a movie as well. Grab one this as soon as it’s out. I loved it.

Many thanks to #netgalley #aliasemma #ava glass #randomhouse for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Alias Emma is a fast-paced spy novel that reads like a screenplay, with all the requisite underground, water, and car chase scenes - no surprise as the author sold the movie rights before the book's publication. Who will they cast as the lead character?

Overall, I enjoyed both the adventure and the protagonists. At times the pacing of the novel is disrupted, though, by chapters focused on the main character's back story. These are purposely -placed interludes throughout the book, but I did not enjoy the interrupted action. Also, while a fun adventure through London, the plot doesn't have the intrigue level and complexity of other Russian-USA spy novels (it's not John le Carre). Is there such a thing as a "cozy" spy novel? If so, this qualifies. I'd recommend this for a reader looking for a quick escape from reality - especially if you love London and like the idea of exploring the city's lesser-known enclaves.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook version of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Spy thrillers are not my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It made for a nice change.The spy is a female which I found fun. Most of the story takes place in one wild night of Emma and Michael, the man she is assigned to protect, running from Russians trying to get their hands on him. This was the type of book that was hard to put down because the action never stops. I believe it’s the first in a series It will be fun to see what happens to Emma next.

Apparently the first in a series, Alias Emma is a welcome addition to the genre, both for its crisp and action packed writing and its female hero. There is little break in the action as Emma Makepeace, thrown into a perilous situation, must use her wits and her strengths (including her physical strength and excellent training) to protect her charge and bring him to safety. (His ultimate living and work futures are unexplored.) As many books in this genre, Alias Emma stretches the imagination at a few points. Perhaps this is a personal preference, but I'm always sorry to see larger-than-life heroes when more realistic exploits are available, especially when the hero is as inexperienced in the field as our hero is. There's a hint of romance but it is not well developed, leading to speculation that either it will be picked up in subsequent entries in the series or it was just not meant to be. I look forward to reading Ms. Glass's next efforts.

This book was fast moving. I loved it as I was on edge of my chair waiting as they made their way through London. The intricate knowledge of spy network was amazing. Has me wondering if I have had encounters in my lifetime with spies.

Loved this. I’m only sorry I’m too late to nominate it for library reads. Emma is a spy against Russia for England, and I love her character. Excellent plot, great characters and I’m already looking forward to the next installment. Please tell :me there’s going to be one! I ordered an extra copy for the copy. Our patrons will love this.

Alias Emma was a great find, and I thank NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I read this in one go, found the plot, characters and writing totally engaging. I’m not a typical reader of thrillers or suspense novels, but appreciate a well-written one now and again, and this one was. I’m hoping Ms Glass uses this book as a base for a series; I’m definitely interested in hearing more from her in the future.

This is a fast-paced spy book that had me reading as fast as I could! Emma is clever, undaunted, and willing to risk everything for her country as her father was a spy who was killed. So when her assignment is to protect a doctor, she takes it seriously and will do anything to help. There are great chase scenes from the Thames to the back streets and of course we don't know who the real villains are until the end. Might have made me a little paranoid but fortunately I harbor no state secrets! You may be burning the proverbial midnight oil with this one though!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I would easily give this book 6 stars if available.

This caught me from page 1 and was so hard to put down when I had to. Emma is such a loveable/relatable character. On her first "major" assignment to deliver Michael to protective custody she will have to whip out every trick in the book to get them to safety. . . all in one night and with the Russians hacking the facial recognition cameras.
In the most daring, terrifying race across London with a reluctant Michael, we learn more about each of their pasts and what they are willing to risk to secure they both have a future.

Gotta love a razor sharp, action packed British spy thriller with a kick ass female protagonist.
When Russian agents start killing off defectors, new and therefore unknown agent, Emma Makepeace is assigned to quickly get the son of a top Russian scientist who defected 20 years ago with some very valuable information to safety. First she has to convince the handsome doctor to leave behind the children he treats at the hospital. There isn't much time because it looks like they sent a whole army of assassins and they have hacked all of London's security cameras. To make matters worse, Emma's trainer and handler is mysteriously unavailable and the second in command leaves Emma hanging out there on her own. It's sort of Emma versus Goliath. Let the games begin!

My guess is that this will be a series and rumor has it that the movie rights have already been optioned. Congratulations to Ava Glass.

I received a drc from Random House/Ballentine via Netgalley. Expected publication date is 8-2-22.

Espionage has long been one of my favorite genres, and having a strong female protagonist just makes it better! I loved the chase and the intrigue this novel presents the readers with, as well as the fascinating characters.

James Bond who? Emma Makepeace is on the case! “Alias Emma” is about a strong, female spy who will do whatever it takes to protect her country. Emma joined the family business when she became a spy, as her father was one too. Sadly, she lost her dad before she born when he was killed by Russian agents. Her dad saved her life by sending her pregnant mom to the UK. Now, to avenge his death, she is doing everything she can to protect others from her father’s fate. This story centers around Emma protecting the son of a Russian scientist who has shared secrets with the UK. Saying this book is action packed is an understatement. It’s so fast paced, and has car chases, boat chases, explosions, you name it! One thing is certain you’ll never be bored. I personally, would love to see Emma on the big screen. This is the female lead we need! I hope the author continues to write stories about her. Thank you NetGalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you remember the TV show in the early 2000s with Jennifer Garner called ALIAS? Did you love it? Then read ALIAS EMMA as soon as you can get your hands on it! Fast paced and thrilling, Ava Glass races you through the streets of London in this spy adventure you won’t be able to put down! This book comes out on August 2nd. Put it on your TBR list!

4.5/5 ⭐️

Spy novels are a relatively new genre for me. I very much enjoyed Emma Makepeace's character, her handler, and her "asset." One of my favorite things about Alias Emma, is that Emma was on her own. I feel like female leads are often saved by male heroes, and Alias Emma is the antithesis to the common cliche.

Alias Emma was fast paced, action packed, and a wonderful series starter. I plan to read the series as it releases. It's also already been optioned as a film!

This one was a great spy thriller! The writing was great which made this such an easy read. It all flowed to the next plot and is plot driven. Emma, the main character rocks- she’s a BA, so smart and very independent. Would love to read a second novel about Emma!