Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review Alias Emma. This was a well written and fast paced thriller. I enjoyed the characters and the story kept me riveted.

Emma Makepeace is a newly minted spy from a family of spies, working for a secretive British agency that operates around the edges of MI5 and MI6. She's very good at tradecraft, but has almost no field experience, particularly with the backstabbing ways of the British spycraft. No worries, she's on a benign case as a deep cover agent. Until she's recalled and told to bring the son of a Russian defector to safety, just as the agency realizes there are Russian agents throughout London and they've hacked the fabled London security camera network. She has one night to race across London to what will hopefully be safety, without her or her asset being killed. It's not going to be easy, and things keep getting worse as the night proceeds...

"Alias Emma" proves a terrific and fun spy thriller that is going to make a great series (inevitably). Recommended!

Coming into this, I knew a spy novel would have my full attention. But I never anticipated being so on edge as Emma races across the city with Michael. This is a true page turner that will leave you wanting the next in the series.

**I received this advance copy free from Bantam, Random House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

This was a fast paced, spy thriller. I loved the main character and felt that she was complex yet understandable. The story takes place over a short period of time which really keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

I got such a fun old spy novel vibe from this one, but ultimately it left me wanting more. The twists weren’t twisty enough and the end felt unsatisfying, even though the all night chase was exciting and pulled out all the stops (seriously, even chase scene event you could want was included, down to a little potential romance).

This is the first in a series featuring Emma Makepeace, a woman in the British Secret Service. Emma is recruited and is living out her dream to avenge her father's death. Emma is assigned a case to protect a young doctor from the Russians, who have been methodically eliminating those they feel are detrimental to their cause.
Emma needs to convince Michael to leave his position and go on the run with her to escape the Russians. What follows is a chase across London, where Emma realizes that she must trust her own instincts, and to be wary of those who claim to be helpers.
This is an exciting first installment of a new series. Emma is a wonderful heroine, smart and resilient, with a backstory. I am really excited to read more of this series, and I will be rooting for Emma. I secretly hope that there is a way for her to find her way back to Michael one day, but this may not be possible - for his safety.

I really don’t read many spy novels, preferring mostly psychological thrillers instead, but I might have to change my stance if Ava Glass keeps writing them. Thoroughly engaging all the way through I fell in love with our heroine and put off essential tasks until I reached the exciting and satisfying conclusion. Pick it up, you will love it!

Alias Emma is a fast paced spy thriller set in the streets and tunnels of London. Emma is on her first assignment with "The Agency," tasked with protecting a man wanted by the Russian government. But when the Russians infiltrate the agency and take over the CCTV, it isn't clear who she can trust, or how they will be able to get to the safety of MI6 without being detected.

This was a fun and fast-paced read, perfect for fans of Jason Bourne, James Bond, and stories with strong female leads. I really enjoyed the way Emma's background and family history were woven into the story, and I'm always in the mood for anything involving Russian spies! It looks like this might be the first in a new series staring Emma, and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you Random House- Ballantine for an ARC of this fantastic thriller!

The perfect summer read, featuring a British spy new to the job who must deliver her asset across London in 12 hours, with killers in hot pursuit. The perfect page-turner.

I really enjoyed this spy thriller! Even though some parts were predictable, it was an exciting and fast paced story. Writing was great in that it helped set the scene. Honestly, it was like I was watching an action movie in the form of a book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. This was an engrossing spy thriller that mostly took place in the course of a day, which made for an excellent pace. I devoured it in a day. I love a female spy protagonist who kicks major ass and is smart and witty.

'Alias Emma,' by Ava Glass is a fast paced spy novel. The story takes place in 24 hours across London. If you are looking for a quick, fun read this is it.

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

When I first got a recommendation to read this book, I was dreading it a little from the way the cover looked. For some reason, I thought it would drag and be a bore to read. I am not sure why and I feel a little foolish for thinking that because it was a fantastic book!!

Emma is a spy in London and has just been given a new assignment - protect an innocent and totally unwilling man. Sounds like a great time! Once she is able to convince him to take her help, she learns that she has to lead him across London overnight and avoiding all CCTV cameras and without any additional help.

While I wouldn't call this a cozy mystery because of some of the language, it was such an engaging read to follow along the struggles they faced hiding and moving through the night. Ava Glass did a fantastic job sharing back stories into how Emma got where she is and this made her a very believable agent.

This is definitely one of my favorite reads this year!

A perfect selection for all my bookclubs. Just the right amount of thriller/intrigue and great characters. Thank you.

A perfect start to a new spy series staring a strong, female protagonist that reminds me of James Bond or Jason Bourne.

If you like historical fiction spy series such as the Maggie Hope series, take a chance on this modern female led spy novel set in London. I’m excited to see where this series goes.

This female lead spy story defiantly kept my attention and I read it in one sitting. However I cannot say if I will continue if there are more books after this. I really enjoyed the connection between Michael and Emma. It was nice to see Emma open up and feel comfortable with him.

With the dual timelines I have to say that I much preferred the present than the past,. I know we needed to see where Emma came from and how she got to where she is now but I did not enjoy the jumping back and forth.

Overall an enjoyable read.


Thank you to NG and Random House for the advanced copy.

Alias Emma by Ava Glass is the first in a new spy series featuring Emma Makepeace. She has been assigned to find and bring an innocent man to safety before the Russian government can find and assassinate him. This book tells the story of how Emma became an agent and how Emma was able to get this man to safety while facing very many dangerous obstacles. This story was a quick and really fun read. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the book but had a hard time getting into it and it’s a slow go. I would recommend it though

Ava Glass is the author of Alias Emma which was published in 2022. This is her first publication. Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

Emma Makepeace has just completed her training as a British secret agent, but that name is only her working alias. Her first assignment seems easy enough. She simply has to escort the son of a Russian dissident across London. And she has 12 hours to do it.

But that is before the Russians hack into London’s extensive CCTV surveillance system. Buses, subways, cars, and trains, the normal means of transportation, are all being watched. Nor can they use a cell phone or a credit card without signaling their location. Emma and her charge must find their way across London without disclosing themselves to the Russian assassins pursuing them.

I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this 273-page thriller. The novel has action, intrigue, and romance woven into the plot. While I understand the chosen cover artwork, a London city map, I do not think it is very engaging. I give this novel a rating of 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review Alias Emma by Ava Glass. The book was a fun, engaging spy adventure through the streets of London. Emma Makepeace (not her real name, of course) is a young spy trusted with a mission to bring an asset safely into protected custody. She encounters forces that wish to thwart her mission, and this leads her and the asset on a high stakes chase around London. I enjoyed getting to know Emma and Michael during their time together; they made a great team. I'd recommend this book to any fans of the spy genre who want a change from the usual male-dominated genre. I'm always on the lookout for female lead thrillers, and Alias Emma fit the bill.