This is the first in a series of books with the main character being a female MI6 agent, Emma Makepeace (hate the character name but it’s a series so too late now). I thought the concept of the storyline was good – MI6 trying to bring in the son of a former Russian spy to protect him from Russian agents trying to capture and possibly kill him. And I thought she did a good job giving the main character a backstory to get to know her a little better but the story itself was predictable and a little too farfetched at times. This is the author’s first novel though so I assume the books will improve as she continues the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

I liked the theme of a female spy, but feel that Emma needs to be further developed as a character. Realizing this was her first assignment, but the chase scenes ate up most of the book. It became a bit repetitive as they dodged, and dodged and dodged. I do think there is hope for Emma Makepeace's character, but she needs a few more spy tools in her toolbox.

I appreciate the opportunity from the author, publisher and Netgalley to read and honestly review this novel.

Alias Emma by Ava Glass was a quick, fast paced spy novel featuring a female spy. Emma Makepeace is abandoned by her agency and has to survive the night with her assignment, the handsome surgeon Michael Primalov from a group of Russian assassins. It was a lot of running, chasing, and hiding and unfortunately, it was pretty predictable.
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest review.

DNF at 20%. I am always drawn to spy stories - I love when they draw me in and I feel like I’m part of the action. Unfortunately this one wasn’t working for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

“Don’t bring the guest home. Take him to the neighbors. Avoid all cameras- they’re not ours right now. Be careful with M. No calls. No tech. Move fast. Stay dark.”

In the fast-paced Alias Emma Ava Glass’s Emma Makepeace is on her first operation with The Agency, assigned to track down and save a man wanted by the Russian government. All Emma has to do is bring him in to MI6 before sunrise. But the Russians have hacked the city's CCTV cameras. There are spies all over London searching for the two of them. And her target doesn't want to be rescued.

While the premise seems a little dated (do Russians still chase people?), the action is high-speed and the drama is tense. This would make a great Michael Bay screenplay. I liked this book (3 of 5 stars) which is available from all sellers August 02, 2002.

This was one of the most exciting books that I have ever read! Emma Makepeace works for “The Agency” and is given the job of bringing in a doctor to safety because the Russians are after him. The Russians want to use him to lure his parents out of hiding. Emma is on her own with absolutely no backup. It is a difficult job to convince the doctor he is in danger. When she finally convinces him she must take him in for his own safety, the Russians are on to them. Emma must figure out how to get them across London before daylight so she can turn him over to MI6 for his protection. Ava Glass does a great job of making the story exciting with non-stop action. If you love spy/thriller books, you will want to read this one. I look forward to the next book also because I understand this is the first in a series.

Alias Emma is a fast moving roller coaster ride through the streets of London as newly minted spy Emma Makepeace is tasked with rescuing Michael Primalov from Russian assasins. But, but, but. Primalov doesn't want to be rescued, Emma doesn't really have the experience and expertise for this job, and she is beginning to have doubts about her bosses and their motives.

I thought this was a lot of fun! We need more women action heros. Bring on Emma Makepeace #2.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good book! It hooked me after the first or second chapter. It had a great plot twist and had so many twists and turns you had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I would have liked to have known if Emma and Michael ever met back up or ever pursued a relationship as it seems some feelings were developing. Maybe a possible story line for a sequel.

I was absolutely giddy to read this book, because I not only love spy thrillers with a female protagonist, but I absolutely adore when it turns out to be a Russian spy thriller. I know, I know. I probably shouldn’t be fangirling so hard over Russian spy thrillers in this day and age, but for some reason I can’t resist them and never have been able to. Did I watch too many 007 movies growing up? Maybe. Do I love Natasha Romanoff from the bottom of my black heart? Most certainly. Do I have quite a few biographies and nonfiction books about the Cold War? How about we don’t talk about my nonfiction collection or my love of Russian history.

This book flies by like a great spy movie does. Think Bourne. Think Bond. Think La Femme Nikita. Heck, you can even think of Mrs. Emma Peel if you want. From the time Emma Makepeace is sent out on the mission that makes up the plot of this propulsive and thrilling read up until almost the very end, this book lays its foot on the accelerator and simply does not let off until the exact right time; and when it does, it’s like crossing the finish line only hundreths of a second before the car behind you. It’s fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled, unpredictable, addictive, and impeccably edited to keep that thrilling pacing taut like a piano wire.

I can’t tell if this is the first book in a series or not. Some places (like Goodreads) say it’s the first in the series, but I can’t find that information anywhere else. I’ll tell you what: If Ava Glass decided to make this into a series, I’ll sign up to read it right here and now. I would definitely read more about Emma Makepeace getting her revenge on the Russians one day at a time.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ballatine, and Bantam for granting me access to this title.

This book starts off with a bang and maintains that momentum throughout. The characters are likeable and engaging. A big selling point for me was how the author gave background information on the main characters. So much better than a massive overload of information all at once. Anyone familiar with London will enjoy this novel.
Thank you Bantam and NetGalley for an ARC.
#Bantam#NetGalley#AliasEmma#AvaGlass

This book was totally entertaining and best of all, there were just a handful of characters to keep track of, chiefly Emma Makepeace and Michael Primalov. I wasn’t crazy about the book in the beginning thinking, oh swell, I just bit into another espionage, Russian and handler, whatever. And then in short order, I was flipping pages because I had to. Well done, Ava Glass, and I suspect there’s a book to follow. Would I read it? Oh yes.

British spy Emma is given an assignment to bring in the son of a Russian scientist, but he wants to be left alone to live his life and things take a turn for the worse when a competing spy agency tries to take them both out! I love action-based spy thrillers and I am happy to say that Alias Emma does not disappoint. With the ticking clock scenario this one gave me Kiefer Sutherland's 24 mixed with a bit of Jennifer Garner from Alias vibes....all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The tension was there from the get-go and the stakes were felt high. The interspersed flashbacks to Emma's recruitment/early spy days worked well within the story. I really liked Emma and hope that this is the start of a series because I would totally check out another story featuring her. and her spy ways/life.

Special thanks to Bantam and Netgalley for the ARC of Alias Emma for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

“Emma” is a newly appointed young female secret agent who garners her first major assignment. Will she be successful in delivering to safety the handsome young doctor that is reluctant to believe he’s in danger from the Russian government? It will take all of Emma’s training and ingenuity to get across London avoiding the city’s vast network of CCTV’s to accomplish her mission within 12 hours. When the Russians locate them at every twist and turn and seem to know where they are going next it becomes evident that the Russians have hacked into the CCTV network. Emma must use her instincts to somehow avoid the cameras. For those that like spy novels, this is a fast paced, heart pounding thrill ride that will keep you reading into the night.

This book was so much fun. It was a complete edge-of-your-seat, fast-paced, "Die-Hard-esk" type of experience. Emma is a British spy who is tasked with getting her target through London to the M16 building before the Russians get to them first. The biggest problem is that her target doesn't want to go. Convincing him while also keeping him alive becomes a daunting task. The Russians have hacked into the CCTVs and are everywhere throughout London. And they seem to anticipate all of Emma's moves before she has even done them. I enjoyed this espionage/spy thriller and look forward to more in this series. Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC.4 stars

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Alias Emma by Ava Glass is a fast-paced espionage thriller about Emma Makepeace, a secret agent, who must save a local London doctor from being kidnapped by Russian agents.

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
I do love my espionage thrillers, and my initial expectations are that this story will have everything I love about the genre: tons of thrills, a fast pace from beginning to end, intelligent moves and clever wit, and generally a hero who I will love to root for.

Actual Reading Experience:
Alias Emma was everything I hoped for and more. I loved it and would be very happy if it was the start of a new series.

The thrills began early and didn't stop until the last page. The story reads so super-fast that the pages practically flipped themselves. I may have even stopped breathing at some point and couldn't have asked for more from the story.

The plot is tightly focused, which adds to the fast pace. There are no unnecessary meanderings to get in the way of all those thrills. I loved the crispness of the writing and found it immersive with just the right amount of subterfuge.

I also enjoyed the flashbacks that allowed me to learn more about Emma and added to her character development. I felt that the character was relatively well developed while leaving room for growth and further development should this become a series. Emma is tough but not indestructible and extremely smart. She has learned a set of valuable skills that give her street smarts as well as conventional intelligence.

The story definitely has James Bond vibes, without the cars and toys. I wouldn't have minded some gadgets, but I also loved that she was sent out to do this dangerous job without any weapon aside from her brain. Anyone can get out of tight situations with a gun. Still, to only have your ingenuity as a weapon, now that takes a special kind of woman.

What It Reminds Me Of:
The publisher called it Killing Eve meets James Bond, and I agree entirely with that comparison. I thought the story reminded me of a James Bond thriller with a female lead.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you love fast-paced thrillers with a strong female lead, you will love Alias Emma.

This is my kind of book. The pacing is excellent. It just moves, and you can pretty much picture the movie this might be. Had a blast reading it. Great fun.

Emma Makepiece is on her first significant mission for the "Agency" tasked to bring the son of a Russian defector to safety before a Russian assassination team. This reads like a movie plays out - fast moving and easy to envision on screen. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Well, that was exhausting!

It's no secret I'm a fan of espionage thrillers, and this one, featuring a rookie female secret agent at a fictional British Intelligence agency (coincidentally called the Agency), was so fast-paced, I couldn't believe it was over when I hit the Acknowledgments. A solid 95% of the story takes place over the course of 12 hours, as the protagonist is tasked with delivering her target, the son of a Russian defector who doesn't want to be saved, across London into protective custody, all while being pursued by a Russian assassin squad.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to when Emma was recruited and trained, which were interspersed with the present-day story to help break up the thriller aspects and let me catch my breath. I also liked the development of the relationship between Emma and her target, Michael, as they learned to trust each other and work together to stay alive.

The late introduction of a new character and ending left much to be desired, however. There was so much build-up, I wanted something bigger and more impactful in the end. I also felt like Emma was fairly one-dimensional. The story was far more heavy on plot than character development, and while it kept the pace moving along, it also meant I wasn't as invested as I could've been.

I read that this story is being adapted for TV, and I'll definitely check that out. I'm also interested in seeing if this is the start of a series. If it is, I'd love to learn more about the other three characters Emma goes out with at the end of this story.

Perfect for fans of Jason Bourne, ALIAS EMMA was both entertaining and exhausting. Fingers crossed I'll get to read more of Emma's adventures and get to know her character and others at the Agency better.

RATING: B

I really enjoyed reading Alias Emma. Emma is a spy and her current assignment is to save Michael Primalov from the Russians and get him into a Safe House. Nothing seems to be going her way. Alias Emma was a fast-paced thriller. From first chapter I couldn’t put down. I would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC for my honest review.

ALIAS EMMA
By: Ava Glass
Publication: August 2, 2022 by Bantam Books


Move over Emma Peel of the beloved 60’s TV series The Avengers and Eve Polastri of the more recent 2018 series: “Killing Eve”. This is the first appearance of Emma Makepeace in her thrilling page-turner action spy debut. This clever and ingenious heroine grapples with a horde of Russian GRU spies and assassins. Emma is a newly trained spy for the Vernon Institute of England and is tasked with the near impossible feat of delivering and protecting pediatric oncologist, Michael Primalov, to the safety of a MI6 safe house. His lone crime is being the son of Elena, who defected to the West twenty years ago, and bringing with her vital scientific data. Lately multiple other scientists associated with Elena have been brutally assassinated by Russian agents in London. She must first convince Michael of his imminent danger, and then successfully deliver him across London to MI6, while the Russians have successfully hacked into London’s famed CCTV camera network that virtually blankets the city.
Ava Glass crafts a masterful narrative that is a cinematic gem that deftly captures the readers imagination, as Emma against all odds attempts to deliver Michael to safety while avoiding the ever watchful cameras through the darkened alleys and tunnels under London. She must use disguise and subterfuge , and at times hand-to-hand combat, to avoid capture by the Russian assassins, A lethal cat and mouse contest plays out in the shadows and tunnels of London. Relief from the tension and intrigue of the chase, are deftly provided by flashback chapters involving the training and backstory of Emma’s motivation to become a spy.
The action is non-stop and explosive, ratcheting up to an exhilarating high octane denouement. I couldn’t put this gripping novel down and finished in one seating. In my mind’s eye I pictured Diana Rigg or Uma Thurman playing Emma Makepeace in an ongoing series.
Reportedly this is the first novel in a continuing Emma series. …. I’m on board for more!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.