Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC copy of this novel! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Two weeks after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, a new committee is formed, the IDC- Interdepartamental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications. Librarians, trained as microfilm specialists, would be sent to neutral European cities posing as American officials. Their assignment would be to collect books, magazines, and other materials for the Library of Congress. The materials would be Axis publications ordered through local bookstores in the neutral European cities. These materials would be microfilmed and sent to London or the US to be analyzed.
Maria Alves is one such Librarian, and with the help of one bookshop owner in Lisbon, Tiago, they are able to secure valuable information. But Tiago and Maria are both involved in the war more than each let on at first. Without any special training, Maria becomes a double agent, something she hadn’t anticipated on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from Alan Hlad!!! I finished it in 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down!!! I especially appreciated how well researched the facts and details were! Looking forward to more books from this author!

At first I didn't want to finish the book. Then I started reading more of it and I enjoyed it. This book was chosen by a book group of mine. It was also a first that I read by the author and plan on reading more. I am grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

The very beginning of the novel was slow for me and I found the prologue rather uninteresting. In particular, the author seemed to only use ‘[he] said’ constantly, rather than any other synonyms. However, once I got past this section and got into the meat of the book I was HOOKED. As in, still reading at 5am on a work night hooked. As in, could not put the book down. I devoured this novel in less than 24 hours and have now started trying to find other pieces of historical fiction set in a similar time and location.

Maria is a truly inspiring character, made even more impressive given the fact that she is based on a real life woman who was one of these ‘librarian spies’ during the war. The setting in Portugal is magical, and I learnt a lot about the Estado Novo, the authoritarian regime under dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. While I’ve read many books set in wartime Germany, France and Austria, this was the first that I read set in Portugal, which was a neutral country during the Second World War.

Maria’s relationship with Tiago is beautifully written, and Tiago’s character made me learn so much about the plight of Jewish refugees escaping to Portugal to try and get to America. I also discovered a lot about the brutal dictatorship under Salazar through Tiago’s experience as a political prisoner, which was truly eye opening. Before this novel, I didn’t actually know anything about the dictatorship in Portugal and how political prisoners were treated.

I highly recommend this book for anyone with a love of historical fiction, particularly those who want to read about other countries and how they were affected during WWII.

Espionage, bookstores and romance; what more could you want in a historical fiction novel?

My inner history geek is jubilant! I’m so excited to share with you a book that needs to top every discerning historical fiction reader’s new year reading list. Part intrigue, part romance, part history and all heart, this one’s a contender for top historical fiction of 2023.

I thoroughly enjoyed author Alan Hlad’s latest novel, The Book Spy. Not only was it a rich and informative read, but it was also unique, oozed authenticity and was extremely well-written. Set in Portugal, this exciting espionage tale unites an American librarian on a task to acquire critical intelligence and a Portuguese bookseller on a mission to help Jewish refugees.

Hlad explores a true event in history that has been overlooked - the recruitment of real-life librarians to serve as intelligence agents for the Office of Strategic Services. You’ll read about Roosevelt’s executive order that created a force of librarians and microfilm specialists whose sole task was to acquire enemy newspapers, books and periodicals for American war agencies.

Hlad also highlights the Jewish refugees who fled German-occupied Europe without passports or visas and arrived in Portugal. Again, Hlad offers up little-known facts revealing neutral Lisbon’s transition into a city of espionage and a safe harbour for one million refugees.

Furthermore, Hlad makes us aware of a rare metal, discovered in Portugal, that became a critical element to supply Hitler’s war machine and how this need led to an international smuggling operation.

If you are a fan of intriguing historical fiction showcasing strong female characters, you’ll want to get your hands on this one A.S.A.P.

I was gifted this extraordinary novel by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This is a historical fiction novel based on actual librarian spies during WWII. Fascinating story with appealing characters I was really cheering for. I like how the author wove in actual people and events, in addition to extensive research, making the book a realistic and compelling read.

Set during WWII, The Book Spy is a superb novel in every way from the cover to the author's notes and the captivating story in between. One seldom reads books focusing on Axis countries during the war so this one beckoned to me on that premise. However, the writing and suspense reminiscent of Marie Benedict held me. The story based on real people and true events is about honour, loyalty, perseverance, courage. love and sacrifice. Care and compassion for fellow human beings is evinced by the daily risks many took.

Maria Alves, an American librarian in charge of microfilming at the New York Public Library is eager to use her skills in the war effort, just like her male counterparts. She is every bit as tenacious and intelligent. But she runs into obstacles, some of which are life changing. She is finally sent to London to photograph publications to send by film to Intelligence to scrutinize. Her job is only to film. However, she makes risky decisions on her own and is asked to become a double agent and channels fake intel. She meets Portuguese bookseller Tiago Soares who has a side job as well, saving lives. She becomes involved in his mission and both take dangerous chances each day, though they are in an Axis country. The world is laden with secrets on all sides and knowing who to trust becomes difficult. Innocent people are whisked away and many do not return. Punishment and torture are dealt swiftly and cruelly.

Historical Fiction readers who seek a special and emotionally substantive book, do read this one. Not only is the premise fascinating and original but the characters, likeable or not, are well written. Learning more about double agents and the important role of microfilming is incredible! I am keen to read more from this author.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this outstanding book. So happy to have read it!

This was a really interesting book is based on true accounts of librarians that were used throughout WWII. This books is about ordinary people doing extraordinary things to aide the allied forces and more importantly the Jewish people that were so horrendously treated during that time.
There are two stories running through the book - that is until they converge. Tiago in Lisbon and Maria from New Jersey. I have to confess I liked Maria's story a little more than Tiago's.
This is a really wonderful historical fiction novel that was easy to read and easy to enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the change to read this novel

As America enters WW II, President Roosevelt authorizes a variety of new task forces and units through a variety of military branches. One of those unlikely task forces relies on the unique skills of librarians and microfilm experts to be deployed into neutral territories with newly acquired espionage skills.

These experts can use their skills to cull through Axis publications for information regarding enemy factories, weaponry, and troop movements. They are permitted to barter and buy anything that may be of use, photograph it, and send it to intelligence officers for examination.

Maria Alves is a microfilm expert working in the New York Public Library when her colleague, whom she trained, secures his position within the task force. Maria uses her natural strategic intelligence to work her way onto the task force despite not being the required Ivy League graduate.

Tiago Soares is a Portuguese bookseller working night and day to aid Jewish and political refugees seeking aid to America. He gladly smuggles banned materials into Portugal for Maria’s mission.

It isn’t long before Maria attracts an opportunity to pilfer the higher Axis ranks as a double agent. Her misinformation quickly moves her into the Fuhrer’s inner circle with the potential to change the course of the war.

Can she and Tiago avoid capture to succeed in their missions? Will they survive the war to see a future together?

Whew. That was all I could say once I finished reading. This historical fiction flies within the first hundred pages. I don’t think I took a breath!

Maria, Tiago, their colleagues, and fellow patriots are an eye-opening, beautiful tribute to the hard work and memory of those who served in creative ways to end the devastating Holocost.

Alan artfully writes a well-researched, captivating story of love, loss, and fighting for human life that will leave you breathless. He thoughtfully and respectfully weaves his story through real life events, based on real individuals, during the last years of the war.

He descriptively paints the picture of life in a “neutral” fascist country where Allies and Axis spies and leadership often intertwine. He vividly captures the lives of refugees pouring into a port town, living penniless in a square until they can hopefully set sail for a new life.

This is a book where the heroine is as willy, intelligent, and kind as she is beautiful. The hero chooses the lives of others over his own security. They cared more about a happy ending for mankind than their own hearts, like so many of the people they represent.

This is a book I will always remember and always recommend. It’s for anyone who enjoys intrigue-packed historical fiction, espionage, an unlikely hero, and cheering for librarians. I can’t wait to read it again and again.

The Book Spy
By: Alan Hlad
Review Score: 4 1/2 Stars

Five Key Feels

-This book was intense from start to finish.

-I loved Maria’s persistence, she really is an admirable character.

-Tiago’s background is so incredible too, and how he works to help others.

-There are SO many good plot twists in this book, I couldn’t put it down!

-I enjoyed that this book was set mostly in Portugal, which is different than so many World War 2 books today.

———

The Book Spy was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Kensington Books. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 1/17/23

This book was AMAZING. The characters, the premise, all of the layers…wow. Just wow. I loved how Hlad interwove so many pieces of World War 2. I have read so many Historical Fiction books, and this is one of my recent favorites.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction, I highly suggest The Book Spy!

Based on historical facts and inspired by Adele Kibre and double agent Juan Pujol Garcia.

Using Librarians trained to use microfilm to photograph newspapers and books the US War Dept. sends US librarians to Europe, to neutral countries to provide the Allied nations access to Nazi information that will aid troops to liberate Europe. First, I had no idea so many countries were neutral.

Maria Alves is determined to join the male librarians serving their country as an agent of the Library of Congress to preserve books from Nazi book burnings.

Librarians are not trained as spies. They are told to pass on information and stay neutral.

There is a lot of tension and excitement in this novel and it was hard to put down at times.

"Maria blinked back tears. “I’m so happy to see you.”

Roy placed a hand on the base of the bed. “How are you?”

“My hip was dislocated and I received stitches to a cut on my back, but I’ll be all right.” She clasped her hands and noticed that her mother’s sapphire ring was still on her finger. A wave of vulnerability surged through her. “I could really use a hug.”

They approached the bed and held her." loc.1876 Kindle ebook

THE BOOK SPY is a satisfying and thrilling novel that is so in part because it crosses a whole range of genres. It takes place during WWII and is based in part on historical fact, so it's historical fiction. It's also a romance that does more than change the characters-- it impacts the plot. This book is also an intrigue and spy novel about "librarian spies" and microfiche experts who helped the allied domestics forces in Europe during the war. There's nothing more satisfying to me than a bunch of book nerds having a profound impact on the outcome of WWII.

Perhaps my favorite element of this book is the women's fiction element, embodied most poignantly in Maria and Pilar, two capable and resilient Strong Female Characters, both of whose arcs I enjoyed following. I found Maria, the lead, both believable and loveable. And the ending! I just wanted to embrace her tightly, for she is a real heroine, drawn in believable strokes.

I'm so choosy about historical fiction, and THE BOOK SPY is one of those that delighted me and hit all my enjoyment factors: intrigue, inclusivity, good history, nice style. I recommend it thoroughly. Thank you NetGalley, Alan Hlad, and Kensington Books for letting me read this delightful eARC!

Rating 5 stars
Finished November 2022
Read this book if you like:
♟️ Intrigue and spy work
📚 Bookish books
🥰 Sweet romance
🧨 WWII stories
🦸‍♀️ Strong female characters

Hank you very much to netgalley and Alan Hlad for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF'd at 21%

Honestly, I just felt it was moving at far too slow of a pace to keep me engaged.

The Book Spy by Alan Hlad
Alan Hlad’s latest historical novel is set in Lisbon, Portugal between 1942-1944. Maria Alves is a librarian from New York City who uses her photography and microfilm skills to be a part of the newly formed agency, the IDC. The Inter-Departmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications sends Maria and other librarians to Portugal in 1942 and the story begins.
After a harrowing arrival to Portugal, Maria quickly becomes embroiled with the people of Lisbon: the booksellers, the fleeing refugees and the international spies. In her quest to gather intelligence on foreign powers, Maria meets Tiago, a bookshop owner and document forger who selflessly helps refugees escape Portugal for a new life.
Maria is asked to step into the role of double agent as she attempts to dig into Germany’s search for wolfram (tungsten ore) and its importance in manufacturing weapons. Maria must walk a fine line to do her job and be true to herself and those that she loves.
Once again, Alan Hlad explores a lesser known aspect of WWII history and gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like in Portugal for its citizens and those living and working there.
#netgalley

This is good historical fiction with an engaging plot and interesting characters. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!

I just finished this book as well as The Librarian Spy by Madeline Miller and both books are about the same topic. I liked both. This one has more details about the intelligence side of things, while the other had more info about life about WWII and some really sad moments. This book was very good though and I always like to think that I would be part of the resistance but having never been in the situation before I don’t know how I would act. I just hope I would have a mind to help people out. In whatever capacity that would look like. I love reading WWII novels for this purpose.

In 1942 librarians are right there with cutting edge technology - microfilm. The US sends librarians to neutral counties to acquire and film Axis publications so analysts can glean information from them. This is the tale of Maria Alves, a librarian sent to do this job in Lisbon. It is also the tale of Tiago, a bookshop owner in Lisbon who sells her publications. Both Maria and Tiago have side-gigs. Maria ends up doing some spy work and Tiago helps Jews to continue their escape from Europe. The representation of Lisbon and the plight of refugees was eye opening. Getting to Portugal or Spain did not necessarily mean safety for refugees.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a review copy of this title.

historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, librarian, library-of-congress, microfilm, OSS, Portugal, to-read, WW2*****

"It's amazing what one can accomplish with the power of a library card."
Maria was working at the dept of microphotography @ NYPL when America entered the war in Europe. She was multilingual and had a need to serve when she heard about Donovan's creation of the IDC and the apparent work to microfilm books, papers, and other things obtainable from bookshops in neutral cities for safekeeping in the Library of Congress.
Tiago was a half Jewish bookseller in Lisbon who worked with an elderly woman to provide forged passports and other papers for refugee Jews who escaped to Lisbon in hopes of getting to North and South America.
These are the main characters, and they are the vehicle to bring this aspect of the war against Hitler to life. But the nonpersonal references are all true, as are so many public figures and events. The research seems impeccable (without accessing classified documents).
It's also about man's inhumanity to man. But mostly about perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds. It is an excellent read.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books. Thank you!

I liked this book very much. I often get tired of reading WWII historical fiction but this one kept me enthralled. The writing is so good you don't noticed flying through the pages until the book is done. I would highly recommend "The Book Spy" to any historical fan fiction fans.

This was a beautifully done historical novel, I had enjoyed going through this journey and getting to know the characters in this world. It does what I was hoping for and thoroughly had a great time reading this. Alan Hlad has a great style and I enjoyed every part of it.

"Although the letter was sent by airmail and postmarked before the invasion, it was intentionally stalled by OSS and British intelligence and it arrived too late to be of value for the Germans. Soon after, Maria received a coded message in her Abwehr dead drop that—when deciphered—read: “We’re disappointed that your news was received late, but the intelligence was superb.”

Maria is such a determined character and risks her life multiple times for her friends and others.
It's a great look at the librarians who helped fight the war and help refugees in the process.
I loved the to interwoven stories.
This is a really great look at another side of WWII and the difference a brave bunch of people made!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!