The Book Spy

Written by Alan Hlad

Narrated by Christa Lewis

1942: With the war's outcome hanging in the balance, President Roosevelt sends an unlikely new taskforce on a unique mission. They are librarians and microfilm specialists trained in espionage, working with a special branch of the Office of Strategic Services and deployed to neutral cities throughout Europe. By acquiring and scouring Axis newspapers, books, technical manuals, and periodicals, the librarians can gather information about troop location, weaponry, and military plans.

Maria Alves, a microfilm expert working at the New York Public Library, is dispatched to Lisbon, where she meticulously photographs publications and sends the film to London to be analyzed. Working in tandem with Tiago Soares, a Portuguese bookstore owner on a precarious mission of his own, Maria acquires vital information, including a directory of arms factories in Germany.

But as she and Tiago grow closer, any future together is jeopardized when Maria's superiors ask her to pose as a double agent, feeding misinformation to Lars Steiger, a wealthy Swiss banker and Nazi sympathizer who launders Hitler's gold. Gaining Lars's trust will bring Maria into the very heart of the Fuhrer's inner circle. And it will provide her with a chance to help steer the course of war, if she is willing to take risks as great as the possible rewards . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highbridge Company
• Release date: Jan 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781696610490

Alan Hlad

Alan Hlad is the internationally bestselling author of historical fiction novels inspired by real people and events of WWI and WWII, including The Book Spy, Churchill’s Secret Messenger, A Light Beyond the Trenches, and the USA Today and IndieBound bestseller The Long Flight Home. A member of the Historical Novel Society, Literary Cleveland, Novelitics, and the Akron Writers' Group, he is a frequent speaker at conferences, literary events, and book club gatherings. He currently divides his time between Ohio and Portugal and can be found online at AlanHlad.com.  

Reviews for The Book Spy

[claire9y · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Marie Alves learned that her colleague at the New York Public Library got accepted for a position to work overseas, a flash of jealousy and disappointment swept over her. The position was for a microfilm specialist for the IDC (Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications,) and Maria was more than qualified. Unfortunately, however, the IDC was only accepting Ivy League graduates, which Maria was not.

Determined to secure the same position as her colleague, Maria devised a plan. That plan had many risks, but whe would go to great lengths to be of service to her country.

Eventually, Maria got dispatched to Lisbon, Portugal and teams up with Tiago Soares, a bookstore owner with a mission of his own. Together, Maria and Tiago’s partnership became a formidabble force that placed their respective lives in constant jeopardy.

The Book Spy is a noteworthy historical fiction novel that highlights the involvement of librarians during WWII. A fact that I had no idea even existed.

Author, Alan Hlad has done a superb job in crafting a story with illustrious characters that really shine throughout the novel. And because I also listened to the audiobook narrated by Christa Lewis, those characters really came alive.

The story flows wonderfully with a number of surprises and twists along the way. The narrative follows a linear timeline across different countries — an excellent method of storytelling.

I’ll place The Book Spy as one of my top historical fiction books this year. It’s a must read or listen in my opinion. Five oustanding stars.

I received a physical copy of the book from Kensington Books through BTC Insiders. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.