Fiction
HarperCollins
February 26, 2019
Advanced reader copy
560
Free from publisher
From the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel, THE ALICE NETWORK, comes another fascinating historical novel about a battle-haunted English journalist and a Russian female bomber pilot who join forces to track the Huntress, a Nazi war criminal gone to ground in America. In the aftermath of war, the hunter becomes the hunted… Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina’s bravery and cunning will keep her alive. Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it. Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes homes with a new fiancée, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking, Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother’s past—only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family . . . secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear. In this immersive, heart-wrenching story, Kate Quinn illuminates the consequences of war on individual lives, and the price we pay to seek justice and truth.
My review:
As a fan of The Alice Network, I was excited to dive into this next offering from the author. I found this novel to be just as engaging and captivating as the previous one, with one exception that I will get to farther along in this review. This one is set up rather like its predecessor (they are free standing books and not tied together) in that there are three main characters telling the story. At first they don't seem related, but it doesn't take long to find out how they come together (the blurb pretty much handles it). The writing is superb and the research seems very well done, although I can't say that I knew much about the time periods represented to nit-pick details. I particularly knew nothing about the Russian female air squadron so could appreciate that addition to the book. However, as much as I loved learning about the air squadron, I felt that Nina's sections were very tedious to read. I felt that I gleaned enough about her part in the story by following her escapades with Ian, and got bored with all the bombing raids. This in no way reflects on how well the story was written, it just ended up being my least favorite part until the end of the book when her connection with Ian is detailed. I loved the Jordan parts up until the obligatory romance was thrown in. It could have been left out and I wouldn't have missed it, but it was such a small part of the book that I can overlook it.
Another great story by Ms. Quinn. While I had a couple problems with two characters stories, they were overshadowed by the overall compelling writing and overall history and intrigue.