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mari1532's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I own a paperback copy of this book but listened to the audiobook through my library with Libby.
Brief Summary: This book focuses on the life of Juliet Armstrong. Flashing back to two very important periods of her life, the 1940s and 1980s we see her life how her life as an MI5 agent during the war spirals into impacting every facet of her life.
Thoughts: This book was interesting as it provided a fictionalized look at how MI5 operatives may have worked during WWII. However, I would describe this book as milquetoast. I was not invested in any of the characters. I was the most ambivalent I've ever been when reading a book. Usually, I can manifest a feeling about the main characters.The only person I had any feelings about was Dodd who is both the hero of this book and the victim. She deserves justice and I am incredibly mad that she never gets it.
I also found the switching back and forth of timelines hard to follow at certain points. One moment we are in the middle of the war, the next we are at the BBC. It was also really unclear how the timelines fit together sometimes or if at all. I'm not even entirely sure what the arc of the overall story is supposed to be. Was someone out to get Juliet and that is why the book ends the way it does? I was left with a lot of questions at the end of the book, but I was unclear if they were supposed to be answered in the text or if I was meant to be left wondering.
If you are interested in spy novels you might be into this book. I was however ambivalent about this book.
Brief Summary: This book focuses on the life of Juliet Armstrong. Flashing back to two very important periods of her life, the 1940s and 1980s we see her life how her life as an MI5 agent during the war spirals into impacting every facet of her life.
Thoughts: This book was interesting as it provided a fictionalized look at how MI5 operatives may have worked during WWII. However, I would describe this book as milquetoast. I was not invested in any of the characters. I was the most ambivalent I've ever been when reading a book. Usually, I can manifest a feeling about the main characters.
I also found the switching back and forth of timelines hard to follow at certain points. One moment we are in the middle of the war, the next we are at the BBC. It was also really unclear how the timelines fit together sometimes or if at all. I'm not even entirely sure what the arc of the overall story is supposed to be. Was someone out to get Juliet and that is why the book ends the way it does? I was left with a lot of questions at the end of the book, but I was unclear if they were supposed to be answered in the text or if I was meant to be left wondering.
If you are interested in spy novels you might be into this book. I was however ambivalent about this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing and Classism
Minor: Animal death
zosiablue's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I think this may go up a half star as I think about it more. What a dreamy, dissociative story about a young, seemingly-naive woman working for MI5 during WWII. Scenes and characters pass in and out like clouds. It's hard to hold on to them, but that's the intention. The ending shocked me but when I thought back, it made sense - there were clues along the way and even clues I picked up on without knowing I was. But it was, in a way, a blood-chilling ending. Well done. And fascinating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Gaslighting, and War
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