Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams is a gripping and emotionally charged historical thriller that will captivate readers who crave stories of espionage, family devotion, and the complexities of sisterly love, set against the backdrop of the Cold War, making it a perfect fit for fans of historical fiction and mystery enthusiasts who enjoy intricate plots and strong female characters.

This is another well-written, well-researched story by Beatriz Williams. I found the characters fascinating and the historical context captivating. I can't wait to read whatever she writes next!

Our Woman in Moscow was an interesting read. This is a setting/time in history that hasn't been saturated yet by the publishing market (looking at you WW2). I can see that this would be well received and popular with readers. There is an element of romance, intrigue and family drama that combine for a great book.Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I know Beatriz Williams is very popular, but this was my first time reading one of her books. Historical fiction of this kind is generally out of my comfort zone, but I'm very glad I stepped out of that comfort zone and picked it up! I'm not sure this genre is one I'll pick up again, but I really enjoyed it.

A page-turner set in the 1940s and early 1950s. Ruth and Iris are sisters living in Italy at the start of WWII. Ruth is the more gregarious one, Iris the quiet shy one. When Iris meets Sasha, an avowed Communist who works for the American Embassy, things change rapidly impacting the sisters' relationship.

From the opening chapter (which is actually the ending) through flashbacks to 1942, there is non stop action and twists and turns to match any spy movie. The storyline is loosely based on actual British spies who sold secrets to the Soviet Union. Many of the events in the story parallel actual events, but Williams has put a very human face on these events. I was totally involved in the lives of Ruth and Iris. Many times I didn't know who to believe, but that only made the book more interesting. Some readers might find the constant swapping between time periods confusing -- but each chapter clearly states the time and place. Once I developed the habit to look at that before reading, everything was much clearer. This is a great read filled with historical references. It's also very thought-provoking -- how loyal should one be to one's country? to one's family? where does one draw the line?

Ruth hasn’t seen her twin sister, Iris, since 1940. Iris disappears with her American diplomat husband and two children in 1948. Four years later, after hearing from Iris for the first time in twelve years, Ruth embarks for Moscow, going inside the Soviet Union to help her sister. This wonderful multiple-time/multiple-point of view thriller is a story of mystery and espionage, but it is also a story of family, trust, and love. Individual and interesting characters test the definitions of strength and bravery. This is a great book for book groups.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

I didn’t make it through this one—not even to the halfway mark.

It was too liberal by far for my taste. It was yet another book trying to convince me that a pair of tried, convicted, and punished traitors to the United States of America were completely innocent and railroaded. History painted a much different version of that piece of treason, so I’m unsure why these books are attempting to persuade me otherwise. Note: That effort is not working.

This book was far too crude and vulgar, including sexual perversion and explicit sex that was graphic in nature. I couldn’t even get past this junk in order to get to the supposedly good spy story the back-cover blurb hinted at.

Total miss for me.

Content: alcohol, drunkenness, tobacco, profanity, expletives, sexual perversion, sexual innuendo, nudity, graphic explicit sex

I usually love Beatriz Williams, but this was just a little too slow for me. I think it's a great story and the writing is good, but it just wasn't for me.

This book was a DNF for me, unfortunately. It may have been a case of right book, wrong person - I don't always love war/spy-centric historical fiction - but also, there were some definite flaws. The writing style/narrative voice felt kind of youthful for an adult novel, the pacing was a bit slow and choppy, I disliked the characterization of communism, and the appearance of a sloppy/vilified "homosexual" character in the second chapter didn't help (though maybe he is redeemed??). I can see this working for other folks, but not for me. Thanks to William Morrow for the eARC!

I am a huge fan of Beatriz Williams, but this was not her best book. It seemed to be all over the place. There are many things going around in this novel in different timelines. This made it hard to follow along. It was would have been better with one storyline and in a linear format. Still, I recommend this for those interested in the Cold War. However, this was not the author’s best.

Well written and suspenseful, offers a different view of the world post-WWII. Blogs.davenportlibrary.com/reference/our-woman-in-Moscow-by-beatriz-williams/

I found the premise interesting, but the book didn't pull me in. I'm interested in trying one of the author's other books and I hope it will be a better match.

I have read every novel by this author. She never disappoints. I have followed her and have to say that I’ve loved every single novel.

Beatriz Williams is a treasure: each of her novels delivers intense suspense, wonderfully crafted characters and an intimate, superbly researched slice of history. In OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW Williams paints a portrait of two siblings and an unsettling moment in time which will fascinate and haunt her readership.

This is a well crafted and satisfying tale of intrigue and espionage set during the mid twentieth century. Williams creates believable and interesting characters in the Macallister sisters and she writes with care and detail of a complicated story. The dialogue is excellent and the narrative moves the story along swiftly. I was never sure in which direction we were headed but found it really interesting. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves stories featuring strong female characters and especially to those who are interested in tales of spying during the Cold War era.

Beatriz Willams has written another great novel, Our Woman in Moscow. This is a quiet spy thriller that takes place during the end of WWII and at the beginning of the Cold War with Russia.

Two sisters, fraternal twins are orphaned at a young age, brings them close and the major supporter of each other. They are physically very different, Ruth is blond and statuesque , working for a fashion modeling company, and Iris petite, with a dark complexion and on a trip to Rome after finishing school she meets the man she will marry. Iris embraces the life of a mother and housewife.

Sasha Digby, the man Iris falls in love with and marries may not be the man he seems, and as the novel progresses he goes through many changes in behavior. This is the heyday of the infamous Cambridge Spy Ring. Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, two of these five highly-placed British intelligence officers who spy for the Soviets, are characters in the book and associates of Iris’ husband. This was an interesting part of history that I enjoyed learning about.

Sasha is an American diplomat who traveling when he meets and marries Iris. She has three children, who were a difficult delivery.and is about to deliver her fourth child. She writes to her estranged sister asking her to come help. It has been 12 years since the sisters parted bitterly in Rome. In the meantime Iris has defected to Russia with her family at her husband's insistence.

Through a series of complicated moves Ruth travels from New York to the Soviet Union with the assistance of C. Sumner Fox, an FBI agent. Told in alternating chapters by Ruth and Iris we learn the past and the present lives of all the characters. Then there are a few chapters dedicated to Lyudmila Ivanova, a ruthless, calculating and heartless member of the KGB.

This is a story of trust, resilience and love.

I greatly appreciate receiving an ARC of Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams as I really enjoy her writing. Williams books are typically character driven and deeply diving into their personal story lines. Our Woman in Moscow followed that trend. I feel like Williams researches extensively while writing as we are given lots of information. Sometimes, that can read as really slow and tedious but often I find that in her books it helps the narrative.

I recommend this book if you truly enjoy Historical Fiction. If you typically enjoy fast, plot driven novels this might not hit the spot for you!

Our Woman in Moscow is my favorite Beatriz Williams book yet! It centers around a London family and what they may or may not have done involving the passing of classified information to the USSR after WW II. I loved everything about this--the setting(s), the time period--and, of course, all the family drama! Our Woman in Moscow is one of those books you start and can't put down and I love it so much! (Also the cover is gorgeous) Very highly recommended for fans of the author and those who like a juicy historical read (i.e. everyone!!)

“And what I have done this summer, I have done to repay my debt—the debt I owe her, the debt I owe people like Sumner Fox, the debt I owe to civilization itself—to all who came before me and saved me without my knowing it.”

OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW is the newest book from @authorbeatriz and I have to say it is my absolute favorite of hers! a Cold War espionage story with incredibly developed characters that I fell in love with, this was a total page turner and the best historical fiction I’ve read this year. 5/5⭐️—I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book.

Another great book from Beatriz Williams. She does a fantastic job of writing female characters! Great Cold War spy novel set in different time periods before/during/after WWII.