Iris Digby and her husband Sasha abruptly disappear, but years later Iris sends a cryptic postcard and letter to her twin sister, Ruth McAllister, and asks Ruth to come to Moscow to assist her with her pregnancy and childbirth. Using flashbacks, the author fills in the details of the sisters' relationship and how each one made the choices in their lives that led to Iris living in Moscow and Ruth running a high-end modeling agency in New York. Sumner Fox, an FBI agent, contacts Iris and offers to assist her in going to Moscow and helping her sister. With all the intrigue of Cold War spy novels, Ruth and Sumner carry out their plans to extricate Iris and her family from the Russian spy network in which Iris' husband is involved.
This story is full of action and intrigue and enough subversion and duplicity to keep the reader guessing as to the outcome of Ruth and Sumner's plans. Well-written and fast-paced, this is a good story for readers of historical fiction and spy novels.

I just had trouble getting into this book. The storyline was interesting, but I just had a hard time following the characters and really being interested in what they were doing. I like her other books so much better than this one.

Beatriz Williams is unparalleled in her ability to weave a story around historical events in a way that is both intriguing and relevant. Our Woman In Moscow is just the latest in a long string of incredible triumphs for the author.

Our Woman In Moscow follows the story of twins who are separated by time, miles, and heartbreaking truths. One woman finds herself deep behind the Iron Curtain with husband she feels betrayed by, and the other embarks on a journey from across the world to save the sister she hasn't spoken to in twelve years. What follows is an incredible story of daring, intrigue, and the lengths people will go to to save the ones they love.

As with all of Williams' books, I would highly recommend this one. It was a wonderful dive into Cold War politics and events coupled with a truly human story. One of my favorites of 2021 so far.

I loved this novel of espionage and intrigue set during the days of the Cold War. The protagonist was gutsy and relentless, and let nothing stop her. A wonderful read!

Beatriz Williams is one of my favorite writers for a reason. She always weaves an interesting narrative with captivating characters to pull her readers into the story until the very last page. While this was not my favorite of her novels, Our Woman in Moscow was still a fantastic piece of Cold War fiction.

Unlike so many books about Cold War-era espionage, readers are guided through the book from the perspective of three female characters. Williams expertly spins her narratives so that the story gently unfolds throughout the different timelines until the grand finale when all the pieces fall into place. I found myself always wanting to read one more chapter, fully knowing that one more chapter would only lead to another.... then another... Her writing is invigorating and intriguing, crafting a world so vivid, the reader feels a part of the action.

As always, her characters are the strongest part of her writing. Ruth and Iris seem to be real people. They are witty and inciteful, yet irritating at the same time. The reader is made aware of their imperfections and their short comings without compromising their contributions to the story. There is, of course, the traditional Schuyler connection- it wouldn't be a Beatriz Williams book without one! Lyudmila is more mysterious, never quite revealing everything to the reader. She is the perfect Cold War mystery; a character I feel like I never quite got to know for the simple reason that she only allows the reader to see what she wants them to see. It is her mastery of crafting strong female characters that marks Williams as one of the queens of historical fiction.

Overall, this was a thoroughly intriguing novel which I know I will revisit in the future. I can't wait to see what Williams writes next!

I love historical fiction and chose this book because of the dual timelines: 1940 and 1952. I have no regrets!

The book opens in 1952. Ruth McAllister receives a postcard from her twin sister Iris Digby who defected to Russia with her traitor husband Sasha Digby and their two children post WWII. Ruth has not heard from Iris in 12 years.

1940: Iris and Ruth head to Italy to work and have fun when war breaks out in Europe. Ruth works as a model while Iris is falling in love with American diplomat Sasha Digby who has communist leanings (historical note: Stalin is an ally in WWII. Many so-called university types in the 1930s were attracted by communism). Ruth has always considered herself Iris’ protector. Iris is ready to spread her wings.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, predicting and guessing and savoring. I read it right after The Rose Code by Kate Quinn set in Bletchley Park during WWII.. It turned out to be the perfect segue. Both novels are based on historical events and real people. I can’t recommend them enough,

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another fantastic historical book by Beatriz Williams! Her stories completely suck you in and keep you interested! I love that she starts the chapters with the character and date, it helps keep everything on track when following the dual storylines. Ruth and Iris are strong, independent characters with an incredible story to tell. You can tell the historical content was thoroughly researched and I enjoyed the author's note on what made her write this book. I felt it was a little rushed at the end and I hope these characters will continue on in her upcoming books, there were some unfinished stories that I'd enjoy following. I love how her character's stories intertwine in her books - was exciting to see the Schuyler family appear in this one. This book will keep you on your toes trying to figure out who the good guys are - it's so cleverly crafted!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. Review is my own opinion.

I’d go down any rabbit hole with Beatriz. Absolutely loved this book, learned so much and adored these characters

I have enjoyed many of author Beatriz Williams novels before, and her latest "Our Woman in Moscow", is no exception! Set during the Cold War, a time this reviewer actually lived through, this novel gives us twin sisters, Iris and Ruth, who are ensnared in a spy ring in Moscow and the efforts to extract them. Of course, William's fictional Schuyler family makes an appearance as well. Moscow is vividly rendered in glorious detail. Highly recommend to any fan of historical fiction. I thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

I’ve read a few of Beatriz Williams books now and have really enjoyed 💛 Her upcoming one, Our Woman in Moscow, was no different and gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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👉🏻 So much about this book was just perfect. Things I loved about it... ⁣
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✨ The beautiful, descriptive writing that just draws me into the story ☺️⁣
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✨ I’m all about strong female leads (that have a few flaws of course!) and Beatriz Williams delivers 👏🏻👏🏻⁣
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✨ I love alternating POVs between the two sisters, but also another main character 👀⁣
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✨ Humour and wit make the ride even more enjoyable ✅⁣
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📆 For historical fiction fans out there, make sure this is on your June TBR 📚⁣

DNF @ 50%.

I really gave this book a true effort, and I was really excited because this was my first Beatriz Williams book, but I think that this was a case of poor expectations! I thought this was going to be way more of a romantic thriller, but I thought the pacing was terrible. Halfway thru and it was just getting started on what the summary described, and this isn't a short book. I decided it was just too long and I didn't have hope that it would deliver on the things I requested it for. Ruth's only character trait is that she's "not a snitch" (Seriously...I don't think I've ever read a book where a character has insisted that so many times, especially given that her privileged circumstances don't call for this position nearly as much as Ruth would like you think.) and I get that this was the time of McCarthyism but at times this book felt like capitalist propaganda. I have no idea if there was ever going to be a counternarrative to "Communism Bad. Russia Bad." because I'm not patient enough to find out. I was hoping something a little more tense, a little more like The Americans, Thank you Netgalley for this ARC, I wish I liked it more!

Such a splendid book by the Historical Fiction Queen, Beatriz Williams. Her novels never disappoint, with delectable settings, fully-fleshed characters and intriguing tales. I love that OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW is set during the Cold War, an era I lived partially through and remember well. Here, twin sisters Iris and Ruth find their lives at stake as Ruth travels to Moscow to extract Iris and her husband. A KBG officer dogs them, as they’re forced to make a choice with heartbreaking consequences. You won’t be able to put this down!

5 of 5 Pages

Pub Date 01 Jun 2021
#OurWomaninMoscow #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

A wonderfully written about love and loyalty, set in the world of espionage and diplomacy. A beautiful specimen of historical fiction!

What can I say about this book but it is the best one by Beatriz Williams so far! Set during the Cold War, a fascinating story about twin sisters and the men that they are involved with and how well you really know someone. Knew very little about the British/American spies during this time,. what a history story this is. Kudos to the author and I have already recommended this book to some of my friends.

Every Beatriz Williams book is a wonderful read and this is no exception. Iris and Ruth are twins who haven’t seen each other in years but when Iris realizes she’s in danger Ruth along with Sumner Fox come to her rescue. Fast paced and thrilling.

FANTASTIC!! Drama, romance, espionage, spy rings, strong women, and a little bit thriller. This book was great, I loved the characters & the way Williams wove their stories into the narrative. EXCELLENT!

I have been a Beatriz Williams fan for quite some time, and I was not disappointed...far from it! This novel tells the story of twin sisters, Ruth and Iris, how they drift apart, and later reconcile in an effort to remove Iris and her children from danger. The real-life event at the heart of this book is the Cambridge Spy Ring, a ring of spies in the United Kingdom that passed information to the Soviet Union during World War II. With the help of Sumner Fox, former football star and current FBI agent, Ruth winds up in Russia, and, well...you just have to read it to find out what happens!

Williams brings her characters to life with her signature style - characters full of wit and strength. especially those that are female. The alternating chapters between Ruth and Iris, as well as Lyudmila (involved in the investigation) propel the narrative forward and add to the suspense. As usual, the novel is impeccably researched, and Ms. Williams provides information for further research in her notes. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Ms. Williams for an advance e-reader copy of this book.

I absolutely loved this one. I think it is a page turner about a fascinating time period in history. It is her best book by far.

How can I explain that I was so involved in this book that it was almost hypnotic? I love the books I’ve read by Beatriz Williams, every single book she has written. This novel doesn’t disappoint. Williams transports us back to 1952 and the Cold War.

Somehow, through all these books, there is a strand that ties the characters together. Usually it is the Schuyler family relationship, but here there are many sly winks to earlier novels (yes, the Greenwald and Marshall connections).

Iris and Ruth are twins, separated for years, but still sharing a strong bond. When Iris realizes the danger of her life as a defector, living in Russia, she manages to contact her sister Ruth. With the help of Sumner Fox, the super-hero in this novel, Ruth winds up in Russia....and thereby hangs this wonderful tale.

There was a survey on PBS asking which novels would make excellent series,; I certainly recommended novels by Williams. In fact, these books would make for many delightful seasons of drama.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity of reviewing a novel by one of my favorite authors.