Finally a modern spy thriller with a female protagonist. How could you avoid every camera in London while secreting away a high-value asset? You'll find out when you read Alias Emma.

4 stars for an engaging and immersive spy thriller!

This was a really fast-paced spy thriller with a strong female lead that takes place in Britain - really enjoyed it! If you like action-packed thrillers with a solid story this would be right up your alley. Emma, our protagonist, gets sent off to her first real assignment, and she is full-force ready to protect the innocent and bring justice to her country. There was drama, action, a sprinkle of romance - solid read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for providing a digital ARC for review!

I usually do not read books that are about spies or any espionage. It’s a genre I do not care for, and I typically go out of my way not to read anything from it. So, I was surprised (and a little irritated) when I read Alias Emma and realized it was a spy/espionage/thriller. That was on me, though. When the publisher sent me the invite to review, I automatically accepted without reading what I was getting. Imagine my surprise when I started liking Alias Emma. This book might be the one that has cracked my dislike for that genre. It was that good.

Alias Emma is the first book in the Alias Emma series. Anything else I would write in this section can be ignored (aka my warnings about reading books out of order in a series). That doesn’t apply here.

Alias Emma had a solid and engaging storyline. Emma is a secret agent working undercover at a shop run by a low-level threat when she gets a phone call she has been waiting for. She has been assigned to pick up a man, Dr. Michael Primalov, and bring him to the M16 before daylight. She must also keep him safe from Russian assassins and rogue agents from her agency. But that is easier said than done. The Russians have taken over London’s CCTV, her handler has gone missing, and she is receiving no help from her agency. With a cryptic message from her handler about staying in the dark, Emma must fulfill her mission. If she can’t, an innocent man will die. Can Emma do it? Can she bring Michael to the safety of the M16?

I loved Emma. She was stubborn (which served her well in this book), tough, and knew how to think outside the box. I loved seeing how she was recruited and her more tragic backstory. She was a very fleshed-out character. She did irritate me during some scenes but other than that, I liked her. I also loved how she saw something through to the end. And oh boy, did she with Michael.

The storyline with Emma, Michael, the Russians, and getting to the M16 was well written. The author did a great job of keeping my attention by constantly changing the storyline. Every time I thought something was going to happen, the storyline shifted. I did have my doubts about them getting to the M16. They were both up against so much.

The storyline with Emma, her agency, and the rogue agent kept me on the edge of my seat. I was alternately irritated for her and frightened for her. But everything did iron out in the end, but it was a ride to get there.

The spy/espionage angle of Alias Emma was very thought-provoking. I liked that the book featured a female spy who was relatable. I got a very James Bondy vibe during parts of the book, and I loved that Emma had to use her intuition to feel situations.

The action angle of Alias Emma was well written. I couldn’t get over the amount of running Emma and Michael did during this book. I also couldn’t get over the number of hand-to-hand combat situations that Emma had with the Russians. Again, it was another thing that kept my attention on the book.

The end of Alias Emma was interesting. I say interesting because I was fascinated with how the Russian storyline ended. The images I produced in my head after the Russian team passed the British one at the hotel in Paris were not good. I also liked how the author left open the storyline about specific agents going rogue. There was an explanation, but the way it was left made me wonder if book two would explain more.

I would recommend Alias Emma to anyone over 16. There are a few kissing scenes (mainly to conceal identities), language, and moderate to high violence.

I couldn't finish this book. It was not for me. I don't think it was the writing or anything like that. It just was not a topic that I was engaged with.

Love a mystery/thriller...especially one with a badass lead!!! Thoroughly enjoyed this cat and mouse thriller that I didn't want to stop reading!!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review Alias Emma. This was a well written and fast paced thriller. I enjoyed the characters and the story kept me riveted.

Emma Makepeace is a newly minted spy from a family of spies, working for a secretive British agency that operates around the edges of MI5 and MI6. She's very good at tradecraft, but has almost no field experience, particularly with the backstabbing ways of the British spycraft. No worries, she's on a benign case as a deep cover agent. Until she's recalled and told to bring the son of a Russian defector to safety, just as the agency realizes there are Russian agents throughout London and they've hacked the fabled London security camera network. She has one night to race across London to what will hopefully be safety, without her or her asset being killed. It's not going to be easy, and things keep getting worse as the night proceeds...

"Alias Emma" proves a terrific and fun spy thriller that is going to make a great series (inevitably). Recommended!

Coming into this, I knew a spy novel would have my full attention. But I never anticipated being so on edge as Emma races across the city with Michael. This is a true page turner that will leave you wanting the next in the series.

**I received this advance copy free from Bantam, Random House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

This was a fast paced, spy thriller. I loved the main character and felt that she was complex yet understandable. The story takes place over a short period of time which really keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

I got such a fun old spy novel vibe from this one, but ultimately it left me wanting more. The twists weren’t twisty enough and the end felt unsatisfying, even though the all night chase was exciting and pulled out all the stops (seriously, even chase scene event you could want was included, down to a little potential romance).

This is the first in a series featuring Emma Makepeace, a woman in the British Secret Service. Emma is recruited and is living out her dream to avenge her father's death. Emma is assigned a case to protect a young doctor from the Russians, who have been methodically eliminating those they feel are detrimental to their cause.
Emma needs to convince Michael to leave his position and go on the run with her to escape the Russians. What follows is a chase across London, where Emma realizes that she must trust her own instincts, and to be wary of those who claim to be helpers.
This is an exciting first installment of a new series. Emma is a wonderful heroine, smart and resilient, with a backstory. I am really excited to read more of this series, and I will be rooting for Emma. I secretly hope that there is a way for her to find her way back to Michael one day, but this may not be possible - for his safety.

I really don’t read many spy novels, preferring mostly psychological thrillers instead, but I might have to change my stance if Ava Glass keeps writing them. Thoroughly engaging all the way through I fell in love with our heroine and put off essential tasks until I reached the exciting and satisfying conclusion. Pick it up, you will love it!

Alias Emma is a fast paced spy thriller set in the streets and tunnels of London. Emma is on her first assignment with "The Agency," tasked with protecting a man wanted by the Russian government. But when the Russians infiltrate the agency and take over the CCTV, it isn't clear who she can trust, or how they will be able to get to the safety of MI6 without being detected.

This was a fun and fast-paced read, perfect for fans of Jason Bourne, James Bond, and stories with strong female leads. I really enjoyed the way Emma's background and family history were woven into the story, and I'm always in the mood for anything involving Russian spies! It looks like this might be the first in a new series staring Emma, and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you Random House- Ballantine for an ARC of this fantastic thriller!

The perfect summer read, featuring a British spy new to the job who must deliver her asset across London in 12 hours, with killers in hot pursuit. The perfect page-turner.

I really enjoyed this spy thriller! Even though some parts were predictable, it was an exciting and fast paced story. Writing was great in that it helped set the scene. Honestly, it was like I was watching an action movie in the form of a book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. This was an engrossing spy thriller that mostly took place in the course of a day, which made for an excellent pace. I devoured it in a day. I love a female spy protagonist who kicks major ass and is smart and witty.

'Alias Emma,' by Ava Glass is a fast paced spy novel. The story takes place in 24 hours across London. If you are looking for a quick, fun read this is it.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and Bantam Books for my honest review.*

When I first got a recommendation to read this book, I was dreading it a little from the way the cover looked. For some reason, I thought it would drag and be a bore to read. I am not sure why and I feel a little foolish for thinking that because it was a fantastic book!!

Emma is a spy in London and has just been given a new assignment - protect an innocent and totally unwilling man. Sounds like a great time! Once she is able to convince him to take her help, she learns that she has to lead him across London overnight and avoiding all CCTV cameras and without any additional help.

While I wouldn't call this a cozy mystery because of some of the language, it was such an engaging read to follow along the struggles they faced hiding and moving through the night. Ava Glass did a fantastic job sharing back stories into how Emma got where she is and this made her a very believable agent.

This is definitely one of my favorite reads this year!

A perfect selection for all my bookclubs. Just the right amount of thriller/intrigue and great characters. Thank you.

A perfect start to a new spy series staring a strong, female protagonist that reminds me of James Bond or Jason Bourne.

If you like historical fiction spy series such as the Maggie Hope series, take a chance on this modern female led spy novel set in London. I’m excited to see where this series goes.