This female lead spy story defiantly kept my attention and I read it in one sitting. However I cannot say if I will continue if there are more books after this. I really enjoyed the connection between Michael and Emma. It was nice to see Emma open up and feel comfortable with him.

With the dual timelines I have to say that I much preferred the present than the past,. I know we needed to see where Emma came from and how she got to where she is now but I did not enjoy the jumping back and forth.

Overall an enjoyable read.


Thank you to NG and Random House for the advanced copy.

Alias Emma by Ava Glass is the first in a new spy series featuring Emma Makepeace. She has been assigned to find and bring an innocent man to safety before the Russian government can find and assassinate him. This book tells the story of how Emma became an agent and how Emma was able to get this man to safety while facing very many dangerous obstacles. This story was a quick and really fun read. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the book but had a hard time getting into it and it’s a slow go. I would recommend it though

Ava Glass is the author of Alias Emma which was published in 2022. This is her first publication. Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

Emma Makepeace has just completed her training as a British secret agent, but that name is only her working alias. Her first assignment seems easy enough. She simply has to escort the son of a Russian dissident across London. And she has 12 hours to do it.

But that is before the Russians hack into London’s extensive CCTV surveillance system. Buses, subways, cars, and trains, the normal means of transportation, are all being watched. Nor can they use a cell phone or a credit card without signaling their location. Emma and her charge must find their way across London without disclosing themselves to the Russian assassins pursuing them.

I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this 273-page thriller. The novel has action, intrigue, and romance woven into the plot. While I understand the chosen cover artwork, a London city map, I do not think it is very engaging. I give this novel a rating of 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review Alias Emma by Ava Glass. The book was a fun, engaging spy adventure through the streets of London. Emma Makepeace (not her real name, of course) is a young spy trusted with a mission to bring an asset safely into protected custody. She encounters forces that wish to thwart her mission, and this leads her and the asset on a high stakes chase around London. I enjoyed getting to know Emma and Michael during their time together; they made a great team. I'd recommend this book to any fans of the spy genre who want a change from the usual male-dominated genre. I'm always on the lookout for female lead thrillers, and Alias Emma fit the bill.

This is the first in a series of books with the main character being a female MI6 agent, Emma Makepeace (hate the character name but it’s a series so too late now). I thought the concept of the storyline was good – MI6 trying to bring in the son of a former Russian spy to protect him from Russian agents trying to capture and possibly kill him. And I thought she did a good job giving the main character a backstory to get to know her a little better but the story itself was predictable and a little too farfetched at times. This is the author’s first novel though so I assume the books will improve as she continues the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

I liked the theme of a female spy, but feel that Emma needs to be further developed as a character. Realizing this was her first assignment, but the chase scenes ate up most of the book. It became a bit repetitive as they dodged, and dodged and dodged. I do think there is hope for Emma Makepeace's character, but she needs a few more spy tools in her toolbox.

I appreciate the opportunity from the author, publisher and Netgalley to read and honestly review this novel.

Alias Emma by Ava Glass was a quick, fast paced spy novel featuring a female spy. Emma Makepeace is abandoned by her agency and has to survive the night with her assignment, the handsome surgeon Michael Primalov from a group of Russian assassins. It was a lot of running, chasing, and hiding and unfortunately, it was pretty predictable.
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest review.

DNF at 20%. I am always drawn to spy stories - I love when they draw me in and I feel like I’m part of the action. Unfortunately this one wasn’t working for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

“Don’t bring the guest home. Take him to the neighbors. Avoid all cameras- they’re not ours right now. Be careful with M. No calls. No tech. Move fast. Stay dark.”

In the fast-paced Alias Emma Ava Glass’s Emma Makepeace is on her first operation with The Agency, assigned to track down and save a man wanted by the Russian government. All Emma has to do is bring him in to MI6 before sunrise. But the Russians have hacked the city's CCTV cameras. There are spies all over London searching for the two of them. And her target doesn't want to be rescued.

While the premise seems a little dated (do Russians still chase people?), the action is high-speed and the drama is tense. This would make a great Michael Bay screenplay. I liked this book (3 of 5 stars) which is available from all sellers August 02, 2002.

This was one of the most exciting books that I have ever read! Emma Makepeace works for “The Agency” and is given the job of bringing in a doctor to safety because the Russians are after him. The Russians want to use him to lure his parents out of hiding. Emma is on her own with absolutely no backup. It is a difficult job to convince the doctor he is in danger. When she finally convinces him she must take him in for his own safety, the Russians are on to them. Emma must figure out how to get them across London before daylight so she can turn him over to MI6 for his protection. Ava Glass does a great job of making the story exciting with non-stop action. If you love spy/thriller books, you will want to read this one. I look forward to the next book also because I understand this is the first in a series.

Alias Emma is a fast moving roller coaster ride through the streets of London as newly minted spy Emma Makepeace is tasked with rescuing Michael Primalov from Russian assasins. But, but, but. Primalov doesn't want to be rescued, Emma doesn't really have the experience and expertise for this job, and she is beginning to have doubts about her bosses and their motives.

I thought this was a lot of fun! We need more women action heros. Bring on Emma Makepeace #2.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good book! It hooked me after the first or second chapter. It had a great plot twist and had so many twists and turns you had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I would have liked to have known if Emma and Michael ever met back up or ever pursued a relationship as it seems some feelings were developing. Maybe a possible story line for a sequel.

I was absolutely giddy to read this book, because I not only love spy thrillers with a female protagonist, but I absolutely adore when it turns out to be a Russian spy thriller. I know, I know. I probably shouldn’t be fangirling so hard over Russian spy thrillers in this day and age, but for some reason I can’t resist them and never have been able to. Did I watch too many 007 movies growing up? Maybe. Do I love Natasha Romanoff from the bottom of my black heart? Most certainly. Do I have quite a few biographies and nonfiction books about the Cold War? How about we don’t talk about my nonfiction collection or my love of Russian history.

This book flies by like a great spy movie does. Think Bourne. Think Bond. Think La Femme Nikita. Heck, you can even think of Mrs. Emma Peel if you want. From the time Emma Makepeace is sent out on the mission that makes up the plot of this propulsive and thrilling read up until almost the very end, this book lays its foot on the accelerator and simply does not let off until the exact right time; and when it does, it’s like crossing the finish line only hundreths of a second before the car behind you. It’s fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled, unpredictable, addictive, and impeccably edited to keep that thrilling pacing taut like a piano wire.

I can’t tell if this is the first book in a series or not. Some places (like Goodreads) say it’s the first in the series, but I can’t find that information anywhere else. I’ll tell you what: If Ava Glass decided to make this into a series, I’ll sign up to read it right here and now. I would definitely read more about Emma Makepeace getting her revenge on the Russians one day at a time.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ballatine, and Bantam for granting me access to this title.

This book starts off with a bang and maintains that momentum throughout. The characters are likeable and engaging. A big selling point for me was how the author gave background information on the main characters. So much better than a massive overload of information all at once. Anyone familiar with London will enjoy this novel.
Thank you Bantam and NetGalley for an ARC.
#Bantam#NetGalley#AliasEmma#AvaGlass

This book was totally entertaining and best of all, there were just a handful of characters to keep track of, chiefly Emma Makepeace and Michael Primalov. I wasn’t crazy about the book in the beginning thinking, oh swell, I just bit into another espionage, Russian and handler, whatever. And then in short order, I was flipping pages because I had to. Well done, Ava Glass, and I suspect there’s a book to follow. Would I read it? Oh yes.

British spy Emma is given an assignment to bring in the son of a Russian scientist, but he wants to be left alone to live his life and things take a turn for the worse when a competing spy agency tries to take them both out! I love action-based spy thrillers and I am happy to say that Alias Emma does not disappoint. With the ticking clock scenario this one gave me Kiefer Sutherland's 24 mixed with a bit of Jennifer Garner from Alias vibes....all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The tension was there from the get-go and the stakes were felt high. The interspersed flashbacks to Emma's recruitment/early spy days worked well within the story. I really liked Emma and hope that this is the start of a series because I would totally check out another story featuring her. and her spy ways/life.

Special thanks to Bantam and Netgalley for the ARC of Alias Emma for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

“Emma” is a newly appointed young female secret agent who garners her first major assignment. Will she be successful in delivering to safety the handsome young doctor that is reluctant to believe he’s in danger from the Russian government? It will take all of Emma’s training and ingenuity to get across London avoiding the city’s vast network of CCTV’s to accomplish her mission within 12 hours. When the Russians locate them at every twist and turn and seem to know where they are going next it becomes evident that the Russians have hacked into the CCTV network. Emma must use her instincts to somehow avoid the cameras. For those that like spy novels, this is a fast paced, heart pounding thrill ride that will keep you reading into the night.

This book was so much fun. It was a complete edge-of-your-seat, fast-paced, "Die-Hard-esk" type of experience. Emma is a British spy who is tasked with getting her target through London to the M16 building before the Russians get to them first. The biggest problem is that her target doesn't want to go. Convincing him while also keeping him alive becomes a daunting task. The Russians have hacked into the CCTVs and are everywhere throughout London. And they seem to anticipate all of Emma's moves before she has even done them. I enjoyed this espionage/spy thriller and look forward to more in this series. Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC.4 stars

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Alias Emma by Ava Glass is a fast-paced espionage thriller about Emma Makepeace, a secret agent, who must save a local London doctor from being kidnapped by Russian agents.

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
I do love my espionage thrillers, and my initial expectations are that this story will have everything I love about the genre: tons of thrills, a fast pace from beginning to end, intelligent moves and clever wit, and generally a hero who I will love to root for.

Actual Reading Experience:
Alias Emma was everything I hoped for and more. I loved it and would be very happy if it was the start of a new series.

The thrills began early and didn't stop until the last page. The story reads so super-fast that the pages practically flipped themselves. I may have even stopped breathing at some point and couldn't have asked for more from the story.

The plot is tightly focused, which adds to the fast pace. There are no unnecessary meanderings to get in the way of all those thrills. I loved the crispness of the writing and found it immersive with just the right amount of subterfuge.

I also enjoyed the flashbacks that allowed me to learn more about Emma and added to her character development. I felt that the character was relatively well developed while leaving room for growth and further development should this become a series. Emma is tough but not indestructible and extremely smart. She has learned a set of valuable skills that give her street smarts as well as conventional intelligence.

The story definitely has James Bond vibes, without the cars and toys. I wouldn't have minded some gadgets, but I also loved that she was sent out to do this dangerous job without any weapon aside from her brain. Anyone can get out of tight situations with a gun. Still, to only have your ingenuity as a weapon, now that takes a special kind of woman.

What It Reminds Me Of:
The publisher called it Killing Eve meets James Bond, and I agree entirely with that comparison. I thought the story reminded me of a James Bond thriller with a female lead.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you love fast-paced thrillers with a strong female lead, you will love Alias Emma.