PUB Date September 19, 2023

Thank you, @randomhouse and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader copy.

Emma Makepeace is back for a new undercover operation with so much on the line. I flew through the first book, Alias Emma, and when given this opportunity, I pounced on it. I could not put this down. I loved that the story was divided into three parts. I did guess early on who the "Third Man" was, but the action and suspense leading up to the reveal was so exciting. We learn a little more about Emma and her reasons for doing what she does.

I absolutely cannot wait for another installment (please let there be more!)

When an MI6 operative is found dead inside a suitcase in his apartment, Emma Makepeace and her handler know it's an assassination and message in one. He had been investigating Russian oligarchs based in London. He was certain the two were spies working with a third man, but MI6 told him to drop the investigation. Emma intends to pick up where he left off and goes undercover on a yacht set to sail from the Côte d’Azur to Monaco. If Emma’s caught, she'll be just as dead as her predecessor.

Drug running and weapons trading are deadly enough, but the possibility of chemical weapons is an additional risk no one wants to take. Emma is by herself with the thinnest of covers, and the Russian on the boat as well as his bodyguard are suspicious from the start. She has to dodge them on the yacht as well as be alert, make connections, and find as much information as possible. The tension remains high, escalating with every setback. The final third is especially tense, as it ratchets up. There's not only the risk if the two Russians discover who Emma really is, but also the traitor working with them. To be hidden in such a way means he's highly placed in the intelligence community... someone Emma knows. It's a chilling thought, one that she keeps pushing past to get to the truth. I don't think I could make the same choices that she does, even if I had the skill.

This thriller is engrossing, and Emma is very human along the way. A spy's life is one of lies, after all, and we see the very real regrets she has for the roles she must play. Sacrifices must be made, not just during the job, but in the life she can't have outside of work. She's dedicated to her country, her job, and the truth. Even when second-guessed and doubting herself, she keeps pushing through. It's admirable and makes for a terrific read.

I really enjoyed meeting Emma Makepeace who is basically an undercover badass working for MI6. She is assigned a mission on a Russian oligarch's superyacht after a government murder victim is found. This was a quick and easy ready with plenty of spy activity and I personally love spy films. JAMES BOND heck yah and Emma Makepeace could easily be the new and improved James Bond (but make it a female main character) - how awesome would that be. There were enough twists and turns to keep me entertained and an action packed storyline. Thank you to Random House (Ballentine) and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Traitor is the second installment in the thrilling British female-spy novels featuring Emma Makepeace by Ava Glass. As a child in the 1980s, I grew up watching James Bond films with my parents, and there’s something nostalgic about Emma for me. I know what I’m getting with this character and it’s a smart, action-packed adventure!

When we meet Emma in Alias Emma, the action is contained to the streets of London as she attempts to safely deliver Michael Primalov, the son of former spies, while remaining unseen by the Russian-hacked security cameras across town. In The Traitor, Emma goes undercover on a Russian oligarch’s superyacht. After a fellow MI6 operative’s gruesome murder, the team suspects they have a traitor, and they know they’re somehow linked to the owner of the superyacht. Emma takes on the dangerous and deadly task of working alone while cruising around the south of France, with stops in Nice and Monaco, knowing if she’s discovered, the results will be deadly.

Having recently read the romance series Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, where the characters are employees on a superyacht, I knew I enjoyed this setting, so when I learned the bulk of The Traitor takes place on a superyacht, I was even more excited. While they’re completely different genres, it still felt familiar and now I want more books with a nautical setting.

Glass does a wonderful job of keeping the tension taut, never letting the setting grow repetitive, bringing me back to the book excited to continue Emma’s story.

Unfortunately, I had my suspicions about the identity of the traitor before they were revealed. As I continued reading, I hoped I would be wrong—just so I’d have the knowledge that I didn’t figure it out after all. But I still enjoyed this one, and I’m eager to see what trouble Emma will find herself in next time.

While I didn’t think The Traitor was quite as good as its predecessor Alias Emma, I still had fun and it secured this series as a must-read for me!

Step aside James Bond for the indominable and intrepid British spy Emma Makepeace. In Emma’s second outing after the thrilling Alias Emma, she goes undercover as part of the crew on a Russian oligarch’s yacht sailing from Côte d’Azur to Monaco. The thriller opens with a dead MI6 operative, murdered and handcuffed within a suitcase in his locked apartment with no clues as to who killed him. Just prior to his death, the operative had zeroed in on two London-based Russian oligarchs who he suspected as being Russian spies engaging in illegal arms sales, along with an unknown third person. The operative had shared these findings with MI6, only to be ordered to drop the investigation. Emma, and her MI6 handler, decide to send Emma undercover to investigate.

With her life in constant danger on the yacht, Emma has to try to sort out what’s going on without being discovered as the action and tension ratches up. Clear time – as you’ll want to read this in one sitting!

Thanks to Random House, Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

THE TRAITOR
Ava Glass

Do you have an affinity for James Bond movies?

Do you have a likeness for the Mission Impossible franchise but oftentimes find yourself wondering what it would be like if Tom was a woman?

I have a series for you.

We meet up with Emma Makepeace on her next case. In THE TRAITOR Emma is put undercover to find out as much information about the last days of Steven Garrick, an MI6 elite agent who was recently found dead in his home.

I was able to listen to THE TRAITOR in audiobook format. Emma has a delightful British accent and I love listening my way through her exploits. The narrator for this audiobook is Sophie Colquhoun and is now inextricably linked to my enjoyment of the series.

THE TRAITOR was a great second installment in the Alias Emma series. I really got into the story of THE TRAITOR and became an even bigger fan.

Have you read a book by Ava Glass before? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Audio, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for the advanced copies!

THE TRAITOR...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emma's back and this time she's on the hunt for evidence that an oligarch is selling chemical and other weapons and that he ordered the murder of an MI6 officer who had been tracking him. And more importantly, for the identity of the proverbial third man. Don't worry if you missed the first one because this will work fine as a standalone- a fast paced entertaining and twisty one about a dynamic woman working in a dangerous field. Posing as Jessica, she takes a job on Viktor's yacht but discovers that things won't be easy or simple, especially once she meets Madison, his fiance. Will she survive the yacht and the bad guys (of course) but what happens after as she tries to figure out whose voice she heard. Who can she trust? Glass has good storytelling skills and she knows how to build tension, write fight scenes (I'm not normally a fan of these), and make her characters multilayered (wait til she meets another oligarch's girlfriend). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This is a real page turner- great read.

Emma an agent with MI6 is sent to investigate the death of an analyst by a chemical agent, This sends her undercover on a superyacht, Having just binged every episode of Below Deck and all of its spinoffs I really enjoyed seeing Emma working as a stewardess, and sneaking around the yacht trying to find the information she need. However I don't think she came off as a very good agent, and I didn't really get a lot of her decisions, and I did guess one of the big twists pretty early on. Although this was a bit predictable I thought this was a fun and fast-paced story and enjoyed all of the action scenes.

I don't often read spy thrillers, but after reading the first book in this series, I knew I had to read this one. Emma Makepeace is a British spy who is sent undercover. One of her colleagues is found in his home stuffed into a suitcase, and they have narrowed the field of possible suspects down to a couple of Russian oligarchs. Emma goes undercover on a luxury yacht belonging to one of them. When I say luxury yacht, I do mean luxury. The description of the yacht was amazing and the stuff of dreams. However, Emma is not onboard to enjoy the many amenities of the yacht, she is there to work and gather intel.

The pace was perfect as Emma works to put the puzzle pieces together. The tension is high as you are wondering when she is going to be discovered as these criminals are very distrustful of strangers. You will be taken to all the beautiful places we only dream about visiting as Emma tries to build a case. Emma is fearless and quite frankly, a daredevil. She has fears, but she does not let those fears get in her way of doing her job. The danger is always percolating right below the surface. I had my theories about the ending, but Ava Glass will steer you in different directions to mislead you. If you enjoy a good James Bond thriller, you will enjoy this book and this series.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The tension is mind-blowing in this international spy thriller, the second in Glass’s Alias Emma series. Her colorful characters, Teflon bad guys, and heart-stopping close calls keep the reader rivetted from the very first scene. Her writing is crisp and fast-paced, with no wordy descriptions or idle dialog to slow things down. Every encounter advances the plot. MI6 agent Emma Makepeace is fearless and savvy in her mission to thwart a group of wealthy chemical arms dealers, and to expose the traitor hiding in their midst. Who knew there could be so much high drama on a yacht in Saint-Tropez? Loved it!

This is my first foray into the female spy genre, and I had no expectations. I did enjoy it. The author did a very good job of keeping you hooked during a slow burn.

When an MI6 operative if found dead in his apartment in an unusual manner Emma and her handler Ridley know they need to solve the case as quickly as possible as the killer or killers have sent a message with the manner of the killing. While investigating they discover there is a traitor in the organization and they need to find that person fast as they seem to be high up in the organization and have no intention of stopping any time soon. But when the discover the traitor they are stunned by who it is... especially Emma!

Emma Makepeace is back as an M16 spy. She has been tasked to find out who killed another M16 spy and stuffed him in a suitcase. She is put on this yacht to work getting drinks for guests, setting up rooms and cleaning! She knows she can’t trust anyone and she has figured out that there is a traitor among them. Martha is the one that outfits the spy’s, wigs and uses makeup to change their appearances and she has became close to Emma you can’t help but love her! All the sneaking around by Emma to spy on these men well have you on the edge of your seat. They are getting so close to figuring Emma out that she is in real danger!

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was so excited for this sequel. It did not disappoint. It had some gripping suspenseful moments where I was flipping forward to see how it was resolved. I appreciated the mention of the DR from the first book and how the relationship would not have worked as I had totally shipped them. I figured out who the mole was rather quickly but it did not detract from the story. The story reminded me of the current Special Ops Lioness TV show a little. I really hope this is not the last we see of Emma. She kicks a**.

The Traitor by Ava Glass is the second in her Alias Emma series about British spy Emma Makepeace. Having read and enjoyed the first book in the series- Alias Emma- I was very excited to see The Traitor available on #NetGalley! This second books continues with Emma's journey as a spy and also provides more information to some of the loose ends left at the conclusion of the first book. This was a fast paced spy mystery that fans of the genre will enjoy. I look forward to more books about Emma in the future!

YES! The Traitor picks up where Alias Emma left off and continues without taking the foot off the pedal. I love strong female thriller characters and Emma Makepeace is a welcome addition to my favorites list. Eagerly awaiting book 3.

My thoughts:
The Traitor by Ava Glass is a high-octane escapist read perfect for a rainy day. I loved the incredibly fast-pace from start to finish. It’s like watching an action/adventure movie - my favorite kind - but so much more, as the novel format offers more room to develop a story. The writing is engaging and immersive, allowing me to visualize everything as the story unfolds easily.

Emma Makepeace (and no, that’s not her real name, but I do love the irony) is smart and determined, and physically, she can take down men more than twice her size. But, she constantly feels like she has to prove herself, as women in a man’s world often do. She believes that a couple of missteps define her in a not-so-capable light as a secret agent. Yet, they define her as human and ensure the reader knows she is vulnerable and relatable and could fail in her mission. This keeps the tension high and me wholly invested in the story.

The twist was not such a twist to me, as a particular character might as well have been wearing the equivalent of a red shirt on Star Trek. No, that person didn’t die, but they are marked from early on in the story. The only surprise is that Emma didn’t see it coming. But again - that makes her human, and I don’t hold that against her. The Traitor was an excellent rainy weekend read, and I can’t wait for more books in this series!

Emma Makepeace returns in another sensational investigation. The plot is beautifully detailed and brings to life the life of a British spy. Emma goes undercover to gather information and finds herself in trouble. It is a page turning nail biter as she tries to uncover who the enemies are and stay alive. This is definitely one of those series to watch and keep on your reading list.

The Traitor lets us continue getting to know a British female spy named Emma Makepeace. The action and suspense is continuous and grabs you and won't let go. She is going undercover to identify Russian oligarch's who are dealing in drugs and chemical weapons. The Russians have already killed one person and will not hesitate killing others who are looking into their business. There are many twists and excitement that I hesitate to say more except for read this book, and also Alias Emma if you haven't already. I really enjoyed this spy novel and will look forward to more by Ava Glass.
Thank you to #Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and #NetGalley for this advanced copy to read and enjoy. This is my honest review. The release date is 9-19, 2023.

Wow - really enjoyed this book from page 1! Although I had guessed one of the final plot twists, it was a pleasure to get there.

I loved the European scenery - I will definitely look for the first book in this series and more to come!