Action packed with, lies, subterfuge and mystery this story is a real page turner that make it hard to put down.

It was an enjoyable read but many of the storyline was predictable and the ending was anticlimactic. I had to ignore a lot of the obvious tropes to enjoy the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Traitor is the heart pounding non-stop action sequel to Alias Emma, in which Emma Makepeace is sent undercover on a mega-million-dollar yacht belonging to a Russian oligarch, suspected of being a chemical weapons dealer with the assistance of someone inside the British Intelligence circles. Emma is a spy for The Agency, a super-secret underground intelligence group in Great Britain, and if you haven't read Alias Emma yet, this book does stand alone, however I do highly recommend you pick it up and read it as well.

The primary action of this book takes place on the yacht, as it sails from the Nice, France, to Monaco, and Barcelona. Being isolated on the yacht makes for an interesting and atmospheric setting, with tensions high for Emma as she attempts to figure out who the traitor is, assisting the Russians in their sales of illegal chemical weapons to enemies of Great Britain. Emma must rely on her wits and charm to get her through the situation unscathed.

I will admit, from early on, I had a sense of who the traitor was, and I see from numerous other reviews, I was not the only reader to figure it out, so I suspect it will not be a challenge for other readers once this is published. That said, I still very much enjoyed the experience of reading this book. I've always been a fan of British spy capers and this book fits that niche perfectly, with a feminine twist. An easy 4-star rating for this fun thriller.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

This is second in the series and I loved the first. This could be read on it’s own, but the first will give great insight into the characters. The spy thriller genre is a fairy new addition to my usual selections and I hope there’ll be more of these intriguing British spy thrillers. Emma Makepeace is a young agent who was valuable in her last assignment, but still proving her abilities. She also struggles with the secrets she must keep from her family. Being undercover with fake names and personas takes a toll. She has no lasting relationships with the demands of spur of the moment travel and lies about what she does. Her growth as an agent shines through on this assignment, even as she makes mistakes.
A senseless, horrific murder, which could involve chemical weapons, catapults MI6 into immediate action. The risky mission to catch the wealthy, cunning criminal network is going to require expert planning and precision. Emma is certain she’s capable and ready to become the newest hostess on a super yacht to find those responsible. There are Russian spies, oligarchs, mistresses, bodyguards, arms dealers and the illegal drug trade. All she has to do is assume an identity, find the evidence to convict them and not get burned. The yacht is traveling to exotic destinations along the Mediterranean such as Saint-Tropez, Monaco and Barcelona. Emma isn’t going to be able to enjoy the touristy attractions or the beautiful scenery. She’s trying to do her job and stay alive.
The plot is fast paced, full of harrowing situations, life or death decisions and a hidden traitor that will surprise you. Can’t wait to see what the author has in store for Emma next!
A digital advance reader copy of “The Traitor” by Ava Glass, published by Bantam Books, was provided by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Forget casting the next James Bond, someone should cast the first Emma Makepeace! Glass’s follow-up to “Alias Emma” is an exciting thrill ride. Once again, she crafted great characters and paired them with kinetic action. Emma has just the right amount of character development and the bad-ass skillset of a super spy. I loved the luxurious yacht setting and the glamorous locations. This one comes out Sept. 19 and I already can’t wait for the next one!

Spy fiction light. A good choice for a read by the pool or on an airplane.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/116352494

"That's the thing about spies--manipulation is easier than explanation. Deception becomes habit." A secret branch of MI6 is planning to plant an agent undercover on the super-yacht of Andrei Volkov, a diabolical weapons dealer connected to many like-minded Russians, with intentions to gather damaging intel. It was said of Volkov 'His voice was as deep as a grave...' The Traitor is penned by Ava Glass as readers are taken undercover with 20-something British spy, Emma Makepeace. She is deeply honored and eager to be serving her country. Another MI6 operative is found very dead, stuffed dead in his suitcase in his own flat! Emma researches what he had been working on--two Russian oligarchs. Now he's very dead. Emma's handler, Ripley plan to implant Emma on Volkov's super-yacht. Onboard as steward/server, Emma begins her extremely dangerous task by befriending his young paramour. Now, hold on!!! Glass continues to increase her timely tension... Will undercover Emma be discovered? Will she soon be swimming with the fishes? Can she find anyone onboard NOT loyal to the Russian? And then.... Danger increases, Emma is feeling so alone, they're all looking at her! What do they know? Can she find anything or anybody with damning proof? Lookour! Suspense, rapid intense danger, discovery, murders, and much more!
I highly recommend this outstanding spy thriller!!! Kudos to Ava Glass!!!

I was a bit lost, and that may be due to the fact I hadn't read the prior book. I'd thought this could stand alone, but perhaps not. I found the storyline predictable, and the twists weren't surprising. Characters weren't that believable, so all things combined to make this a hard book to get into and stay engaged.

Loved this second book in the series. Action packed, and a fun read. Looking forward to the third. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

An MI6 agent is found dead in his apartment, after he had been looking for links between chemical weapons and some Russian oligarchs. To spy on a one suspect, Emma Makepeace goes undercover on his luxury yacht to try and find proof of the Russian’s involvement selling arms on the black market.

I enjoyed Emma’s experiences on the yacht, and her desire to somehow help the oligarch’s mistress who was bent on self-destruction. I hadn’t read the first book, so I missed a little bit, but I didn’t feel like I needed to go back to get more detail.

I did find Emma a little annoying at times, when she thought she knew better than anyone else what she should do. She’s young, intelligent, talented, but didn’t like taking orders, but she was very good at getting out of the situations she found herself in. The ending surprised me, I was sad and hated to see this character as the traitor.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an eARC. This my honest opinion and review.

This was an ARC from @NetGalley that was their suggestion, based on my previous reading. I groaned inwardly when I realized it was number two in a series. I needn’t have worried; there were enough references to the first book that I missed nothing having not read the first book. This was a fast paced espionage novel that was well within the realm of believable. I did figure out who the mole was but that didn’t detract from the story at all. Well done. Publication date 18 September

The Traitor is an okay thriller, but for me it was no more than that. I usually stay away from thrillers and mysteries and police procedurals written by women other than Donna Leon (who has kept my attention all the way through #32 of the Commissario Brunetti novels. I did like the description of The Trailor, so I dove into it, and I did read it all the way through, which right away meant it rated two stars or better. By the end, I decided it was a three-star read. I just didn't find the places and people all that convincing -- for example, the Mediterranean is always described as blue, but every time I've looked out at it, Homer's "wine-dark sea" has looked black to me.

This was a really good book. Very engaging and well written with a storyline that resonates right now. I could see this book being turned into a movie or series!

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and gifted author. Intrigue and ,mystery keep the story moving. Dynamic characters. Enjoy

This is such a good book. I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. It was exciting and had all the elements of a good thriller, action, mystery, suspense, red herrings and lots of bad guys. I highly recommend. I read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Read in one sitting and instantly had me hooked! If you’re looking for something with woman power, this is the book!! I’ve never been big on spy books but this one one I mean I couldn’t put down! I NEEDED to know what happened!

A quick summer read
and twisty spy thriller. Fun,
if predictable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I write haiku reviews but am happy to provide more feedback.

The Traitor by Ava Glass

This is the second volume the Emma Makepeace series, following Alias Emma. This one is just as exciting as the first. Emma is still smart, crafty, brave, and indefatigable. Once again, it is great to see a female heroine who doesn’t take any nonsense and is capable of getting the job done.

This has the types of things you would expect in a spy novel: dangerous undercover work, compatriots that you may or may not be able to trust, moles, yachts, exotic locations, oligarchs & millionaires, scary-weapon stuff, a few gadgets, and some well–timed luck here and there, deus ex machina style. If you like action-packed espionage thrillers, you will like The Traitor by Ava Glass.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

Emma Makepeace, spy catcher extraordinaire. How could you not love a character with the name of Makepeace. A low level colleague of Emma’s is found dead in his apartment, an obvious assassination. However as an analyst his work would not not ally put him at risk for losing his life. In order to unravel the mystery of his death, Emma is asked to trace his recent movements. This search uncovers arms smuggling by Russian oligarchs and puts Emma in serious danger.

A wild ride and a good summer read for thriller fans.

Thank you NetGalley for making this book available to me.

Emma Makepeace, British spy, returns again as she seeks to find out who brutally killed a British accountant/spy that was looking into Russian drug dealers. Fast paced and intriguing, Emma needs to use all her wits to outsmart a Russian Oligarch and his henchmen when on her own on his yacht out in the middle of the sea. Trying to prove that she is capable, she takes plenty of risks, especially after she is outed by a traitor in the mix. Who is the mole that has put her life at risk? Somewhat predictable, it still was thrilling to read this suspenseful story. Although this is the second story of Emma Makepeace, it could still be a stand alone novel. I give it a 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
Many thanks to #netgalley #thetraitor #avaglass for the opportunity to read and review this book.