The Traitor is Ava Glass’ second thriller about her protagonist, Emma Makepeace. It was just a year ago that East Coast Don very favorably reviewed the first novel, Alias Emma. Glass writes that “Emma Makepeace was born to be a spy.” The author explains the heroine’s background which leads her to make such an audacious statement. In fact, Emma has found her way to MI6, Britain’s CIA equivalent. Her real name was Alexandra, but she chose a new identity with MI6.

In this story, Emma, using the name Jessica Anne Marshall, is placed on an oligarch’s super yacht even though she is immediately suspected of being a spy by the oligarch, Sergei Krupin. The circumstances of Emma being hired to replace another employee were just too convenient. Her life was immediately in danger, but she answered Krupin’s questions sufficiently well to maintain her employment. Otherwise, she would probably have been thrown into the water to feed sharks. Krupin was surrounded by his well-trained henchmen, and Emma played her role well while looking for clues about Krupin’s involvement in arms shipments and other oligarch activities, as well as interviewing the other employees for whatever scraps of information that they had.

Having not read the first novel, I was a bit surprised by Emma’s fighting skills as she was able to successfully take on men who were bigger and stronger than her. It’s a good story as Emma’s life was constantly in danger, and she kept asserting herself into dangerous situations when her bosses were ready to bring her home.

Thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the chance for this pre-publication review. It gets my strong recommendation.

Review of uncorrected eBook file

The assignation of Stephen Garrick, a civil servant working for MI6, leads Emma Makepeace to a Russian oligarch. Working undercover as Jessica Marshall, she becomes part of the staff of Andrei Volkov‘s yacht Eden. She hopes to find evidence of Volkov’s chemical weapons deals and identify the other men involved in the illegal activity.

With careful movements around the yacht and covert investigations, Emma discovers secrets that threaten her safety. Can she find Stephen’s killer and stop the sale of the chemical weapons or will someone discover her true identity and mission?

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Ava Glass’s intrepid MI6 heroine, Emma Makepeace, returns for a second mission following her successful completion of her first assignment [detailed in the author’s thriller, “Alias Emma”]. Anchored by a strong sense of place, the twisty plot offers readers several surprises as it races along. Emma, as readers have come to expect, sometimes seems to take a few too many chances, but her instincts serve her well. However, her independent streak makes her something less than a team player and, as a result, she occasionally makes questionable choices as she conducts her investigation. The characters are well-defined; all the expected MI6 personnel make an appearance here.

With sufficient backstory for readers who have not read the first book in the series, this one works well as a standalone. Readers will find themselves pulled into the telling of the tale from the outset; the compelling tale keeps those pages turning at breakneck speed. Readers are sure to find it difficult to set this one aside before turning that final page.

Although astute readers may figure out the plot twist near the end of the narrative, the denouement still has a surprise or two for readers. Those who enjoy spy thrillers should be sure to put this unputdownable book on their must-read list.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley

Book Title: The Traitor
Author: Ava Glass
Series: Alias Emma Series Book #2
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: September 19, 2023
My Rating: 3.4.Stars
Pages: 336

This is my first Ava Glass; I was drawn to it as it was high recommended by readers on one of my FB book groups. Also was attracted to Ava Glass’s Bio
AVA GLASS is a former crime reporter and civil servant. Her time working for the government introduced
her to the world of spies, and she's been fascinated by them ever since. She lives in the south of England..

Since I didn’t read Book #I I was a bit confused when this was listed as “Game of Spies” and not “The Traitor” however, I am sure it is a UK/ US thing!

Stephen Garrick, an MI6 agent, is found murdered and left in a padlocked suitcase.
He has been investigating two oligarchs suspected of obtaining illegal weapons and yep are suspects for his murder.
It appears there’s a traitor working inside the gov. and helping the Russians.

Emma Makepeace goes undercover on the yacht of a Russian billionaire; which is basically a potential suicide mission as she is alone at sea (note book cover) and knows she is in danger without agency support.
Her goal is to find out who murdered Garrick as well as who is the traitor.
She believes it is someone within the security services who has high level security clearance,
Well don’t want to be a spoiler but she is correct.

Story is fast paced and I like Emma but have to admit I felt sorry for her life style.- Important to do what you love and I am sure she loves being a Spy.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishers –Ballantine, Bantam Books for granting me for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 19, 2023,

Forget tired old James Bond - all hail Emma Makepeace! This second outing, after Alias Emma, is fantastic and I loved every minute of this modern spy story revolving around Russian Oligarchs (are there any other kind) and you are always wondering what will happen next. This will make a great movie and I’m already casting Emma. Meanwhile, I will just keep reading and rereading this series.

The Traitor is an intense mystery thriller that will keep you guessing until the exciting finale. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and characters and on-the-edge excitement

This was a really good book! I wish that it wasn’t part of a series, but it was a fun read that had me thoroughly engrossed. I loved all of the intrigue and excitement, but the ending fell a bit flat for me. I feel like Emma should’ve been a little more careful, given her line of work! All in all, it was a good story and I definitely enjoyed it!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I thought this would be a book that although a continuation of a series, I could be able to pick up, and continue on the story with a quick recap.

Although the premise was interesting, I was not able to quickly glide into the story as much as I would have liked.

My Thoughts

Emma Makepeace is an investigator/operative/spy in MI6, which seems to be the British answer to the American CIA.

Not unlike Ian Flemings famous James Bond character, Emma attracts danger like a flame attracts the moth.

Also, like Mr. Bond Emma does not rely solely on fancy spy gadgets when she finds herself in situations beyond their capabilities.

She does use them here and there to relay information which is necessary to her current investigation.

Her main weapon of choice is using her own intellect and relying on pretty good instincts when it comes down to the wire.

Sometimes though the dicey situations she lands in takes more than a little bit of luck as well to stay alive.

This is where I differ from others who have read book 1 prior to this second. I do not think this young woman is as good as those readers seem to believe she is for a few reasons. None of which take away from enjoying the story and applauding how it finally fleshes out the how, when, where, why and who of the traitors’ identity.

An identity that was actually obvious to me once the book got past a certain point.

More interesting than it may seem to some when they read the book synopsis and less interesting to others if they expect the character to conform to their preconceived notions about spying.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Not having read the first book in the series didn't hamper my enjoyment of The Traitor at all! A quick read taking us into international espionage, I'm a fan of this twisty, turning book that kept me guessing until the end - with a strong female lead at the helm, you can't go wrong with this one!

Thanks to Random House and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A smart, twisty spy thriller perfect for summer reading.

I was not previously familiar with this series, but my enjoyment did not suffer as this novel stands perfectly on its own.

The story is action-packed and satisfying, and the main character of Emma Makepeace is believable and entertaining. As Emma works to uncover the assailants' identities, she goes undercover on an oligarch's yacht. What a fun premise!

I look forward to more in this series.

I read Alias Emma last year and loved it so I was very excited for a second book in the series! I enjoyed the second installment also but not as much as the first. It took me about 20% to get into the novel and I felt like it should have ended about 20% before it did. I gave it 3 stars though and I will look forward to reading the next one! Thanks netgalley for the advanced copy! #netgalley #netgalleyreview

Ava Glass brings back the badass British Spy Emma Makepeace in an espionage thriller that has something for all spy-thriller fans, whether you prefer your spy stories to cater more to the cerebral nature of spying or if you want your spies to kick butts.

When an MI6 operative is murdered with all signs pointing to a targeted assassination, British spy Emma Makepeace is assigned the task of uncovering the assailants and working the trail back to the source. Emma goes undercover on a Russian oligarch’s million-dollar yacht as part of the infiltration. If being undercover miles and miles away from the closest support element isn’t enthralling enough, Emma has to work out the identity of someone who seems to be in cahoots with those behind the assassination, a traitor in the ranks who can compromise Emma and sentence her to brutal death.

The Traitor stands out tall in an ocean of spy thrillers, owing this distinction to Ava Glass’s brilliant creation that is Emma Makepeace. She’s a pistol. Not only does she dive headfirst into danger, she does so with the hint of a wicked smile. It’s not often we read a spy in the thrillerverse have fun spying. That’s not to say Emma doesn’t have her work cutout for her as she faces danger and betrayal at extremes, weaving varying tones of fun, excitement, and danger into the mix.

If you’re itching for a fast-paced espionage-laden read with fancy yachts, suspicious Russian oligarchs, and a heavy dose of frightening brushes with violent death, The Traitor is THE thriller for you.

Full review to be posted on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kashif-hussain

I had read Ava Glass's previous book: Alias Emma which I enjoyed very much. Two, I looked forward to this book. Unfortunately, this book was a real disappointment. The plot was simple, not believable and predictable. I realized who the mole was very early on when the character was introduced. So, I would not recommend spending the time reading this book.

Superspy Emma is back in this second volume, which can be read independently of the author's first book chronicling her adventures eluding her Russian counterparts. This time she is put on a Russian's oligarch's yacht to try to figure out the cause of one of her fellow secret agent's death in London. Emma is a delightful character and this book adds to her allure as someone who can kick ass when she needs to but still figure out the subtle tells of the spies around her. The yacht is sailing between Monaco and Barcelona and is the site of numerous near-mishaps and espionage moments that are just a joy to read. The supporting cast from the first book is back making the plot points even more compelling. Highly recommended.

Awesome read! Didn’t know what to expect going in but couldn’t put it down. Unique story, somewhat predictable climax but still enjoyed it. Look forward to the follow-up.

I loved this book! Although The Traitor is a sequel to Alias Emma, Ava Glass's debut novel, you don't have to read the first book to enjoy the second one (although you definitely should, because it's fantastic too). In The Traitor, agent Emma Makepeace is tasked with identifying a mole within the British secret service who's working with Russian arms dealers. Much of the action takes place on an enormous yacht owned by one of the arms dealers, where Emma is undercover as a crew member. The action is fast-paced and exciting--if this hasn't already been optioned as a film, it should be. Definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Second novel in the Alias Emma series. I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as I did the first. It was enjoyable but lacked the excitement the first. The "twist" was easy to figure out and the ending felt a anticlimactic.

Welcome Makepeace, Alexandra, Jessica, Emma, or whatever her next name will be! Step aside.. James.. Bond of course. Here comes the next best female British spy. What a terrific novel I was lucky to download from Net Galley. I loved it! Fast paced, intriguing, mysterious, entertaining and clever. A masterful combination to be enjoyed by spy novel lovers. She speaks four languages, fights like a karate master, beguiles like a Greek siren. This is a slam dunk.. watch for her on the silver screen.. don’t miss her.

Emma Makepeace is back in the game!
Still recovering from her first foray into international espionage she is sent on a mission to work on a super yacht owned by a Russian Oligarch suspected of buying nuclear weapons. Still reeling from her last job, Emma rushes to work but has to deal with someone in her own MI6 unit who may be a traitor.

In this thrilling and captivating novel, she is one breath away from death on every page. If you liked Alias, Emma, love some realistic espionage with a strong female lead or just want to vicariously take a ride of a super yacht, The Traitor is for you! #RandomHouse #Aliasemma #AvaGlass #TheTraitor

This is book #2 following Emma Makepeace a British Spy who goes undercover on a Russian yacht. I continue to relate Emma to a female James Bond - getting herself in sticky spots and looking fabulous while doing it. This story was gripping and while I guessed who the traitor was about half way through the book I had to keep reading just to make sure I was right! A great page turner! Hoping for another Emma Makepeace book in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Happy to always provide honest reviews :)