I hate to give this review, because there was just nothing wrong with the book. It wasn't the book. It was me. Or maybe the time period that I was listening to it. I just could not connect. I don't know if it was the narrator or the topic of the story. I really love Katherin Reay but this one wasn't for me. I was also confused why the narrator narrating for the main character had an American accent even though the character was supposed to be from Russia, while other characters DID have a Russian accent. Maybe I missed something. Maybe that's why it didn't connect for me. I am certain other readers would enjoy this book. And I might even have in another season of life.

I did not finish this book, and will not be writing an official review. I loved the narrators and thought they did amazing jobs. Saskia Maarleveld in particular is my favorite narrator of historical fiction novels, and she can usually captivate me quickly. Unfortunately, she couldn't save this novel for me. I'm new to Cold War fiction and was very interested in branching out and away from WWII, but this book never grabbed me. I found it to be a slow trudge, with so much dialogue and information and very little action. I liked the dual timeline aspect, but the two narrators' voices are similar enough that sometimes I forgot which perspective I was following. Perhaps reading it with my eyes over my ears would have helped with that, but the issue of not feeling invested or interested would not have been made better by reading instead of listening so I think I would have ended up DNFing either way..

This was such a fun read. As a fan of the TV show The Americans this hit all the rights spots. There wasn't a happy ending which I also appreciated. Remarkable book. Will definitely be reading more from this author.

A Shadow in Moscow opens up a whole new world into understanding the Cold War. The story takes place in two timelines . . . 1954 Vienna after WWII and 1980 Washington DC. Both timelines feature strong female characters who lived their lives as spies. Readers get a glimpse of life in the Soviet Union and the process of becoming an intelligence agent. I found the book to be a bit slow at times, but the characters are beautifully written and I very much appreciated reading about the courage of these amazing women.

This book was good! I liked the characters and the setting. The author writes good too!!
I hope to read more by this author in the future! Looking forward to it!

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator was great. She gave each character a voice and perfectly captured their accent.
The author creates a layered story of family and patriotism. There are twists and turns that keep you interested.

A great dual timeline historical fiction novel about female spies, espionage, betrayals and more. Great on audio narrated by all time fav Saskia Maarleveld and Lisa Flanagan. I enjoyed this one a lot and liked that it wasn't just another WWII story. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

enjoyed listening to this book! it really has a genuine well-written plot twist that after reading comprehending is built in clever and still comes as a big surprise. good mother- and daughterhood storyline that touched my heart very much. great portrayal of espionage and cold war.

This was a truly riveting story by Katherine Reay! Amazing story crafting! Katherine created a world of fascinating characters and plot twists you never see coming! Thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written novel. The narration was perfect!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick. Our library purchased and our patrons have been checking out and and enjoying the book. I see it is a popular book club choice as well we hope to have more oppurtinies to support authors like them

A great historical read which informs the reader of the life of female spies during the Cold War. Although dragging in parts, the depth of historical knowledge and context poured into this book is admirable to an historian

I couldn't put this book down! Author Katherine dug into a new nitch of female spies. It was an exhilarating Kate Quinn ride without explicit scenes or language. I hope she continues to write in this genre. I knew the ladies were related and kept holding my breath whenever they were in danger or thought they would discover each other. I didn't expect the big plot twist at the end. Ughhhh, it took me days to recover after reading this gem. 5 stars all the way!!
Netgalley and the publisher gave me an audiobook format, and I want to say the narrator was exquisite!!

Many thanks to Harper Muse and Net Galley for an audio copy of the A Shadow in Moscow.

This was a complex story. A story filled with grief, intrigue and mystery.

I was first introduced to Katherine Reay's writing with The London House, her first historical piece. I immediately wanted more, and she delivered with A Shadow in Moscow. After writing numerous contemporary novels, all fun, she has found a new niche with historical fiction. I have found that she is a go-to author for me...immediately pre-order any new work as soon as it's announced, without even reading the blurb! Watch for her upcoming novel, The Berlin Letters....already on my TBR list.

I love Katherine Reay’s historical fiction. She is an auto-buy author for me at this point, and I’m so grateful that I could read this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve yet to read any type of fiction that goes back and forth between a mother’s and a daughter’s perspective. I’ve also yet to read, until now, a story based during the Cold War. There was just so much for me to learn from this story, and I am so appreciating for Katherine’s storytelling abilities!

I’d have to say that while I enjoyed both heroine’s story lines, I really felt more pulled in by Ingrid’s story. I loved how she fought and risked things to do what she knew she had to do. As a mother myself, I know I would do whatever it took to protect my child and I loved reading how this mother, in 1954, navigated her world of secrets.
That said, I loved Anya’s relationships with her handler, her mother, and even other B characters, swayed her and changed her, ultimately molding her into the spy she would become.

The ending of this story was way more than I ever anticipated and in the best way possible. I highly recommend A Shadow in Moscow to all historical fiction lovers!

While the story was ok it was written in a way that wasn't my favorite. Maybe I would feel differently with a paper copy that I could easily reference back but the audio wasn't my favorite.

A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay follows females spies in dual timelines during the First and Second Cold War Eras. This book was so much more than just a spy novel. It was compelling and filled with such heart and intrigue that I just had to know what happened to the characters next. This time period and location aren’t not always an auto read for me. I am so glad I did not allow my preconceived notions to keep me from this beautiful story of courageous women fighting for hope and freedom.

My favorite character was Ingrid. Her story unfolds in such an unexpected way. Her devotion to those she loved was immeasurable, and her journey was one filled with such personal growth.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advanced audio copy to honestly read and review. All opinions are my own. Publication date was June 13, 2023.

What a fabulous book! I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. I love historical fiction, especially the Cold War Era, but sometimes it can be a bit cheesy. I was a little worried A Shadow in Moscow would fall into the trap of being low on historical details and significance and heavy on romance. I am very happy to report that that is not the case.
A Shadow in Moscow follows 2 women, decades apart:

Ingrid, a young Viennese woman, lost both of her parents during WWII and rushes to marry a Soviet man. She follows him to Moscow and struggles to adapt to her new homeland.

Almost 30 years later, Anya is a Muscovite, living in Washington, D.C. as part of the Foreign Studies Initiative. Once she has her degree and returns home, Anya realizes that her time away from home has changed who she is.

Both Ingrid and Anya end up joining the underground world of spies giving information to the CIA.

This is such a great read. Ingrid and Anya both are well-developed, the plot is nuanced and captivating, and the historical details are distinctive.
I will definitely be doing a deep-dive into the books that Katherine Reay mentioned in her author’s note.

I adored this book! It's a true gem among historical fiction novels that will capture your heart while keeping you engaged and on the edge of your seat from start to finish!

The characters within these pages are not just well-developed; they are complex, intriguing, and deeply human. Ingrid's unwavering resilience is truly inspiring, while Anya's introspection and inner monologues lead readers down a path of profound contemplation about the true essence of freedom - the one that comes from within. Their two stories eventually came together, resulting in an ending that left me utterly speechless. I also liked Scott and his remarkable patience, understanding, and unyielding love for Anya.

The author did an incredible job of bringing the inner worlds of these characters to life. I felt deeply connected to the main characters, especially Anya.

I listened to the audiobook, and narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Lisa Flanagan were wonderful and truly brought this story and its characters to life!

This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story about two incredibly strong women who never wavered in their bravery and determination to carve a brighter path for their children and future generations!

Thank you, NetGalley, the publisher Harper Muse, and author Katherine Reay for the audiobook copy! I received this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have liked previous books from Katherine Reay and was excited to have the opportunity to listen to the audio version to her A Shadow in Moscow. I enjoyed listening to this story and am giving it four stars.