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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
I might be biased since Beatriz is my favorite author ever, but this book was so well done from start to finish. The meticulous research done was incredible and it showed through out the book.
Her novels never disappoint, with delectable settings, fully-fleshed characters and intriguing tales. I love that OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW is set during the Cold War, an era I lived partially through and remember well. Here, twin sisters Iris and Ruth find their lives at stake as Ruth travels to Moscow to extract Iris and her husband. A KBG officer dogs them, as they’re forced to make a choice with heartbreaking consequences.
As the story alternates between the perspectives of Ruth and Iris, the air of mystery is palpable, and the suspense continues to grow with every turn of the page. How could sweet, unremarkable Iris have gotten involved with the Soviet intelligence? What will happen when Ruth joins undercover FBI agent C. Sumner Fox in order to visit her sister (who is enormously pregnant with her fourth child and known for her difficult deliveries) in Russia? Will Iris and the baby survive the delivery? Will Ruth and Iris forgive and forget once they are together again?
"Blood is the only thing that counts in this world, boss lady... Ain't nobody in the world understands you like your sister. Ain't nobody ever will."
I was completely entrenched in this book and can't wait to pick it up again soon.
Her novels never disappoint, with delectable settings, fully-fleshed characters and intriguing tales. I love that OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW is set during the Cold War, an era I lived partially through and remember well. Here, twin sisters Iris and Ruth find their lives at stake as Ruth travels to Moscow to extract Iris and her husband. A KBG officer dogs them, as they’re forced to make a choice with heartbreaking consequences.
As the story alternates between the perspectives of Ruth and Iris, the air of mystery is palpable, and the suspense continues to grow with every turn of the page. How could sweet, unremarkable Iris have gotten involved with the Soviet intelligence? What will happen when Ruth joins undercover FBI agent C. Sumner Fox in order to visit her sister (who is enormously pregnant with her fourth child and known for her difficult deliveries) in Russia? Will Iris and the baby survive the delivery? Will Ruth and Iris forgive and forget once they are together again?
"Blood is the only thing that counts in this world, boss lady... Ain't nobody in the world understands you like your sister. Ain't nobody ever will."
I was completely entrenched in this book and can't wait to pick it up again soon.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my first book by Wiliams and am now wondering if this is typical of her novels. Should I try any others?
I enjoyed the history in this, which is why it's getting two stars rather than one. I should be able to say this is a character driven novel given its disjointed timeline and rather open ending, but I can't because the characters are not developed well. They never became more than caricatures to me. This resulted in me being bored and thinking the novel was too long and could've been better edited.
I enjoyed the history in this, which is why it's getting two stars rather than one. I should be able to say this is a character driven novel given its disjointed timeline and rather open ending, but I can't because the characters are not developed well. They never became more than caricatures to me. This resulted in me being bored and thinking the novel was too long and could've been better edited.
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
too much talking, too little history (for my taste)
Entertaining & nostalgic. Something about a Beatriz William's book sets me to imagining classic movie stars playing each part. As I read this book, I pictured Lauren Bacall slinking around with a martini glass in one hand & cigarette in the other, Donna Reed as the obedient, gentle wife, and maybe Walter Pigeon, Ronald Colman & Gary Cooper as their stalwart male counterparts. What a fun listen! Was it worth an Audible credit? Absolutely!
Our Woman in Moscow is an enthralling Cold War historical fiction & thriller.
The book centres around Ruth & Iris Macallister, non-identical twin sisters and it is a testament to the strength of woman especially during and after WWII. Iris (now Digby) vanishes from her London, with her husband (an American diplomat) and their children in 1948. Four years later, Ruth receives a postcard from her sister after being estranged for 12 years. Ruth quickly makes her way to Moscow, posing as the wife of Agent Sumner Fox in a plot to extract Iris and her family from behind the Iron Curtain.
The inspiration for this book was the Cambridge ring of spies who passed information to Russia throughout WWII and after. Iris's husband, Sasha, is involved with leaking American secrets to the Russians and the ring is more complex than anyone can imagine. It is evident that this has taken its toll on Sasha and he struggles with Alcohol abuse. The story is broken into a few different time frames and we see that Sasha is spiralling over this extended period.
Iris is the portrayed as the meek and mild sister, while Ruth is the go-getter. The events of the book play to the strengths of both woman and I thoroughly enjoyed alternating between their points of view.
Beatriz Williams has crafted an extremely engaging novel and I highly recommend reading it. This is perfect for anyone that loves a little bit of espionage, strong women and historical fiction.
Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for gifting me with a copy of this book.
The book centres around Ruth & Iris Macallister, non-identical twin sisters and it is a testament to the strength of woman especially during and after WWII. Iris (now Digby) vanishes from her London, with her husband (an American diplomat) and their children in 1948. Four years later, Ruth receives a postcard from her sister after being estranged for 12 years. Ruth quickly makes her way to Moscow, posing as the wife of Agent Sumner Fox in a plot to extract Iris and her family from behind the Iron Curtain.
The inspiration for this book was the Cambridge ring of spies who passed information to Russia throughout WWII and after. Iris's husband, Sasha, is involved with leaking American secrets to the Russians and the ring is more complex than anyone can imagine. It is evident that this has taken its toll on Sasha and he struggles with Alcohol abuse. The story is broken into a few different time frames and we see that Sasha is spiralling over this extended period.
Iris is the portrayed as the meek and mild sister, while Ruth is the go-getter. The events of the book play to the strengths of both woman and I thoroughly enjoyed alternating between their points of view.
Beatriz Williams has crafted an extremely engaging novel and I highly recommend reading it. This is perfect for anyone that loves a little bit of espionage, strong women and historical fiction.
Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for gifting me with a copy of this book.
I feel like the author couldn’t decide if she was writing a spy thriller or a cheesy romance. Would have preferred less of the melodramatic romance(s) and more of the gutsy women being badass.
Williams's historical fiction mystery Our Woman in Moscow--based on real-life double agents in the Cambridge Spy Ring--is vividly set in Europe and Russia and was a rare five-star read for me.
In Beatriz Williams's historical fiction Our Woman in Moscow, my book club's recent read, it's 1948, and Iris Digby, her American diplomat husband Sasha, and their two children have disappeared overnight. Those who knew and worked with them are shocked. Were the Digbys abducted by Soviet agents...or did they make their way by choice behind the Iron Curtain with a suitcase of American secrets to trade?
The novel skips back and forth in time, and four years later, Iris's twin sister Ruth finally receives a postcard from her estranged sister. Ruth is soon on her way to Russia to try to extricate Iris from danger--but the truth about Iris's marriage and past is more complicated and fraught than Ruth could have imagined.
I loved this. Every heart-stopping moment; every exquisite detail; the characters' growth, emotional distance, and unforeseen connections to each other; the trick of teasing out what was actually happening; the characterization; the machinations--all of it.
There was significant page time dedicated to Ruth's work managing a modeling agency and to the groundbreaking signing of a Black model at the time, as well as side stories such as elaborate mishaps on sailing trips or drinking binges, while the denouement at the end of the story gets a puzzlingly passing mention. But I loved Williams's immersive story so much, I was in for all of the elements of Our Woman in Moscow: Russia, family, spies, crossing/double-crossing, finding common ground, bravery, and illogical and irresistible love.
Please please please let this story be made into a movie as soon as possible!
To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see Our Woman in Moscow.
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