The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin
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The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin
If you’re picking up The Librarian Spy for the type of action found in a Bond movie, you’ll come away disappointed, but if you’re looking for an emotionally-engaging World War II drama that will have you on the edge of your seat, you’ve found the right book. Author Madeline Martin’s love of history is evident on the page, as is her skill in crafting characters you come to understand, even if you don’t love them.
Madeline was a pleasure to speak with and continues my occasional series of speaking with authors (and apparently my series of chatting with authors who write books about librarians during wars!). Do you like the episodes with authors as guests? Would you prefer I stick to chatting with librarians? I’d love to hear from you.
CI229 Show Notes
In Circulating Ideas, Episode 229, I chatted with Madeline Martin, author of The Librarian Spy, about her childhood experiences with libraries, her love of history and historical fiction, how she does her research, and the wonder of visiting the Library of Congress!
The Librarian Spy
the book | goodreads | hanover square press
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a moving new novel inspired by the true history of America’s library spies of World War II.
Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.
Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.
As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.
Madeline Martin
site | facebook | instagram | twitter | pinterest | bookbub | amazon | goodreads
Madeline Martin is a New York Times and International Bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance.
She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), one incredibly spoiled cat and a man so wonderful he’s been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she’s not writing, researching or ‘moming’, you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves to travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.
Mentions
“Why the U.S. Sent Librarians Undercover to Gather Intelligence During World War II” [TIME]
“Librarians at War” [American Heritage]
“The Real Spies Who Inspired James Bond Are Far More Fascinating Than the Big Screen 007s” [Esquire]
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