The Book Spy by Alan Hlad

Books can carry stories. They can carry hope. And during wartime, they can carry secrets.

Inspired by true events, The Book Spy by Alan Hlad is a sweeping World War II historical novel about espionage, resistance, and the extraordinary role librarians played in the fight against fascism.

Maria Alves is a quiet, book-loving librarian working at the New York Public Library when she is recruited for a secret wartime mission. Sent to neutral Portugal, Maria joins an effort to gather intelligence for the Allies by collecting information hidden within newspapers, publications, and other printed materials.

In Lisbon—a glamorous but dangerous city filled with refugees, spies, and double agents—Maria’s work quickly becomes more perilous than she imagined. As she becomes entangled in the shadowy world of espionage, she must learn whom she can trust while confronting the very real human cost of the war unfolding around her.

Rich with history, intrigue, and a love of books, The Book Spy shines a light on the librarians and intelligence workers whose quiet contributions helped shape the course of World War II.

Perfect for readers who love: WWII historical fiction, books about books, librarians, female spies, secret missions, real history woven into fiction, and stories of ordinary people displaying extraordinary courage.