The Book Spy audiobook cover - A stubborn American microfilm librarian fights her way into wartime intelligence, then risks everything in Lisbon’s shadow war—smuggling knowledge, deceiving the Nazis, and gambling her life to save the man she loves from a dictator’s prison.

The Book Spy

A stubborn American microfilm librarian fights her way into wartime intelligence, then risks everything in Lisbon’s shadow war—smuggling knowledge, deceiving the Nazis, and gambling her life to save the man she loves from a dictator’s prison.

Alan Hlad

4.5 / 5(408 ratings)
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The Book Spy follows Maria Alves, a gifted microfilm specialist who refuses to stay sidelined while fascism spreads across Europe. By audacity alone, she forces her way into the newly formed OSS librarian program and is deployed to neutral Lisbon—where refugees flood the streets, spies haunt luxury hotels, and books become weapons.

In Portugal, Maria’s mission to acquire and microfilm Axis publications collides with Tiago Soares, a Lisbon bookseller running an underground rescue line for Jewish refugees. As their bond deepens, Maria is pulled into a far more dangerous operation: deceiving German intelligence during Operation Fortitude. The closer she gets to the truth, the more her cover, her heart, and Tiago’s life are placed on the line—until Lisbon itself becomes a trap.

Who Should Listen to The Book Spy?

  • Listeners who love WWII thrillers with espionage, deception plots, and high-stakes undercover missions.
  • Fans of historical fiction centered on lesser-known wartime roles (librarians, microfilm, information warfare).
  • Readers who want romance woven into action—where the relationship raises the stakes instead of replacing them.

About the Author: Alan Hlad

Alan Hlad is a historical fiction author known for World War I and World War II novels that blend research-driven history with suspense and emotional stakes, often spotlighting overlooked true wartime contributions (such as pigeons, messengers, and librarians).

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