The Traitor is a first-class spy thriller by Ava Glass that will have you gleefully turning the pages until the early hours of the morning.

When a body is discovered in a padlocked suitcase, investigator Emma Makepeace knows it’s murder – and she knows that she needs to be on her guard and watch her back because this is not just another investigation, but an assignment that is far too close to home. Emma quickly discovers that the victim had been shadowing two oligarchs suspected of procuring illegal weapons in the UK – and worse, that somebody from within the British government is giving them a helping hand.

Emma needs to untangle this twisted web of corruption, deception and treachery, so she goes undercover on a superyacht owned by one of the oligarchs and soon realises that that all that glitters in this world of glamour, excess and sophistication isn’t gold. But at sea, Emma is on her own and she has nobody who can protect her. She must trust her wits, listen to her gut and trust nobody because if she doesn’t find out who the traitor is, then the next body to turn up in a padlocked case might just be her!

Ava Glass knows how to spin a yarn spiced with non-stop action, heart-stopping suspense and nail-biting tension and she certainly does this with The Traitor, an unputdownable thriller that is a complete struggle to put down. Smart, sophisticated and scintillating, The Traitor will leave you breathless as Ava Glass takes you deep into a world of high stakes, danger and power that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

Forget about sleep when reading The Traitor by Ava Glass because once you starting reading it, you will not be able to stop.

Ava Glass’s “The Traitor” is the second book in the Alias Emma series, taking readers into the world of international spying. This story continues from “Alias Emma,” placing MI6 agent Emma Makepeace in a dangerous situation.

After the suspicious death of an MI6 agent, Emma gets involved in an investigation. She uncovers links to Russian oligarchs who are believed to be buying illegal arms in the UK, and there's a possibility of a traitor within the British government. To blend in with the wealthy people on a superyacht, she takes on the false name “Gold Dust.”

The story contrasts the glitz of high society, like champagne and caviar, with the real threats of betrayal and corruption. Emma’s skills as a smart agent keep the story moving as she tries to untangle the lies and find the traitor before it’s too late.

Glass writes a suspenseful tale filled with twists that keep the reader guessing. Each new piece of information pulls the reader deeper into the world of espionage, maintaining interest through exciting chases and dramatic confrontations.

The luxurious setting of superyachts and exclusive parties adds depth to the themes of power and moral uncertainty in spying. “The Traitor” fits well within the fast-paced spy thriller genre, especially for fans of authors like Daniel Silva, Mick Herron, and Stella Rimington.

An MI6 thriller based around Emma, an agent who goes undercover to investigate Russian Oligarchs.

The pace was good and the setting on a luxury yacht was a treat!

Emma as a character didn’t work well for me, I felt she was naive and made some silly choices, so not believable for me as an agent and the twist was very obvious, but the rest of the action made the book enjoyable overall.

3.5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Ava Glass and Random House Cornerstone for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this one, a credible and entertaining addition to the spy genre with a wonderfully vibrant and committed female lead. Bang up to date too, plot wise with some cracking twists. I'll definitely be following this series

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a gifted copy of the book.
I didn’t realise that this is second in the series upon reading it and there were a few bits were I felt I was missing substance
This is easily explained by it being second in the series, so I would highly recommend that you read the first in the series - The Chase
This book is a spy thriller and made me think that Emma would be the female Bond.
The book was very fast paced and is definitely not a slow burner
I’m not sure a spy thriller is for me, but I really did enjoy the authors writing. I do much more prefer a police procedural, but that is no criticism of the book, just personal preference
The book itself was superbly written and despite me being unsure of the genre, it did keep me gripped throughout. It was definitely action packed, possibly a bit too much for my taste
But anyone who loves the books that are go from the beginning, witn a lot of action and spy vibes. This is a perfect one for you.

The first book I have read by this author. Emma Makepeace is no a female James Bond but there are similarities. Fairly new to her intelligence role she is asked to infiltrate a Russian arms running cartel and to identify a British traitor within their ranks. The action is well paced and kept me hooked although the final reveal was not a great surprise. This is going to be a good series within the spy genre and I will certainly want to read more about Emma and her boss Ripley.
A book I can recommend heartily.

I don’t think I’ve read a novel set of a superyacht but after enjoyed shows such as Below Deck, I quite like getting an insight into the how the super wealthy live, even fictionally. I think I would have enjoyed more scenes on the yacht, but of course things move too fast to stay in one place too long! I really enjoyed the varying locations throughout the story; the glamour of the French Riviera, the bustling streets of Barcelona and of course good old London. Emma seems to have become more tenacious, almost reckless in this novel, which only makes for a more nail-biting read. She remains a likeable and capable lead and I was rooting for her the whole book.
The prose throughout the story is very realistic, with complex characters and twisty plots. I was well and truly hooked. This is the kind of book that would make a great TV series and I hope this is not the last we see of the spy agency Glass has created. A fabulous thriller from beginning to end.

The heroine, Emma Makepeace, is a spy on a mission to uncover a traitor from within the British secret service. Working undercover, she joins the crew of a yacht belonging to a Russian oligarch, creating a strong sense of peril in a small space. I struggled to get into the story and was not particularly invested in the characters. There are better spy books out there.

With thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but actually a really good spy thriller for sure! It was well paced, enjoyable and completely different. Tension was built really well and I thought both the plot and characters were written really well. Definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed this book it was very well paced, interesting and kept me wanting to turn the pages. I will read more by this author.

Emma is a spy. She was born in Russia but now wants to help keep Britain safe from the threat Russia poses. She uses her skills including languages to make her an efficient agent.
In this story she is trying to prove that two Russian business men are in fact dealing drugs and weapons. Also they are aware there may be a traitor in the agency but who could it be and whip is the mysterious third man linked to the Russians that they have heard of? Emma puts her life in danger trying to find the answers

If you like an undercover story then this is the book for you, which you will want to finish in one go as the story is hard to get away from. This is the second book in this series and is just as good as the first one, follow Emma as she ends up on a boat out at sea, who are the bad guys? I enjoyed reading this as it was something a bit different.

AVA GLASS is a former crime reporter and civil servant. Her time working for the government introduced her to the world of spies, and she’s been fascinated by them ever since. She lives in the south of England

Spy thrillers have always been one of my very niche loves, and to have a feisty female spy, written by a woman, and being fearless almost to the point of being reckless, I am completely sold. This is the second book in the series featuring spy Emma Makepeace, the first being The Chase, and although it would work perfectly as a standalone, I can highly recommend that you read The Chase first.

The dramatic opening of the story is reminiscent of the real life 2010 death of Gareth Williams, an MI6 spy who was found dead inside a bag in his apartment in London in very suspicious circumstances. In The Traitor, a spy is found in a suitcase inside his apartment, and what happens next is a thrill ride of a story in which Emma goes undercover, working on a luxury yacht owned by a Russian oligarch in the Mediterranean, in an attempt to find what the dead spy had discovered in relation to the sales of chemical weapons.

The tension on the yacht increases from the moment Emma steps on board. The other people on the yacht are a group of characters who range from likeable and open, to paranoid and downright dangerous. Having watched far too many episodes of ‘Below Deck’ I really felt that I could imagine the layout of the luxury yacht, and with the glamorous location, it added to the exotic, international spy element made so famous by the writings of Ian Fleming, and his character of James Bond, and now being taken into a new and exciting female direction with the writings of Ava Glass.

As Emma gets closer to identifying the traitor who is betraying the British Secret Service, and putting her life at risk, the tension is amplified, reaching a fantastic climax that, although I suspected, still managed to make me gasp in excitement.

The Traitor by Ava Glass is a fast-moving tension-filled foray into the world of espionage and very bad guys, that will keep you turning the page until you reach the end.

I really did enjoy this, so much fun and great escapism, it just took me away from myself for a while. I didnt realise that it was part of a series but it didnt really matter. I just now want to read book 1 when I need a perfect escape from reality - a good spy drama just does that for you.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

An acton-packed nail-biting spy thriller, the second in the alias Emma series. British MI6 agent Emma Makepiece goes deep undercover as a crew member on a superyacht on the glitzy Riveria to shadow a Russian oligarch suspected of dealing chemical weapons after a fellow agent is found dead inside a locked suitcase. I couldn't put it down.

Not my usual read at all, I tend to go for slower-paced books but I was absolutely glued to The Traitor which literally hits the ground running and doesn't stop, it's absolutely breathless. I also like how Emma doesn't conform to the same old male stereotypes, her sex is a factor in every decision she has to make. Never read anything quite like it!

Thanks to netgalley for providing an advanced copy for the purpose of review

This was a suspenseful, fast moving espionage thriller. It was a little different to what I normally read but I found it a thrilling read.

If Court Gentry aka the Grey Man and Kate Henderson from the Tom Bradby spy thriller trilogy had a love child, her name would have been Emma Makepeace!

The first book in the series Alias Emma was highly entertaining but this one takes it to a different level! This is high-octane action and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat chewing your nails! I mean how many chances can this woman take and get away with it?!

This is the second book in the series but you can definitely read it as a standalone. You get enough from the backstory to understand what drives Emma.
Together with her boss Charles Ripley, they are still hunting the Russians but this time it is an even more deadly game. This time they might have a traitor in their midst.
A must-read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Ava Glass’s debut thriller about British secret agent Emma Makepeace, Alias Emma (aka The Chase), drew considerable praise from around the world and was a very exciting, fast paced tale.

Ava has now followed up Alias Emma with a new Makepeace novel, The Traitor.

The story opens with the gruesome discovery of the body of a British Intelligence analyst in a padlocked suitcase in London. The analyst had been shadowing two oligarchs suspected of procuring illegal weapons in the UK, but it seems that his activities had not gone undetected. Intelligence chiefs are also concerned that there is a traitor deep within the British government who helped to unmask the analyst. To find out who the traitor is, Emma goes deep undercover on a superyacht owned by one of the oligarchs. But the glamorous veneer of the rich hides dark secret and out at sea, Emma is both hunter and prey, and no one can protect her.

The opening sections are little clunky, but once Emma is placed on the superyacht the pace and the tension picks up, and the rest of the book races along. Emma’s appeal in the first book was her vulnerability and relative inexperience and while this is missing in The Traitor, there is a good sense of suspense generated by her isolation on the boat and the steadily mounting odds against her chance of success. The plotting is well thought out and the story moves through some solid twists and turns. The depiction of life on a superyacht is convincing and interesting, and the European locations are also evocative.

The book builds to a good climax and while the identity of the traitor is not overly hard to work out, the ending produces some good thrills and unexpected turns.

In all, a very enjoyable spy thriller that kept me entertained as I was moving around Europe.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of the book.

Although I enjoyed the first book in this series I had difficulty getting into this one. It was nearly a DNF for me, but I read reviews that said it picked up, (and it did) so I stuck with it.

It seems like MI6 don't think their spy Emma is ready for anything too dangerous, despite her wonderful success in the first book. It felt like Emma thought so too, with her doing little at the beginning of her mission to get the heart racing.

Maybe being set on a yacht wasn't the best plot device, as there wasn't really much she could do without drawing attention to herself. But for me it was all a bit too pedestrian, with further trips into her back story. This can definitely be read as a stand alone book. If you've read the first book there may be a little too much of a recap.

Once the action got going I did begin to enjoy the book, especially when a little twist happened.