The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre
The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre immerses the reader in the world of post-World War II France as the titular character seeks to build a future after a series of devastating events experienced during her tenure as a wartime spy.
The novel opens in 1946 with Alix’s arrival in Paris, which is still reeling from the effects of the war. As the new head of public relations for fashion designer Christian Dior, Alix’s professional life looks promising. However, she is still haunted by the loss of her fiancé, who perished during a military mission gone wrong. When Alix’s career is jeopardized by a saboteur bent on revenge, she discovers this mysterious enemy may be someone from her past. Alix is plunged back to 1943 and the time she spent as an American spy in Switzerland. Forced to reassess the events leading to the death of her fiancé, Alix becomes hell bent on finding the traitorous Nazi agent whose betrayal led to so many lost lives.
Lester has created a powerful character in Alix St. Pierre. Orphaned at an early age, Alix is raised in the family of a wealthy Hollywood producer, yet she is forced to make her own way as an adult. Lester shines a light on the difficulties of being a working woman during the first decades of the 20th century. Alix experiences prejudice, sexual harassment, and other setbacks, yet is determined to survive even in the face of tragedy. In some ways, Alix’s wartime transformation from career girl to spy detracts from the more important aspects of her backstory. Nonetheless, readers craving well-drawn characters and atmospheric renderings of the past will thoroughly enjoy The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre.
