Jaclyn’s Review: Mata Hari’s Last Dance by Michelle Moran

Mata Hari’s Last Dance
written by Michelle Moran
published by Touchstone, 2016

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this book: I really REALLY wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t. I couldn’t tell if this was supposed to be a work of fiction or a biography–it was unsuccessful as both. Mata Hari’s life was fantastic enough to warrant a juicy and intriguing biography; conversely, many details could be played up to make an amazing chick lit type book. The author tried to walk a line between these two genres and ended up with a history textbook.

Would I recommend it: Not really. If you want to read about Mata Hari, I’m sure there are much better written books.

 

About the book – from Goodreads: From the international bestselling author of Rebel Queen and Nefertiti comes a captivating novel about the infamous Mata Hari, exotic dancer, adored courtesan, and, possibly, relentless spy.

Paris, 1917. The notorious dancer Mata Hari sits in a cold cell awaiting freedom…or death. Alone and despondent, Mata Hari is as confused as the rest of the world about the charges she’s been arrested on: treason leading to the deaths of thousands of French soldiers.

As Mata Hari waits for her fate to be decided, she relays the story of her life to a reporter who is allowed to visit her in prison. Beginning with her carefree childhood, Mata Hari recounts her father’s cruel abandonment of her family as well her calamitous marriage to a military officer. Taken to the island of Java, Mata Hari refuses to be ruled by her abusive husband and instead learns to dance, paving the way to her stardom as Europe’s most infamous dancer.

From exotic Indian temples and glamorous Parisian theatres to stark German barracks in war-torn Europe, international bestselling author Michelle Moran who “expertly balances fact and fiction” (Associated Press) brings to vibrant life the famed world of Mata Hari: dancer, courtesan, and possibly, spy