Compared to Moran's usual fare of overly naive young women thrust into political intrigue, Mata Hari was a refreshing character and story. Some readers criticized her for just being man-crazy and superficial, but I think that's A) not true and B) only seems that way since Moran's other heroines have been queens or related to queens or worked for queens. Mata Hari just wants to be an exotic dancer, have enough to eat, and have a family. In comparison, those are simple pleasures, and I think that's why she came off as shallow. However, I really liked her honesty and self-awareness. It was a nice change reading about a mature woman who knew what she wanted in life.
Moran's style of writing has always fallen a bit short in terms of descriptions, which is a pity. I would love to hear more about the clothes and the food and the scenery. Kate Quinn does a fabulous job of this, in my opinion. Moran's style has always been more general and sweeping, and this book wasn't any different. That's why I'm docking this one star.
Otherwise, I feel like Moran did a good job characterizing a complex and mature character and distinguished her from her other heroines. However, I'm looking forward to the next book by Moran and hoping it's better. ( )

I found this to be a very enjoyable, light summer read. It is definitely more of a fictionalized account of a historical life than a revealing study of a historical figure. Situations are invented. Complications are glossed over. But the author does an admirable job of finding a winsome voice for Mata Hari and setting the scene in pre-World War I Paris.

Readers seeking a complete biography of Mata Hari and an deep introspection into her life will not find that here. This novelized memoir catches up with the exotic dancer just as she bursts onto the Paris social scene around 1904. It follows her life, as if she were telling it to a trusted friend, through her execution for espionage in 1917. In between, her dance career waxes and wanes, her assignations with various sponsors and lovers are vaguely documented and dispatched dispassionately, and her desire to rejoin her daughter and take her to America becomes her mantra.

Despite the light tone and lack of historical rigor, I found Margaretha's story to be fascinating. The tiny insights into the European social scene and pre-war history were intriguing. Before reading this book, I only knew the stereotypical popular myths about Mata Hari and her exotic reputation as a spy. I now feel like I have a greater empathy for this well-known, yet little understood, historical figure. Her life remains as veiled in mystery as the characters she portrayed in her dance.

This would be an easy book for a reading group to consume and discuss over a short period of time. There are even discussion questions provided. Four stars for being a good, entertaining read.

[Disclaimer: Thanks to Courtney Brach and Touchstone / Simon & Schuster for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.]
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This book was a very rare full price purchase for me, because -Hello!!- it's the latest Michelle Moran!! And I was excited to learn about Mata Hari, who I knew little about. Unfortunately, I don't know much more now than when I started.

This book felt rushed, especially the last third. I got little sense of Mata Hari as a person, other than her being incredibly selfish, cold, and morally bankrupt. I had zero sympathy for her and got the feeling that MM felt the same. Several times I found myself suspecting that MM got partway through the manuscript, discovered just how soulless her subject really was, and scribbled some stuff to fulfill the publishing contract. If that's not how she felt, she did an uncharacteristicly poor job of writing.
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3.5 stars

Mata Hari was a well-known dancer/stripper (very high class, I suppose – she danced naked, anyway) in Europe in the early 20th century. She slept with men who could pay her way in life. She was later arrested, imprisoned, and put to death in France – the country she called home – via firing squad for being a spy for the Germans. This is Moran’s historical version of her life – at least from the time she started dancing, with flashbacks to the rest of her life.

I knew nothing of Mata Hari except for her name – not a thing. I read the book because I like the author, but this one wasn’t nearly as good as her others, I didn’t think. At least now I have an idea of who she was, though I can’t say I particularly liked her. I wonder if I would have been more sympathetic toward her if her life had been told chronologically, rather than in flashbacks? Either way, I’m rating the book good, although I feel a bit like that might be generous. ( )

Michelle Moran's latest historical novel gives us the story of exotic dancer Mata Hari. Most people have heard of the famous femme fatale and WWI spy, but other than her public reputation, most of her life was a mystery. As she narrates her own story we discover a woman who, after escaping from a brutal husband, reinvents herself through exotic dance. After moving to France in 1904, Margaretha Zelle becomes “the Star of the East,” Mata Hari, and quickly rises to stardom.

The novel follows Mata Hari's life as she travels the world. She finds much success along the way as a dancer and performer but can never seem to find true happiness. She becomes intimate with many men as she constantly tries to reinvent herself from city to city. Was Mata Hari a sex symbol, a courtesan, a spy, a pawn or just a woman seeking happiness?

Michelle Moran always does a wonderful job of weaving fact and fiction together. From the beginning, readers know she is awaiting trial for espionage, and the story unfolds as an exploration of her guilt or innocence. The narrative, filled with flashbacks, can become confusing because much of her trial was classified at the time. I did find myself sympathetic to the woman behind the legend. This fast paced novel might not give readers an in-depth portrait of Mata Hari, but they will still be fascinated by the woman and the era. ( )