“With vivid characters and indelible images that transmit the cruel bleakness of Stalin’s Russia and ruthless gentility of Chamberlain’s England, Butler Hallett conjures a morally complex world of high-stakes international espionage where nothing is as it seems — except that the human heart wants what it wants.
"In Constant Nobody, Michelle Butler Hallett gives us a spy thriller that does more than entertain. It asks us to meditate on the fundamental questions of existence: who can we trust, and what should we believe?” — Christine Fischer Guy, author of The Umbrella Mender
“Constant Nobody is a suspenseful work of historical fiction, populated with nesting dolls of intrigue, identity, and revelation. Set on the murky borders of war and political unrest, Constant Nobody is a powerful reminder of the importance of connection, one person to another, no matter the cost.” — Ami McKay, author of Half Spent Was the Night
“Constant Nobody is a remarkably accomplished novel. It takes readers deep into the brutal hearts of darkness of both civil war Spain and Soviet Russia during Stalin’s purges. In those hellish places, men and women struggle with duty and survival while tormenting their victims and being tormented in turn. In the nightmarish world of violence, a man and a woman must grapple with their complicated relationship while trying to save themselves from destruction.” — Antanas Sileika, author of Provisionally Yours
“Wholly original in story, style and form.” — Christi Ann Conlin
“Gripping, gorgeous, and unforgettable.” — Pickle Me This
“[Constant Nobody] is an immersive sensory experience. There were moments when it felt like I was in the front row of an intimate theatrical performance.” — Bonnie Lendrum
“Without a doubt, Constant Nobody is a difficult, sprawling, challenging novel, but its power is undeniable.” — Miramichi Reader
“Constant Nobody is a compelling read about a time and place western writers often don't bother with.” — Downhome
“Constant Nobody works. It rehearses — and I mean that in the most generous sense of that verb — the tropes of spy genre fiction with energy and verve. And yes, Hallett injects some much-needed ambiguity and questioning into these tropes — all too often misogynistic to their core — and implies a number of interesting and difficult questions.” — Newfoundland and Labrador Studies
“Nothing falls outside the scope of Michelle Butler Hallett's huge talent. In this novel, she explores the psychology of fear as few are able and does so with absolute confidence.” — Miramichi Reader's “Ten Outstanding #ReadAtlantic Books”
“In Constant Nobody, readers learn that history is windows and mirrors: it all depends on who is directing your gaze.” — Temz Review
