There are moments in which Kate feels conflicted between her family and professional life. Have you experienced similar tensions in your life?

Kate Moore, the protagonist of "The Paris Diversion", leads a double life when she returns to work as a spy, this time in Paris. There are moments in which Kate feels conflicted between her devotion to her family and her dedication to her professional life. Have you experienced similar tensions in your life? Would you agree that it is important to reserve parts of ourselves from our families, and to find passion and meaning in other vocations or work? Might doing so make us better partners or parents?

I suspect it is a rare woman indeed who has not been pulled in various directions. And whether a career or employment is considered "professional" or not, any working woman will undoubtedly have moments of conflict. Fortunately, Kate's particular degree of conflict is rare. Not many women are wrapped up in a life of such duplicity and crime.

I have felt conflicts between my personal and business life many times. A woman has to juggle many roles and I think most professional women feel these conflicts on a recurring basis.

Yes, I’m sure most women feel professional and personal commitments pulling them in difference directions, but in this case, Karen is a spy, an intelligence agent, so the feeling is a heightened, more dangerous one, which adds to the excitement of the story.

I agree with the above answers. It would be a rare woman who did not feel conflicted about her professional and family obligations.

I do think the author successfully captured the daily conflict of all women in the world. How to be responsible in all aspects of one’s life. Career versus family will always be a challenge for women.

I had a difficult time understanding Kate. I think I would have understood her conflict better if I HAD NOT read The Expats after finishing this novel. (Funny, considering I might have enjoyed The Paris Diversion more if I had actually read that one first.)

Kate did not have a job in the first book in the series- -she gave it up to move with her family to Luxembourg. And she complained incessantly about all the "boring" things she had to do as a stay at home mom. She even knew the exact number of times she had cleaned a bathroom sink! She has an opportunity that she created for herself in her new position. She still complains! What is different about Kate and many women who must juggle work and home is that Kate HAD A CHOICE. Many women do not.

I also believe that Kate's dominance created some of her issues. She was not willing (or comfortable) giving Dexter more responsibilities. As a day trader, working from home, Dexter really had the time and flexibility to help Kate more than he did. I get the impression that her need to be in control prevented him from doing more. Kate seemed to treat him more as a third child than an equal partner.

As a full time working woman, mother and wife I am constantly juggling to meet all the roles required of me and many times pulled in different directions. I think you'd find it rare in theses times to not find a woman who feels this way.

I was able to balance a part time nursing career with a husband who was truly a partner. However, having to work holidays and being away from family events was something I had to deal with. I can't imagine a full time working woman having to juggle everything and especially a single mom who has no backup.

I understand that the question asked about Kate's conflict and that the comments are primarily about women feeling that same conflict. As a man, I would like to add that this conflict applies to us as well. As sharalynnep pointed out, the key is to have a spouse who is a true partner. Clearly, this was not the case with Kate and Dexter, but my wife and I both have careers and deal with finding that balance between family and career together. Male or female, it is always about priorities and the ability to compromise.

Absolutely. Like Kate, I once gave up a job that I loved to follow my then husband to Taiwan, where I was unable to work. It was a struggle to re-adjust my thinking and find a fulfilling life as an expatriate. But, I knew I would regret not taking the plunge and experiencing travel in Asia. In my current situation I have far fewer conflicts because my partner and I appreciate the challenges of our professional lives. But there are times when an elderly parent is ill or there are job stresses due to organizational changes that create conflict.

Having had a 40-year career in my working life, I have felt conflicted at times between home and professional life.

I believe all women are conflicted between family and job responsibilities. The same applies to all single parent families as well. At least today there is some support and understanding that such a conflict exists.

I think that all parents are conflicted when work or home (parents, children) both tug on their time and energy. The difference is in our culture in the US, it is more often women who are criticized for their choices rather than supported (no matter what choices are made).