I decided to share this book with the Foodie Reads Challenge , not because it involves a lot of food (it doesn't), but because I'm inspired to track down a recipe (help!). The Spy: A Novel of Mata Hari by Paulo Coehlo* has me longing to make my own aniseed liqueur . I had some fennel liqueur in my cabinet...that's a good place to start, right? On the Page Before I picked up this book, I had never heard of Mata Hari. Mata Hari is the stage name for Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod, née Zelle, a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was accused of espionage during World War I. She was convicted of spying for the Germans and executed by firing squad in France. Coehlo's book is a quick, easy read that succeeded in piquing my interest in her. I plan to read Mata Hari: The Controversial Life and Legacy of World War I’s Most Famous Spy by Charles River Editors and Mata Hari's Last Dance: A Novel by Michelle Moran. Soon! Here's the passage that inspired me....