Interesting story told with a witty undertone I found this writers writing had matured a lot from her last book. The plot held up well and the characters were solid. I want to hear from Mrs Spy. Fun read that left me feeling empowered and wanting more...who runs the world GIRLS

It was nice seeing this kind of storyline from a different perspective. Usually, it's a male protagonist who is either ex-military or comes from a rough and dysfunctional background. So, seeing a female protagonist with a family getting in all kinds of scrapes and dangerous situations was a fresh take.

This story follows Mags; it's the 1960s, and she lives with her teenage daughter, who is Beatles obsessed and her mother, who is.... colourful. After the death of her husband, Mags finds out his life and death were anything but normal. After an encounter with a suspected KGB defector, Mags is forced on a path of coffee, Gin & Tonic, and deception as she battles against the Establishment to find answers and right a number or wrongs.

This is a great spy- espionage thriller set in 1960's London. I loved that the main character was a middle aged woman who was feisty and clever. I would happily read more books featuring Maggie Flynn.

What an unexpected delight this book was! I was not expecting such a fun and ironic heroine in Maggie Flynn, but she's such a delight. And Frank, the perfect sidekick to Maggie's sleuthing. I was particularly drawn in by Maggie's wit, the incredibly attention to detail, and how this felt one of the most relatable 'spy' stories I've read. I don't want flash Bond, I want bunion-toed Maggie Flynn!

I really hope there is more to come for Maggie's adventures. Absolutely one to add to your TBR!

M. J. Robotham's »Mrs. Spy« plunges readers into the cloak-and-dagger world of espionage through the lens of Maggie Flynn, a London widow juggling motherhood and covert operations in the 1960s.

Maggie may appear to be an ordinary mum, but she is far from it—an MI5 agent adept at disguise and deception. The narrative weaves her personal struggles with her professional life as she navigates raising a rebellious teen while delving into her late husband's enigmatic past.

The plot takes off when Maggie crosses paths with a Russian agent who claims to have known her husband, triggering a chain of events that compel her to question her understanding of loyalty and betrayal. This serendipitous encounter ignites a thrilling pursuit for truth within the murky realm of espionage, where trust becomes a perilous gamble. The stakes soar as Maggie realizes that someone close to her might be ensnared in a web of deceit.

Robotham's writing is both captivating and easy to digest, enabling readers to experience the tension and urgency of Maggie's plight. The suspense is heightened by vivid portrayals of London’s streets, which serve as a dynamic backdrop that breathes life into the story. The emotional weight of the narrative is tangible; Maggie's internal conflict between her maternal duties and spy responsibilities crafts a rich tapestry of relatable human experiences.

The characters are well-rounded, particularly Maggie, whose resilience and vulnerability strike a chord. Her relationship with her daughter layers the narrative, highlighting generational divides and the complexities of parenting in turbulent times.

»Mrs. Spy« transcends the spy thriller genre, emerging as a heartfelt examination of love, loss, and the lengths one will go to safeguard family amidst disorder. Robotham's infusion of wit adds a lighthearted undertone that imbues this riveting story with charm and warmth.

Something new and bright in the espionage genre.

"Mrs Spy" opens in London, May 1965. Maggie Flynn works for MI5 as a Watcher - tasked with following and observing persons of interest, at a time when revelations about Burgess and Maclean still hurt, and Communist spies are seen everywhere. We learn that Maggie is a widower, dealing with a teenage daughter and a bohemian mother. However she is good at her job, and enjoys it, so when she is asked for specifically, to babysit a recent Russian defector, she follows orders. However a chance comment by the defector plunges Maggie into a maelstrom of emotions, when she realises not only did her husband also work for MI5, he was murdered, and not killed in an accident, as she was told.

And with that the reader and Maggie are drawn into the true world of espionage - not the following of suspects, but the Game of lies, deceit, revenge and conspiracy. As she moves slowly closer to the secret behind her husband's murder, she uncovers plots, counter-plots and betrayals. As a lowly Watcher she has to work hard to navigate the old-school network that is MI5 and MI6, but she uses her natural talents, and her ability as a woman to invisibly worm her way through the maze of secrets. Helped by Frank, another of the Watchers, and an ex-copper, she is soon neck-deep in the mystery.

The book is alive with the sights and smells of 1960's London. Every page has a little observation on Carnaby Street fashion, coffee bars, tube rides, Beatle-mania and so much more. The writing is light and airy for a spy novel, with more than a little pathos and humour to offset the darker story of a woman whose life has been turned upside down. Indeed, it's unusual to read a spy story, written in the first person, through the eyes of a woman, and this alone adds a further dimension to what is a very satisfying read. The story moves along at a brisk pace, and the plot unfolds nicely. There's more than a few reflections on the intelligence establishment's lack of foresight, when it came to female operatives, but by the end of the book, things look set to change, and hopefully this is not the last we'll see of Maggie.

The book may not appeal to die-hard espionage fans of Len Deighton or John le Carre, and indeed, the authors admits her love of spies comes from The Man from Uncle more than The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. But any fan of spy books deserves to read this refreshing new take on the Cold War shenanigans.

Not the usual sort of spy story. What do you do when you discover that your dead husband was a spy, and you had no idea? Of course, become a spy yourself for MI5. Set in London in 1965, the cold war and plenty of Russians who need keeping an eye on in London. But are the Russians the only “baddies”. A good story, including references to London and the culture scene of that time. A good read. My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC

For my final novel of 2024, I can sum this up “brilliant”.

Maggie Flynn’s husband David dies. Not content to accept misadventure Maggie and fellow Watcher, Frank, undertake a dangerous mission to uncover a dastardly illicit government plot. Full of twists, suspense and surprises with an excellent cast of characters. Maggie is entertaining, bright and totally fearless. I can’t sing the praises of this book more highly, it’s superb! Bring on a sequel.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Mrs. Spy" is a humorous spy novel set in 1960s London. It follows Maggie Flynn, a widow who discovers her husband was an MI5 agent—and that he was murdered. Determined to uncover the truth about his death, Maggie becomes a spy herself, juggling motherhood, espionage, and day to day life
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A charming and engaging read! Here’s to more adventures with Mrs. Spy!

This book was unexpectedly fun and charming! An engaging premise, well written, well paced and good characterisation. London in the swinging sixties was brought to life, and Maggie is a protagonist you can really root for. A real breathe of fresh air in the spy genre.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review

I’m a sucker for a spy story, and “Mrs Spy” is an excellent new, mainly light-hearted, variation of the genre. All the characters are well portrayed and mostly credible, and the author manages to convey the paranoia (the “can I actually trust anyone?”) which troubles most operatives in the world of espionage. The plot moves along quickly, focusing on the eponymous Mrs Spy Maggie’s home life as well as her work for military intelligence. Set in 1965, when I was a few years older than Maggie’s daughter; this novel evokes the cultural and social atmosphere of that era well. I do hope we have not seen the last of Mrs Spy.

Another fast paced and light hearted thrill of a read from Mandy Robotham! Mrs Spy is brilliant and full of great characters! I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

London, 1965, Maggie Flynn is an MI5 watcher, the lowest rung of the security service reporting on the daily activities of her targets. Life has been hard after her watcher husband died unexpectedly three years earlier, but she keeps going for the sake of her daughter and mother. However, a stand-in job suddenly reveals unexpected information about her husband's death and she is very quickly on the trail of something very dark at the heart of the British establishment.
What a brilliant plot! I could not put this book down as I followed Maggie's search for answers. The author's character descriptions really bring these people to life and you find yourself desperately wishing them on to succeed. The plot twists and turns as you discover more keeping the reader in pure suspense until the very end. I loved it!

Maggie Flynn is not the type of person you would normally imagine as a spy, but that just makes this book more enjoyable. It is a delightful and mesmerising read about a middle aged woman who finds herself in all sorts of scrapes whilst still keeping her day job a secret from her family. Brilliantly written, funny and engaging..

An enjoyable book that tells Maggie’s story, where she attempts to find out why her husband died and finish his work. Set in the 1960s world of espionage in swinging London.

What a completely unexpected story! Maggie, a middle aged lady with hidden talents. discovers that her husband was working for MI5, and that his death was actually a murder. She is herself, a Watcher, and we see her traversing London in the 60s, using any manner of disguises. The inimitable Frank is her sidesman. Memories of London in the 60s came flooding back to me, the coffee bars, the fashions, all so well drawn in this book. I'm not sure how probable the spying adventure really is, but it kept me gripped. Thank you for an excellent choice to red and review.

4* Mrs Spy - MJ Robotham - a sparkling, quirky and distinct espionage thriller set in 1960s roaring London.

Maggie Flynn is a widowed single mother, living with her Beatles mad teenage daughter and eccentric mother. By day Maggie is a ‘watcher’, the lowliest rung of MI5, observing ‘targets’ while wearing a plethora of disguises or, bunion permitting, following them to catch them in compromising positions. When Maggie’s family ties lead to an unexpected journey out of the city, she puts herself and those she cares about in the ultimate peril.

MJ Robotham not only brings 1960s London to life, but lights it up with a middle-aged character who you can’t fail to be utterly entranced by. With a wider cast of characters, not least Maggie’s colleague Frank, who also light up the page, Mrs Spy is an absolute delight. The plot zips along with a middling pace - it’s not high octane, it’s not Le Carre - it feels like a genre of its own. Hugely enjoyable and fingers crossed not the first outing for Maggie.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for an ARC.

Sent in 1960s Maggie became a spy when her husband Davey was killed in an accident. Maggie lives with her mother Gilda and teenage daughter Libby.She had to follow people thought to be spies for other countries dressed in various disguises. She finds out that her husband was murdered and goes about trying to find who killed him

What a delightful and heartwarming read.
Maggie Flynn is a 45-year-old widow in 1960s London and has promised her teen daughter hard-to-find tickets to a Beatles concert, while dealing with the antics of her own eccentric mother. But Maggie has a lot going on – she’s also a spy, has to keep this a secret from her family and is dealing with a painful bunion that’s practically developing its own heartbeat.
She’s a watcher for M15 during the Cold War, and her job is to “watch, track, report” on the activities of Communists in London. This means days in and out tailing targets, reading body language, switching disguises and trying to ignore her growing bunion as she ponders that “James Bond was never in need of foot balm”.
But everything changes when Maggie is instructed to step in briefly to babysit a Russian spy defector at a safe house. He reveals he knew her late husband, Davy, a fellow agent, and that he was possibly betrayed by his own side. Thus begins a madcap, dangerous search to uncover the truth of what Davy was doing and why he was killed even if it means putting her own life at risk. Oh, and she still needs to get those elusive concert tickets.
The book takes place mostly over 10 days in May in 1965 and is filled with all sorts of pop culture references to the era. The story has plenty of suspense but still manages to keep things light as it moves along at a good pace. Maggie is a breath of fresh air, she’s an engaging and witty narrator who is well-supported by an interesting bunch of cohorts. It’s a charming story and let’s hope this was not a one-off outing for a new favourite spy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Maggie Flynn is 45 and working as a 'Watcher' for MI5, who were her late husband's employer, she is fairly happy with life until the day she is sent to babysit a Russian defector. A chance conversation makes her think that he knew her late husband, was his death really an accident or was he killed deliberately?

Aided by Frank, a colleague and former police officer, she hunts for the truth. A thrilling read.

Spy stories aren't usually my thing, but a middle-aged, single-mum spy? In 1960s London? With humour and sass and secrets? Yes, I'm sold!

Thanks to Aria and NetGalley for my review copy. Opinions are entirely my own.

Maggie Flynn isn't your regular spy - she's a 45-year old mum to a sassy teenage daughter (so far, so relatable!). She's also taken on a role with MI5 as one of their Watchers, the lowest rung of espionage, as she is tasked with following suspicious characters as she sports a range of disguises (although being a middle-aged/older woman renders her practically invisible....of course). She's working to support her mother and daughter, the latter of whom has expensive requirements for concert tickets (the Beatles in Maggie's case, Sabrina Carpenter in mine...still pretty relatable). When Maggie meets a captive Russian agent, she starts to uncover the secrets of her dead husband's spying career - and even bigger secrets that put her in extreme danger.

I really enjoyed this peek into 1960s London - there's lots of historical and cultural references, even though Maggie sometimes has curiously modern sensibilities. I also loved that the pace was fast - the later stages of the novel in particular are exciting as Maggie races through London to do what's right. And Maggie herself is a joy - she's tough, brave and wonderfully funny.

Overall, this is a fun and lively novel and one I'd recommend - you'll love Maggie, be caught up in her chaotic life and absolutely root for her to triumph. The only thing I don't love is the title of the book - it sounds far too cutesy and cosy for such a strong character!

Let me start by confessing I got this book thinking it was a Michael Robotham novel only to discover it was actually a Mandy Robotham thriller. Thankfully the book turned out to be a very enjoyable read. This is a gripping historical fiction thriller that has an unconventional take of an espionage novel. Set in 1960’s London and features Maggie Flynn a covert operative for MI5 who multitasks between the demands of her spy career as well as raising a rebellious teenage daughter. .

Maggie’s life takes a disturbing turn when a Russian agent reveals he knew her late husband. Maggie had always believed her husband was a journalist so the insinuation at a betrayal from within sends shock waves. As Maggie investigates she realises that the enemies she faces may be a lot closer than she thought.

This is a fast paced novel that is well written and has some excellent characters. A book I never planned to read but would really enjoy it if there was a follow up story.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Aria and Aries for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Loved Maggie. Tenacious, loyal, resourceful. Everything you would expect from a MI5 operative. Parts reminded me of Slow Horses, the department and jobs she was assigned to. I found it a really great read.

Mrs Spy by Mandy Robotham is a spy/espionage novel but different in so many ways. It is set in the 1960 in a women’s eyes of Maggie Flynn.
Maggie Flynn is not a typical mum in the 1960’s. When her husband died, and she finds out that he was an MI5 agent in the time of the cold war. She decides to become a MI5 watcher herself with her partner Frank. A watcher is an agent who watchers and observes Russian agents and gathers the information back to MI5. But at the same time, she wants to find out what her husband was killed.
She is also a mother who has a daughter that is obsessed with The Beatles, who wants her mother’s influences to find tickets to the upcoming Beatles concert.
Mrs Spy a great read with a different aspect of a spy/ espionage thriller. This is full of action, and I love the character of Maggie Fllyn and her exploits. It is not a serious as others. The story has some humour in it too. This would make a great series and I hope to there is more of Maggie Flynn to come.

Mrs Spy is a gripping and atmospheric espionage thriller set in 1960s London, bringing a refreshing twist to the genre with its unforgettable protagonist, Maggie Flynn. Widowed and raising a Beatles-mad teenage daughter, Maggie is not your typical spy, but her work for MI5 gives her both purpose and a link to her late husband, whose own covert past was only revealed after his death.

When a chance encounter with a Russian agent suggests that her husband is not who she believed him to be, Maggie is thrown into a world of secrets, betrayals and deadly consequences. As she searches for the truth, she must rely on her intelligence, instinct and sheer determination to survive in a game where trust is a dangerous illusion.

M J Robotham masterfully captures the intrigue and tension of Cold War espionage, weaving a story that is both thrilling and emotionally compelling. Maggie is a fantastic lead—sharp, resourceful and defying expectations at every turn. It is refreshing to see a middle-aged woman at the heart of a spy thriller, proving that courage and wit are just as important as brute force.

With its richly drawn setting, complex twists and a heroine you cannot help but root for, Mrs Spy is a must-read for fans of historical thrillers. I would happily read more books featuring Maggie Flynn and hope this is just the beginning of her adventures.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A new take on the spy story - the first I’ve read that I could describe as Cosy Espionage. An entertaining group of characters and a lovely thread of humour running through.

Mrs Spy was something of a slow starter for me, and I wasn’t sure where it was going. From the blurb I’d imagined Swinging Sixties, glamorous and frothy – it was actually much deeper and darker than that, and the story soon pulled me in.
I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it, which is a good thing! It had flawed, believable characters – I loved sidekick Frank, and the heroine Maggie Flynn, on a mission to uncover the truth about her dead husband and the secret he’d stumbled upon.
There was a mystery and tension at the heart of Mrs Spy, and the threads all came together beautifully at the end. This was proper storytelling, unfurling and unhurried.
Thank you to Aria and NetGalley for the review copy.

Just loved this book. Easily read it during a quiet Sunday as it had me amused, involved and thoroughly transported back to the London of 1965.

Character driven, it is ultimately about the role of women in this MI5 and one person in particular, Maggie Flynn.

Forced to work to support her daughter her background leads her into the bottom echelons of the secret service. It seems she and her colleagues work on the bottom rung within MI5, as “watchers” but although they must display spy-craft they should never think they are spies.

Maggie’s husband was a spy but he concealed his involvement and role from his family throughout his life and elements only came to light when he sadly lost his life during an assignment.

The crux of the book is a desire to learn more about his role as an intelligence officer that leads Maggie to be suspicious about his work in his final weeks. This uncovers a conspiracy that may have ultimately cost him his life.

Brilliant locations and name dropping from the time; with a soundtrack of 60’s music and a catwalk of London fashion. The novel oozes style and conveys the changing atmosphere of the time. The story builds well, through the repetitive work of a dedicated watcher, where we see traits within Maggie that will enable her to confront the establishment.

I loved the many references to Maggie’s people skills, honed as a store detective; the ability to read people and judge criminal intent against social necessity. I really felt invested in her character, her integrity and desire to do right by others. With self-deprecating wit, a troublesome bunion and middle aged athleticism she retains the heart of a lion, Bond’s guile and the ingenuity of a Bourne.

An unusual but compelling spy thriller; with a convincing mystery that conveys intrigue and action to the end.

Highly entertaining, funny and charming but while not a typical spy story the references to how the world was in the 1960s kept the story not too far away from reality. A great read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.