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Mrs Spy
'Dark, twisty, and thoroughly entertaining, Mrs Spy is a Thursday Murder Club for spies. You won't be able to put it down' - Ava Glass
Get ready for a pulse-pounding, laugh-out-loud ride through 1960s London as Maggie Flynn, unexpected MI5 operative and single mum, unravels the intelligence agency's most treacherous secrets.
***
Maggie Flynn isn't your typical 1960s mum.
She's a spy, an unsuspecting operative for MI5, stalking London's streets in myriad disguises.
Widowed and balancing her clandestine career with raising a Beatles-mad teenage daughter, Maggie finds comfort and purpose in her profession – providing a connection to her late husband, whose own covert past only surfaced after his death.
But Maggie's world spins out of control when a chance encounter with a mysterious Russian agent triggers a chilling he knew her husband. And what's worse, the agent suspects someone on home soil betrayed him.
As Maggie searches for answers, she'll question everyone – and everything – she thought she could trust. In the murky and perilous world of espionage, can she outsmart those determined to keep her silenced?
***
'A gripping story and great 60s detail, Mrs Spy is the female answer to Harry Palmer' – Ian Moore
'Mrs Spy is a delicious recreation of 1960s London... rich and well-constructed' - Emma Flint
Get ready for a pulse-pounding, laugh-out-loud ride through 1960s London as Maggie Flynn, unexpected MI5 operative and single mum, unravels the intelligence agency's most treacherous secrets.
***
Maggie Flynn isn't your typical 1960s mum.
She's a spy, an unsuspecting operative for MI5, stalking London's streets in myriad disguises.
Widowed and balancing her clandestine career with raising a Beatles-mad teenage daughter, Maggie finds comfort and purpose in her profession – providing a connection to her late husband, whose own covert past only surfaced after his death.
But Maggie's world spins out of control when a chance encounter with a mysterious Russian agent triggers a chilling he knew her husband. And what's worse, the agent suspects someone on home soil betrayed him.
As Maggie searches for answers, she'll question everyone – and everything – she thought she could trust. In the murky and perilous world of espionage, can she outsmart those determined to keep her silenced?
***
'A gripping story and great 60s detail, Mrs Spy is the female answer to Harry Palmer' – Ian Moore
'Mrs Spy is a delicious recreation of 1960s London... rich and well-constructed' - Emma Flint
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2025
84 people are currently reading
790 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
June 9, 2025
'I'm a Donkey, plain and simple. Watch, track, report and leave the why's and where-for's to the higher ups'.
It's the 1960s, London, and the cold war is still just as hot and tetchy as it ever. Maggie Flynn has been working for the MI5 as a watcher for many years. She's become a master of disguise and a silent photographer; keeping tabs and writing reports on those rogues she's been assigned to. However, when she gets home from her secret surveillance, she's just a stressed single mother, since she was widowed, living with her increasingly outlandish mother. It's a lot. But things take a bigger turn when she discovers her husband was more involved in her line of work than the salesman job he always maintained to her. It's not long before this watcher becomes involved in a full-blown covert conversion to spy.
What a fun read. A bit tongue in cheek with plenty of Bond references and nods to the era but at the heart of it, a real game of cat and mouse.
'Contrary to popular opinion - and fans of Mr Fleming - even spies get tired'.
It's the 1960s, London, and the cold war is still just as hot and tetchy as it ever. Maggie Flynn has been working for the MI5 as a watcher for many years. She's become a master of disguise and a silent photographer; keeping tabs and writing reports on those rogues she's been assigned to. However, when she gets home from her secret surveillance, she's just a stressed single mother, since she was widowed, living with her increasingly outlandish mother. It's a lot. But things take a bigger turn when she discovers her husband was more involved in her line of work than the salesman job he always maintained to her. It's not long before this watcher becomes involved in a full-blown covert conversion to spy.
What a fun read. A bit tongue in cheek with plenty of Bond references and nods to the era but at the heart of it, a real game of cat and mouse.
'Contrary to popular opinion - and fans of Mr Fleming - even spies get tired'.
May 20, 2025
1965, England. Maggie Flynn is a daughter, widow, mother to a Beatles-mad teenage daughter Libby and a spy and she works as a watcher for the MI5 in London and she wears many hats!
Maggie is still mourning the loss of Davy, she has questions about how he died and using her investigative skills she will uncover her late hubby had links to a Russian agent, it makes no sense to Maggie, surly he wasn’t a double agent for the KGB or did someone betray him and was he murdered?
Maggie retraces Davy’s last movements and ventures into unknown territory, she has no idea who she can trust and the last thing she wants to put her family in danger.
I received a copy of The Spy by M. J. Robotham from Aria & Aries and NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review. A narrative about a middle aged woman trying to juggle motherhood and her high pressure job in the 1960’s and of course it mentions the music and fashion of the time and hair styles.
I really liked the following characters, Maggie, her mum Gilda, her friend and fellow agent Frank Tanner, being a mother I could relate to Maggie’s determination to make sure her daughter did well at school, was happy and protect her from harm.
Maggie is no James Bond, in this historical suspense thriller she pushes herself to the limit to uncover secrets and truth and to get justice for her husband and save his reputation, and nothing stops her from doing her utmost and not even her mum tummy and bunions.
In Mrs Spy it shows author Mandy or M. J. Robotham isn’t scared to mix things up a little and move away from her usual genre and four stars from me and I recommend.
Maggie is still mourning the loss of Davy, she has questions about how he died and using her investigative skills she will uncover her late hubby had links to a Russian agent, it makes no sense to Maggie, surly he wasn’t a double agent for the KGB or did someone betray him and was he murdered?
Maggie retraces Davy’s last movements and ventures into unknown territory, she has no idea who she can trust and the last thing she wants to put her family in danger.
I received a copy of The Spy by M. J. Robotham from Aria & Aries and NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review. A narrative about a middle aged woman trying to juggle motherhood and her high pressure job in the 1960’s and of course it mentions the music and fashion of the time and hair styles.
I really liked the following characters, Maggie, her mum Gilda, her friend and fellow agent Frank Tanner, being a mother I could relate to Maggie’s determination to make sure her daughter did well at school, was happy and protect her from harm.
Maggie is no James Bond, in this historical suspense thriller she pushes herself to the limit to uncover secrets and truth and to get justice for her husband and save his reputation, and nothing stops her from doing her utmost and not even her mum tummy and bunions.
In Mrs Spy it shows author Mandy or M. J. Robotham isn’t scared to mix things up a little and move away from her usual genre and four stars from me and I recommend.
May 17, 2025
What sprightly spyly fun! A really good homage to the genre, the period, and the places (mainly London).
In fact, it’s good enough to not need as many references to the “007 elephant in the zoom” as it drops in. Although, to be fair, some do hit home when highlighting the dichotomy between cinema’s sleekest, glitziest spy and Maggie’s world of the Watchers as she tails this suspect and that spy around the streets of London to report back with pics to her superiors.
Ms. Robotham nails all the spy stuff and the characters of 1965 London but also raises the emotional stakes by making it personal. Davey, Maggie Flynn’s late husband, had been a secret spy. A fact that housewife and mother-to-a-teen-daughter Maggie never knew. When she stumbles on something that contradicts what she was told of his death, she decides the truth must be uncovered. How much of her life with Davey was a lie? How can she live and mourn him with love if she doesn’t find out? And as she uncovers more questions and suspects, who can she trust to help a middle-aged bunion-affected housewife spy?
In the end, the spy stuff is the cleverly realized vehicle on which to hang a story of love and loss and trust, and of uncovering a truthful reality, at whatever emotional cost to the MC and her family.
This is fresh and exciting, fun and invigorating. And I loved it! Can I whisper it very quietly and ask if there might be more stories featuring this world and (some of) its characters? I’ll be keeping a sp-eye out ;).
Thanks to the author, the publisher—Aria—and to NetGalley for the opportunity to hang out with Maggie and Frank, two characters who’ll always feel like friends.
In fact, it’s good enough to not need as many references to the “007 elephant in the zoom” as it drops in. Although, to be fair, some do hit home when highlighting the dichotomy between cinema’s sleekest, glitziest spy and Maggie’s world of the Watchers as she tails this suspect and that spy around the streets of London to report back with pics to her superiors.
Ms. Robotham nails all the spy stuff and the characters of 1965 London but also raises the emotional stakes by making it personal. Davey, Maggie Flynn’s late husband, had been a secret spy. A fact that housewife and mother-to-a-teen-daughter Maggie never knew. When she stumbles on something that contradicts what she was told of his death, she decides the truth must be uncovered. How much of her life with Davey was a lie? How can she live and mourn him with love if she doesn’t find out? And as she uncovers more questions and suspects, who can she trust to help a middle-aged bunion-affected housewife spy?
In the end, the spy stuff is the cleverly realized vehicle on which to hang a story of love and loss and trust, and of uncovering a truthful reality, at whatever emotional cost to the MC and her family.
This is fresh and exciting, fun and invigorating. And I loved it! Can I whisper it very quietly and ask if there might be more stories featuring this world and (some of) its characters? I’ll be keeping a sp-eye out ;).
Thanks to the author, the publisher—Aria—and to NetGalley for the opportunity to hang out with Maggie and Frank, two characters who’ll always feel like friends.
May 30, 2025
I can see Mrs Spy being a Marmite book so I've ended up sitting on the fence. The writing was good and the premise of the book was interesting. However it took a long time to get to any meaningful action and it felt like I meandered a lot after that.
It is 1965 and following the death of her spy husband, Maggie Flynn now works for MI5 as a watcher, the lowest of the low. She's sent to babysit Russian defector, Yuri, but while she's there she discovers some horrifying news about her husband.
Maggie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and ropes in partner, Frank, along with a cast of dodgy characters. All this while she's tasked with getting Beatles tickets for her teenage daughter. She's not going to be bored at least.
The trouble with spy novels these days is that you find yourself going up against the might of Herron.
Mrs Spy is not meant to be a comic novel but there are lighthearted parts, which helped but the novel doesn't really hit either mark of serious or amusing. Frank is a great character as is Maggie's free-spirited mother, Gilda.
But, for me, the story was lacking something. It felt like no action to a flurry and back to none.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a spy story with a different kind of spy at the centre. It's certainly a lot more accessible than early Le Carre and not as comedic as Herron. So if you like a spy novel with a twist then Mrs Spy might be for you.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the advance review copy.
It is 1965 and following the death of her spy husband, Maggie Flynn now works for MI5 as a watcher, the lowest of the low. She's sent to babysit Russian defector, Yuri, but while she's there she discovers some horrifying news about her husband.
Maggie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and ropes in partner, Frank, along with a cast of dodgy characters. All this while she's tasked with getting Beatles tickets for her teenage daughter. She's not going to be bored at least.
The trouble with spy novels these days is that you find yourself going up against the might of Herron.
Mrs Spy is not meant to be a comic novel but there are lighthearted parts, which helped but the novel doesn't really hit either mark of serious or amusing. Frank is a great character as is Maggie's free-spirited mother, Gilda.
But, for me, the story was lacking something. It felt like no action to a flurry and back to none.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a spy story with a different kind of spy at the centre. It's certainly a lot more accessible than early Le Carre and not as comedic as Herron. So if you like a spy novel with a twist then Mrs Spy might be for you.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the advance review copy.
July 18, 2025
Espionage themed Mystery Book Club worthy. And my gratitude and kudos to the Audiobook Listening Copy (ALC) program from Libro.fm! www.libro.fm/alc-program
A fun and immersive 1960s cold war era London mystery with a feminist lens. This story offers intrigue, danger, and rich character-driven reflections, relationship bonds from 3 generations of mothers and daughters, and a sympathetic yet tough heroine sharing her inner thoughts such as suffering restless sleep:
"The brain cubby holes had other ideas. Hoisting a noisy conference when I roused at 2 am with questions and theories winging across my brain matter until the birds began to sing."
A fun and immersive 1960s cold war era London mystery with a feminist lens. This story offers intrigue, danger, and rich character-driven reflections, relationship bonds from 3 generations of mothers and daughters, and a sympathetic yet tough heroine sharing her inner thoughts such as suffering restless sleep:
"The brain cubby holes had other ideas. Hoisting a noisy conference when I roused at 2 am with questions and theories winging across my brain matter until the birds began to sing."
September 12, 2025
With its 1960s setting, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, and loads of undercover surveillance, this book gave me 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘥 meets 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 vibes -- and I really enjoyed that.
Maggie Flynn is a widowed, single mother with a secret life. After all, who would suspect the middle-aged, bunion-inflicted, mother of a Beatles-obsessed daughter to spend her days as an M16 "donkey" tailing and photographing suspected Cold War spies?
I love historical fiction. And while I don't tend to gravitate toward stories set after WWII, this one had a brilliant setting that captured the flavour and feel of the sixties. It was easy to sink into this story and let myself be transported to another time.
This slower-paced, domestic spy fiction played in contrast to the sleek, action-paced adventures on the big screen, but it was really well-written and I loved the humour and witty discourse sprinkled throughout.
While it's a slower moving story, initially featuring the more mundane, everyday aspects of spy craft, the plot ramps up toward the end. This is where we find the "larger than life" storyline that we expect from a spy thriller -- and it was just fun.
If you're looking for a character-based, unexpected spy novel with a strong historical setting, this may be for you!
Maggie Flynn is a widowed, single mother with a secret life. After all, who would suspect the middle-aged, bunion-inflicted, mother of a Beatles-obsessed daughter to spend her days as an M16 "donkey" tailing and photographing suspected Cold War spies?
I love historical fiction. And while I don't tend to gravitate toward stories set after WWII, this one had a brilliant setting that captured the flavour and feel of the sixties. It was easy to sink into this story and let myself be transported to another time.
This slower-paced, domestic spy fiction played in contrast to the sleek, action-paced adventures on the big screen, but it was really well-written and I loved the humour and witty discourse sprinkled throughout.
While it's a slower moving story, initially featuring the more mundane, everyday aspects of spy craft, the plot ramps up toward the end. This is where we find the "larger than life" storyline that we expect from a spy thriller -- and it was just fun.
If you're looking for a character-based, unexpected spy novel with a strong historical setting, this may be for you!
March 9, 2025
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.
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.
July 24, 2025
I loved the main character and felt she was very realistic and provided some warm humour. But I felt that the situation she uncovered didn’t seem as dramatic as I would have expected in this kind of book.
August 3, 2025
This book was ok, the story was ok, the characters ok but nothing grabbed me or pulled me in.
June 6, 2025
I want to express my gratitude to @robothammandy and @bloomsburybooksus #BloomsburyCreatorCircle #Ad for the #gifted book.
This captivating novel follows the journey of Maggie, a formidable mother and covert operative working for MI5 in the vibrant backdrop of 1960s London. After the tragic death of her husband, Maggie unravels shocking truths about his secret life, leading her down a thrilling path of investigation that reveals dark secrets within the agency she serves.
I absolutely adored the character of Maggie. As a middle-aged woman deftly balancing the roles of a devoted mother, skilled spy, and loyal friend, she shines with a remarkable ability to adapt—evidenced by her clever disguises and quick thinking. Her inner monologue offers powerful insights into her motivations, allowing readers to connect deeply with her struggles and triumphs. The suspenseful plot keeps you on the edge of your seat as Maggie teams up with her colleague Frank, diving undercover to uncover the critical information they need. Her dual role as a mom to a teenager adds a relatable dimension, making her experience all the more poignant.
The author masterfully weaves in references to real historical events from England's rich spying legacy, immersing readers in the vibrant atmosphere of 1960s London. The vivid descriptions of the city and the cultural phenomenon of Beatlemania—capturing not just the nation but also Maggie’s teenage daughter—bring the era to life in a mesmerizing way.
If you’re looking for a gripping novel featuring a relatable woman who navigates mystery and espionage, this book is an absolute must-read. It’s available now, and you won’t want to miss it!
This captivating novel follows the journey of Maggie, a formidable mother and covert operative working for MI5 in the vibrant backdrop of 1960s London. After the tragic death of her husband, Maggie unravels shocking truths about his secret life, leading her down a thrilling path of investigation that reveals dark secrets within the agency she serves.
I absolutely adored the character of Maggie. As a middle-aged woman deftly balancing the roles of a devoted mother, skilled spy, and loyal friend, she shines with a remarkable ability to adapt—evidenced by her clever disguises and quick thinking. Her inner monologue offers powerful insights into her motivations, allowing readers to connect deeply with her struggles and triumphs. The suspenseful plot keeps you on the edge of your seat as Maggie teams up with her colleague Frank, diving undercover to uncover the critical information they need. Her dual role as a mom to a teenager adds a relatable dimension, making her experience all the more poignant.
The author masterfully weaves in references to real historical events from England's rich spying legacy, immersing readers in the vibrant atmosphere of 1960s London. The vivid descriptions of the city and the cultural phenomenon of Beatlemania—capturing not just the nation but also Maggie’s teenage daughter—bring the era to life in a mesmerizing way.
If you’re looking for a gripping novel featuring a relatable woman who navigates mystery and espionage, this book is an absolute must-read. It’s available now, and you won’t want to miss it!
October 2, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed it
June 8, 2025
I don't know if this should have been my first foray into the spy mystery genre, but I was intrigued by the idea of a middle-aged, widowed single mother working as a spy for Britain's MI5 agency. I wasn't expecting a lot of action, but I was expecting some espionage hijinks, some fun rogue characters, and a plot that would be adventurous and perhaps a little tense to follow along with.
Honestly, this didn't give me any of that.
I did like the main character to an extent. It was great that the author managed to make her a badass in her own right instead of giving her typically masculine characteristics that are par for the course in many WMC-led books in a genre predominantly filled with MMCs. The fact that we see her dealing with her family and the grief of losing her husband. She has flaws (That bunion!) and is aging. However, she also has exceptional skills, like being an expert at noticing her surroundings and clocking a person's intentions and surface personality by picking up on the more subtle details. I loved all of that.
However, I wish there had been some additional things and some things removed about the character. The level at which her drinking is mentioned is a bit much (although I'm willing to admit this could be a cultural thing). More could have been done about her relationship with her daughter and late husband. I was begging for more backstory here! It just never came. The subplot of her hunting down the Beatles tickets for her daughter wasn't as fun or cute as it could've been. It would've been improved had their relationship been better set up.
Regarding the main plot, I was a little disappointed that Maggie wasn't really a spy; she was just a watcher who stumbled into a situation she wasn't meant to know about, which just happened to involve why her husband was killed. This could've been handled so much better! When we are shown what her husband was killed for, it's very anti-climactic. Yet, she and her eventual accomplices cannot only plan for an escape but also execute an escape that allows them to come out better than they were. I don't buy it.
It was a cute read, I wish it had more substance. It definitely feels in line with the classic The Avengers TV show, but lacks the spy thriller flair. I needed the stakes to be just a bit more dire.
The writing was good enough; I don't have anything more to say one way or the other. I just wanted more narratively.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this didn't give me any of that.
I did like the main character to an extent. It was great that the author managed to make her a badass in her own right instead of giving her typically masculine characteristics that are par for the course in many WMC-led books in a genre predominantly filled with MMCs. The fact that we see her dealing with her family and the grief of losing her husband. She has flaws (That bunion!) and is aging. However, she also has exceptional skills, like being an expert at noticing her surroundings and clocking a person's intentions and surface personality by picking up on the more subtle details. I loved all of that.
However, I wish there had been some additional things and some things removed about the character. The level at which her drinking is mentioned is a bit much (although I'm willing to admit this could be a cultural thing). More could have been done about her relationship with her daughter and late husband. I was begging for more backstory here! It just never came. The subplot of her hunting down the Beatles tickets for her daughter wasn't as fun or cute as it could've been. It would've been improved had their relationship been better set up.
Regarding the main plot, I was a little disappointed that Maggie wasn't really a spy; she was just a watcher who stumbled into a situation she wasn't meant to know about, which just happened to involve why her husband was killed. This could've been handled so much better! When we are shown what her husband was killed for, it's very anti-climactic. Yet, she and her eventual accomplices cannot only plan for an escape but also execute an escape that allows them to come out better than they were. I don't buy it.
It was a cute read, I wish it had more substance. It definitely feels in line with the classic The Avengers TV show, but lacks the spy thriller flair. I needed the stakes to be just a bit more dire.
The writing was good enough; I don't have anything more to say one way or the other. I just wanted more narratively.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2025
All opinions are entirely my own. I am in no way affiliated with the author or publisher. Remember to support your local indie bookstore and library!
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨ ᰔ ୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
"Loyalty and decency. I know those are fairly alien concepts to you boys, but perhaps you could try them on for size."
- [ ] Star Rating: 2 Stars
- [ ] Discovery: Browsing
- [ ] Reading Format: Digital
- [ ] Read Time: 3.5 Hours
Widowed mother Maggie becomes a spy after her espionage husband's death but an unlikely meeting reveals her husband was even more deceiving than she first thought.
Who would have thought being a spy could be so mundane.
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨ ᰔ ୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
"Loyalty and decency. I know those are fairly alien concepts to you boys, but perhaps you could try them on for size."
- [ ] Star Rating: 2 Stars
- [ ] Discovery: Browsing
- [ ] Reading Format: Digital
- [ ] Read Time: 3.5 Hours
Widowed mother Maggie becomes a spy after her espionage husband's death but an unlikely meeting reveals her husband was even more deceiving than she first thought.
Who would have thought being a spy could be so mundane.
April 24, 2025
Maggie ‘Magpie’ Flynn is a Watcher. On the lower rungs of the British security services, she dashes around 1960s London completing small acts of surveillance. She’s good at it and loves the creativity, camaraderie and freedom the job brings to her life. Living with her exuberant mother Gilda and Beatles-mad teenage daughter Libby, Maggie still grieves her husband Davy who has died three years ago in what seem to be increasingly suspicious circumstances. ‘Mrs Spy’ is a highly enjoyable read. We see Maggie pursue her quest for the truth of Davy’s death with the support of her friends Frank and Vivien, Yuri a Russian defector and Bea, a fierce MI5 administrator. It’s pacy and warm and would make a fabulous TV series.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
March 6, 2025
I never knew that I so needed a book about a middle-aged mom with a bunion operating in the world of swinging '60s London espionage.
While I felt that at some points the book was heavy on internal monologue, Mrs. Flynn is a bright, realistic, and relatable heroine. I enjoyed this visit to 60s London, Profumo-era MI5 hijinks, and the story picked up steam as the story unfolded.
I have read and enjoyed this author's historical fiction under Mandy Robotham, I was glad to see this novel was just as engaging and well-researched. Would definitely read another one by her!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
While I felt that at some points the book was heavy on internal monologue, Mrs. Flynn is a bright, realistic, and relatable heroine. I enjoyed this visit to 60s London, Profumo-era MI5 hijinks, and the story picked up steam as the story unfolded.
I have read and enjoyed this author's historical fiction under Mandy Robotham, I was glad to see this novel was just as engaging and well-researched. Would definitely read another one by her!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
September 27, 2025
I love historical fiction and I am a big fan of this author, although this book felt a little different than her usual genre of writing. However, this was still a good read with the usual gripping writing style that we have come to know & love.
Maggie was such a brilliant character and her passion and determination really shone through. As a working mother and juggling parenthood, this made her relatable to the reader. Even as she was troubled with her bunions, she was still carrying out her missions, despite doubting who she could trust. Her investigations led her down dark paths with some revelations, which led her to question everything she had come to know and understand.
The spy aspect of the storyline was a catalyst for the love & grief Maggie is going through and this was all so well written.
This was a gripping mystery read, with added humour and I would love to read more soon.
Maggie was such a brilliant character and her passion and determination really shone through. As a working mother and juggling parenthood, this made her relatable to the reader. Even as she was troubled with her bunions, she was still carrying out her missions, despite doubting who she could trust. Her investigations led her down dark paths with some revelations, which led her to question everything she had come to know and understand.
The spy aspect of the storyline was a catalyst for the love & grief Maggie is going through and this was all so well written.
This was a gripping mystery read, with added humour and I would love to read more soon.
July 22, 2025
This was such a fun read! I don't read mysteries all too often but I was immediately drawn in by this really cool cover. Plus it's historical fiction and that's an immediate yes from me! Gosh, I loved the 60s London setting and I was immediately taken with Maggie's story telling. The prologue set such a good scene for the book and I loved that it constantly lingered over the story.
I enjoyed the storyline, I think everything with MI5 was really cool, the hierarchy in the story, and what exactly Maggie did for them too! If that's an actual thing, I might wanna do that now 👀😂 I loved that Maggie is middle-aged, I feel like it put her in a more relatable position and made her story more real when characters like her are normally always represented in the fictional world as young and up-and-coming.
There were some really great side characters too, I loved Gilda and her spunkiness, I adored Frank and how there was no question in his mind when it came to sticking by Mags and I really loved Yuri. I enjoyed all the mystery and espionage and there were some really good twists in the story too. This book was a feel good book that has Maggie find purpose but also, peace in certain areas of life and I thought that was really lovely.
I enjoyed the storyline, I think everything with MI5 was really cool, the hierarchy in the story, and what exactly Maggie did for them too! If that's an actual thing, I might wanna do that now 👀😂 I loved that Maggie is middle-aged, I feel like it put her in a more relatable position and made her story more real when characters like her are normally always represented in the fictional world as young and up-and-coming.
There were some really great side characters too, I loved Gilda and her spunkiness, I adored Frank and how there was no question in his mind when it came to sticking by Mags and I really loved Yuri. I enjoyed all the mystery and espionage and there were some really good twists in the story too. This book was a feel good book that has Maggie find purpose but also, peace in certain areas of life and I thought that was really lovely.
April 12, 2025
Wonderful characterisation and an intriguing story based in 1960s London with a strong female lead and an undercurrent of political instability.
Well-written and fascinating.
Well-written and fascinating.
October 31, 2025
The more I read it the more I enjoyed it. Good spy yarn, but with a female operative twist
August 31, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed the setting of this book; we are taken on a stroll through London in the 60s, and it was very nice.
I also think that this is the most fascinating feature of the book. It is not a bad book; it is the perfect book if you want to take a break and want to read something engaging (in my case, it was also perfect because I wanted to read something a tad outside my comfort zone, without going too far, if this makes sense) that will keep you company for a bit. But once I finished it, it didn't stay with me at all.
It features nice characters, a compelling plot that combines action, mystery, and a human element. It is a good mix, and I am quite happy to have read it (even if I didn't really get the obsession of the MC, it serves the plot because it is the spark that made the story happen, but... ) but it didn't really make an impression.
I really enjoyed the setting of this book; we are taken on a stroll through London in the 60s, and it was very nice.
I also think that this is the most fascinating feature of the book. It is not a bad book; it is the perfect book if you want to take a break and want to read something engaging (in my case, it was also perfect because I wanted to read something a tad outside my comfort zone, without going too far, if this makes sense) that will keep you company for a bit. But once I finished it, it didn't stay with me at all.
It features nice characters, a compelling plot that combines action, mystery, and a human element. It is a good mix, and I am quite happy to have read it (even if I didn't really get the obsession of the MC, it serves the plot because it is the spark that made the story happen, but... ) but it didn't really make an impression.
March 17, 2025
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.
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.
April 5, 2025
A very different spy thriller
I've read books about spies Al my life. The first with a female lead was Modesty Blaise back in the 1960s. Maggie Flynn is very different to her, even though this book is set in the samedecade.
Middle-aged widow Maggie lives with her teenage daughter and her mother, who is somewhat eccentric. She works as a Watcher for the security service. She stumbles across a Russian defector who knew her husband, and that prompts her to investigate what really led up to his death. The plot moves on quickly from there through several tri ky situations to a tense conclusion.
I loved the character of Maggie, her family, and the colleagues who help in her quest, all at no small risk to themselves. The book is anice easy read, yet highlights the ills of the British Establishment of the day.
This book worked very well for me and at two levels.Mandy Robotham has come up with a cast of believable people in a sharply written story. In addition, it was great to remember going to a Beatles concert and visiting Carnaby Street, the King's Road, and even Biba in the 60s.
Thank you, Mandy, for a book I enjoyed and can thoroughly recommend.
I've read books about spies Al my life. The first with a female lead was Modesty Blaise back in the 1960s. Maggie Flynn is very different to her, even though this book is set in the samedecade.
Middle-aged widow Maggie lives with her teenage daughter and her mother, who is somewhat eccentric. She works as a Watcher for the security service. She stumbles across a Russian defector who knew her husband, and that prompts her to investigate what really led up to his death. The plot moves on quickly from there through several tri ky situations to a tense conclusion.
I loved the character of Maggie, her family, and the colleagues who help in her quest, all at no small risk to themselves. The book is anice easy read, yet highlights the ills of the British Establishment of the day.
This book worked very well for me and at two levels.Mandy Robotham has come up with a cast of believable people in a sharply written story. In addition, it was great to remember going to a Beatles concert and visiting Carnaby Street, the King's Road, and even Biba in the 60s.
Thank you, Mandy, for a book I enjoyed and can thoroughly recommend.
May 15, 2025
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.
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.
June 2, 2025
After losing her husband, Maggie wants to uncover all of his secrets, and even ends up working for the same agency. However, it has been years since he passed, and she is still questioning it. Her current job as a spy gives her even more resources and tactics, but who can she trust? As a spy, she and her team are given various watcher positions, which leads her to meet Yuri. He knew of her husband and is the start of her uncovering the truth about her husband’s death, but maybe someone close to the organization caused it? She wants to leave a better life for her daughter, but how much can she take before she breaks? I loved her undercover disguises and the fight with her bunion, but especially her Mary Poppins bag; it shows how different her and her team were than what you typically think of for a spy. This was a really fast paced read, taking place in the 1960s.
May 28, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyable romp through the early 1960's world of MI5 as seen through the widow of an agent now employed as a surveillance officer.
The plot (such as it is) involves The Establishment up to no good in Swinging London a fun read.
The plot (such as it is) involves The Establishment up to no good in Swinging London a fun read.
May 29, 2025
Maggie Flynn may look like your average 1960's mum, but appearances can be deceptive - something very apt given her career as an operative for the security services, a profession she has fallen into following the jaw-dropping news that her late husband was a spy working for Queen and country.
Grieving for the loss of a husband she feels she never really knew, Maggie now works as a lowly 'Watcher', part of a team tasked with keeping tabs on persons of interest on behalf of her shady paymasters. It is a job that is less than thrilling, and bunion-inducing hard on the feet, but it allows her to support herself, her teenage daughter, and her unconventional, born-again free-spirit mother.
Maggie's belief that her husband's death was an accident is called into question when a chance encounter with a Russian defector reveals that there was a lot more behind his demise than she has been told. It appears that he was actually investigating someone within MI5 itself, and a shocking betrayal led to his murder. Maggie is determined to find out the truth, so with 'Mary Poppins' bag in hand, a variety of quick-change disguises at her disposal, and a rudimentary knowledge of spy lore, she embarks on a dangerous mission of her own, following the trail of clues her husband has left for her - all while trying to track down some elusive Beatles' concert tickets for her daughter.
Robotham does an excellent job of bringing the Swinging Sixties alive, in all its popular culture glory, in this quirky espionage adventure, spinning a tale which is equal parts authentic Cold War spy caper as it is humorous family drama.
Maggie is a most unconventional 'spy' in a scandal-ravaged MI5. She flips between hours trudging around London in disguise, hot on the heels of possible enemies of state, and chaotic domesticity. The two sides of her life are not easy bedfellows, given the need for secrecy, and Robotham creates many a humorous, and heart-wrenchingly poignant scene as Maggie does her best to balance the different parts of her life.
I loved Maggie from the first page. Her inner monologue is a delight - as are the characters Robotham creates around her who aid her in her endeavour to achieve a measure of justice for her husband's betrayal, especially the adorable Frank, and her helpfully placed pal Vivien.
As befits a grand espionage thriller of the era, motives are as murky as a London pea-souper, and loyalties are not easy to ascertain until some surprising twists reveal who Maggie's real friends are within the corridors of power. You can tell Robotham loves a gritty spy story, as there is plenty of excitement to be had alongside the emotional, and hilarious content, which somehow manage to fit seamlessly together to make a real page-turner of a novel. There are fabulous themes running through the whole piece too, especially when it comes to the role of women both within the post-war, old school tie dominated security services, and in wider 1960's society where changes are afoot.
I cannot tell you how much I adored this book. It zings with period charm, characters to love and loathe, and a story that keeps you on your (hopefully bunion-free) toes. Absolutely one of my books of 2025, and it has real legs for a sequel that I am dying to read! More please!
Grieving for the loss of a husband she feels she never really knew, Maggie now works as a lowly 'Watcher', part of a team tasked with keeping tabs on persons of interest on behalf of her shady paymasters. It is a job that is less than thrilling, and bunion-inducing hard on the feet, but it allows her to support herself, her teenage daughter, and her unconventional, born-again free-spirit mother.
Maggie's belief that her husband's death was an accident is called into question when a chance encounter with a Russian defector reveals that there was a lot more behind his demise than she has been told. It appears that he was actually investigating someone within MI5 itself, and a shocking betrayal led to his murder. Maggie is determined to find out the truth, so with 'Mary Poppins' bag in hand, a variety of quick-change disguises at her disposal, and a rudimentary knowledge of spy lore, she embarks on a dangerous mission of her own, following the trail of clues her husband has left for her - all while trying to track down some elusive Beatles' concert tickets for her daughter.
Robotham does an excellent job of bringing the Swinging Sixties alive, in all its popular culture glory, in this quirky espionage adventure, spinning a tale which is equal parts authentic Cold War spy caper as it is humorous family drama.
Maggie is a most unconventional 'spy' in a scandal-ravaged MI5. She flips between hours trudging around London in disguise, hot on the heels of possible enemies of state, and chaotic domesticity. The two sides of her life are not easy bedfellows, given the need for secrecy, and Robotham creates many a humorous, and heart-wrenchingly poignant scene as Maggie does her best to balance the different parts of her life.
I loved Maggie from the first page. Her inner monologue is a delight - as are the characters Robotham creates around her who aid her in her endeavour to achieve a measure of justice for her husband's betrayal, especially the adorable Frank, and her helpfully placed pal Vivien.
As befits a grand espionage thriller of the era, motives are as murky as a London pea-souper, and loyalties are not easy to ascertain until some surprising twists reveal who Maggie's real friends are within the corridors of power. You can tell Robotham loves a gritty spy story, as there is plenty of excitement to be had alongside the emotional, and hilarious content, which somehow manage to fit seamlessly together to make a real page-turner of a novel. There are fabulous themes running through the whole piece too, especially when it comes to the role of women both within the post-war, old school tie dominated security services, and in wider 1960's society where changes are afoot.
I cannot tell you how much I adored this book. It zings with period charm, characters to love and loathe, and a story that keeps you on your (hopefully bunion-free) toes. Absolutely one of my books of 2025, and it has real legs for a sequel that I am dying to read! More please!
June 8, 2025
Mrs Spy is set in 1965 and concerns Maggie Flynn, a widow and single mother, who works for MI5 as a Watcher, following all sorts of suspected spies and villains on the instruction of her bosses. Maggie’s husband, Davy, was killed three years earlier in what the police said was a road accident; but after she’d continued to ask awkward questions, Maggie learned that Davy had, in fact, worked for MI5 and in due course she’d used this knowledge as leverage to get herself recruited as a Watcher.
A completely random coincidence at work one day leads Maggie to find out more about Davy’s role in MI5 and reawakens all her suspicions again. Determined to find out how and why he was killed, she tries to unravel the mystery, aided by her colleague Frank Tanner. They’re an unlikely pair but terrific partners and it’s not long before they land themselves in more hot water than they’d bargained for.
Our verdict
There’s cosy crime and cosy crime, and while we find a lot of it silly and unreadable, Mrs Spy definitely isn’t that. This novel surprised all of us.
M.J. Robotham has created a cast of appealing, quirky and likeable characters and a story that keeps you turning the pages. The big plot-reveal (when you find out who the baddies are and what they’re doing) was a tad disappointing, but that didn’t stop any of us from reading more. We all found the novel thoroughly entertaining.
The reader gets to know Maggie well, not least because she’s the narrator, so you are with her every step of the way as she uncovers what happened to Davy. Frank and her other MI5 colleagues are also well-drawn, and the details about the day-to-day work of the Watchers bring things to life. And although Maggie’s mother, Gilda, and her teenage daughter Libby aren’t central to the whole, they do add extra colour and interest.
For us though, what makes this book stand out from the crowd are the descriptions of 1960s London – from the old-fashioned sleazy Soho, the coffee bars and street life, to the hip places like the King’s Road and Carnaby Street and the beginnings of Beatlemania. It's all wonderfully vivid. And by contrast, Maggie’s job at MI5 is gloriously old-school, whether she's visiting a library to do research, wading through paper case files in the archive, or searching for a phone box, everything feels real. In the Author’s Note at the end of the book M.J. Robotham says that the 1960s is her favourite era to write about, and we thought this showed in her attention to detail. It all seemed spot-on.
We liked Maggie and we’ll gladly read more about her if there’s another book. Cosy crime, yes. Readable, yes. Enjoyable? Very much so. 4 Stars from all of us.
Review by: Oundle Crime
Oundle Crime thanks Head of Zeus and The Reading Agency for the opportunity to read Mrs Spy. We are voluntarily giving an honest review.
A completely random coincidence at work one day leads Maggie to find out more about Davy’s role in MI5 and reawakens all her suspicions again. Determined to find out how and why he was killed, she tries to unravel the mystery, aided by her colleague Frank Tanner. They’re an unlikely pair but terrific partners and it’s not long before they land themselves in more hot water than they’d bargained for.
Our verdict
There’s cosy crime and cosy crime, and while we find a lot of it silly and unreadable, Mrs Spy definitely isn’t that. This novel surprised all of us.
M.J. Robotham has created a cast of appealing, quirky and likeable characters and a story that keeps you turning the pages. The big plot-reveal (when you find out who the baddies are and what they’re doing) was a tad disappointing, but that didn’t stop any of us from reading more. We all found the novel thoroughly entertaining.
The reader gets to know Maggie well, not least because she’s the narrator, so you are with her every step of the way as she uncovers what happened to Davy. Frank and her other MI5 colleagues are also well-drawn, and the details about the day-to-day work of the Watchers bring things to life. And although Maggie’s mother, Gilda, and her teenage daughter Libby aren’t central to the whole, they do add extra colour and interest.
For us though, what makes this book stand out from the crowd are the descriptions of 1960s London – from the old-fashioned sleazy Soho, the coffee bars and street life, to the hip places like the King’s Road and Carnaby Street and the beginnings of Beatlemania. It's all wonderfully vivid. And by contrast, Maggie’s job at MI5 is gloriously old-school, whether she's visiting a library to do research, wading through paper case files in the archive, or searching for a phone box, everything feels real. In the Author’s Note at the end of the book M.J. Robotham says that the 1960s is her favourite era to write about, and we thought this showed in her attention to detail. It all seemed spot-on.
We liked Maggie and we’ll gladly read more about her if there’s another book. Cosy crime, yes. Readable, yes. Enjoyable? Very much so. 4 Stars from all of us.
Review by: Oundle Crime
Oundle Crime thanks Head of Zeus and The Reading Agency for the opportunity to read Mrs Spy. We are voluntarily giving an honest review.
July 5, 2025
🕵🏽♀️ “Even spies get tired.” But Maggie Flynn doesn’t get to rest — she gets to run.
5 out of 5 secrets stashed in a sensible handbag
Best for: Fans of Le Carré who want fewer mustaches and more mother-daughter moments. Anyone who secretly thinks their grandma could outwit MI6.
Skip if: You want Jason Bourne pacing or Bond-level bravado. This one’s grounded, cozy, and sneakily devastating.
Mrs. Spy is a brilliant little cold war polaroid. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t scream. It doesn’t need to. Maggie Flynn — watcher, widow, and reluctant truth-seeker — carries this 1960s London-set spy tale with the weary grace of a woman who’s been overlooked her whole life, but never once outmatched.
The brilliance of the novel is how it threads espionage through domesticity. Maggie’s life is a balancing act between MI5 stakeouts, Beatles tickets for her daughter, and the gnawing grief of a husband who may have lied his way through their entire marriage. There’s lipstick. There’s loss. There’s one hell of a bunion.
What Robotham nails — beyond the pitch-perfect period detail — is Maggie’s emotional arc. She’s never a caricature of a “strong woman.” She’s bone-tired, unsure, funny, strategic, soft. She doesn't need to be loud to be dangerous. Her disguise isn’t a trench coat — it’s being dismissed by the men around her.
The twists come in quiet doses, and that’s the point. This isn’t about explosions; it’s about exposure. As Maggie peels back the lies that surround her husband’s death, she also uncovers how invisible women like her have always been — until they decide not to be.
Brielle’s Lens:
This book walks that sharp line between genre and gender. It’s not about turning a woman into a male spy — it’s about letting a mother, widow, and daughter live in the shadows on her own terms. Maggie’s grief isn’t a plot device, it’s a motive. Her intuition isn’t feminine mystique, it’s learned survival. I saw a lot of my own mom in Maggie — the way Black and brown mothers often carry more weight than anyone notices. It matters who gets to be the spy, and this time, it’s someone who makes a cuppa, cries in the stairwell, then finishes the mission anyway.
M.J. Robotham, please give us more. I want Maggie in Berlin. Maggie in Morocco. Maggie in menopause and still two steps ahead.
5 out of 5 secrets stashed in a sensible handbag
Best for: Fans of Le Carré who want fewer mustaches and more mother-daughter moments. Anyone who secretly thinks their grandma could outwit MI6.
Skip if: You want Jason Bourne pacing or Bond-level bravado. This one’s grounded, cozy, and sneakily devastating.
Mrs. Spy is a brilliant little cold war polaroid. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t scream. It doesn’t need to. Maggie Flynn — watcher, widow, and reluctant truth-seeker — carries this 1960s London-set spy tale with the weary grace of a woman who’s been overlooked her whole life, but never once outmatched.
The brilliance of the novel is how it threads espionage through domesticity. Maggie’s life is a balancing act between MI5 stakeouts, Beatles tickets for her daughter, and the gnawing grief of a husband who may have lied his way through their entire marriage. There’s lipstick. There’s loss. There’s one hell of a bunion.
“They think I’m just a donkey. But I watch, and I remember. And I know when something isn’t right.”
What Robotham nails — beyond the pitch-perfect period detail — is Maggie’s emotional arc. She’s never a caricature of a “strong woman.” She’s bone-tired, unsure, funny, strategic, soft. She doesn't need to be loud to be dangerous. Her disguise isn’t a trench coat — it’s being dismissed by the men around her.
The twists come in quiet doses, and that’s the point. This isn’t about explosions; it’s about exposure. As Maggie peels back the lies that surround her husband’s death, she also uncovers how invisible women like her have always been — until they decide not to be.
Brielle’s Lens:
This book walks that sharp line between genre and gender. It’s not about turning a woman into a male spy — it’s about letting a mother, widow, and daughter live in the shadows on her own terms. Maggie’s grief isn’t a plot device, it’s a motive. Her intuition isn’t feminine mystique, it’s learned survival. I saw a lot of my own mom in Maggie — the way Black and brown mothers often carry more weight than anyone notices. It matters who gets to be the spy, and this time, it’s someone who makes a cuppa, cries in the stairwell, then finishes the mission anyway.
"She wasn't Bond. She was better. She’d survived things he couldn't even spell."
M.J. Robotham, please give us more. I want Maggie in Berlin. Maggie in Morocco. Maggie in menopause and still two steps ahead.
December 3, 2024
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.
"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.
May 13, 2025
OMG how good is this book. I have been right spoiled by the last few books I have read being top notch. This one being the latest.
Set in the 60s which was a complete breath of fresh air for me, we follow widow Maggie Flynn as she goes about her days as a Watcher for MI5, whilst her mum helps her care for her daughter. She was catapulted into the spy game after the tragic death in the line of duty of her late husband who was himself a spy, this only becoming known to her after his death. She has a relatively simple set of tasks, mostly watching whilst evading discovery. All is ticking along mostly, apart from a demanding daughter, Libby, who NEEDS Beatles tickets, and a mother, Gilda, who wants her home more, until she is asked to fill in with a bit of babysitting duty. Turns out that the man she is looking after knew her late-husband. And despite not really being allowed to talk to him, Maggie learns something that turns her whole world upside down...
And so begins a cat and mouse game that has Maggie running around trying to work out the truth of her late-husband's life and, indeed, death. The rest of which I will leave for you to discover.
I loved the setting of this book - the time and place. It was refreshing not to have information at your fingertips, to have to use phone boxes and employ old school tracking capabilities. All of which Maggie was rather proficient at!
It also helped that I took to Maggie right from the off, she's been through the mill, bless her, but has right bounced back and, with her new job, got a new lease of life. Yes it's hard juggling life and work, but she really does her best. She also mostly trusts her instincts but also is wary enough to second guess her gut on occasion.
And the story was extremely well plotted and kept my attention nicely all the way through, spitting me out at the end both wholly satisfied and also wondering if this was / could be the start of a series as, to be honest, I firmly believe that Maggie et al have so much more to give...
Meanwhile I'm off to read The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux, her debut book which I am shocked I missed last year...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Set in the 60s which was a complete breath of fresh air for me, we follow widow Maggie Flynn as she goes about her days as a Watcher for MI5, whilst her mum helps her care for her daughter. She was catapulted into the spy game after the tragic death in the line of duty of her late husband who was himself a spy, this only becoming known to her after his death. She has a relatively simple set of tasks, mostly watching whilst evading discovery. All is ticking along mostly, apart from a demanding daughter, Libby, who NEEDS Beatles tickets, and a mother, Gilda, who wants her home more, until she is asked to fill in with a bit of babysitting duty. Turns out that the man she is looking after knew her late-husband. And despite not really being allowed to talk to him, Maggie learns something that turns her whole world upside down...
And so begins a cat and mouse game that has Maggie running around trying to work out the truth of her late-husband's life and, indeed, death. The rest of which I will leave for you to discover.
I loved the setting of this book - the time and place. It was refreshing not to have information at your fingertips, to have to use phone boxes and employ old school tracking capabilities. All of which Maggie was rather proficient at!
It also helped that I took to Maggie right from the off, she's been through the mill, bless her, but has right bounced back and, with her new job, got a new lease of life. Yes it's hard juggling life and work, but she really does her best. She also mostly trusts her instincts but also is wary enough to second guess her gut on occasion.
And the story was extremely well plotted and kept my attention nicely all the way through, spitting me out at the end both wholly satisfied and also wondering if this was / could be the start of a series as, to be honest, I firmly believe that Maggie et al have so much more to give...
Meanwhile I'm off to read The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux, her debut book which I am shocked I missed last year...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
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