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Mrs Spy #2
The Spy and the Snake
One mission. One fake husband. One very real problem.
Maggie Flynn has finally earned her place at of MI5-but with promotion comes paperwork. No more disguises, no more danger, just meetings, memos, and the quiet realisation that life feels a little too safe.
With her daughter away at university and her spirited mother pursuing her own adventures, Maggie's days in London are starting to feel decidedly ordinary. So when the chance arises to return to the field, she doesn't hesitate.
The fly to Budapest and pose as the wife of a notorious British defector in order to smuggle him back to the UK. It should be a straightforward operation. But Maggie Flynn has never done straightforward-and what's waiting in Budapest is anything but routine.
As Cold War tensions simmer and shadows linger on every corner, Maggie finds herself navigating a city steeped in secrets-and drawn to a mysterious stranger who may endanger the mission… or steal her heart.
***
Praise for M.J.
'A gripping story and great 60s detail, Mrs Spy is the female answer to Harry Palmer' Ian Moore
'Dark, twisty, and thoroughly entertaining, Mrs Spy is a Thursday Murder Club for spies.' Ava Glass
'Maggie Flynn is a true a smart, intrepid, middle-aged spy with acute instincts and aching bunions.' Gill Paul
'I loved this an absolutely gripping and heartwarming story... we need more heroes like Mrs Spy!' Jane Bailey
'...Robotham has taken the invisibility of the middle-aged woman and turned it on it's head' Emma Flint
'Exciting, alluring, seductive' Clare Whitfield
Maggie Flynn has finally earned her place at of MI5-but with promotion comes paperwork. No more disguises, no more danger, just meetings, memos, and the quiet realisation that life feels a little too safe.
With her daughter away at university and her spirited mother pursuing her own adventures, Maggie's days in London are starting to feel decidedly ordinary. So when the chance arises to return to the field, she doesn't hesitate.
The fly to Budapest and pose as the wife of a notorious British defector in order to smuggle him back to the UK. It should be a straightforward operation. But Maggie Flynn has never done straightforward-and what's waiting in Budapest is anything but routine.
As Cold War tensions simmer and shadows linger on every corner, Maggie finds herself navigating a city steeped in secrets-and drawn to a mysterious stranger who may endanger the mission… or steal her heart.
***
Praise for M.J.
'A gripping story and great 60s detail, Mrs Spy is the female answer to Harry Palmer' Ian Moore
'Dark, twisty, and thoroughly entertaining, Mrs Spy is a Thursday Murder Club for spies.' Ava Glass
'Maggie Flynn is a true a smart, intrepid, middle-aged spy with acute instincts and aching bunions.' Gill Paul
'I loved this an absolutely gripping and heartwarming story... we need more heroes like Mrs Spy!' Jane Bailey
'...Robotham has taken the invisibility of the middle-aged woman and turned it on it's head' Emma Flint
'Exciting, alluring, seductive' Clare Whitfield
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
M.J. Robotham
3 books22 followersM J Robotham saw herself as an aspiring author from childhood, but was waylaid by journalism, birth, children and life. After twenty years as a midwife and a Creative Writing MA, she is a full-time author, writing historical fiction as Mandy Robotham. She lives in Gloucestershire with her partner.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 9, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the readalong and book tour hosted by Insta Book Tours.
The Spy and the Snake is the second novel in a female spy series featuring Maggie Flynn.
Set three years after book one, we follow Maggie on her first independent spy mission: to locate and smuggle back the British Defector Fitzroy Carver, with no help from MI5. Maggie of course jumps at the chance to prove herself as a female agent and I loved seeing how she handles everything thrown at her in this book.
She of course makes some new friends/allies along the way and the author, M. J. Rowbotham has again blown me away with her wit and colourful cast of characters within the book. This is a series I can't wait to read more from and I hope we get to read more of Maggie in the future.
These books are a breath of fresh air, fun, unique and filled with adventure and each scene is vividly brought to life along the way. I highly recommend picking these books up - you won't be disappointed!
The Spy and the Snake is the second novel in a female spy series featuring Maggie Flynn.
Set three years after book one, we follow Maggie on her first independent spy mission: to locate and smuggle back the British Defector Fitzroy Carver, with no help from MI5. Maggie of course jumps at the chance to prove herself as a female agent and I loved seeing how she handles everything thrown at her in this book.
She of course makes some new friends/allies along the way and the author, M. J. Rowbotham has again blown me away with her wit and colourful cast of characters within the book. This is a series I can't wait to read more from and I hope we get to read more of Maggie in the future.
These books are a breath of fresh air, fun, unique and filled with adventure and each scene is vividly brought to life along the way. I highly recommend picking these books up - you won't be disappointed!
July 9, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this second outing for female “spy” Maggie Flynn.
I loved the first one and was delighted to get an earlier read of this latest episode.
It is on a par with the brilliant ‘Mrs Spy’ but I have given this 5 stars as the brief for a second novel is always so difficult. The author has overcome all those problems with a change of location, fresh characters and the same indomitable protagonist.
Maggie is a force of nature. Full of personal doubts but with lifelong work experience and an ability to read and get the best from people.
In 1968 the Beatles were still the vibrant soundtrack; James Bond was the spy of choice and the Cold War was chilly. It was still a male dominated world, with limited equality or recognition of the role of women. This is the world that Maggie Flynn inhabits and the author chooses this reality to explore an unassuming woman’s place in MI5 beyond a case officer to become an active agent behind the Iron Curtain.
Budapest was a great location to set this story.
A tale of a rogue double agent wanting to return to the U.K. To be “brought in from the cold”. To escape the hold over him by the KGB.
The almost insurmountable problem being that he will only flee Hungary in the company of a female operative.
Maggie goes under cover to extract this Russian deflector from under the noses of his hosts but her mission is compromised it seems from the very beginning.
A great book. A refreshing alternative approach to the spy thriller. I love Maggie. Her tenacity, her drive and determination to achieve her goals. I find her trust in others warming as is her courage amid all her anxiety and fears of failure. She displays wonderful tradecraft and uses her personal skill set throughout to maintain an edge.
This is a series as strong as Ludlum’s Jason Bourne. Yet so more realistic with something unique to say to readers of this genre.
I loved the first one and was delighted to get an earlier read of this latest episode.
It is on a par with the brilliant ‘Mrs Spy’ but I have given this 5 stars as the brief for a second novel is always so difficult. The author has overcome all those problems with a change of location, fresh characters and the same indomitable protagonist.
Maggie is a force of nature. Full of personal doubts but with lifelong work experience and an ability to read and get the best from people.
In 1968 the Beatles were still the vibrant soundtrack; James Bond was the spy of choice and the Cold War was chilly. It was still a male dominated world, with limited equality or recognition of the role of women. This is the world that Maggie Flynn inhabits and the author chooses this reality to explore an unassuming woman’s place in MI5 beyond a case officer to become an active agent behind the Iron Curtain.
Budapest was a great location to set this story.
A tale of a rogue double agent wanting to return to the U.K. To be “brought in from the cold”. To escape the hold over him by the KGB.
The almost insurmountable problem being that he will only flee Hungary in the company of a female operative.
Maggie goes under cover to extract this Russian deflector from under the noses of his hosts but her mission is compromised it seems from the very beginning.
A great book. A refreshing alternative approach to the spy thriller. I love Maggie. Her tenacity, her drive and determination to achieve her goals. I find her trust in others warming as is her courage amid all her anxiety and fears of failure. She displays wonderful tradecraft and uses her personal skill set throughout to maintain an edge.
This is a series as strong as Ludlum’s Jason Bourne. Yet so more realistic with something unique to say to readers of this genre.
July 9, 2026
Maggie deceived!
Really enjoyed this. So much so I read the previous title.
It’s post WWII and MI5 personnel Maggie Flynn seizes the opportunity to head back into the field with both hands. It’s the beginning of the Cold War and Maggie is sent to Budapest to extract a British defector, Fitzroy Carver, and bring him safely back into his country’s arms.
Fitzroy has demanded a woman agent be used. Cue Maggie!
Only Maggie finds herself up against the AVH, Fitz’s demands, KGB, and MI6.
The experts expected Maggie to fall at the first fence. When she doesn't their plans are blown out of the water.
Maggie has explored her own contacts and gets in touch with an older agent, Dottie Hands.
An unexpected turn of events has Maggie looking at alternative plans to sew confusion and doubt.
Exciting read!
A Bloomsbury ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Really enjoyed this. So much so I read the previous title.
It’s post WWII and MI5 personnel Maggie Flynn seizes the opportunity to head back into the field with both hands. It’s the beginning of the Cold War and Maggie is sent to Budapest to extract a British defector, Fitzroy Carver, and bring him safely back into his country’s arms.
Fitzroy has demanded a woman agent be used. Cue Maggie!
Only Maggie finds herself up against the AVH, Fitz’s demands, KGB, and MI6.
The experts expected Maggie to fall at the first fence. When she doesn't their plans are blown out of the water.
Maggie has explored her own contacts and gets in touch with an older agent, Dottie Hands.
An unexpected turn of events has Maggie looking at alternative plans to sew confusion and doubt.
Exciting read!
A Bloomsbury ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Read
June 19, 2026My book review comes out in September for Woman & Home 🤪🤪
July 7, 2026
The Spy and the Snake takes the reader back in time, immersing us in 1968 Budapest and London. Even though it was 1968 in Budapest, I would like to travel, see the sights, and taste the food mentioned in the story.
This was a fun read. Maggie Flynn is a whip-smart, funny female spy. I would love to read another Maggie Flynn novel. Thank you @bloomsburypublishing and @netgalley for the eARC.
This was a fun read. Maggie Flynn is a whip-smart, funny female spy. I would love to read another Maggie Flynn novel. Thank you @bloomsburypublishing and @netgalley for the eARC.
July 9, 2026
So, this is book two in the Mrs Spy series, however it can quite easily be read as a standalone. I didn't realise it was a follow-on - of course, I never do! - however I did go ahead and read Mrs Spy beforehand to familiarise myself with the characters and the author's style, just to be on the safe side. You absolutely don't need to do this, but I'm glad I did.
What drew me to this was the fact that whilst I’m not the biggest thriller/mystery girly, I do like it when it deviates away from the stereotypical norm. I absolutely love tv shows like Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Goodnight Sweetheart, Death in Paradise and Madame Blanc Mysteries – they're exactly the sort of mysteries I enjoy, so I hoped that would translate onto the page too.
As I said, I read the first one where we are introduced to Maggie Flynn. It is 1960s London, Cold War and Maggie is an MI5 operative, widow and single mom, who as a Watcher – roaming the streets under a disguise – is on a quest to unravel the intelligence agency’s most treacherous secrets and some little too close-to-home truths along the way. It threw in many a humorous moment and was full of Bond references and nods to the era of the time. So, I was looking forward to seeing this flow over into this book.
The Spy and The Snake begins with Maggie and lots of paperwork. She has now earned herself a promotion, a true place within MI5 – but with any promotion comes a desk, and paperwork. Lots of it. Boring relentless paperwork. Until she’s given an assignment to leave her desk, leave the 1968 streets of London, and fly to Budapest in order to smuggle out a notorious British defector. Simple operation, right? Well... with the KGB, the Iron Curtain, and the fact she's doing this entirely on her own... you'd be wrong.
This is a fast-paced story that takes the characters and you as the reader, in a race across Europe.
Maggie has seen it all, done it all, full of wit, humour and life experience. She brings all this alongside her own personal issues - but doesn’t let that get in her way - through her tenacity and ability to improvise - something we first learnt about her in book one.
As you read, you forget that she is ‘just a middle-aged woman’ but in fact an actual fully fledged spy.
Whilst this is full of spy-based spyness... some of the action does feel a little too exaggerated for me, which stopped me becoming completely immersed. However, it is still entertaining, nonetheless.
There is also a small romantic subplot, alongside touching moments where Maggie reflects on her late husband. Whilst I don't think the story necessarily needed the romance, it added a softer edge to the action without taking over the narrative. Whilst this was sweet enough, it never felt as compelling as the espionage plot, and I found myself much more invested in Maggie's missions than her love life.
MJ Robotham has written it so that it not only builds tension and suspense about what will Maggie encounter next, how will she get through this next stage, but it’s done in such a quick moving way, throwing in many a great character that you can’t not enjoy it. Her use of descriptive language for the backdrop of the story really helps you paint the scene and feel like you’re right there in Budapest with them and all the drama.
Whilst this one didn't quite hit all the right notes for me, it was still an entertaining read with plenty of humour, action and a genuinely likeable heroine. If you're after a light-hearted spy mystery with a 1960s backdrop, I think this will find its audience. Beneath all the espionage and chaos is a story about rediscovering who you are and what you're capable of. And really... what's a little chaos along the way?
Thank you to MJ Robotham and Insta Book Tours for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
What drew me to this was the fact that whilst I’m not the biggest thriller/mystery girly, I do like it when it deviates away from the stereotypical norm. I absolutely love tv shows like Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Goodnight Sweetheart, Death in Paradise and Madame Blanc Mysteries – they're exactly the sort of mysteries I enjoy, so I hoped that would translate onto the page too.
As I said, I read the first one where we are introduced to Maggie Flynn. It is 1960s London, Cold War and Maggie is an MI5 operative, widow and single mom, who as a Watcher – roaming the streets under a disguise – is on a quest to unravel the intelligence agency’s most treacherous secrets and some little too close-to-home truths along the way. It threw in many a humorous moment and was full of Bond references and nods to the era of the time. So, I was looking forward to seeing this flow over into this book.
The Spy and The Snake begins with Maggie and lots of paperwork. She has now earned herself a promotion, a true place within MI5 – but with any promotion comes a desk, and paperwork. Lots of it. Boring relentless paperwork. Until she’s given an assignment to leave her desk, leave the 1968 streets of London, and fly to Budapest in order to smuggle out a notorious British defector. Simple operation, right? Well... with the KGB, the Iron Curtain, and the fact she's doing this entirely on her own... you'd be wrong.
This is a fast-paced story that takes the characters and you as the reader, in a race across Europe.
Maggie has seen it all, done it all, full of wit, humour and life experience. She brings all this alongside her own personal issues - but doesn’t let that get in her way - through her tenacity and ability to improvise - something we first learnt about her in book one.
As you read, you forget that she is ‘just a middle-aged woman’ but in fact an actual fully fledged spy.
Whilst this is full of spy-based spyness... some of the action does feel a little too exaggerated for me, which stopped me becoming completely immersed. However, it is still entertaining, nonetheless.
There is also a small romantic subplot, alongside touching moments where Maggie reflects on her late husband. Whilst I don't think the story necessarily needed the romance, it added a softer edge to the action without taking over the narrative. Whilst this was sweet enough, it never felt as compelling as the espionage plot, and I found myself much more invested in Maggie's missions than her love life.
MJ Robotham has written it so that it not only builds tension and suspense about what will Maggie encounter next, how will she get through this next stage, but it’s done in such a quick moving way, throwing in many a great character that you can’t not enjoy it. Her use of descriptive language for the backdrop of the story really helps you paint the scene and feel like you’re right there in Budapest with them and all the drama.
Whilst this one didn't quite hit all the right notes for me, it was still an entertaining read with plenty of humour, action and a genuinely likeable heroine. If you're after a light-hearted spy mystery with a 1960s backdrop, I think this will find its audience. Beneath all the espionage and chaos is a story about rediscovering who you are and what you're capable of. And really... what's a little chaos along the way?
Thank you to MJ Robotham and Insta Book Tours for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Maggie Flynn is back and better than ever.
"The Spy and the Snake" opens in Spring 1968, some three years after the events of "Mrs Spy". Maggie Flynn been promoted to a desk job in MI5 - she's no longer a Watcher, following suspicious characters through the streets of London. But she's bored. So when her boss, Guy Standing, offers her the opportunity to carry out a simple exfiltration job, she doesn't need much convincing. Her job will be to fly to Budapest and smuggle notorious British defector Fitzroy Carver back to the UK. It's behind the Iron Curtain, but really, how hard can it be?
Quickly both Maggie and the reader are drawn into a fast-moving story which takes her and her less-than-enthusiastic ex-spy across Europe in a race to stay ahead of her enemies, known and unknown. If Maggie showed her natural aptitude as Watcher before, she positively shines here, as from her first day in Hungary, she has to think on her feet, improvising like never before. Lifted from the familiar streets of London, she still has to employ her Watcher skills, while finding new ways to achieve her increasingly difficult mission. Along the way she recruits assets, and collects the resource she needs to get the job done. It's tremendously rewarding to watch her grow into a competent, accomplished spy, while still retaining her "middle-aged woman, questioning herself" demeanour. When she meets, and slightly falls-for, a smooth, aging-gracefully Englishman who seems too good to be true, she really has her work cut out for her.
If 1960s London was the star of the show in "Mrs Spy". this time it's Budapest, and Europe which form the backdrop to the story. The city is painted in all its glory - buildings, people, and cake. There's lots of cake. There's also still that lovely 1960s vibe, with fashion and music nicely acknowledged here and there. And a special mention for the various people Maggie recruits along the way - the citizens of Budapest, who live under a harsh regime, who hope by helping her, to bring about better days. We see some of them fleetingly, but they stay in your head.
This book really is the perfect follow up, and I sincerely hope it's not the last we see of Maggie Flynn. Heartily recommended.
"The Spy and the Snake" opens in Spring 1968, some three years after the events of "Mrs Spy". Maggie Flynn been promoted to a desk job in MI5 - she's no longer a Watcher, following suspicious characters through the streets of London. But she's bored. So when her boss, Guy Standing, offers her the opportunity to carry out a simple exfiltration job, she doesn't need much convincing. Her job will be to fly to Budapest and smuggle notorious British defector Fitzroy Carver back to the UK. It's behind the Iron Curtain, but really, how hard can it be?
Quickly both Maggie and the reader are drawn into a fast-moving story which takes her and her less-than-enthusiastic ex-spy across Europe in a race to stay ahead of her enemies, known and unknown. If Maggie showed her natural aptitude as Watcher before, she positively shines here, as from her first day in Hungary, she has to think on her feet, improvising like never before. Lifted from the familiar streets of London, she still has to employ her Watcher skills, while finding new ways to achieve her increasingly difficult mission. Along the way she recruits assets, and collects the resource she needs to get the job done. It's tremendously rewarding to watch her grow into a competent, accomplished spy, while still retaining her "middle-aged woman, questioning herself" demeanour. When she meets, and slightly falls-for, a smooth, aging-gracefully Englishman who seems too good to be true, she really has her work cut out for her.
If 1960s London was the star of the show in "Mrs Spy". this time it's Budapest, and Europe which form the backdrop to the story. The city is painted in all its glory - buildings, people, and cake. There's lots of cake. There's also still that lovely 1960s vibe, with fashion and music nicely acknowledged here and there. And a special mention for the various people Maggie recruits along the way - the citizens of Budapest, who live under a harsh regime, who hope by helping her, to bring about better days. We see some of them fleetingly, but they stay in your head.
This book really is the perfect follow up, and I sincerely hope it's not the last we see of Maggie Flynn. Heartily recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Spy and the Snake sees the return of Maggie Flynn fresh from an encounter with her husband's killer and some very untrustworthy spies.
Maggie is on her own since her partner, Frank, has retired and gone to live with Maggie's mother in Spain. Then theres daughter Libby making her own way in the world so its lucky that Maggie gets a call from the Director-General of MI5, Guy Standing. And since she's expecting to get sacked its an even nicer surprise to be sent on her very first mission to bring an errant detector back home.
However, she doesn't speak Hungarian, she'll be all alone with no back-up and the man she has to bring back is a triple agent with a penchant for the booze and well known for his belligerence. Quite why he's demanded a female operative to help him back to the west is anyone's guess.
But Maggie is nothing if not resourceful and as she plans the way across multiple borders she picks up tradecraft and contacts along the way. But will she be able to get the old spy back to MI5 or is this one step too far for a complete novice, a drunken spy and an ancient vehicle?
I really enjoyed Mrs Spy and Maggie has not let me down in her latest adventure. MJ Robotham writes great characters and, whilst the action can stretch your belief somewhat, it is nonetheless very entertaining.
I particularly liked Lida and Zoltan in this book. The only thing that soured my enjoyment (and it is the smallest of niggles) is the introduction of a little romance. However it isn't some salacious affair - Maggie is far too classy for that. I do miss Frank - even though Maggie still invents his advice in her head along with that of her late husband, Davy.
Definitely recommended. You can read this as a stand alone but I'd urge you to read Mrs Spy too, its very entertaining.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the digital review copy. Most appreciated.
Maggie is on her own since her partner, Frank, has retired and gone to live with Maggie's mother in Spain. Then theres daughter Libby making her own way in the world so its lucky that Maggie gets a call from the Director-General of MI5, Guy Standing. And since she's expecting to get sacked its an even nicer surprise to be sent on her very first mission to bring an errant detector back home.
However, she doesn't speak Hungarian, she'll be all alone with no back-up and the man she has to bring back is a triple agent with a penchant for the booze and well known for his belligerence. Quite why he's demanded a female operative to help him back to the west is anyone's guess.
But Maggie is nothing if not resourceful and as she plans the way across multiple borders she picks up tradecraft and contacts along the way. But will she be able to get the old spy back to MI5 or is this one step too far for a complete novice, a drunken spy and an ancient vehicle?
I really enjoyed Mrs Spy and Maggie has not let me down in her latest adventure. MJ Robotham writes great characters and, whilst the action can stretch your belief somewhat, it is nonetheless very entertaining.
I particularly liked Lida and Zoltan in this book. The only thing that soured my enjoyment (and it is the smallest of niggles) is the introduction of a little romance. However it isn't some salacious affair - Maggie is far too classy for that. I do miss Frank - even though Maggie still invents his advice in her head along with that of her late husband, Davy.
Definitely recommended. You can read this as a stand alone but I'd urge you to read Mrs Spy too, its very entertaining.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the digital review copy. Most appreciated.
July 9, 2026
This is the second in the series featuring Maggie Flynn who we first met in Mrs Spy and you could do yourself a favour, if you haven't already, and go back and meet her properly by reading that one first. I think you'll have a better time with this one if you do and it's only one book to catch up with so...
Anyway... in this book, we catch up with Maggie as she is feeling a bit lonely and bored. After her recent shenanigans, things are a little quiet. So when she is asked to travel to Budapest to assist with the repatriation of a British Defector who has decided to come home, she jumps at the chance to put all her training to good use. Ok so full disclosure, it's only her doing it cos he insisted on it being a woman and they are few and far between. But a chance is a chance and definitely for the jumping at.
And tbh, that's all you need to know going in. What should be simple, the plan is great, turns out to be anything but. With peril, and indeed danger coming at Maggie from many sources. Including the man she is trying to help!
I loved this book. I loved the first in series and I connected to Maggie in it right from the off. That connection only being strengthened more throughout my time with here in this book. She's so smart and able to transfer that intelligence practically in the field, despite all that is thrown at her. And believe me, there's a lot of that! All of which makes this a fast paced and fun book. With some cracking humour peppered throughout and a wee bit of romance on the side too. The plotting is sublime and said plot well executed, with a plethora of cracking characters who all do their bit - however small a part they play in the whole.
But I guess the best thing I love is that this is almost Maggie's coming of age. Or maybe better phrased her awakening. How she is rediscovering herself and, boy is she blossoming. And I for one can't wait to see what happens to her in book three.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Anyway... in this book, we catch up with Maggie as she is feeling a bit lonely and bored. After her recent shenanigans, things are a little quiet. So when she is asked to travel to Budapest to assist with the repatriation of a British Defector who has decided to come home, she jumps at the chance to put all her training to good use. Ok so full disclosure, it's only her doing it cos he insisted on it being a woman and they are few and far between. But a chance is a chance and definitely for the jumping at.
And tbh, that's all you need to know going in. What should be simple, the plan is great, turns out to be anything but. With peril, and indeed danger coming at Maggie from many sources. Including the man she is trying to help!
I loved this book. I loved the first in series and I connected to Maggie in it right from the off. That connection only being strengthened more throughout my time with here in this book. She's so smart and able to transfer that intelligence practically in the field, despite all that is thrown at her. And believe me, there's a lot of that! All of which makes this a fast paced and fun book. With some cracking humour peppered throughout and a wee bit of romance on the side too. The plotting is sublime and said plot well executed, with a plethora of cracking characters who all do their bit - however small a part they play in the whole.
But I guess the best thing I love is that this is almost Maggie's coming of age. Or maybe better phrased her awakening. How she is rediscovering herself and, boy is she blossoming. And I for one can't wait to see what happens to her in book three.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Following the success of M.J. Robotham’s excellent Mrs. Spy, The Spy and the Snake elevates the stakes for Maggie Flynn, who I would say has quickly become one of the most refreshing and grounded protagonists I’ve read of late.
Ms. Robotham balances the high-octane intrigue of a Budapest operation with the deeply human reality of Maggie’s life. She is a brilliantly realized character: a smart, intrepid, middle-aged spy whose acute instincts are matched only by her relatable vulnerabilities… yes, including those infamous aching bunions. It is a rare treat to follow a hero who isn’t a flawless archetype but a woman whose invisibility is her greatest asset.
The narrative is a perfectly constructed web of half-truths, deep suspicion, and mounting tension, and the pacing is pretty relentless! Once Maggie arrives in Budapest to pose as the wife of a British defector, the story transforms into a fun, page-turning experience. The setting is atmospheric and evocative (the author has been there many times, she explains in the back matter, and it shows), serving as a super backdrop for a mission that is anything but straightforward. Enjoy the blend of humor and suspense, which gives the story a sophisticated, delicious edge that keeps you hooked.
The Spy and the Snake is witty, alluring, and thoroughly entertaining, in fact a testament to the author’s talent that she manages to make a spy novel feel both high-stakes and genuinely heartwarming. If you’re looking for a thriller with great characters, sharp detail, and an irresistible plot, this could be the one for you! But do read the first series entry as a lot of things here will resonate far more. Besides, the first entry slightly shades this one, as good as it is.
Thank you to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to be dropped into 1968 for a few days with this ARC.
Ms. Robotham balances the high-octane intrigue of a Budapest operation with the deeply human reality of Maggie’s life. She is a brilliantly realized character: a smart, intrepid, middle-aged spy whose acute instincts are matched only by her relatable vulnerabilities… yes, including those infamous aching bunions. It is a rare treat to follow a hero who isn’t a flawless archetype but a woman whose invisibility is her greatest asset.
The narrative is a perfectly constructed web of half-truths, deep suspicion, and mounting tension, and the pacing is pretty relentless! Once Maggie arrives in Budapest to pose as the wife of a British defector, the story transforms into a fun, page-turning experience. The setting is atmospheric and evocative (the author has been there many times, she explains in the back matter, and it shows), serving as a super backdrop for a mission that is anything but straightforward. Enjoy the blend of humor and suspense, which gives the story a sophisticated, delicious edge that keeps you hooked.
The Spy and the Snake is witty, alluring, and thoroughly entertaining, in fact a testament to the author’s talent that she manages to make a spy novel feel both high-stakes and genuinely heartwarming. If you’re looking for a thriller with great characters, sharp detail, and an irresistible plot, this could be the one for you! But do read the first series entry as a lot of things here will resonate far more. Besides, the first entry slightly shades this one, as good as it is.
Thank you to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to be dropped into 1968 for a few days with this ARC.
July 8, 2026
Set in 1968, now 3 years passed since Maggie Flynn discovered who murdered her husband and she got involved with MI5. Now with 48 she is an assistant case officer.
She gets an assignment to fly to Budapest to bring back an agent which switch sides, to the Russians but now wants back. It is supposed to be easy to get him across the curtain back to England
What is waiting for Maggie is anything from easy or routine and whom can she trust when she is soon on the KGB and AVH radar.
I loved this book!
I really enjoyed reading how Maggie is doing yet and how she handles her first assignment.
I really enjoy the sense of humour used her and how wonderful the former times gets described here. I really had the feeling to be back in time.
I really enjoy reading this book as the balance between action, danger but also normal interactions is for me wonderful balanced. This is not a hard spy novel, no this is about using your skills, finding solutions without James Bond gadget and believing you can manage it.
I really liked how wonderful Budapest gets described here.
The idea how she crosses the Iron Curtain is great and I really enjoyed reading about it.
Maggie is a wonderful character for me. Now she is on her own but hears her former colleague Frank, her des husband or her mum with good advices, whenever she needs a pep talk. I really like this idea. She is on her own on a mission which is not at all what she expected. The risks are much higher and I really like how she meets local Hungarians and the relationship she has with them.
How all comes together in the end, when we are seeing the whole picture of this story, is well done. It is a great idea and for me well written
Once again I really enjoyed reading about Maggie and how the spy story is written here.
For me a wonderful character and I hope there will be more books about here for us to read.
She gets an assignment to fly to Budapest to bring back an agent which switch sides, to the Russians but now wants back. It is supposed to be easy to get him across the curtain back to England
What is waiting for Maggie is anything from easy or routine and whom can she trust when she is soon on the KGB and AVH radar.
I loved this book!
I really enjoyed reading how Maggie is doing yet and how she handles her first assignment.
I really enjoy the sense of humour used her and how wonderful the former times gets described here. I really had the feeling to be back in time.
I really enjoy reading this book as the balance between action, danger but also normal interactions is for me wonderful balanced. This is not a hard spy novel, no this is about using your skills, finding solutions without James Bond gadget and believing you can manage it.
I really liked how wonderful Budapest gets described here.
The idea how she crosses the Iron Curtain is great and I really enjoyed reading about it.
Maggie is a wonderful character for me. Now she is on her own but hears her former colleague Frank, her des husband or her mum with good advices, whenever she needs a pep talk. I really like this idea. She is on her own on a mission which is not at all what she expected. The risks are much higher and I really like how she meets local Hungarians and the relationship she has with them.
How all comes together in the end, when we are seeing the whole picture of this story, is well done. It is a great idea and for me well written
Once again I really enjoyed reading about Maggie and how the spy story is written here.
For me a wonderful character and I hope there will be more books about here for us to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A great second outing for Maggie Flynn, novice spy extraordinaire. After solving her late husband’s murder, Maggie is now working for MI5 at a desk job and babysitting Oleg, a Russian defector.
When her boss offers her the opportunity to progress her career she is not sure whether the mission is worth going for or whether it is a poisoned chalice.
He asks her to go undercover to Budapest and bring home a double defector spy, Fitzroy Carver but with no backup, and completely on her own.
After a bit of research she decides to take on the mission but is shocked to discover the agent is an old drunk who makes it very difficult to be rescued.
Dodging danger behind the iron curtain during the Cold War, Maggie must use all her espionage skills to escape alive and with the help of some new Hungarian friends she decides to drive Carver through Europe in a VW camper van.
This was a great novel, very exciting with some fabulous new characters whom I really warmed to. There is even a possible love interest for Maggie despite her loyalty to her dead husband who still whispers encouragement in her ear.
Frank, an old retired spy who was in the previous book, also talks to Maggie inside her head, even though he is now retired and living in the Canary Islands.
I liked the setting of Budapest and the period descriptions of Soviet Hungary as well as all the 1960s references including The Beatles and Sean Connery as Bond. The latter reminded me of my childhood and my teenage love of James Bond books!
This is a fantastic read which I whizzed through in a few days- I definitely recommend “The Spy and the Snake” and look forward to Maggie’s next adventure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
When her boss offers her the opportunity to progress her career she is not sure whether the mission is worth going for or whether it is a poisoned chalice.
He asks her to go undercover to Budapest and bring home a double defector spy, Fitzroy Carver but with no backup, and completely on her own.
After a bit of research she decides to take on the mission but is shocked to discover the agent is an old drunk who makes it very difficult to be rescued.
Dodging danger behind the iron curtain during the Cold War, Maggie must use all her espionage skills to escape alive and with the help of some new Hungarian friends she decides to drive Carver through Europe in a VW camper van.
This was a great novel, very exciting with some fabulous new characters whom I really warmed to. There is even a possible love interest for Maggie despite her loyalty to her dead husband who still whispers encouragement in her ear.
Frank, an old retired spy who was in the previous book, also talks to Maggie inside her head, even though he is now retired and living in the Canary Islands.
I liked the setting of Budapest and the period descriptions of Soviet Hungary as well as all the 1960s references including The Beatles and Sean Connery as Bond. The latter reminded me of my childhood and my teenage love of James Bond books!
This is a fantastic read which I whizzed through in a few days- I definitely recommend “The Spy and the Snake” and look forward to Maggie’s next adventure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
July 9, 2026
Maggie Flynn is not a woman to mess with. M15 desk bound she dreams of being out in the field and is given the assignment of a lifetime, to go behind the Iron Curtain into Budapest and escort defector "Fitzroy Carver" back to England.
The characters are larger than life in this novel, Maggie (just shy of 50) is a determined, resilient woman with a relentless focus on proving her self worth and trying to put the demons of grief behind her. On her arrival she befriends local restaurant owner Zoltan as part of her cover story of teaching English to locals and soon he becomes one of her students in exchange for hospitality.
I loved the cat and mouse of The Spy and the Snake. Maggie deploys all her spy cunning guile to ensure that she remains under the radar whilst in Budapest but still finds herself embroiled in a mess with a counterpart from M16 Tom who have interests of their own in Fitz. Together the unlikely duo hatch a scheme to get Fitz out of the country, if only they can get him out of the pub first.
For all the tense, action packed moments, I actually really enjoyed the humour of the novel, imagining Maggie retracing steps to throw off watchers and some of the lengths she went to in order to ensure her cover worked. I personally found the initial pace of the story slow, but then as the urgency to get Fitz out of the country built, so did the action in the story. I loved the addition of Lida, Fitz's housemaid she was a great character, very gutsy and special shout out to Rita (no spoilers).
If you like a spy / thriller story you will enjoy this and I defy you not to root for Maggie the whole way!
The characters are larger than life in this novel, Maggie (just shy of 50) is a determined, resilient woman with a relentless focus on proving her self worth and trying to put the demons of grief behind her. On her arrival she befriends local restaurant owner Zoltan as part of her cover story of teaching English to locals and soon he becomes one of her students in exchange for hospitality.
I loved the cat and mouse of The Spy and the Snake. Maggie deploys all her spy cunning guile to ensure that she remains under the radar whilst in Budapest but still finds herself embroiled in a mess with a counterpart from M16 Tom who have interests of their own in Fitz. Together the unlikely duo hatch a scheme to get Fitz out of the country, if only they can get him out of the pub first.
For all the tense, action packed moments, I actually really enjoyed the humour of the novel, imagining Maggie retracing steps to throw off watchers and some of the lengths she went to in order to ensure her cover worked. I personally found the initial pace of the story slow, but then as the urgency to get Fitz out of the country built, so did the action in the story. I loved the addition of Lida, Fitz's housemaid she was a great character, very gutsy and special shout out to Rita (no spoilers).
If you like a spy / thriller story you will enjoy this and I defy you not to root for Maggie the whole way!
July 10, 2026
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Happy publication day to @robothammandy for The Spy and The Snake, the eagerly awaited sequel to my five star read, The Spy. I’ve enjoyed taking part in a readalong with a group of Bookstagrammers this week thanks to @headofzeus and @instabooktours
This book jumps forward in time three years to find Maggie embedded into MI5 but still having to deal with misunderstandings about the nature of her work from her male colleagues. So what will they think when the boss sends her into the Eastern Bloc to help a former traitor return to the UK?
I loved how the story flowed, as Maggie dealt with the challenges she faced, never knowing who she could really trust. Would the secret police stop her or could someone at MI6 put a spanner in the works? Or would the person she was supposed to help sabotage their rescue mission?
Love how Maggie’s character is evolving as her confidence in her own abilities grows and I hope that there will be more books in the series. I also loved how post war Budapest was brought to life - friends who have visited have said how beautiful it is. Although you could read this as a standalone story, I recommend that you read Mrs Spy first so that you can enjoy both excellent books.
#thespyandthesnake #mjrobotham #headofzeus #instabooktours
Happy publication day to @robothammandy for The Spy and The Snake, the eagerly awaited sequel to my five star read, The Spy. I’ve enjoyed taking part in a readalong with a group of Bookstagrammers this week thanks to @headofzeus and @instabooktours
This book jumps forward in time three years to find Maggie embedded into MI5 but still having to deal with misunderstandings about the nature of her work from her male colleagues. So what will they think when the boss sends her into the Eastern Bloc to help a former traitor return to the UK?
I loved how the story flowed, as Maggie dealt with the challenges she faced, never knowing who she could really trust. Would the secret police stop her or could someone at MI6 put a spanner in the works? Or would the person she was supposed to help sabotage their rescue mission?
Love how Maggie’s character is evolving as her confidence in her own abilities grows and I hope that there will be more books in the series. I also loved how post war Budapest was brought to life - friends who have visited have said how beautiful it is. Although you could read this as a standalone story, I recommend that you read Mrs Spy first so that you can enjoy both excellent books.
#thespyandthesnake #mjrobotham #headofzeus #instabooktours
July 10, 2026
Thank you to @bloomsburybooksus for the ARC of The Spy and the Snake by M.J. Robotham. This second book was another delight; I really love the Maggie Flynn series.
I love the author’s writing style; it is chatty, with unique vocabulary and entertaining ways of stringing words together. It’s just a lot of fun to read. I loved being back with Maggie, and she still has several voices of loved ones in her head which are very entertaining.
I especially loved the Budapest setting which brought me back to my own visit there. Like Maggie, I visited a spa and appreciated the difference between Buda and Pest. Unlike her, I clearly didn’t eat enough cake. 🤣
The time period and settings are evoked in such an interesting way, and I loved the new characters as well. The only thing that is strange is the book synopsis that I’m seeing on review websites and the publisher’s website isn’t accurate. The blurb says that Maggie has to pose as a defector’s wife, but that’s not true. She is trying to get someone out of Budapest, but there’s never a suggestion that she pose as his wife.
Anyways, I really like spy novels with female protagonists. I am so glad I tried this series this year, and I highly recommend the books!
I love the author’s writing style; it is chatty, with unique vocabulary and entertaining ways of stringing words together. It’s just a lot of fun to read. I loved being back with Maggie, and she still has several voices of loved ones in her head which are very entertaining.
I especially loved the Budapest setting which brought me back to my own visit there. Like Maggie, I visited a spa and appreciated the difference between Buda and Pest. Unlike her, I clearly didn’t eat enough cake. 🤣
The time period and settings are evoked in such an interesting way, and I loved the new characters as well. The only thing that is strange is the book synopsis that I’m seeing on review websites and the publisher’s website isn’t accurate. The blurb says that Maggie has to pose as a defector’s wife, but that’s not true. She is trying to get someone out of Budapest, but there’s never a suggestion that she pose as his wife.
Anyways, I really like spy novels with female protagonists. I am so glad I tried this series this year, and I highly recommend the books!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Spy and the Snake’ by M.J. Robotham, is the follow up novel to The Spy, which I loved. I didn’t know what to expect when I read the first novel and was surprisingly impressed by how much I enjoyed it. This time I was ready for it, and although I was entertained it didn’t have quite the same affect as the first novel.
Maggie Flynn has achieved what most MI5 officers dream of, a promotion to the upper echelons of the service. But as she quickly learns, “promotion comes with paperwork.”, with her daughter at university and her mother off on her own adventures, London feels a little too silent. So, when the call comes to head to Budapest, she once again felt excitement.
Maggie must fly to Hungary and pose as the wife of a notorious British defector and smuggle him back to the UK. The instructions sound straightforward, but in a city like Budapest, nothing is ever routine.
This is a cosy spy thriller, often humorous and full of action. Maggie Flynn is a woman trying to reclaim her identity by putting her life on the line for her country.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Aria & Aries for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie Flynn has achieved what most MI5 officers dream of, a promotion to the upper echelons of the service. But as she quickly learns, “promotion comes with paperwork.”, with her daughter at university and her mother off on her own adventures, London feels a little too silent. So, when the call comes to head to Budapest, she once again felt excitement.
Maggie must fly to Hungary and pose as the wife of a notorious British defector and smuggle him back to the UK. The instructions sound straightforward, but in a city like Budapest, nothing is ever routine.
This is a cosy spy thriller, often humorous and full of action. Maggie Flynn is a woman trying to reclaim her identity by putting her life on the line for her country.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Aria & Aries for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fantastic story! The head of MI5 has been told he needs to send a female to bring home a double agent. Maggie Flynn, currently in a desk job at MI5 after her time as a watcher, is chosen to retrieve a traitor who desires to spend his final years in the UK.
Fritz is in Budapest, and Maggie needs to get him out. The setting in Budapest with the local characters is perfect, so what could go wrong with the escape plan? All is revealed in this superb story as Maggie, along with her subconscious inner voices steer her along. The time setting in the 1960’s works well, and the backstory is well researched.
For those who like spy stories with half-truths, lies and deep suspicion, this book is for you! This is the first book I have read by the MJ Robotham, but as soon as I finished this one, I bought the first one in this series – Mrs Spy, where I may glean some of the background used within this book.
This is my number 1 read for 2026 out of 9 books read so far. My advice – get it asap as its 5 star read.
Fritz is in Budapest, and Maggie needs to get him out. The setting in Budapest with the local characters is perfect, so what could go wrong with the escape plan? All is revealed in this superb story as Maggie, along with her subconscious inner voices steer her along. The time setting in the 1960’s works well, and the backstory is well researched.
For those who like spy stories with half-truths, lies and deep suspicion, this book is for you! This is the first book I have read by the MJ Robotham, but as soon as I finished this one, I bought the first one in this series – Mrs Spy, where I may glean some of the background used within this book.
This is my number 1 read for 2026 out of 9 books read so far. My advice – get it asap as its 5 star read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Spy and the Snake by M.L Robotham due for publication 9 July 2026
Maggie is back and given the job of smuggling an old defector out of Budapest and back to the UK. Not an easy challenge but one Maggie is determined to fulfil.
Despite Maggie's worries she comes into her own and by befriending various people she meets manages with their help to get over the border in an old campervan secreting Fritz inside. Not easy babysitting this rather rude obese alcoholic. It is not of course plain sailing and Maggie encounters numerous obstacles on the way. Her watcher skills and inner voices come in useful trying to keep her and Fritz safe from the KGB as she winds across a number 0f Europe's borders back to the UK. Will she manage this and what double dealings await her.
Despite missing Frank and colourful Gilda this was once again a cracking spy story set in the swinging 60's and at last Maggie gets a bit of romance.
I loved it and am looking forward to more of Maggie's adventures.
Thanks to Netgalley for a preview copy.
Maggie is back and given the job of smuggling an old defector out of Budapest and back to the UK. Not an easy challenge but one Maggie is determined to fulfil.
Despite Maggie's worries she comes into her own and by befriending various people she meets manages with their help to get over the border in an old campervan secreting Fritz inside. Not easy babysitting this rather rude obese alcoholic. It is not of course plain sailing and Maggie encounters numerous obstacles on the way. Her watcher skills and inner voices come in useful trying to keep her and Fritz safe from the KGB as she winds across a number 0f Europe's borders back to the UK. Will she manage this and what double dealings await her.
Despite missing Frank and colourful Gilda this was once again a cracking spy story set in the swinging 60's and at last Maggie gets a bit of romance.
I loved it and am looking forward to more of Maggie's adventures.
Thanks to Netgalley for a preview copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Life has changed for ‘Mrs Spy’ and not necessarily in a good way as Maggie returns for her second book outing three years later. Life is quieter. Maggie’s promotion to a desk job lacks the camaraderie and autonomy of her previous life as a ‘watcher’, her extroverted mother Gilda is living a fabulous new life in Tenerife and daughter Libby now an adult has embraced a semi nomadic life in the protest movement. Although terrace gardens and delicious espresso are compensations, Maggie is intrigued when her big boss sends her on secret assignment to Budapest.
The charm of Mrs Spy very much included the warm cast of supporting characters and Maggie finds a new crew in Budapest. Maggie still talks to her dead husband Davy - but less - and there may be a new love interest but he may be a dud. Jury is out for this reader!
I loved the slightly old fashioned quality of M J Robotham’s prose. It definitely helps recreate the late ‘60s world of the book. Maggie’s an engaging protagonist and the story is involving.
The charm of Mrs Spy very much included the warm cast of supporting characters and Maggie finds a new crew in Budapest. Maggie still talks to her dead husband Davy - but less - and there may be a new love interest but he may be a dud. Jury is out for this reader!
I loved the slightly old fashioned quality of M J Robotham’s prose. It definitely helps recreate the late ‘60s world of the book. Maggie’s an engaging protagonist and the story is involving.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The spy and the snake is the sequel to Mrs Spy by Mandy Robotham. I enjoyed the original tory o I couldn’t wait to hear how the story enfolds.
Maggie Flynn is now working as a watcher for the M15. Her day consists of lots of paperwork so when they ask her to go to Budapest to bring back Fitz Carver and an old M15 agent who defected, back to the UK she jumps at the chance to prove herself that she can do the job and be better than the old boys. She think will be a simple task and straightforward, but she realises when she gets here that this is not the case. But that doesn’t frighten her. It makes her more determined to succeed.
Once again Mandy Robotham has written another intriguing spy thriller in the time of the swinging 60’s. With the music of The Beatles etc fashion and don’t forget the cake. This is another great page turner and got me routing for Maggie all the way through. This is not your ordinary spy thriller it has some humour in it between the characters and some romance in it too. I can’t wait to read more. 5 stars from me.
Maggie Flynn is now working as a watcher for the M15. Her day consists of lots of paperwork so when they ask her to go to Budapest to bring back Fitz Carver and an old M15 agent who defected, back to the UK she jumps at the chance to prove herself that she can do the job and be better than the old boys. She think will be a simple task and straightforward, but she realises when she gets here that this is not the case. But that doesn’t frighten her. It makes her more determined to succeed.
Once again Mandy Robotham has written another intriguing spy thriller in the time of the swinging 60’s. With the music of The Beatles etc fashion and don’t forget the cake. This is another great page turner and got me routing for Maggie all the way through. This is not your ordinary spy thriller it has some humour in it between the characters and some romance in it too. I can’t wait to read more. 5 stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A “contrived” sequel to The Spy, this is a fun spy story romp set in the Cold War. I didn't read the first book, The Spy, but I felt this can be read as a standalone.
A former MI6 agent, Fitzroy Carver, who defected behind the Iron Curtain wants to come home saying he can name the mole that’s been plaguing the organization. It’s 1968 and an age of no cell phones or internet. Maggie Flynn, a low level agent, is tapped by MI5 to get the agent out. It’s an off-the-book assignment too. Arriving in Bucharest, Maggie enjoys the city making friends with a local restaurant owner. But who can she trust? She talks things over with her dead husband and former partner. She thinks she’s seen Carver but she needs help. She gets some lucky brakes in the people she befriends. The story also careens to a crazy chase across Europe in a VW camper among other details.
This is perfect book for lovers of spy thrillers with a twist of good fun.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria for allowing me access to this ARC.
A former MI6 agent, Fitzroy Carver, who defected behind the Iron Curtain wants to come home saying he can name the mole that’s been plaguing the organization. It’s 1968 and an age of no cell phones or internet. Maggie Flynn, a low level agent, is tapped by MI5 to get the agent out. It’s an off-the-book assignment too. Arriving in Bucharest, Maggie enjoys the city making friends with a local restaurant owner. But who can she trust? She talks things over with her dead husband and former partner. She thinks she’s seen Carver but she needs help. She gets some lucky brakes in the people she befriends. The story also careens to a crazy chase across Europe in a VW camper among other details.
This is perfect book for lovers of spy thrillers with a twist of good fun.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria for allowing me access to this ARC.
June 21, 2026
The Spy and the Snake is an entertaining Cold War espionage novel that follows Maggie Flynn, an MI5 officer who finds herself drawn back into the excitement of fieldwork after becoming frustrated with a desk-bound role. When she is sent to Budapest on a mission to help a British defector escape from behind the Iron Curtain, what appears to be a routine operation quickly becomes far more complicated.
The story blends suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists as Maggie navigates a world of secrets, shifting loyalties, and political tension. Along the way, she encounters characters whose motives are not always clear, forcing her to rely on her instincts and intelligence to stay one step ahead.
What makes the novel particularly enjoyable is Maggie herself. She is a relatable and capable protagonist whose wit and determination bring warmth and humor to a genre often dominated by hard-edged spies. The result is a fast-paced and engaging read that combines classic spy-novel tension with strong character development and a touch of romance.
The story blends suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists as Maggie navigates a world of secrets, shifting loyalties, and political tension. Along the way, she encounters characters whose motives are not always clear, forcing her to rely on her instincts and intelligence to stay one step ahead.
What makes the novel particularly enjoyable is Maggie herself. She is a relatable and capable protagonist whose wit and determination bring warmth and humor to a genre often dominated by hard-edged spies. The result is a fast-paced and engaging read that combines classic spy-novel tension with strong character development and a touch of romance.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 | 4.25 stars rounded down
This book felt like a mix of The Thursday Murder Club, Fleabag, and James Bond - and I ate it up.
Set in the middle of the Cold War, The Spy and the Snake follows MI5 agent Maggie Flynn, who is sent to Hungary to retrieve a double agent.
Maggie is an absolute force of nature, and I completely fell in love with her. Her sharp wit, determination, and vulnerability shone throughout the story, and I was deeply touched by her love for her daughter and deceased husband.
M.J. Robotham's writing is clever, funny, and lyrical. While I predicted some of the twists, the plot kept me on my toes overall. The historical fiction aspects were fascinating, and I loved learning more about the Cold War through Maggie's experience.
The pacing felt a bit inconsistent at points, which pulled me out of the story a little bit - but it didn't hamper my enjoyment too much.
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury for the gifted advance copy through the Creator Circle program! All thoughts are my own.
This book felt like a mix of The Thursday Murder Club, Fleabag, and James Bond - and I ate it up.
Set in the middle of the Cold War, The Spy and the Snake follows MI5 agent Maggie Flynn, who is sent to Hungary to retrieve a double agent.
Maggie is an absolute force of nature, and I completely fell in love with her. Her sharp wit, determination, and vulnerability shone throughout the story, and I was deeply touched by her love for her daughter and deceased husband.
M.J. Robotham's writing is clever, funny, and lyrical. While I predicted some of the twists, the plot kept me on my toes overall. The historical fiction aspects were fascinating, and I loved learning more about the Cold War through Maggie's experience.
The pacing felt a bit inconsistent at points, which pulled me out of the story a little bit - but it didn't hamper my enjoyment too much.
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury for the gifted advance copy through the Creator Circle program! All thoughts are my own.
July 5, 2026
Thank you @Bloomsburybooksus #BloomsburyCreatorCircle for my free book. These opinions are my own:
I love it. I love her. I love Robotham's writing style—it's satisfying and keeps me reading to get to whatever is happening on the next page. I love that this is Maggie's second act in life too. Personally, as a middle-aged woman, I believe we need more middle-aged women as heroes in books. Particularly in ones where they are out having adventures! I do wish I had read book 1 first, but I got by with the references and explanations (but reader: be warned! There are definitely spoilers for Mrs. Spy, so if that bothers you then definitely start with that one first). I understand that this is a very different adventure for Maggie and we get to see her growing and spreading her wings even more beyond book 1, though, and that makes me very happy. I learned a lot about Budapest, and I made note of several places (especially dessert-related ones!) to check out when I make my way there some day. Maggie's got a fan in me, and I do hope that there will be a book 3!
I love it. I love her. I love Robotham's writing style—it's satisfying and keeps me reading to get to whatever is happening on the next page. I love that this is Maggie's second act in life too. Personally, as a middle-aged woman, I believe we need more middle-aged women as heroes in books. Particularly in ones where they are out having adventures! I do wish I had read book 1 first, but I got by with the references and explanations (but reader: be warned! There are definitely spoilers for Mrs. Spy, so if that bothers you then definitely start with that one first). I understand that this is a very different adventure for Maggie and we get to see her growing and spreading her wings even more beyond book 1, though, and that makes me very happy. I learned a lot about Budapest, and I made note of several places (especially dessert-related ones!) to check out when I make my way there some day. Maggie's got a fan in me, and I do hope that there will be a book 3!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This cold war spy thriller was a top hit for me, I ate it up quicker than Maggie devoured a slice of torta!
What a wonderful breath of fresh air Maggie is, I was instantly hooked by her charm and her practical no nonsense attitude. She's middle aged, resilient and clever but fragile inside too. I love her inner monologues with those that give her advice in her mind.
The story is fast paced, clever and twisty in the way a good spy thriller should be. Always throwing in doubt and having us look over our shoulders to see if we are being followed. The writing is vivid with Budapest really lighting up the pages, the characters larger than life and the story engaging. I am going to have to go and read the first book in this series as I enjoyed this one so much. And then the frisson of excitement that the blue eyed stranger adds to the mix, yummy yum yum!
Thank you to the M Robotham, Head of Zeus and Netgalley for my copy
What a wonderful breath of fresh air Maggie is, I was instantly hooked by her charm and her practical no nonsense attitude. She's middle aged, resilient and clever but fragile inside too. I love her inner monologues with those that give her advice in her mind.
The story is fast paced, clever and twisty in the way a good spy thriller should be. Always throwing in doubt and having us look over our shoulders to see if we are being followed. The writing is vivid with Budapest really lighting up the pages, the characters larger than life and the story engaging. I am going to have to go and read the first book in this series as I enjoyed this one so much. And then the frisson of excitement that the blue eyed stranger adds to the mix, yummy yum yum!
Thank you to the M Robotham, Head of Zeus and Netgalley for my copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In 1968, the Cold War continues. Maggie Flynn has returned to relatively quiet duties with the Secret Service but misses the physical adventures. She accepts an off-the-books assignment to Budapest from London, one full of danger, double agents, espionage, assassins and KGB behind the Iron Curtain. She feels she is a Jack-of-all-trades and is highly skilled but has trepidations regarding smuggling a British defector. She also reflects on her late husband which adds a personal touch to the story.
On paper, the synopsis looked like my wheelhouse...and in ways, it was. The setting and era felt authentic and I enjoyed Maggie. However, I would have liked deeper complexities in the story, writing, and characters. At times, my heart was not in it. But I appreciate the author's notes and inspiration.
My sincere thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this intriguing novel.
On paper, the synopsis looked like my wheelhouse...and in ways, it was. The setting and era felt authentic and I enjoyed Maggie. However, I would have liked deeper complexities in the story, writing, and characters. At times, my heart was not in it. But I appreciate the author's notes and inspiration.
My sincere thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this intriguing novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed Mrs. Spy and gave it 5 stars. This one was a bit of a letdown. After a promising opening page with a quote from my all-time favorite, Harriet the Spy, the first half was so slow that I kept putting the book down and going back to it the next day. Never a good thing for me. This one lacked the suspense and tension of the first book, and even with the KGB and other agencies on the prowl, I never felt Maggie was in danger. The second half was much better but still not enough to elevate this to more than 3 stars, unfortunately. However, I do like this series and look forward to seeing where it goes. I think readers of Mrs. Spy will miss Frank in this one and I hope we see him again in future.
I thoroughly enjoyed Mrs. Spy and gave it 5 stars. This one was a bit of a letdown. After a promising opening page with a quote from my all-time favorite, Harriet the Spy, the first half was so slow that I kept putting the book down and going back to it the next day. Never a good thing for me. This one lacked the suspense and tension of the first book, and even with the KGB and other agencies on the prowl, I never felt Maggie was in danger. The second half was much better but still not enough to elevate this to more than 3 stars, unfortunately. However, I do like this series and look forward to seeing where it goes. I think readers of Mrs. Spy will miss Frank in this one and I hope we see him again in future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Those who enjoy spy thrillers in theory but find too many of them overly labyrinthine or violent will like "The Spy and the Snake." The plot is definitely easy to follow, unlike, say, some of Le Carré's or Furst's novels. The depiction of Cold War Budapest was fun too.
But I felt the story was overly simplistic, and our heroine/narrator Maggie Flynn nowhere near as clever or charming as we're repeatedly told she is. I cringed at how eagerly she broke her cover, and her continual mental asides to her absent mother and former partner quickly grew tedious. However, I do prefer grittier tales of espionage, so I'm likely not the target audience for this. All that said, the description of Dobos tortes and the city's famed baths made me consider visiting Budapest once again.
Thank you, Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
But I felt the story was overly simplistic, and our heroine/narrator Maggie Flynn nowhere near as clever or charming as we're repeatedly told she is. I cringed at how eagerly she broke her cover, and her continual mental asides to her absent mother and former partner quickly grew tedious. However, I do prefer grittier tales of espionage, so I'm likely not the target audience for this. All that said, the description of Dobos tortes and the city's famed baths made me consider visiting Budapest once again.
Thank you, Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved Mrs Spy so I was really looking forward to the second book in the series, The Spy and the Snake and it was so enjoyable. Maggie is still working for MI5 and is given the opportunity to extract a double agent from Communist Hungary and bring them back to the UK. What follows is a fast paced trip of a lifetime across Europe in an old camper van with Maggie having to deal with a worse for wear defectors and the ever threatening worry of the KGB.
I love the writing of these books, there is always a fun element to the story as well as the background of the Cold War and all its implications. Maggie is a great character, well rounded and full of life. The European setting is perfect for the story and the 60’s setting is done really well. I hope M.J.Robotham continues with this series again and again.
I love the writing of these books, there is always a fun element to the story as well as the background of the Cold War and all its implications. Maggie is a great character, well rounded and full of life. The European setting is perfect for the story and the 60’s setting is done really well. I hope M.J.Robotham continues with this series again and again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The second in the series featuring Maggie, a housewife/store detective turned Spy. She has moved up the ranks and is now on her first mission on the continent rather than just being a spook tailing people. Her task is to exfiltrate a double agent from Budapest for MI5, however her job has been made difficult owing to the presence of a mole in the service so it has to be a one person job with no support. The book brings to life the Cold War and depicts the suspicion that an agent must possess in order to survive really well. The book builds tension and suspense really well and is quick moving with great characters within, especially the indefatigable Maggie. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
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