What do you think?
Rate this book
Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy: A funny and feel-good novel from the winner of the Comedy Women in Print Prize
Winner of the 2020 Comedy Women in Print Prize
Vicky Turnbull has never regretted giving up her career for family life in the suburbs. And apart from being outstandingly good at paintball, no one would ever know that in a past life she was an undercover spy and has been trained to kill a man with her bare hands. Not even her husband, and certainly not the other mums at the school gate.
But beneath the school runs and bake sales, Vicky had never quite said goodbye to the past. So, when a newcomer on the PTA sets alarms bells ringing and MI5 comes calling, she’s determined to prove that despite her expanding waistline and love of pink gin, she’s still every bit the cold-eyed special operative.
When the assignment gets uncomfortably close to home, Vicky must decide if she has got what the job takes after all, and if home is really where her heart is…
Vicky Turnbull has never regretted giving up her career for family life in the suburbs. And apart from being outstandingly good at paintball, no one would ever know that in a past life she was an undercover spy and has been trained to kill a man with her bare hands. Not even her husband, and certainly not the other mums at the school gate.
But beneath the school runs and bake sales, Vicky had never quite said goodbye to the past. So, when a newcomer on the PTA sets alarms bells ringing and MI5 comes calling, she’s determined to prove that despite her expanding waistline and love of pink gin, she’s still every bit the cold-eyed special operative.
When the assignment gets uncomfortably close to home, Vicky must decide if she has got what the job takes after all, and if home is really where her heart is…
368 pages, Paperback
Published May 31, 2022
19 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 31, 2021
Action, drama, spy thriller epic and fantastic read all rolled into one. The title of this book was an immediate draw and I knew it was going to be a brilliant book before I even opened it! It’s one of their books which just sounds amazing and it certainly delivered on my expectations.
With a main character who is so easy to love, personable and real, it was great to follow her adventures of life as a mum and an undercover spy!
It was a really entertaining book and one that I didn’t want to put down. It had a fantastic plot and story, and one that definitely kept you engaged and wanting to read on! I loved the ending and I really hope there will be more of these books! It really has the makings and potentials for such a great series and I definitely hope there will be more to come.
Thank you to the author and publishers via for a copy of this book, in return for my honest thoughts and review.
With a main character who is so easy to love, personable and real, it was great to follow her adventures of life as a mum and an undercover spy!
It was a really entertaining book and one that I didn’t want to put down. It had a fantastic plot and story, and one that definitely kept you engaged and wanting to read on! I loved the ending and I really hope there will be more of these books! It really has the makings and potentials for such a great series and I definitely hope there will be more to come.
Thank you to the author and publishers via for a copy of this book, in return for my honest thoughts and review.
December 30, 2025
"Maybe she needed to unwind, or maybe it was hormones, but shooting people until they were covered in bright-yellow gunk was extremely enjoyable." (p.3)London mother of three Vicky Turnbull is facing the stressors common to many middle-aged women: feeling stressed out and scruffy and unfulfilled by the school run and her role on the PTA (Parent & Teachers' Association). But Vicky has a secret that none of her mum friends, or even her husband Chris know about - she's a M16 "sleeper" agent, once a secret service operative at the top of her game, and she's just been called out of retirement...
"Maybe the easy option was all she should be okay with. She had other priorities now, other people to think about. For God's sake, she was a forty-six-year-old mother of three who couldn't keep a jug of sangria down, not James bloody Bond." (p.29)
August 19, 2021
Not sure where the comedy was in this book.. I didn’t find it funny at all. In fact didn’t realise it was meany to be.. Dialogue is clunky and the characters shallow and cliched.. Plot ok, but certainly not a thriller, by any stretch of the imagination. and it certainly does raise the question of what happens when a female spy gets pregnant and has children.
January 14, 2022
A very fun, breezy read.
July 10, 2023
The writing was light and easy to get into. As I got further into the book I just wanted to keep on reading. There was plenty of description that went well with the story and didn't at any point become overbearing. There was a good flow with plenty of things happening to keep me on my toes!
The chapters were fairly long, so you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. The way it was written kept my interest and so I wasn't in a rush to finish a chapter and move on to the next bit. There were lots of little elements to the story which I enjoyed finding out about as they gradually came to light.
The characters were excellent. I loved the main character and enjoyed following her on her journey. I enjoyed reading about the surrounding characters too, each of whom had an important role in the main character's emotional and physical journey.
Lastly the settings. They were lightly described to give a well rounded view as to what was happening to the characters at the time. I particularly enjoyed reading about the more wealthy characters and how they spent their money.
Overall an enjoyable story.
The chapters were fairly long, so you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. The way it was written kept my interest and so I wasn't in a rush to finish a chapter and move on to the next bit. There were lots of little elements to the story which I enjoyed finding out about as they gradually came to light.
The characters were excellent. I loved the main character and enjoyed following her on her journey. I enjoyed reading about the surrounding characters too, each of whom had an important role in the main character's emotional and physical journey.
Lastly the settings. They were lightly described to give a well rounded view as to what was happening to the characters at the time. I particularly enjoyed reading about the more wealthy characters and how they spent their money.
Overall an enjoyable story.
September 11, 2021
A huge thank you to @annecater14 @harperfiction and @writerfaye for my #gifted copy of my book for @randomthingstours
Oh this book was just absolutely perfect. It's sassy, funny, intense, incredible character has an interesting mystery. I loved it!
We follow Vicky whose a 40 something Mum of three. She's happily married and loves her kids, but she's stuck in a rut. She wants to work, have a self fullfilling job where she's appreciated. The only job available is to be a part of her kids school PTA team, which she reluctantly agrees too. The thing about Vicky though is she was once and undercover spy for MI5 and she misses the thrill. She's a sharp shooter with a gun and is very clever at recon and undercover work. She however hates the lies and double life. After having a blast at a paintballing party for a friends husbands 40th, she starts reminiscing her old life...unknown to her that her old life wants her back undercover. Vicky is tasked to restart her job, because someone whose part of her school friends circle is actually a very dodgy criminal. She's back in action with the thrill and new gadgets, but soon things get far too close to home for her.
Vicky is hillarous and she just excelled all of us mothers feelings. I love the tug of war with unconditional love for her kids, and the "I just want some me time" scenario. I really enjoyed the identity crisis Vicky has, which lets be fair all of us mothers have at least a dozen times. It's the battle of loving being a mother but also losing who you once were. It's grieving for your old life but when you think about it, it really isn't as fullfilling as being a parent is. Vicky is hillarous and such an embarrassing mother to her children (aren't we all!?) I absolutely loved the paintballing scene in the opening of this book, it was just so intense and I generally thought she was on a spy mission. I also like how each mundane task Vicky does, she executes it like a mission. Her inner dialogue (her thinking) was just so much fun! Also the PTA meetings....will never look at them the same way again!
The undercover spy mission was brilliant and everything slowly emerges. Lies, secrets and betrayals with awesome kick ass skills and equally awesome gadgets. Not read a spy mystery before and it's safe to say I LOVED IT and want to read more spy stories.
Fayre writes absolutely brilliantly. You are instantly captivated by her wholesome writing and also Vickys funny character and the spy scenario. It gives you a fast paced, intense read but also a blast of fun and laughter. I would absolutely love to see this as a tv series and I'm not one to like books be made into adaptions, so it says it all.
Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy is a fun, non-stop hillarous read, which is easy to do in one sitting (just like I did). It's the perfect book to just wind-down and enjoy easily. I'd love this to be a bool series too as I just want more of Vicky in my life. Definitely have a look into this book, I think you'll all enjoy it.
Oh this book was just absolutely perfect. It's sassy, funny, intense, incredible character has an interesting mystery. I loved it!
We follow Vicky whose a 40 something Mum of three. She's happily married and loves her kids, but she's stuck in a rut. She wants to work, have a self fullfilling job where she's appreciated. The only job available is to be a part of her kids school PTA team, which she reluctantly agrees too. The thing about Vicky though is she was once and undercover spy for MI5 and she misses the thrill. She's a sharp shooter with a gun and is very clever at recon and undercover work. She however hates the lies and double life. After having a blast at a paintballing party for a friends husbands 40th, she starts reminiscing her old life...unknown to her that her old life wants her back undercover. Vicky is tasked to restart her job, because someone whose part of her school friends circle is actually a very dodgy criminal. She's back in action with the thrill and new gadgets, but soon things get far too close to home for her.
Vicky is hillarous and she just excelled all of us mothers feelings. I love the tug of war with unconditional love for her kids, and the "I just want some me time" scenario. I really enjoyed the identity crisis Vicky has, which lets be fair all of us mothers have at least a dozen times. It's the battle of loving being a mother but also losing who you once were. It's grieving for your old life but when you think about it, it really isn't as fullfilling as being a parent is. Vicky is hillarous and such an embarrassing mother to her children (aren't we all!?) I absolutely loved the paintballing scene in the opening of this book, it was just so intense and I generally thought she was on a spy mission. I also like how each mundane task Vicky does, she executes it like a mission. Her inner dialogue (her thinking) was just so much fun! Also the PTA meetings....will never look at them the same way again!
The undercover spy mission was brilliant and everything slowly emerges. Lies, secrets and betrayals with awesome kick ass skills and equally awesome gadgets. Not read a spy mystery before and it's safe to say I LOVED IT and want to read more spy stories.
Fayre writes absolutely brilliantly. You are instantly captivated by her wholesome writing and also Vickys funny character and the spy scenario. It gives you a fast paced, intense read but also a blast of fun and laughter. I would absolutely love to see this as a tv series and I'm not one to like books be made into adaptions, so it says it all.
Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy is a fun, non-stop hillarous read, which is easy to do in one sitting (just like I did). It's the perfect book to just wind-down and enjoy easily. I'd love this to be a bool series too as I just want more of Vicky in my life. Definitely have a look into this book, I think you'll all enjoy it.
September 16, 2021
Vicky Turnbull is not an ordinary housewife and mother. She’s a former spy who somewhat retired 14 years ago after having her first child. So she is very surprised when her former employer, MI5 reaches out with a new assignment that is a little too close to her home life. But Vicky very quickly dusts down her spy skills and off she goes. Does Vicky still have what it takes to be a spy? Once she is back in her former spy life which life will she choose?
The book arrived just before the weekend and it was the perfect weekend read. It was funny, light and full of suspense. A mum who’s a spy is just a brilliant concept and kept me entertained from start to finish. Vicky is such a likeable character and hilarious, it was hard not to like her from the beginning. You could tell from the first chapter during the paintball event that Vicky had the makings or was a covert agent and that she’d not lost any of her skills. However, it was also clear that she missed her former life and she fell back into her old role very quickly and easily. There were a few hair raising moments when Vicky was under cover and trying to obtain information, especially when a ghost from the past made reappearance. It was also interesting to learn more about Vicky’s life before she was married and had children and her past assignments. This added more context and background to Vicky’s character. I would really be interested in a prequel based on Vicky’s life as a spy. Although I loved everything about this book as a Whovian I have to say one of my favourite parts was when Vicky and her husband attend a Halloween party and they dress as Dr Who and Vicky dresses as a Dalek.
A funny, witty and a comedic spy movie in book format. I can’t recommend this book enough. Definitely a book I will be reading again!
The book arrived just before the weekend and it was the perfect weekend read. It was funny, light and full of suspense. A mum who’s a spy is just a brilliant concept and kept me entertained from start to finish. Vicky is such a likeable character and hilarious, it was hard not to like her from the beginning. You could tell from the first chapter during the paintball event that Vicky had the makings or was a covert agent and that she’d not lost any of her skills. However, it was also clear that she missed her former life and she fell back into her old role very quickly and easily. There were a few hair raising moments when Vicky was under cover and trying to obtain information, especially when a ghost from the past made reappearance. It was also interesting to learn more about Vicky’s life before she was married and had children and her past assignments. This added more context and background to Vicky’s character. I would really be interested in a prequel based on Vicky’s life as a spy. Although I loved everything about this book as a Whovian I have to say one of my favourite parts was when Vicky and her husband attend a Halloween party and they dress as Dr Who and Vicky dresses as a Dalek.
A funny, witty and a comedic spy movie in book format. I can’t recommend this book enough. Definitely a book I will be reading again!
October 2, 2021
A few problems. It is not funny. It's a spy story but hardly comedy despite the claim on the cover. It is also very gender-role stereotyped - seemed like the best option to challenge those tropes but instead it leans in hard. The First half way better than the second.
December 10, 2021
Nothing unusual about the way Vicky plays paintball - I play that way, just saying. To her fellow players, friends and other parents, well they find her James Bond goes loco with a gun and a bit of paint routine quite entertaining.
Little do they know that the mother of three children and the loving wife, well she has an interesting past. The secret squirrel kind of past. She's a wee bit bored now though, so a part-time job might help to alleviate the boredom or perhaps she should respond to her persistent ex-employers.
I think it goes without saying that this should absolutely be developed into a cosy crime TV series or a hardcore brutal one even. The cosy option would lend itself more to the comedy of the plot though. Planning the school summer fair in the morning and stopping terrorists in their tracks during the afternoon school session, sounds like great fun.
Brann writes the kind of plot that teeters on this curious wishful scenario, which is the reality in Vicky's case. She is the kind of powerful, and yet down-to-earth kind of character everyone likes to read and experience.
*I received a courtesy copy*
Little do they know that the mother of three children and the loving wife, well she has an interesting past. The secret squirrel kind of past. She's a wee bit bored now though, so a part-time job might help to alleviate the boredom or perhaps she should respond to her persistent ex-employers.
I think it goes without saying that this should absolutely be developed into a cosy crime TV series or a hardcore brutal one even. The cosy option would lend itself more to the comedy of the plot though. Planning the school summer fair in the morning and stopping terrorists in their tracks during the afternoon school session, sounds like great fun.
Brann writes the kind of plot that teeters on this curious wishful scenario, which is the reality in Vicky's case. She is the kind of powerful, and yet down-to-earth kind of character everyone likes to read and experience.
*I received a courtesy copy*
November 1, 2021
A mildly entertaining story of a housewife who used to be a spy and after fourteen years is called back to work on a special assignment. Interspersed with spy goings on are a lot of descriptions of expensive clothes and houses and thing, and the last few chapters are mostly a prolonged advertisement for holidays in Dubai. While moderately diverting I am not sure why it won a comedy prize as it isn’t funny at all. Makes you wonder what on earth the other entries could have been like to be beaten by this.
September 1, 2025
Super cozy spy thriller and such a pager turner! Brann keeps you guessing and keeps you laughing.
January 26, 2022
Apparently this is a comedy? I couldn't see where the laughs were. I'd struggle to put this book into any genre, it tries to be funny, yet it's about a spy working on an assignment that could put her whole family in danger.
The main character is not likeable at all and her husband is a Saint!
The main character is not likeable at all and her husband is a Saint!
September 7, 2021
4.5/5
Family/action/adventure/spy/thriller/friendship/PTA stuff
OMG! This was hilarious! And brilliant! It's women's fiction, comedy, and action spy thriller, all rolled into one amazing package.
Vicky is a happily married, slightly stressed, stay at home, middle aged, mother of three. Her days are dictated by what her family needs, friends, and lately, the PTA at her kid's school. She misses the work that she gave up 15 years ago when she had her first child, and like any woman with children growing up fast, needing mum less and less each day, she is questioning her purpose. Does she want to go back to work? Can she, after being away for 15 years? Would her old job suit her now?
Her job... Oh she was/is a spy with MI5. One of the best. Only now her bones cracked at places she didn't know existed, she runs out of breath on short runs, and her body showed all the signs of a life lived content. And she didn't even know what VPN was!
But when a new member of the PTA raises red flags, Vicky is roped into her old craft. It's just too close to home. Can she be a tinker, tailor, schoolmum, and still a kick-ass spy at the same time?
I can't believe there are only 16 ratings and 7 reviews for this gem on Goodreads as of now. The story is well written, with the right amount of self-reflection, action, spy shenanigans, family, friendship...and is absolutely laugh out loud.
Have you never thought what the kick-ass spies (as shown in movies) do after they retire? And if anyone's listening I won't mind watching this on screen too.
Family/action/adventure/spy/thriller/friendship/PTA stuff
OMG! This was hilarious! And brilliant! It's women's fiction, comedy, and action spy thriller, all rolled into one amazing package.
Vicky is a happily married, slightly stressed, stay at home, middle aged, mother of three. Her days are dictated by what her family needs, friends, and lately, the PTA at her kid's school. She misses the work that she gave up 15 years ago when she had her first child, and like any woman with children growing up fast, needing mum less and less each day, she is questioning her purpose. Does she want to go back to work? Can she, after being away for 15 years? Would her old job suit her now?
Her job... Oh she was/is a spy with MI5. One of the best. Only now her bones cracked at places she didn't know existed, she runs out of breath on short runs, and her body showed all the signs of a life lived content. And she didn't even know what VPN was!
But when a new member of the PTA raises red flags, Vicky is roped into her old craft. It's just too close to home. Can she be a tinker, tailor, schoolmum, and still a kick-ass spy at the same time?
I can't believe there are only 16 ratings and 7 reviews for this gem on Goodreads as of now. The story is well written, with the right amount of self-reflection, action, spy shenanigans, family, friendship...and is absolutely laugh out loud.
Have you never thought what the kick-ass spies (as shown in movies) do after they retire? And if anyone's listening I won't mind watching this on screen too.
September 29, 2021
Page Turner?
It wasn't interesting or amusing enough for more, not sure why I continued reading but won't be reading that author again. Back to Ken Follett every time few more good thriller writers.
It wasn't interesting or amusing enough for more, not sure why I continued reading but won't be reading that author again. Back to Ken Follett every time few more good thriller writers.
September 16, 2021
Licensed to kill but in thrall to the PTA, a choice between full-time home-making and a return to her former career in espionage faces Victoria Turnbull. After unwittingly passing an ‘audition’ at her friend’s paintball party, she is recalled to active service and sent on refresher courses to update her technology skills and renew her weapons licence. Returning to work is challenging enough without having to keep a revolver, a stunner and a WASP injection knife out of reach of tiny hands. To make matters even more complicated, Vicky’s loving husband believes she used to travel the world to assess works of art, when in fact she was taking out the bad guys – in more ways than one. Having it all has never been so challenging.
Vicky Turnbull has never regretted giving up her career for family life in the suburbs. And apart from being outstandingly good at paintball, no one would ever know that in a past life she was an undercover spy and has been trained to kill a man with her bare hands. Not even her husband, and certainly not the other mums at the school gate. But beneath the school runs and bake sales, Vicky had never quite said goodbye to the past. So, when a newcomer on the PTA sets alarms bells ringing and the Joint Operations Intelligence Service comes calling, she’s determined to prove that despite her expanding waistline and love of pink gin, she’s still every bit the cold-eyed special operative. When the assignment gets uncomfortably close to home, Vicky must decide if she has got what the job takes after all, and if home is really where her heart is.
The comedic device of juxtaposition is used with brilliant effect in Faye Brann’s debut novel, which won the 2020 Comedy Women in Print Prize. It is difficult to imagine a contrast greater than that between the worlds of bake sales and play dates on one hand and secret agents and bugging devices on the other, but Brann cleverly and convincingly combines the two. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’s humour is not the laugh-out-loud kind. Instead, observation and satirical comments are used to create a series of situations which will make the reader giggle. All the popular tropes of twenty-first century humorous writing for women are there, but with a twist: body confidence or lack of it, romantic relationships, house envy, boozy girls’ nights out, balancing home life with a career.
The school gate can be a scary place, but Vicky is protected by strong allies and her own sang-froid. She is the kind of woman who casually books a babysitter in the certainty that she and her husband will ‘find something to do with someone’ on the day, so infiltrating her daughter’s schoolfriend’s sinister parents’ palatial home is a doddle. I liked the character of Matisse Kozlovsky, and the way a friendship develops when she and Vicky both realise the other has hidden depths.
The story races along at a brisk pace, moving the action from suburban Putney via the Joint Operations Intelligence Service HQ in Whitehall to an impossibly glamorous venue in Dubai. Along the way, Vicky’s handler at JOPS suggests she needs retraining in subterfuge and strategic diplomacy. Her reply is classic. ‘I have three children. Subterfuge is a necessary tool in my house if I want to know anything that’s going on in their lives. Strategic diplomacy is what happens when I find out.’ Many mothers will agree.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Vicky Turnbull has never regretted giving up her career for family life in the suburbs. And apart from being outstandingly good at paintball, no one would ever know that in a past life she was an undercover spy and has been trained to kill a man with her bare hands. Not even her husband, and certainly not the other mums at the school gate. But beneath the school runs and bake sales, Vicky had never quite said goodbye to the past. So, when a newcomer on the PTA sets alarms bells ringing and the Joint Operations Intelligence Service comes calling, she’s determined to prove that despite her expanding waistline and love of pink gin, she’s still every bit the cold-eyed special operative. When the assignment gets uncomfortably close to home, Vicky must decide if she has got what the job takes after all, and if home is really where her heart is.
The comedic device of juxtaposition is used with brilliant effect in Faye Brann’s debut novel, which won the 2020 Comedy Women in Print Prize. It is difficult to imagine a contrast greater than that between the worlds of bake sales and play dates on one hand and secret agents and bugging devices on the other, but Brann cleverly and convincingly combines the two. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’s humour is not the laugh-out-loud kind. Instead, observation and satirical comments are used to create a series of situations which will make the reader giggle. All the popular tropes of twenty-first century humorous writing for women are there, but with a twist: body confidence or lack of it, romantic relationships, house envy, boozy girls’ nights out, balancing home life with a career.
The school gate can be a scary place, but Vicky is protected by strong allies and her own sang-froid. She is the kind of woman who casually books a babysitter in the certainty that she and her husband will ‘find something to do with someone’ on the day, so infiltrating her daughter’s schoolfriend’s sinister parents’ palatial home is a doddle. I liked the character of Matisse Kozlovsky, and the way a friendship develops when she and Vicky both realise the other has hidden depths.
The story races along at a brisk pace, moving the action from suburban Putney via the Joint Operations Intelligence Service HQ in Whitehall to an impossibly glamorous venue in Dubai. Along the way, Vicky’s handler at JOPS suggests she needs retraining in subterfuge and strategic diplomacy. Her reply is classic. ‘I have three children. Subterfuge is a necessary tool in my house if I want to know anything that’s going on in their lives. Strategic diplomacy is what happens when I find out.’ Many mothers will agree.
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
September 23, 2021
Everyone has moments of wishing for a more exciting life at some point. In this lively novel, a stay at home mother Vicky Turnbull whose hands are full with her three children, her husband and constant pressure to join the PTA. The only time she feels excited by her life is a game of paintball at a birthday celebration. She remembers her past, before she met Chris and got pregnant with her eldest child. She remembers her original career, on the surface an art appraiser, in reality a highly trained spy with operational experience. Her skills are very developed, she was very good at her job, but made a costly mistake which made her decision to step back from active service easier.
This is a brilliantly written novel which combines humour with excitement, insight with realistic observations. There are some fantastic set pieces which have little to do with spying and intrigue, such as the horrors of a PTA Christmas fair, whereas there are serious moments of surprising activity. This book won the author a prize for comedy writing, and the incongruity of a woman with a very settled and sometimes mundane life being handed equipment and a serious mission works well on so many levels. The writing is relatively fast paced, there is evidence of research into the equipment and kit which Vicky has to get acquainted with, and yet the story never gets bogged down with too much explanation. The dialogue is funny and realistic, but the great strength of this novel is the characters, especially Vicky, who is painfully aware of her limitations after a long gap in service, yet is still desperately keen to act once given the opportunity. This is a book with so many surprises, recognisable elements and humour that I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review it.
The book opens with a combat scene, in which Vicky expertly not only avoids being shot, but uses remarkable skill to shoot at others. Indeed, Brann writes “There was something a bit thrilling about firing a gun, even if it did only have paint in it”. After the contest, daily life resumes with the other parents at school, including Becky whose stated aim it is to get Vicky into the PTA, as well as the perfect Matisse, who seems to radiate an impressive and wealthy front. The lack of challenge in her life beyond the mundane tasks of parental responsibilities and a busy husband makes her remember the excitement of her job in the secret services. When she receives a mysterious message inviting her to meet with someone she remembers well, she at first rejects it, destroys what is sent, resigns herself to her current life. It soon becomes evident, however, that she cannot resist finding out more, and may well not be allowed to for long.
This is a book of contemporary life, humour and much more. It is exciting and well thought through, with a plot that is satisfyingly complex. The settings are well described, and even the minor characters are well and consistently written. I really enjoyed this book in its observation of London life and beyond, family life and the skills of someone in a secret role. It is exciting, funny and genuinely entertaining. It deserves a wide audience, and I recommend it to all fans of contemporary humorous writing with a real insight into everyday life with more than an element of danger.
This is a brilliantly written novel which combines humour with excitement, insight with realistic observations. There are some fantastic set pieces which have little to do with spying and intrigue, such as the horrors of a PTA Christmas fair, whereas there are serious moments of surprising activity. This book won the author a prize for comedy writing, and the incongruity of a woman with a very settled and sometimes mundane life being handed equipment and a serious mission works well on so many levels. The writing is relatively fast paced, there is evidence of research into the equipment and kit which Vicky has to get acquainted with, and yet the story never gets bogged down with too much explanation. The dialogue is funny and realistic, but the great strength of this novel is the characters, especially Vicky, who is painfully aware of her limitations after a long gap in service, yet is still desperately keen to act once given the opportunity. This is a book with so many surprises, recognisable elements and humour that I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review it.
The book opens with a combat scene, in which Vicky expertly not only avoids being shot, but uses remarkable skill to shoot at others. Indeed, Brann writes “There was something a bit thrilling about firing a gun, even if it did only have paint in it”. After the contest, daily life resumes with the other parents at school, including Becky whose stated aim it is to get Vicky into the PTA, as well as the perfect Matisse, who seems to radiate an impressive and wealthy front. The lack of challenge in her life beyond the mundane tasks of parental responsibilities and a busy husband makes her remember the excitement of her job in the secret services. When she receives a mysterious message inviting her to meet with someone she remembers well, she at first rejects it, destroys what is sent, resigns herself to her current life. It soon becomes evident, however, that she cannot resist finding out more, and may well not be allowed to for long.
This is a book of contemporary life, humour and much more. It is exciting and well thought through, with a plot that is satisfyingly complex. The settings are well described, and even the minor characters are well and consistently written. I really enjoyed this book in its observation of London life and beyond, family life and the skills of someone in a secret role. It is exciting, funny and genuinely entertaining. It deserves a wide audience, and I recommend it to all fans of contemporary humorous writing with a real insight into everyday life with more than an element of danger.
September 14, 2021
Don’t be fooled by the cover thinking this is a sweet comedy, while it is not without some incredibly funny moments, it’s an astutely observed and acerbic look at life for the middle aged mum. How the average woman after a certain age becomes invisible, which is a good skill to have as a spy. But juggling the PTA, school runs and getting dinner on the table while taking on arms dealing Russians after years off the job could be pushing it.
Vicky is a woman after my own heart, I adore my kids but when they were small it was mind numbingly boring and toddlers have conversational skills the equivalent of someone high on LSD. Like Vicky I didn’t just want to go back to work, I needed to for my own sanity if nothing else.
Vicky is funny, sassy, an absolute boss at paintball and a major embarrassment to her kids. She was everything I wanted in a character. She has the “being in your forties” muffin tops and can’t quite handle alcohol like she used to, sangria and bush a mix that is fairly common past a certain age. She left JOPS (Joint Operations Intelligence Service) after an incident with the Russians led to a fellow spies death and her involvement made her a liability. Relegated to desk duty she turned her back on that life and settled down instead. Now they want her back and it looks like someone in her friends group is up to no good, bringing the action too close to home. Can she have both a career as a spy and keep her family safe?
I have to say it was genuinely nice to read a book with a pleasant husband for a change. Rather than the secret keeping, lying cheaters I normally read about, Chris was supportive and an all round nice bloke. Her friends were a great bunch too, you can’t help but want to be part of their inner circle, so it felt like a real mission trying to work out who was up to dodgy deeds.
I imagine comedy is very hard, as sense of humour is such a personal thing. Some like dry and sarcastic while others like fart jokes. But Faye has kept it mostly observational which most people will get and I’m pretty sure she has funny bones as it is done so naturally it strikes the perfect chord. I’m hoping there is many more books to come!
Vicky is a woman after my own heart, I adore my kids but when they were small it was mind numbingly boring and toddlers have conversational skills the equivalent of someone high on LSD. Like Vicky I didn’t just want to go back to work, I needed to for my own sanity if nothing else.
Vicky is funny, sassy, an absolute boss at paintball and a major embarrassment to her kids. She was everything I wanted in a character. She has the “being in your forties” muffin tops and can’t quite handle alcohol like she used to, sangria and bush a mix that is fairly common past a certain age. She left JOPS (Joint Operations Intelligence Service) after an incident with the Russians led to a fellow spies death and her involvement made her a liability. Relegated to desk duty she turned her back on that life and settled down instead. Now they want her back and it looks like someone in her friends group is up to no good, bringing the action too close to home. Can she have both a career as a spy and keep her family safe?
I have to say it was genuinely nice to read a book with a pleasant husband for a change. Rather than the secret keeping, lying cheaters I normally read about, Chris was supportive and an all round nice bloke. Her friends were a great bunch too, you can’t help but want to be part of their inner circle, so it felt like a real mission trying to work out who was up to dodgy deeds.
I imagine comedy is very hard, as sense of humour is such a personal thing. Some like dry and sarcastic while others like fart jokes. But Faye has kept it mostly observational which most people will get and I’m pretty sure she has funny bones as it is done so naturally it strikes the perfect chord. I’m hoping there is many more books to come!
September 9, 2021
Fresh, quirky and wonderfully original, Faye Brann’s Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Superspy is a side-splittingly funny debut novel that should not be missed.
Vicky Turnbull had no regrets about turning her back on her career to be a full-time mum. Looking after her family has got its fair share of challenges, stresses and upheaval and Vicky wouldn’t have it any other way. Nobody looking at Vicky would ever guess though that her previous life was fraught with risk, danger and jeopardy for this ordinary mum was an undercover spy trained to kill a man with her bare hands! Nobody – not even her husband – knows what lurks beneath her typical suburban mum façade, however, it looks like all the skills Vicky had learned in her past life might end up proving more useful than ever when her suspicions are aroused by a newcomer joining the PTA…
Something isn’t quite right here and Vicky is determined to got to the bottom of it. Since hanging up her high-tech spying gadgets, Vicky might have gained a little bit of weight and developed a fondness for pink gin, but she’s determined to prove that she is as sharp and as capable as ever of nailing the bad guy. However, when this latest assignment hits far too close to home, Vicky wonders whether she still has what it takes to get the job done or whether she should stick to bake sales and school runs for the foreseeable future.
Faye Brann is a comic genius who in Tinker, Tailor, Schoomum, Spy has written a riotous and hilarious novel sprinkled with suspense, tension, humour and lots of heart. Vicky Turnbull is such a wonderful heroine. Relatable, flawed, inspirational and somebody readers would absolutely love to have as one of their best friends, Vicky is a brilliant character it is impossible not to care about.
A simply fabulous read, Faye Brann’s Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy is an absolute riot of a book that will have readers screaming with laughter.
Vicky Turnbull had no regrets about turning her back on her career to be a full-time mum. Looking after her family has got its fair share of challenges, stresses and upheaval and Vicky wouldn’t have it any other way. Nobody looking at Vicky would ever guess though that her previous life was fraught with risk, danger and jeopardy for this ordinary mum was an undercover spy trained to kill a man with her bare hands! Nobody – not even her husband – knows what lurks beneath her typical suburban mum façade, however, it looks like all the skills Vicky had learned in her past life might end up proving more useful than ever when her suspicions are aroused by a newcomer joining the PTA…
Something isn’t quite right here and Vicky is determined to got to the bottom of it. Since hanging up her high-tech spying gadgets, Vicky might have gained a little bit of weight and developed a fondness for pink gin, but she’s determined to prove that she is as sharp and as capable as ever of nailing the bad guy. However, when this latest assignment hits far too close to home, Vicky wonders whether she still has what it takes to get the job done or whether she should stick to bake sales and school runs for the foreseeable future.
Faye Brann is a comic genius who in Tinker, Tailor, Schoomum, Spy has written a riotous and hilarious novel sprinkled with suspense, tension, humour and lots of heart. Vicky Turnbull is such a wonderful heroine. Relatable, flawed, inspirational and somebody readers would absolutely love to have as one of their best friends, Vicky is a brilliant character it is impossible not to care about.
A simply fabulous read, Faye Brann’s Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy is an absolute riot of a book that will have readers screaming with laughter.
September 24, 2021
I very much enjoyed this book, it’s a bit like a cross between John Le Carré (whose work inspired the title) and Bridget Jones. Vicky is a mum of three who misses feeling useful and wanted beyond family life. Whilst the PTA is politically charged and demanding in its own way, it doesn’t quite cut it in the same way a career does. Vicky misses her old job in a special joint intelligence taskforce that she had before marriage and kids. One of the other new PTA recruits is married to a shady Russian businessman. So when MI5 wake Vicky from her sleeper status and ask her to collect intel she realises just what she’s been missing. Except that handling espionage alongside childcare isn’t easy, nefarious dealings don’t stop to accommodate the school run.
I was expecting this novel to be a bit of humorous fluff and was pleasantly surprised! The storytelling is light-hearted, but at the same time the challenges of being a working Mum are very real. The challenges of being a working Mum in such a demanding profession even more so. The themes of motherhood, ageing and relationships, are dealt with sensitively and with humour. The plot is very engaging, I found myself drawn in from the beginning and eager to find out what Vicky’s intel gathering would yield and where the plot would go. The characters are likeable (the nice ones at any rate) and I particularly liked that we learn more about Matisse’s backstory and how she came to be married to a Russian gangster.
I highly recommend this novel for its originality and humour. I hope we get to hear more of Vicky and her adventures.
Originally posted on www.rosegoldreports.com I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest, unedited review.
I was expecting this novel to be a bit of humorous fluff and was pleasantly surprised! The storytelling is light-hearted, but at the same time the challenges of being a working Mum are very real. The challenges of being a working Mum in such a demanding profession even more so. The themes of motherhood, ageing and relationships, are dealt with sensitively and with humour. The plot is very engaging, I found myself drawn in from the beginning and eager to find out what Vicky’s intel gathering would yield and where the plot would go. The characters are likeable (the nice ones at any rate) and I particularly liked that we learn more about Matisse’s backstory and how she came to be married to a Russian gangster.
I highly recommend this novel for its originality and humour. I hope we get to hear more of Vicky and her adventures.
Originally posted on www.rosegoldreports.com I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest, unedited review.
January 27, 2024
Enjoyable story.
The title has only four words, not the "subtitle" suggested in the heading to this page. 362 pages - Goodreads standards don't allow anything counted before page 1.
Unusual words applied to people: "zhopa"; Slytherin
Some choice expressions, e.g.: "The first rule of a middle-aged hangover, obviously, was that you were guaranteed to run into as many people as possible who you knew while suffering from it."; "a sea of smart-casually clad women, all clutching reusable water bottles and flashing impeccable teeth."; "hair was ... swept back ... by a slick of gel that was just on the right side of lothario."
Too few commas and "whom".
Other things that raised this proofreader's eyebrows:
p 48 "wooden" should be "wooded"
p 59 "take a difference approach" -"different"
p 85 "her home looked the same but different to all the other houses"
p 94 "meets" should be "met"
p 104 misplaced "either" - should precede "was"
p 125 "laid" should be "lain"
p 165 "bought" should be "brought"
p 218 "ringer" should be "wringer"
p 238 "more money than her and Chris would ever see" - "she" ... "would"
p 260 misplaced "n't" and "just" in "wouldn't just affect her, but her whole family: "would affect not just her, but..."
p 315 properly trained 2-way radio users don't say "Over and out"; it's one or the other
The title has only four words, not the "subtitle" suggested in the heading to this page. 362 pages - Goodreads standards don't allow anything counted before page 1.
Unusual words applied to people: "zhopa"; Slytherin
Some choice expressions, e.g.: "The first rule of a middle-aged hangover, obviously, was that you were guaranteed to run into as many people as possible who you knew while suffering from it."; "a sea of smart-casually clad women, all clutching reusable water bottles and flashing impeccable teeth."; "hair was ... swept back ... by a slick of gel that was just on the right side of lothario."
Too few commas and "whom".
Other things that raised this proofreader's eyebrows:
p 48 "wooden" should be "wooded"
p 59 "take a difference approach" -"different"
p 85 "her home looked the same but different to all the other houses"
p 94 "meets" should be "met"
p 104 misplaced "either" - should precede "was"
p 125 "laid" should be "lain"
p 165 "bought" should be "brought"
p 218 "ringer" should be "wringer"
p 238 "more money than her and Chris would ever see" - "she" ... "would"
p 260 misplaced "n't" and "just" in "wouldn't just affect her, but her whole family: "would affect not just her, but..."
p 315 properly trained 2-way radio users don't say "Over and out"; it's one or the other
September 8, 2021
Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy is a hilarious Mystery/ Adventure Book telling the story of Vicky who is a Schoolmum and a spy. As soon as I read the synopsis of this story I wanted to read it.
There was a lot of laugh out loud moments in this book and I absolutely loved every part of it – you will never look at the PTA in the same way again!
The story has everything – the struggles of organising a family, the mental tug-of-war to going back to work after having children, friendships, relationships, travel and still being able to fire a gun after 15 years away from the field.
The way Faye Brann writes is so enjoyable, it was naturally funny and didn’t feel forced. Vicky is a great character as she is sassy and smart but deep down just your everyday woman/ mum!
This is a must read that will be appreciated by everyone!
There was a lot of laugh out loud moments in this book and I absolutely loved every part of it – you will never look at the PTA in the same way again!
The story has everything – the struggles of organising a family, the mental tug-of-war to going back to work after having children, friendships, relationships, travel and still being able to fire a gun after 15 years away from the field.
The way Faye Brann writes is so enjoyable, it was naturally funny and didn’t feel forced. Vicky is a great character as she is sassy and smart but deep down just your everyday woman/ mum!
This is a must read that will be appreciated by everyone!
October 7, 2021
This was a hysterical read, a look at a middle age wife and mom named Vicky who’s kids are old enough now that she think about going back to work, maybe part-time? Unfortunately for Vicky, her previous job was as an undercover spy for a super secret government group. She left under an operation where she got involved with a foreign agent and caused the death of her own agent.
Vicky decides to join the PTA, partly because she’s interested in a Russian couple who act a little strangely. MI5 approaches Vicky, and she finally decides to meet with her former boss. She finds out that they want her to get close to the Russian wife, close enough so she can bug their house and more.
This book kept me chuckling throughout. The spy parts were great, and I could totally relate to the PTA Christmas fair. I highly recommend this funny and intelligent book, 5 stars.
Vicky decides to join the PTA, partly because she’s interested in a Russian couple who act a little strangely. MI5 approaches Vicky, and she finally decides to meet with her former boss. She finds out that they want her to get close to the Russian wife, close enough so she can bug their house and more.
This book kept me chuckling throughout. The spy parts were great, and I could totally relate to the PTA Christmas fair. I highly recommend this funny and intelligent book, 5 stars.
December 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this one, the main character is loveable, dealing with smaller problems such as a bake sale for the PTA but then also taking down an international criminal at the same time.
I wasn’t expecting to be as hooked on this one as I was. I also wasn’t expecting Vicky to be such a bad-ass. I thought it was going down the route of a bored mum using her own initiative to figure out a school drama, but I got so much more than that! Lies, deceit, shady characters, twists and a full on spy mission. I’ve never read a spy storyline before so it was a nice change.
I think all the mums will find this very relatable, Vicky is “embarrassing” to her older children and the witty, sarcastic attitude used creates some laugh out loud moments.
A lighthearted, funny read with a great storyline to back it up. Would love to see a sequel 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I wasn’t expecting to be as hooked on this one as I was. I also wasn’t expecting Vicky to be such a bad-ass. I thought it was going down the route of a bored mum using her own initiative to figure out a school drama, but I got so much more than that! Lies, deceit, shady characters, twists and a full on spy mission. I’ve never read a spy storyline before so it was a nice change.
I think all the mums will find this very relatable, Vicky is “embarrassing” to her older children and the witty, sarcastic attitude used creates some laugh out loud moments.
A lighthearted, funny read with a great storyline to back it up. Would love to see a sequel 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
August 23, 2021
If this is a debut novel, then I hope there are many more to come!
This was such a refreshing change from the sort of books that I normally read and it was most welcome.
I loved the book from start to finish and instantly wanted to read more similar tales from Vicky, the schoolmum spy.
I loved the comedy alongside tackling some real life issues that are faced by mums who want to work as well as juggling all the challenges of parenting. While in many ways it was totally unrealistic and fantastical, it was so believable that a suburban mum would be a spy, alongside her active involvement in the PTA.
Wonderful story - more please.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC to review. Opinions are my own.
This was such a refreshing change from the sort of books that I normally read and it was most welcome.
I loved the book from start to finish and instantly wanted to read more similar tales from Vicky, the schoolmum spy.
I loved the comedy alongside tackling some real life issues that are faced by mums who want to work as well as juggling all the challenges of parenting. While in many ways it was totally unrealistic and fantastical, it was so believable that a suburban mum would be a spy, alongside her active involvement in the PTA.
Wonderful story - more please.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC to review. Opinions are my own.
September 9, 2021
If you are after a funny read, then this is the book for you, you don't even have to be a parent to read it. I enjoyed this book so much and I can see why Faye has won Comedy Women in Print Prize, as this book is just hilarious. It is all about Vicky who is a wife and mother but what they don't know is that she use to work for MI5, and now they want her back but can she factor the job into her life now that she is a mum and especially when her husband has no clue what she is up too. From the first couple of pages I knew this book was going to be good, when a story gets up laughing right away, that is good. I really enjoyed this book and want to read more from this author. It was a great pick me up.
September 13, 2021
Oh, this book was everything I hoped it would be and more.
I've always wanted to read a book where the hero/spy is personable and feels like someone you might walk past on the street and never suspected a thing about. This perfectly encapsulates Vicky, mum-of-three, PTA member and former undercover MI5 spy! Whilst navigating family life, Vicky is invited to a paintballing party where her former sharp shooting skills come back into action. There might be room for one last undercover mission for Vicky, closer to home than she may think...
The storytelling in this is phenomenal. I didn't want to put the book down I was so eager to find out what Vicky was going to do next.
I hope this is a series because I would love to read more of Vicky's future exploits.
Thank you to the author, publishers and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I've always wanted to read a book where the hero/spy is personable and feels like someone you might walk past on the street and never suspected a thing about. This perfectly encapsulates Vicky, mum-of-three, PTA member and former undercover MI5 spy! Whilst navigating family life, Vicky is invited to a paintballing party where her former sharp shooting skills come back into action. There might be room for one last undercover mission for Vicky, closer to home than she may think...
The storytelling in this is phenomenal. I didn't want to put the book down I was so eager to find out what Vicky was going to do next.
I hope this is a series because I would love to read more of Vicky's future exploits.
Thank you to the author, publishers and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 11, 2021
This book was FANTASTIC!! I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. It had such a great mix of comedy and seriousness. Vicky was a brilliant main character. I think anyone who is a Mum can totally relate to her (& anyone who is a spy obviously!)
You could tell the spy side of the story had been thoroughly researched. It all seemed completely authentic and realistic and really grabbed my interest. The storyline had some twists and turns to keep you focused and wow the ending was so tense and dramatic.
I haven't got a bad word to say about this - definitely go grab a copy. It's out now!!
You could tell the spy side of the story had been thoroughly researched. It all seemed completely authentic and realistic and really grabbed my interest. The storyline had some twists and turns to keep you focused and wow the ending was so tense and dramatic.
I haven't got a bad word to say about this - definitely go grab a copy. It's out now!!
September 8, 2021
Really entertaining debut novel with a fantastic plot and story which kept me engaged and wanting to read more, definitely hard to put down.
The comedy side of this book coupled with the real-life struggle faced by mums who have been out of the workplace for a long time then returing to work and trying to juggle work and parenting was brilliant.
I hope there are more books about Vicky as I really enjoyed her character, she was very easy to like and relate to.
The book is available to buy now and I definitely recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The comedy side of this book coupled with the real-life struggle faced by mums who have been out of the workplace for a long time then returing to work and trying to juggle work and parenting was brilliant.
I hope there are more books about Vicky as I really enjoyed her character, she was very easy to like and relate to.
The book is available to buy now and I definitely recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 9, 2023
An entertaining frolic with spies and suburbia as mother of three Vicky (and ex-top spy) gets drawn back into the field to get the intel on an arms deal. Full of chaos and pluckiness, Vicky is living a double life, with her husband completely in the dark as to her previous life.
While totally unbelievable it’s also a believably good romp! I'd love to see this made into a wee TV drama. There's humour, danger and stereotypical baddies, but it's all done in an entertaining absorbing way that kept me turning the page until midnight to finish the book!
While totally unbelievable it’s also a believably good romp! I'd love to see this made into a wee TV drama. There's humour, danger and stereotypical baddies, but it's all done in an entertaining absorbing way that kept me turning the page until midnight to finish the book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews