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The Spy and the Snake
Mrs Spy (Related to this series)
- Author
- M J Robotham
- Narrator
- Clare Corbett
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 9 July 2026
- Run Time
- 10 hours 35 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
THE NEW TRAILBLAZING NOVEL FROM INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR, MANDY ROBOTHAM
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 assignment: 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.
***
Readers LOVE The Spy and the Snake!
'For those who like spy stories with half-truths, lies and deep suspicion, this book is for you!' 5* review
'A witty, well-constructed spy story... delicious' 5* review
'An amusing, page turning novel, complete with suspense, a smattering of romance and great characters' 5* reviews
'A book you can't put down... I thoroughly enjoyed it' 5* review
'A great thriller that keeps you gripped from start to finish' 5* review
'I loved the characters, humour, suspense and the setting in Budapest... A real treat' 5* review
***
Praise for M.J. Robotham:
'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 original: a smart, intrepid, middle-aged spy with acute instincts and aching bunions' - Gill Paul
'I loved this book: 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
Critics Review
-
The self-deprecating protagonist is an endearing character and her travels across Europe are a lot of fun
The Guardian (best crime and thrillers - review roundup)
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Robotham has an impressive sense for the many shades of Magyar grey under communism while Budapest is vividly drawn. Flynn finds her way among a people who have “learnt how to play the system” with “that little thrum of resistance never too far away”. Robotham delivers a tale as enjoyable as a slice of dobos torte, the famed Hungarian layer cake with a crunchy topping that Flynn so relishes.
Financial Times
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Buzzing with vivacious storytelling and jeopardy, at its heart is the blossoming of Maggie: 'a middleaged woman questioning herself
Sainsbury's Magazine
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The much-anticipated second novel in the Mrs Spy series
My Weekly Magazine
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Read this for the evocative 60’s atmosphere, the tense spy thrills and the tenacious heroine at its heart
Culturefly
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Entertaining, witty and a strong sense of atmosphere, particularly office life on London and everyday life in Communist Hungary
Historical Novel Review
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Loved all the Sixties detail
Judy Moore - Yours Magazine
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Glorious caper set in the 1960s
The Westmeath Independent, Offaly Independent, The Connaught Telegraph, The Meath Chronicle, Westmeath Examiner, The Ango-Celt The Westmeath Independent
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- M J Robotham
- Narrator
- Clare Corbett
- Duration
- 10 hours 35 minutes
- Release Date
- 9 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9781035921973
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Historical fiction, Historical adventure fiction, Thriller / suspense fiction, Narrative theme: love / relationships
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Spy and the Snake by M J Robotham, read by Clare Corbett.THE NEW TRAILBLAZING NOVEL FROM INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR, MANDY ROBOTHAMOne 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 assignment: 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.***Readers LOVE The Spy and the Snake!'For those who like spy stories with half-truths, lies and deep suspicion, this book is for you!' 5* review'A witty, well-constructed spy story... delicious' 5* review'An amusing, page turning novel, complete with suspense, a smattering of romance and great characters' 5* reviews'A book you can't put down... I thoroughly enjoyed it' 5* review'A great thriller that keeps you gripped from start to finish' 5* review'I loved the characters, humour, suspense and the setting in Budapest... A real treat' 5* review***Praise for M.J. Robotham: '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 original: a smart, intrepid, middle-aged spy with acute instincts and aching bunions' - Gill Paul'I loved this book: 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
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