The Spy and the Snake An exhilarating new novel from the author of the GOOD HOUSEKEEPING READER FAVOURITE

I truly enjoyed reading about Maggie Flynn‘s secret mission to get a British defector over the iron curtain border. I liked the history about the Cold War and the peace movements across Europe and the amazing setting in Budapest. Maggie’s character as well as many interesting and loveable side characters made the book an easy read. I can highly recommend this 1960ies spy novel with great characters, exciting scenes and also funny moments.

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.