The Spies of Shilling Lane
By Jennifer Ryan
355 pages/2019/fiction
In Ashcombe Village, England, March 1941, housewife Mrs. Braithwaite takes out her notebook and writes up her thoughts. “How do you measure the success of your life?”
Mrs. Braithwaite thinks it has to do with how respected you are, your social standing. But when her cheating husband divorces her, she is ousted from the Women’s Voluntary Service group in the village. Even though he was the one cheating, it is her reputation that is damaged.
Forced to take stock, she realizes that she must travel to war-scarred London and find her daughter, Betty. She must tell Betty a family secret before Betty hears it from someone else. Mrs. Braithwaite arrives in London, but Betty is missing. Mrs. Braithwaite, in her forceful way, convinces Betty’s mild landlord, Mr. Norris, to help her find Betty. If Betty is in trouble, Mrs. Braithwaite is determined to rescue her and make amends.
The unlikely pair of Mrs. Braithwaite and Mr. Norris stumble across a spy ring and there are kidnappings, secret meetings and desperate escapes. Mrs. Braithwaite must rethink her ideas on how to live life. And perhaps her reputation is not everything, after all, how she should measure her life’s worth?
This is a wonderful story! Brave acts are committed by timid people, and enemies and friends are found in unlikely places. I loved the fast pace and intrigue, but most of all the characters of Mrs. Braithwaite and Mr. Norris in this remarkable tale. It’s a spy story with a great heart!
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Robbin Bailey
