The Spies of Shilling Lane

A Novel

By: Jennifer Ryan

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir comes a thrilling new WWII story about a village busybody - the mighty Mrs. Braithwaite - who resolves to find, and then rescue, her missing daughter.

Mrs. Braithwaite, self-appointed queen of her English village, finds herself dethroned, despised, and dismissed following her husband’s selfish divorce petition. Never deterred, the threat of a family secret being revealed sets off hot-foot to London to find the only person she has left - her clever daughter, Betty, who took work there at the first rumbles of war.

But when she arrives, Betty’s landlord, the timid Mr. Norris, informs her that Betty hasn’t been home in days - with the chaos of the bombs, there’s no telling what might have befallen her. Aghast, Mrs. Braithwaite sets her bullish determination to the task of finding her only daughter.

Storming into the London Blitz, Mrs. Braithwaite drags the reluctant Mr. Norris along as an unwitting sidekick as they piece together Betty’s unexpectedly chaotic life. As she is thrown into the midst of danger and death, Mrs. Braithwaite is forced to rethink her old-fashioned notions of status, class, and reputation, and to reconsider the question that’s been puzzling her since her world overturned: How do you measure the success of your life?

Listeners will be charmed by the unforgettable Mrs. Braithwaite and her plucky, ruthless optimism and find in The Spies of Shilling Lane a novel with surprising twists and turns, quiet humor, and a poignant examination of mothers and daughters and the secrets we keep.

©2019 Jennifer Ryan (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“[A] quick and delightful mystery.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“A crisp and energetic book...with a tight plot [that will] keep a reader gladly bouncing along.” (NPR)

“With its eccentric, believable characters and plot of home front intrigue, this delightful drama will appeal to fans of Martha Hall Kelly.” (Publishers Weekly)

Fun & keeps your interest

Good story. Lots of stories in one. Life lessons too. Everytime I thought it ended there was more - happily!

Great World War II story

Charming story with well-developed characters surviving wartime and overcoming childhood parenting. A love story of a blended family.

i wanted to like this book..

but... it is very bossy and whiney.. i did not find it funny.. i tried to find all the good..but deleted it half way through..

Funny, suspenseful and Heartwarming

I loved this book and the narration too! I was on the edge of my seat at times waiting to hear what would happen next to Mrs. Braithwaite and Mr. Norris. And then I would be laughing out loud. I feel the narrator portrayed the characters perfectly. Please write a sequel!

What a surprise!

Having spent many years doing research in the stories of World War II I thought I could guess what the story was about. What a delightful surprise that the story was a refreshing change of pace. I loved the personalities of the characters and how they evolved.

I’m glad I read this

1. A nice mix of serious and light-hearted
2. Character arc
3. Lovely people doing the right thing in a difficult time.
4. Reminder that everyone has a story to tell
5. Life during the London Blitz - I don’t know too much about it so this brief introduction was informative and interesting.
6. I didn’t know what would happen next.
7. The choices and decisions the characters made felt right and logical given the backstory and immediate situation.

Jayne Entwistle Never Disappoints!

Great story with lovable characters who grow and evolve during the story! I really enjoyed the spy storyline and the lighthearted narrative. Mrs. Braithwaite is a driving force and earns her own happiness in the end. I liked all the twists and turns in the story but it never took itself seriously. No better Narrator in my opinion for English stories.
This was my first Jennifer Ryan story but it will certainly not be the last!

Adventure, humor and more

This novel has everything: adventure, humor, romance and pathos. In the end, it is a story about redemption. Thoroughly enjoyable!

The Formidable Spirs

I really, really enjoyed this audio/book. Listening to the voices of the characters made it all!!! Although the atmosphere of hardship and endurance English people were suffering during the years of WWll, I couldn’t but laugh and laugh with the heroine, so naive, forthcoming but brave, and her relationship with the other main character Mr Norris, both a darling couple.
If you want to relax and enjoy yourself, I strongly recommend this audio book. As I said the narrator was INCREDIBLE, Congratulations!!!

Ended up liking the Unlikeable Protagonist

Unlikeable Protaganist: Brash, belittling, busybody, middle aged woman. I didn't like her. I didn't think I could like her. But she doggedly persists in finding her missing daughter in WWII London and in the pursuit of her daughter, grows and changes as she finds value and meaning in her seemingly purposeless life. Read with a sense of humor. Mrs. Braithewaite seems to be cut from the same cloth as Marjorie Benson (Miss Benson's Beetle).