A Season for Spies

A Lane Winslow Mystery, Book 0.5

By: Iona Whishaw

Narrated by: Rill Askey

In wartime England, Lane Winslow has been pulled out of her studies at Oxford and spends her days in London translating for the war office. Things are grim, and it looks like no one is going home for Christmas—that is, not until Lane's commanding officer orders her to drop everything to do just that. He’s loathe to send a woman, but a very important agent needs an escort into the country from an isolated cove in Scotland in just a few days, and Lane’s family connections in the north are the perfect cover for this mission of utmost secrecy.

On rails, wheels, and snowshoes, Lane makes her way up the country through the thick snows, navigating inquiries from old friends, distrustful townspeople, and dangerous interference on her race against time. Resourceful, but still untested, Lane will have to use all of her wits to make it out of her mission unscathed.

Meanwhile, Lane’s grandparents are delighted by the news that she’ll be up for the holidays, but their cheery preparations are interrupted by clues suggesting a mysterious visitor has dropped right down into the forest outside their cottage. They might have a British airman wandering around in danger—or someone much more sinister lurking in the woods. Cozy and action-packed, this prequel to the beloved Lane Winslow mysteries shows listeners just where Lane got her mettle.

©2025 Iona Whishaw (P)2025 TouchWood Editions

Critic reviews

“In the midst of the London Blitz, a spy is born and so is a star. Lane Winslow, an unlikely but resilient heroine, is someone to follow and someone to root for, and this is only the beginning of her story.”—J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author

“I was delighted to discover how our intrepid detective is transformed from mild-mannered secretary to gun-toting British spy in this thrilling wartime prequel to the highly addictive Lane Winslow series.”—Elinor Florence, #1 bestselling author of Finding Flora

“In WWII London, Lane is recruited for a secret assignment at Christmas time that takes her to Scotland and her grandparents’ home. Given only the barest of information about her task, it turns out to be far more dangerous than expected. For fans of Lane Winslow who are curious about her life before King’s Cove, this page-turner is a must-read.”—Janie Chang, Globe and Mail bestselling historical novelist; author of The Porcelain Moon, The Phoenix Crown, The Library of Legends