The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan

 I just finished listening to The Spies of Shilling Lane. A mystery book club member recommended it. 

About: "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 her 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? Readers 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."

I enjoyed this book. It is a historical fiction/mystery. I do like historical fiction. As the description says, the story takes place during WWII. We get a peek into what life in England was like at that time; the food rationing, the blackouts, the bomb shelters, the Spam (which I love by the way) and not knowing if the person you had known your whole life could be trusted...

It is a good story about people trying to do their best to survive during these trying times while going through the other things that people routinely go through, as if that isn't enough. There is suspense but also humor. Mrs. Braithwaite reminded me of Hyacinth Bucket (or do you say bouquet) in the British series Keeping Up Appearances. Mrs. Braithwaite is bossy, head strong and self sufficient like Hyacinth but underneath is really very soft. She bosses Mr. Norris around as Hyacinth did her husband. That all is pretty funny. And of course she gets into several spots because of her CHARGE! attitude.

A very good ending makes for an enjoyable listen.