Read with Fern

Kendal Carter is out in the cold and she wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s been four years since her daughter Rosie was born and Kendal has kept her miles away from The Game. But when their hiding place is discovered and danger comes too close, Ken is forced to turn to old contacts. Her longtime friend and ex-handler Rico doesn’t miss his chance to pull his best player back in. Whisking them to London, Rico offers them a luxury safe house in an area with good schools. How can she resist?

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

If you’ve watched at least one James Bond movie in your life, you understand the appeal of a spy thriller. And if you’ve specifically watched the Daniel Craig James Bond movies, you understand the even more addicting appeal of a spy who’s retired and is officially out of the game … for now.

I, Spy takes the trope of a retired spy and adds the even more dramatic twist of being a single mom. Kendal Carter is trying to balance keeping her 4-year-old daughter safe while still giving her a normal life. But as a serious of unfortunate events, Kendal and her daughter Rosie find themselves staying at a safe house, with Kendal working for her old boss. 

I really enjoyed the spy-returning-to-the-job storyline, but I adored Kendal’s forced exposure to the yummy mummy culture in the British suburbs as Rosie starts primary school. The cast of characters were exciting and diverse, and Kendal’s deep dive into this stereotypical world was so fun to read. The highs and lows of the spy world, mixed with the chaos of life as a single mom, had me in a state of constant suspense and need to know!

This was a great standalone book that I highly enjoyed, but would also be thrilled to see turn into a series, ala Finlay Donovan. I really enjoyed the narration by Ell Potter, with a perfectly dry but posh voice. 

Overall, this book delivered on all fronts, with a suspenseful plot, complex characters, and witty British banter. Rosie was an adorable secondary character, along with Kendal’s coworkers and new mum friends, and I was racing through the pages, looking for answers in each new chapter!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for the free advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review!