This was such an amazing read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction! I really loved the dual narrative that Michael Ridpath crafts between the 1930’s and the 1970’s linking Phil’s life with his grandmother’s life. Phil sets off to have a carefree summer with his friend traversing around Europe and charming young ladies but this quickly turns into an adventure with his grandmother Emma. His grandmother Emma is hugely unconventional as a grandmother as she is the wife of a diplomat but funnily enough can be undiplomatic, often speaking her mind whatever the cost may be. As the flashbacks between 1936 and 1978 continue, we learn more about Emma as the wife of a diplomat and all the deceit, deception and espionage that occurred during that time in Paris and Berlin. We also watch Emma and Phil’s relationship as granny and grandson grow which was a nice dichotomy to the story Emma is weaving. All in all a perfect spy thriller as well as an amazing historical fiction!