The Secret Lives of Women Spies

Brought to you by Puffin.

Step into the Secret World and learn about the women who hid in its shadows.

Charlotte Philby’s grandfather was the most infamous spy in history. Inspired to find out more about his world, Charlotte discovered that there were many stories of courage and secrets and daring . . .

And so many were about women.

There were a host of incredible true tales involving female spies: from dare-devil skiers delivering top-secret information, to clever codebreakers taking down the world’s biggest criminals, to brave undercover agents fighting alongside the French Resistance.

Written as imagined letters and news articles, there are stories from Edith Cavell, Elizebeth Friedman, Noor Inayat Khan and many more.

Get ready to dive into a hidden history, and discover the secret lives of women spies.

© Charlotte Philby 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

About Charlotte Philby

Charlotte Philby is a critically acclaimed author of six novels. As a journalist, she worked for eight years as a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist at the Independent, where she was shortlisted for the Cudlipp Prize for investigative reporting. She is a former contributing editor and features writer at Marie Claire, and has written for publications including the Sunday Times, New Statesman and Financial Times. With the support of the BFI, she is currently adapting for film her novel Edith and Kim, which reimagines the lives of her grandfather, the double-agent Kim Philby, and Edith Tudor-Hart, who recruited him to the Soviet cause. Charlotte has three children and lives in Bristol.
Details
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • ISBN: 9780241741917
  • Price: £9.00
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