A Spy Like Me

Six Days. Three Agents. One Chance to Find James Bond.

By: Kim Sherwood

Narrated by: Pippa Bennett-Warner

An elite team of MI6 agents must go undercover to unravel a smuggling network funding violent terror in the second thrilling adventure in the acclaimed Double O series by Kim Sherwood.

James Bond is alive.

Or at least, he was when he left a clue at the black site where the insidious private military company Rattenfänger held him captive. MI6 cannot spare any more lives attempting to track down one missing agent—no exceptions, even for Bond. But Johanna Harwood, 003, has her own agenda. Sidelined by her superiors while she grieves the loss of a loved one, Harwood goes on an unsanctioned mission: to find 007. Meanwhile, MI6 has another problem…

A bomb has detonated in London.

Double O agents on the trail of the terrorists responsible acted quickly to prevent mass destruction and save lives. But MI6 failed to neutralize the nation’s enemies before they could strike, and one of their own was seriously injured in the blast.

They won’t fail again.

Assigned to root out the source of the terrorists’ funding, Joseph Dryden, 004, and Conrad Harthrop-Vane, 000, enter the field. Tracing clues from Sotheby’s auction house to Crete to Venice, they uncover a money laundering scheme involving diamonds, black market antiquities, and human trafficking. Once a major sale is made, a six-day countdown to the next terror attack begins. As the Double O’s follow the twisting trail, they find themselves unexpectedly inching closer to Bond…

©2024 Kim Sherwood (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Interesting and engaging

Enjoying these stories about other double-O agents. Good plotting, fun story. I’ll definitely check out more should they come. I like Sherwood’s tone.

Another Complex, Engaging Installment in Kim Sherwood’s Ambitious Spinoff

Sherwood’s second book in her 00 trilogy is another expertly written, densely plotted thriller that takes the Bond “brand” well beyond its usual formula. It’s rich with well-researched setting details, psychologically well-realized characters, humane perspectives on the dirty business of espionage and organized crime, elaborately intersecting narratives, heinous villains, and memorable set pieces, culminating in a bold cliffhanger ending. There are a few elements that didn’t work for me—a couple of moments that demanded suspension of disbelief well beyond my capabilities, one or two too many internal monologues about heroism, a traitor who’s a little too easy to spot. Still, there were enough compelling passages—both in terms of poignant character beats and spasms of intense action—to carry me through my moments of doubt. One sequence involving a maze-like environment was especially well set-up, with an exciting and fun payoff. Pippa Bennett-Warner gives another excellent reading, with deftly handled character voices. All in all, I’m continuing to enjoy what Sherwood is doing with this series and can’t wait to read the final installment.

A Good Book for a Late Summer Day

Lots of action and twists. Just one note that I found a wee bit irritating….over and out have two different meanings and are never used together.

Good effort, better than Book 1 in the 00 series

I enjoyed this book a lot more than "Double or Nothing". It did take me 2X through it to grasp all the characters, time/location shifts and plot. I like the idea of creating new 00 characters and this book provided more depth and background on their origins. I also liked that some very traditional faces from the bond universe made cameos like Bond's father-in-law Draco, Felix Leiter, head of French Secret Service and many others. Unlike the first book, this book was not too "woke" for me as a die hard James Bond fan who saw Dr. No in theatres in the 60's and devoured every Ian Fleming Bond novel as soon as my parents would let me read them. My only sticking point remains how Moneypenny can be in charge of the 00's and act as a field operative carrying weapons. This is usually reserved for ex-military trained operatives as opposed to an office admin. If Moneypenny as head of 00's continues I would highly recommend Kim concoct a believable back story on how she was trained and ascended into this role. I did look forward to the 3rd book in the series!

Is this really in the James Bond universe? Perhaps it's just a bad dream. Please no more!!!

Overall I would say it's pretty bad. I could hardly make it through the audio book. But the last two hours are faster paced.

Cons:
- Oh my God, stop detailing every thing: they look at, tastes, thinks, remembers, etc. I think it was just a way to make the book longer and maybe pull in people that are not your "normal" Bond fans. Why change the formula if it has worked for so many decades??
- In the normal series Bond was the best, but at least the other agents were competent. These agents I would never have watching my back or my country. I just remember "... what should I do, what should I do ..." I don't know your job...
- The old M always gave Bond a plan at least (often we would not know what it is, but at least it was general there. Here Money Penny is like a chicken with her head chopped of. If I remember correctly she was shooting a gun in this story... what? Oh all my 00s are dying, but I'm in charge.
- Is it really a Bond side series if everyone just thinks about how his eyes looked, how he smelled, how he kissed, or why they thought they were better than him? Oh he had one 10 second scene.
- Too many people (agents) to keep track of, my God. 000, 004, 008, the safe cracker, Luke, of and 007, and bad guys. And if you are going to have so many people, Why not make the female names more feminine, not Howard.

Please stop killing the 007 name.