Modesty Blaise (1965)

My copy of this book has no ISBN. It is a Pan paperback, published in 1966, worn, dogeared and the pages quite yellow. The cover is illustrated with stills from the Monica Vitti movie. The price on the back says Australia 6'.
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I've read all the books in this series except the last one. This is the first and, while not the best, certainly a fabulous adventure. ( )

The first Modesty Blaise story sets the scene for the series. Modesty, a recently-retired master-criminal, supported by her ultra-competent sidekick Willie Garvin, is called in by the British government to tackle a job that their own agents can't handle.

The government has agreed to pay the Sheikh Abu-Tahir ten million pounds in diamonds in return for valuable oil concessions. The jewels are scheduled to be taken from Cape Town to a bank in Beirut by The Tiboria, but British Intelligence has been hearing rumours of a planned theft. Unable to pin down the rumours, Sir Gerald Tarrant calls on the services of Modesty Blaise.

Modesty is a criminal mastermind on the side of the angels. She's a far-sighted strategist, a lethal opponent in combat, and devastatingly beautiful. In this adventure she is ably assisted by the loyal Garvin, and her current lover, the artist-turned-British-agent Hagan. With a team like this, the ending comes as no surprise, even when they are pitted against the coldly logical (but Tom and Jerry obsessed) Gabriel and his deadly henchmen.

Modesty Blaise is a great start to what I think is a great series. Well worth looking out for.

Full review at Past Offences ( )

The first Modesty Blaise story sets the scene for the series. Modesty, a recently-retired master-criminal, supported by her ultra-competent sidekick Willie Garvin, is called in by the British government to tackle a job that their own agents can't handle.

The government has agreed to pay the Sheikh Abu-Tahir ten million pounds in diamonds in return for valuable oil concessions. The jewels are scheduled to be taken from Cape Town to a bank in Beirut by The Tiboria, but British Intelligence has been hearing rumours of a planned theft. Unable to pin down the rumours, Sir Gerald Tarrant calls on the services of Modesty Blaise.

Modesty is a criminal mastermind on the side of the angels. She's a far-sighted strategist, a lethal opponent in combat, and devastatingly beautiful. In this adventure she is ably assisted by the loyal Garvin, and her current lover, the artist-turned-British-agent Hagan. With a team like this, the ending comes as no surprise, even when they are pitted against the coldly logical (but Tom and Jerry obsessed) Gabriel and his deadly henchmen.

Modesty Blaise is a great start to what I think is a great series. Well worth looking out for.

Full review at Past Offences ( )

There's no reason the boys should have all the fun. It's a shame there aren't more heroines out there like MB. Competent, smart, and able to give the James Bonds and Jason Bournes a run for their money. Fun, pulpy, read. And sometimes, that's really all you want from a book. ( )

This first "Modesty Blaise" novel by Peter O'Donnell ably sets the stage for one of my favorite novel and comic strip series, in which Modesty Blaise and her right-hand man and other half Willie Garvin, retired wealthy from a life of crime, find relief from the ennui that they are unexpectedly feeling by performing a task for Sir Gerald Tarrant, head of Britain's version of our secret service. The story is suspenseful and exciting, the characters are among the most fascinating in literature I am familiar with, and the dialogue is witty and assured. A very promising start to the stories of two of my favorite characters in literature and comic strips. ( )