I loved watching Killing Eve so thought reading the book would be superior... as the book is always better than the film or tv show, right? The book is better in the detail, the sense of peril, Eve and Villanelle's personal thoughts come to life and the action, which the reader feels party to, is second to none. There is such great action and creative murdering! This really is a fun read and you will love both characters even more than the tv show.

What's different from the show? The off the wall kookiness of Villanelle wasn't there. That's not a bad thing but that is one of the reasons I enjoy the show so much. Eve is also quite a lot more serious and capable. But, I'm good with both of these. I think the trade off of feeling more personally invested in both lovely ladies trumps craziness and capability any day.

If you are looking for a fun spy thriller, this is a winner whether you've watched the show or not. There are plenty of divergences so the story feels fresh.

I requested the book because I'd watched the TV drama. That's usually the other way round for me! I enjoyed Killing Eve and unusually, found that it wasn't inferior (in retrospect) to the book. The real draw is the characterisation. The ruthless, glamorous assassin Villanelle, and the scatty, brilliant slightly scruffy MI5 operative, Eve. The comparison between the two characters, the strange relationship between hunter and most dangerous of prey, the fascination and fear, is really what drives the plot. Unlike the TV drama, we're brought in knowing Villanelle's backstory from the start and Eve is more isolated. I found both worked equally well. Best of all, a female character who is driven and ruthless without it being a result of male mistreatment was incredibly refreshing. Highly recommend these unique novellas.

Book vs TV

I don’t normally do this: compare books and their adaptations, preferring to enjoy one and forget about the other. This isn’t because I get upset when things are changed – they’re different art forms so they make different demands – but because I feel like I already know what’s going to happen so there’s not much to discover.

However, having watched the TV drama Killing Eve I was interested in reading Codename Villanelle, the book that inspired it, for two reasons – firstly because, after a promising start I didn’t love Killing Eve as much as I expected to (and as much as everyone else apparently does) and secondly because Codename Villanelle was a self-publishing success story before it was picked up by a traditional publisher.

Both Codename Villanelle and Killing Eve introduce us to Villanelle, a clever and ruthless assassin who targets high-profile victims worldwide, at the request of an agent called Konstantin. Villanelle is not only a gifted killer, she is also an accomplished actor, liar and charmer. In the book she has great insight. She knows that she doesn’t think or feel like others do, but she watches them carefully and mimics them. The book is beautifully written with understated wit.

In the drama Villanelle is a more overtly comic character. The dark humour has an uneasy edge to it because we’re never quite sure whether she understands the joke she is making.

In Killing Eve, we meet Eve Polastri, a junior MI5 operative, quite early on and we follow her as she learns what she can about Villanelle. In contrast, in Codename Villanelle we know Villanelle’s backstory almost from the beginning, and the organisation that employs her – if not the individuals who make it up. In both, Eve is recruited to head up an ad hoc team to pursue Villanelle. Oddly, in the TV drama, there is a much larger cast around Eve – it’s normally the other way round as characters in books don’t require payment – and perhaps the character development suffers.

What I love about both is the contrast between the two characters – Villanelle with her international luxury lifestyle and flamboyant promiscuity and Eve with her engagingly eccentric husband and her functional clothing and down-at-heel flat. I’m glad that the drama didn’t attempt to glam up Eve, but instead played on the the differences. The acting is brilliant in the drama, particularly the two leads (Sandra Oh, who played my favourite character, Cristina Yang, in Grey’s Anatomy is Eve and Jodie Comer is Villanelle)

For me, the book is the more coherent thriller. In the drama, I felt that the first two episodes brilliantly set up the premise, and the whole series looks gorgeous, but the later episodes were more like a series of set pieces, played more for laughs. I didn’t feel like the mutual fascination of Villanelle and Eve was sufficiently grounded and there are some big intuitive leaps in the plot that don’t make sense (and an over-reliance on the deus ex machina of a hacker who can find the answer to any question in minutes).

For me, the characters in the book (even the minor ones) behave in a more believable and intriguing way. It’s a stylised, high-concept thriller and so you don’t necessarily expect the events to be realistic, but it’s more satisfying when the psychology is.

Verdict – Definitely the book. What about you?

Pacy and thrilling read that was the basis for the Killing Eve tv series. Interesting to read the novel after watching the series and see just how the original story was changed and modified to create the visual form. The novel is a tight and lean read, introducing Villanelle and the agent Eve determined to identify and stop her. The second novel is released shortly and it will be interesting to see the development of the story arc.

Having already watched Killing Eve, I almost came at this backwards. The result - the TV adaptation is very good, but does not detract from the book, nor make it pointless to read as it is a definite 'based on' rather than a direct interpretation. So the book - I couldn't put it down. It is the first thriller I've by a man in recent years, and I have been imbibing crime thrillers by women at a ridiculous pace of late. Jennings' style is much more matter of fact, yet he still draws you into the characters and makes you need to know what next. To the point that I immediately launched straight into No Tomorrow. This is most definitely a must read book of excellence.

I read this in preparation for the BBC series Killing Eve.
This was an easy and enjoyable read. Definitely not short on action (in all its forms). Villanelle basically jumps from one conquest/hit to the next, only ever briefly quelling her sociopathic search for purpose.

Thank you NetGalley and John Murray Press for a review copy.

Villanelle is uniquely suited her job. She can change her identity easily, slip across borders and kill efficiently and without remorse. When she takes out a Russian political agitator on British soil, Villanelle suddenly becomes the sole focus of Eve Polastri. After failing to prevent the killing, Eve loses her job at MI5 but is secretly recruited to head up a team that is pursuing Villanelle. But when one of her team is brutally murdered in the streets of Shanghai by their target, Eve decides she will let nothing stop her hunting this assassin down, even if it means losing everything she loves or even her own life.

This is a joint review for Codename Villanelle and No Tomorrow, the basis for the TV show Killing Eve. Having watched the TV series, it's kind of weird to read these books because they contain a feel of the same characters but aside from that are almost entirely different. It's like reading a parallel universe version of the show: it starts off at a similar point but then goes off in a different direction. I really enjoyed reading these books though because I just loved spending time with these characters - and the tv show sadly does not have the amazing exploding butt plug scene. I think Luke Jennings has created some amazing characters here and Phoebe Waller-Bridge has done a masterful job developing their relationship for TV. I wonder what I would have thought of the books if I'd read them first? Either way, I think they are definitely worth a read.

A good read, deceptive characters which draw the reader in, unexpected twists and turns on every page, highly entertaining, I look forward to reading the next one

The TV show made me want to explore the source material. Great additional background on Villanelle.

4.5 stars.

I've found the TV series a breath of fresh air, a smart, capable female investigator and the strong, capable female assassin she is hunting. The book gives us a lot more background detail.

Villanelle is a highly trained sociopathic assassin, given assignments around the world that she takes pleasure in carrying out. Eve becomes part of the team hunting her down, scraping clues as to her identity from anywhere she is able. Both feel a mutual respect for the other, though it does not prevent them from continuing their daily work.

A little of the TV show's humour is missing, but I found the book has its own. I liked the focus on Villanelle, the author seemed to be a little in love with her at times, while making it clear how sociopathic she is. Eve is always one step behind her, and in comparison to the coiffed and cool assassin is definitely worlds away.

A flowing read, it flits between the two women, building the story of the killings and chase, and ends with no conclusion, but open for the next chapter.

If you read this first, you'll find the TV series contains many changes, but I enjoyed getting the extra details after having watched it. I may look for the next in the series, which must mean I liked it as I don't continue a series very often.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

Read this while watching the series on BBC, there are differences but the book and show stand out in their own ways. The book is not your everyday crime book, it's quirky, funny and a great read. Definitely recommend this.

Finished watching the show and saw this book when I walked into my book store. So happy and so not disappointed. It was different to the tv show but was just as good. Was amazing loved everything about it and cannot wait to read the next one.

Having enjoyed the TV series, I was curious how similar the book would be.
There are parts that cross over, though plenty of differences.
There is more depth to Villanelle, and less detail about the other characters.
The differences aren't too drastic, and overall I enjoyed reading. It is a quick read over 2-3 days, I'm already looking forward to the new book!

I NEVER read a book once I’ve seen it on screen but after loving the BBC series I couldn’t wait to start the original. It didn’t let me down! Fast-paced, intelligent, intriguing characters and brilliantly written, I didn’t want to put this book down until I’d finished it and now I can’t wait for the rest of the story. I loved every minute.

Brilliant! Having watched the tv series I was a little apprehensive about the book, it's normally better the other way around, but no I was pleasantly surprised. Villanelle, the profession hit woman is the lead character who is basically a psychopath, but still functional. Her role requires her to be emotionally detacthed and she is, she conducts her self extremely professionally in that respect although, I thought more development of her character could have made her more accessible to the reader, perhaps so.e of that is the point. Eve, who is very likable as the bumbling detective trying to find out who is calling the kills on the high profile victims in particular a Russian, who she failed to protect in her secrurity service job. The writing is fast paced with action scenes very short and direct giving the immense swiftness of the kill and the lack of drama around this enhances the shock value delivered. I like the write style and most of the characters are well described certainly Eve' s personality comes across very well. This is a series of short stories, but definitely has the scope for a series of novels, great characters, interesting story line and well narrated, I just want more!

Having just watched the much acclaimed TV drama Killing Eve, I was not sure that I wanted to read the book from which it was derived - not because I did not enjoy it, I thought it gripping and most entertaining, but because I was not sure I wanted to read what I had just watched.

I need not have worried. Whilst there are many elements of the plot where Killing Eve does follow the book, there are many where it does not, locations and the interpretation of characters differ too. Whilst reading it one was conscious of the similarities but not so much that one anticipates the story.

Wether or not you saw Killing Eve I am sure you will enjoy this gripping and fast paced story. The only criticism I wold make is that there are just four chapters, almost equal in length, for 224 pages - yet each chapter flits around different characters and locations and times. For me it would be far better for the reader if it were broken down into short chapters.

Just wow! I did of course watch the tv series prior to reading this book, but it didn't detract from the enjoyment of this fast paced page turner. The fact that it differs from the tv series and the fantastically descriptive writing ensures that. You're swept into the story and left wanting more. Can't wait to read the next one.

Not yet seen the drama series Killing Eve, as thought I'd take the opportunity to read the book first. Not disappointed! I read this straight through in one sitting, gripped by the drama of the cold-blooded assassin Villanelle and her kills. Now I can watch it!

I had already seen the first four episodes of the tv adaptation when I picked up this book and decided to read it all first. What surprised me most was that BOTH the series and the book are excellent, although the series does deviate from the book in parts. The formation of the psychotic hired assassin Villanelle and her early years are well described and help the reader to understand the character and her motivation a little better. She is complex, totally focussed on her “job” and appears to enjoy it enormously. Eve is also dedicated to her job, moving from her old placement after a security botch up where a prominent Russian is murdered, to a new covert team under MI6 where she can investigate the apparent rise of a new young female killer who appears to be leaving a trail of hits behind her. This takes her to China where her deputy Simon is brutally murdered and the action hots up with Eve determined to avenge his death. This book is well written and totally engrossing, and is really more of a “part one” as the reader is left hanging at the end and wanting to move straight onto the second book. Loved it!

I didn't want to watch 'Killing Eve ' till I had read the first book on which it.'s based and I am so glad I did.I started the book on a three hour flight and was completely captivated,to the extent that I wished the flight had been an hour longer so I could have finished the book in one sitting.
The main character ,Villanelle is terrifying,and her nemesis,Eve ,is equally fascinating.The development of these two characters is so well portrayed ; it's hard to know which of the two will win the battle for,supremacy.
Thankfully Netgalley and the publisher gave me ARCs of this book and the sequel so I don't have to wait to find out!
Highly recommended-suspense writing at its best!

So exciting and addictive! This is thrilling, easy- flowing reading at its best; despite the brutal, unnerving content and characters therein. Villanelle is a complex, almost childlike, psychopathic assassin. Russian by birth she was imprisoned for revenge-killing her father’s murderers. Mysteriously released from a horrific jail in Russia she goes through an extreme training programme and becomes the hitman for the secretive, powerful global group known as “The Twelve”, and contacted only through her controller, Konstantin.

MI5 and the police responsible for protection from terrorism become aware of a rogue female hitman after a Russian right wing visitor to the UK is assassinated – Eve Polastri takes the responsibility for this protection failure, and loses her job. She is then invited to head up an independent unit to find the assassin of this and other, worldwide victims. Eve is a likeable, determined figure and, if you’ve seen the TV adaptation (which makes many changes, but keeps the main feeling of the book), you can’t help but see that super actress in this role. Trying for some sort of work/life balance has never been harder!

I loved the tension, and the cold, calculating thought processes of Villanelle. She’s almost like a robot, but totally self-focused. I didn’t like the way the book ends in the middle of the story; but heigh-ho it’s also how TV series now end – things are never resolved so as to keep another series option open. I MUST read the next book now – I don’t believe anyone could stop at this one!