I have never read a James Bond book before, this was incredible, a real treat. Gripping!! It's the second in the series, so I need to go back and read the first. Looking forward to the next one.

A Spy Like Me by Kim Sherwood is a thrilling and fast-paced espionage novel that combines gripping action with intriguing characters. The story follows a young woman thrust into the world of espionage after uncovering a conspiracy that could change everything. Sherwood’s writing is sharp, with strong character development and a tense, twist-filled plot that keeps readers hooked. With its mix of mystery, danger, and personal stakes, A Spy Like Me is an exciting read for fans of spy thrillers and high-stakes adventure.

In A Spy Like Me, agents Joseph Dryer (004) and Conrad Harthrop-Vane (000) are tasked with uncovering a vast money laundering scheme linked to terrorist funding, under the guidance of Miss Moneypenny. As they race against a six-day countdown to prevent a terror attack, Joanna Hardwood (003), sidelined from active duty due to her partner's death, secretly searches for the missing James Bond.

The novel features a large cast of characters, and readers unfamiliar with the previous book, Double or Nothing, might struggle with the intricate plot and numerous names. Divided into five parts with short, cliffhanger-ended chapters, the fast-paced narrative takes readers to exotic locales and pits them against formidable villains. The complex plot and multiple subplots demand close attention.

3.5/5.

An exciting, action-packed spy novel related to the James Bond series. Full of twists and turns and set in different locations. Thanks for the advance review copy.

TOP SECRET BRIEFING: 5 star rating

Over the years, James Bond's adventures have carried him all over the world, tackling villains in love with gold, in love with space and usually in love with themselves. The weapons threatening humanity's existence have been lasers, nuclear bombs or hideous viruses and Bond has won the day with the help of ever more exotic gadgets and tricks with each outing!

I'm pleased to report that Kim Sherwood develops her themes from her first Double-O series novel, "Double or Nothing" by keeping things simple and the storyline strong: she continues with the Double-O team with agents 000, 003, 004, 008 all crucial to the plot and the characters feel real, strong, individual and relevant to modern life. Beautiful Joanna Harwood is a rather deadly 003 and only a fool or a dead man would underestimate her. 6-foot-4 and full of muscle is Joseph Dryden and his character is simply cool - relaxed, matter of fact and stylish in a casual way, he is my favourite at position 004. Dodger Macintyre is the brave agent at 008 and a rather too smooth for my liking Conrad Harthrop-Vane holds the 000 spot. Together they use skill and cunning to work as a team.

The opening scene is an attack at London's BBC Broadcasting House and Sherwood's skill makes it feel urgent and present and could easily be reported on the evening news tonight. This present-day setting makes the story feel much more real and relatable than the Bond series films and lends an urgency and pace to the plot. The evil empires in Bond films have been either individual villains, or Spectre and Blofeld. Sherwood introduces a new organisation called Rattenfanger - a well funded and world wide terrorist group ready to spread havoc and terror across the world and there is a major attack planned with only 6 days for the Double-Os to stop it. Will they make it in time?

I loved the familiar feeling of the Bond setting but the characters have taken slightly different roles; Moneypenny is running the day-to-day show and Q is now a Quantum super-computer allowing all sorts of data searches and links to be done at speed. It feels right and a fresh take on the Bond universe. At no point did I think about the differences from the film series - this feels real and modern and now and the pace of the writing leave no time die.

The adventure takes our Double-Os across the globe [of course!] and the plot twists and turns with each location. As each page turns, you can feel the threads coming together into a wonderful climax - but what about Bond? Does he save the day? Does he make it to the end of the day? At the end of the book, is he the Double-0 you want to save the day?

You'll have to read it to find out but, in a memo for your-eyes-only, I can tell you that the story is brilliant, exciting and takes to the very last paragraph to reach its conclusion. Enjoy every page!

Fast paced, twisty, and gripping: an entertaining and suspenseful thriller
A more extensive review will follow
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

DNF at 12% for me. It has taken me a few weeks to get back into this book, but I can’t seem to find the interest in it. It’s not bad, but there are too many storylines and too many names for me to properly proces what’s happening. I never DNF a book, but when it’s taken me multiple attempts and a few weeks to start again where I left off it’s not a good sign. Probably better as movie instead.

I am very sorry but I found this book very confusing, Lots of different people going to different places. Some were spies, some were criminals and some were both. I was totally discombobulated. The conclusion didn't help tp resolve things either,

A Spy Like Me is the second book in the 00 series .007 is still missing but the rest of the 00's are ready for action and are now led by Mis Moneypenny. I like that the story is fast paced but found I had to concentrate as there are many plots and subplots and characters .An exciting read with a cliff hanger ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC .

The second book set in the world of James Bond (if not exactly featuring the missing spy).
Here we have Moneypenny in charge of the 00 section and she has the various agents tracking down a pipeline that provides the funding for terrorism.
The author’s style takes a little getting used to in terms of how she uses tense and while this is firmly in the world of Bond, this is about the other 00s chasing down the bad guys and trying to identify who heads up the pipeline.
Lots of interaction with individuals that have populated Bond’s history (more so than the previous book) which is fun for any Bond fan and some interesting ideas here.
It’s a very modern thriller in terms of approach and technology and perhaps misses some of the tension of the Bond books but certainly an interesting companion to them.

Fantastic premise and great pacing, however I did find the large cast a little difficult to keep up with. Not a substitute for Bond, but a great addition to the canon

The opening scene of panic at the BBC, bomb threats and explosions was exciting and boded well in this follow up to Double or Nothing . Joe Dryden makes a welcome return and the team monitoring operations at HQ oversee the action with astute intelligence. Once the target and purpose of the mission is revealed, a typically wealthy but shady business man, Teddy Wiltshire, connected to illegal dealing in precious artifacts and people trafficking among other dirty deeds, moves to thwart his devious plans are set in motion. But as agents are deployed across the world exotic locations come thick and fast and the story becomes very busy but with not much happening to move it along. I am afraid the strong female leads of Johanna Harwood still searching for her missing ex, James Bond and Rachel Wolff a thief with a dubious past left me unmoved. There are countless references to Bond’s history and while I thought at first this would read as a stand alone, I think it would be even more confusing if the reader was not already familiar with the previous book. A hectic, action packed rollercoaster ride that for me, occasionally came off the rails.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this.

Twists and Turns galore! Every time I thought I had it, Sherwood pulled the rug from under my feet and surprised me with a new twist or new piece of information taking me in a completely new direction! Such a fun read!
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Thank you to the publisher for the early copy of this one!

Global terror is the focus of the second book in the Double O series, which has an engaging mix of well-known Bond characters alongside twenty-first-century creations that keep you invested. Whilst 007 is still missing 003, Johanna, 004 and 000 set out to foil an undercover crime organisation's nefarious actions that threaten the world's populations. Again, whilst the action and the race against time are dominant, more reflective sections and detailed investigative techniques inform and allow the reader to draw breath for the next dangerous adventure. I like the contemporary relevance, vibrant characters, vivid settings, and absorbing plot, which is addictive reading.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I'm grateful to the publisher for giving me access to an advance e-copy of A Spy Like Me to consider for review.

In her followup to Double or Nothing, Kim Sherwood returns to the world of the Double 0s, the Section still being threatened by the mysterious organisation know as Rattenfänger. James Bond, 007, is still missing, and the focus shifts to Johanna Harwood, 004 who is determined to track down and rescue one of her disappeared lovers - while mourning another, killed lover, who died during the events of the previous book.

Meanwhile, Moneypenny has concerns there may be another traitor in the Section...

Like its predecessor, A Spy Like Me captures, I think, the essence of the James Bond universe while refusing to be too deferential to trivia. So, the story is set more or less in the present, taking place a couple of years ago, but with references back to canonical Bond details (such as the the murder of his wife, a plot point that gives Johanna an unexpected source of help when she 'goes rogue' in search of him). Other events and settings are unashamedly modern, such as the prevalence of human trafficking and terrorism. Through it all we get the same mix of high living - the super-rich of the 2020s being perhaps even less abashed at flaunting their wealth than those of the 1950s and 60s - and intrigue, with violence never far from the surface. There are confrontations on Crete and in Venice that could easily be set pieces in a Bond movie, for example, an an ease with fast cars, guns and exotic watches.

And there is a twisty, complex plot, weaving the personal - like Johanna's motivation to recover James - and the political - terrorist outrages finances by dark money and taking place on a regular timescale - that gives the reader just the same sense of a countdown, a final date with evil, and of the risk of being distracted, of going down a rabbit hole in some glamorous resort, as in the original books.

Sherwood's writing is also sharp - 'Welcome to Dubai, home of ex-pats, concrete and money' 'This woman smiles when she's told to smile because it may never happen and it could be worse, though it's already happened and it couldn't be worse' - and the absence of Bond doesn't diminish, rather it enhances, the shadow he casts over this book, forcing him into everyone's consciousness: Conrad Harthrop-Vane, for example, who's no fan, notes Bond's remark that 'this "country-right-or-wrong business" was old-fashioned in 1952' and that Bond 'is defined by his purpose' (note is, not was). Harthrop-Vane isn't the only one to speculate about Bond's character, personality, purpose or meaning, everyone has a go at one point or another, resulting in this allegedly two dimensional figure (I don't think that but it has been said) being fully alive and drawn as complex and active even when out of sight.

Returning form those depths, this book is also fun. Sherwood drops plenty of references to Bond book and film titles and also allusions such as to a 'golden revolver' or having 'all the time in the world'. There are sideplots that take their time to join up with the main action, and surprise sprung. All I all, entertaining, nail biting and fun, with a bite of real world issues. It ends on a monster of a cliffhanger, and left me impatient for Book 3, which presumably though I'll have to wait another couple of years for!

Strongly recommended.

I’m sorry this review is late, but it was because I just couldn’t get into the book. I’m sure it would be good as a screenplay, but there is far too much description and too many characters to be cohesive as a book. I honestly found it hard work and struggled all the way through and the too quick switches between points of view didn’t help. This would be thrilling as a film as then all the tedious descriptions would be visual and the (too many) characters would be more identifiable. So sorry I didn’t like it.

Yet another 5* read from an accomplished author who never fails to deliver. She has the ability to continually stretch the boundaries of psychological thrillers with a terrifying mirror on the future of AI , Disturbing content becomes acceptable and believable when the storyline is driven by three dimensional characters who face chilling choices in their effort to do the right thing balancing the knock on results which will effectively damage their ability to survive the consequences. The two protagonists named Midnight and Dawn reflected for me the dark reality of true evil fighting the forces of goodness. This book is a terrifying battle between light and dark in a compelling fight for supremacy. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The OOs are back in the next installment of the thrilling reimagining of the world of James Bond. With all the class we have come to expect but updated with a modern take, Kim Sherwood's books are classic yet contemporary. Reading A Spy Like Me is just like being immersed in the world of Bond, with travel, gadgets and glamour galore.

This time around, Harwood and Dryden are back and picking up the trail of Rattenfänger, along with OOO Conrad Harthrop-Vane. They're trying to stop any more terrorist attacks but also track down 007, who is missing, presumed dead. Can the agents put their feelings to their side and get the mission completed?

A Spy Like Me is a great sequel, but also works as a stand alone novel. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

A Spy Like Me is the second in Kim Sherwood's new Double O series, set in the world of Ian Fleming's superspy James Bond, and follows hot on the heels of Double Or Nothing.

I love a good Bond story, so it's been interesting to see what Kim Sherwood has done in this series. Can a Bond book work without James Bond? The answer is yes. Well, mostly.

Sherwood's Double O series sees a bunch of Double O agents criss-crossing the world (secret missions, check) on the hunt for a global terrorist network (check again) with lots of dangerous action, gadgets and glamorous parties (check, check and you've guessed it, check). The only minor quibble I have, and I accept that this is entirely a me thing, is that there's a *lot* going on and sometimes I lose track of my OO agents.

That sort of thing would never happen to M. Or Moneypenny, who is now in charge of the Double O section, and somewhat confusingly OOO, who I keep wanting to call Double O Zero rather than his official designation of Triple O. Conrad Harthrop-Vane, a triple name to go with his three Os?

Harwood has captured the feel of Fleming's Bond world rather well. There are a lot of nods to the earlier stories, with some extended cameos from characters from On Her Majesty's Secret Service, You Only Live Twice and others. Q is now a quantum computer so there's no 'Now pay attention, 007', but then again there's no Bond. Yet.

I enjoyed A Spy Like Me a lot, as with Double or Nothing, and am very intrigued to see where Kim Sherwood takes our dashing Double O agents next.

Let's be honest, the universe of Bond is huge. Which is why I really wonder what was going on in the pitch meeting for Kim Sherwood's Double 0 series. Given how many Bonds there have been, and the strong opinions people have about every single one, the very idea of expanding it even further feels immense and burdensome. Come on, you could just knock out another simple story where Bond tussles with SPECTRE and a bevy of beautiful women - boom! Boxes ticked, money in the bank; all sorted let's do it again soon. Nope. Someone decided we needed more agents, and more backroom staff, and while we're there let's throw some new villains in with Rattenfänger too. Sounding a bit busy? There's an easy fix, just push James to one side. Make him missing presumed dead in fact. Angry of Tunbridge Wells will be hammering out letters to anyone trying not to listen about how Oliver Cromwell would be choking on his mince pies with such modernised balderflummerypoppytwaddle before you can explain that Q is now a computer!

And so, with book two of this planned trilogy, I remain convinced this is the smartest way to move the universe forward. Bond has baggage. The character has been around for 71 years and as much as they've modernised him over the years there's always a lingering sense of old school to him. He's had that vibe since first appearing back in 1953 so let's not pretend this is an easy character to drag up to date. But, by having him missing, presumed dead, from the start it clears the floor for the rest of MI6 to develop as characters in their own right. And believe it or not, other secret agent spies can be fun too! Not just them though, Rattenfänger? Less evil overlords hiding out in lairs under volcanos, more hired guns ready to rick up in any war torn country to support the highest bidder. I mean, they still have a sideline in terrorism and overly grand crimes - that's why this book feels like it has more stolen diamonds than every other Bond story combined. But they're a more modern mercenary which just feels the correct evolution from the cold war conspiracy of yore. And that's coming from someone who loves all those old lairs, they were brilliant. But they were also a bit fantastical, which is half the fun about them. But these books just reign in a little of that excess. Now 00 agents can work together instead of single-handedly having to stop the end of the world! It isn't even as if that over the top aspect is completely gone, it's just dialled back a little to avoid clashing with Marvel's universe too much.

Anyway, book two! A Spy Like Me. If you're picking up a copy randomly in a bookshop you'll be fine. But if you're reading a book review online you probably have the luxury of selecting Double or Nothing and you should, it's a trilogy and it reads better as such. Put this one in the order too though, if you've lasted this far in this review I'm confident you'll enjoy both. The third isn't even finished yet and I'm feeling optimistic that we'll both enjoy that too. Unless I upset you early on and you're hate reading this to pick holes in anything I say. Then you'll probably be better off looking elsewhere.

Anyway, this is a fun adventure that takes our agents around the globe in a very elaborate effort to do some forensic accounting. We get smuggled antiquities, the aforementioned diamonds, many gun fights, some fisticuffs, and obligatory explosions. That's the fluffy side dealt with. Because this book has it's own twisting turning storyline that keeps you on your toes far more than a Bond story has any right to. And that's before the even longer trilogy wide plot of the hunt for James. This manages to balance the easy going Bond formula with some genuine mystery that brings so much more depth to the stories.

Now, I will say that if this book were a meal we'd all be musing about needing a touch more umami to leave us truly sated. The need to continue that longer storyline just means we end this teetering more on the edge of the climax than the first did. That set everything up well, it said more was coming, but you didn't mind because it left you in a good place. The story was still building. This one? Well, with the third ready to wrap up the arc it needed to feed us a few more angles so we had things to wrap up, and it leaves me more primed for the next book. I'll cope. It's far from a problem. I have confidence the next won't be too long. Please don't let it be too long!