Never Send Flowers |
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Author:
John Gardner
By Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Hardcover
EAN: 9780340584125
ISBN: 0340584122
Label: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Number Of Pages: 256
Publication Date: 1993-07-15
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Studio: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd |
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Four high-profile public figures have been assassinated in the space of a week. A fifth murder, which takes place in the Swiss Alps, brings 007 into the field and onto the case of MI5's now very much deceased, former agent. Not that MI6 is in the business of helping out "blundering" MI5--far from it, according to Sir Miles Messervy ("M").To Bond's rotten luck, he is forced to work with an opposite number in the Swiss Intelligence Service--Frauleine Freddie von Grusse or simply "Flicka"- -a five foot eleven inch "sexual knockout". Not that Flicka is all legs and smiles--she also happens to be a very effective agent who travels with Bond through Switzerland, Germany and Milan on the trail of the assassins. The finale takes Bond to Eurodisney in Paris, where he faces the killer himself, mano e mano (shades of Scaramanga in The Man With Golden Gun?). The strength of the main support characters, Flicka von Grusse and the furtive Dragonpol, an ex-actor who resides in a Castle in Rheineland, contribute significantly to the strength of this novel. The plot is an unusual one and somewhat slow to get off the ground, with Bond himself admitting that he is acting merely as a "super-detective" for much of the time. However, the finishing chapters are suitably interesting and make Never Send Flowers a worthy read for those who enjoy a hearty 007novel--despite its terrible title. --Julian Broster
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Two is a Team, 1998-12-08
This book is an excellent edition to the Bond books. I loved this book because of it's startling areas (with the heads, for those of you who did read it), it's action, and it's suspense. The plot was wonderful and straightforward (not like in You Only Live Twice) and Fredricka von Grusse (Flicka)was an excellent match for Bond. I loved the ending, although I think the ending in the next book (SeaFire) is a whole lot better. After you read this book, be sure to read SeaFire (same author) because that also features Flicka. Also, read Win, Lose, or Die. Although not as good as Never Send Flowers, it packs a punch and it has much mystery and suspense to it. Once again, this book is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What has happened to the real James Bond?, 2000-04-17
I cannot believe that any ardent J.B. fan could ever like this story. He has been changed into a clumsy, slow thinking, weak willed character and is totally outclassed by his female Swiss counterpart who regularly gives HIM orders(!) which he follows without question. Having also bought another John Gardner `007' story, `Sea Fire' at the same time as `Flowers' I have shelved reading it until my tolerance returns. Please hurry up, Raymond Benson and release your next Bond book and restore my faith the character.
"Nobody Lives Forever" - tell that to 007!, 1999-12-02
After a slow but credible start at bringing James Bond into the modern literary world, John Gardner hits the mark with his fifth entry - "Nobody Lives Forever". Gardner's Bond is much less the playboy than creator Ian Fleming's 007 was but Gardner still puts the fine touches into an explosive, exciting, violent, and sexy chapter in the James Bond world. The plot is rather simple: SPECTRE returns and offer 10 million Swiss francs for 007's head - just the head. Miss Moneypenny and Bond's housekeeper May are kidnapped to lure him out into the open and he begins a globe-hopping search for them all while dodging assassins from every angle. This book has all of the familiar elements of the best of the Fleming novels and then some - it ranks as high as any of the Fleming novels - while still bringing 007 out to shine for a modern reader. If the braintrust at EON/MGM had any sense, this would be the next film project. Thank you John Gardner! Mr. Fleming would be proud!
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