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!

What I really like about this series, is that although Mr Bond may be missing, we are given the rest of the 00's and what they are dealing with whilst still looking for James. The story is action packed with some familiar characters but the author has brought the idea into the 21st century. Plenty going on to keep you page turning while trying to second guess who are the good guys and who are the baddies. I think this would easily transfer over to a film if they were given the chance. Look forward to what the next book brings especially with such a climatic finish !!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

Another fast paced and thrilling book from Kim Sherwood. Double or Nothing was a great read but A Spy Like Me is even better! With excellent characterisation and high levels of suspense this is another unputdownable book.

I was caught up in the story straightaway. I enjoyed meeting characters from the previous book but this could also be read as a standalone novel. There is plenty of intrigue and suspicion about double agents at the highest level which kept my interest throughout.

This is another superb book from a writer who has managed to build on the work of Ian Fleming whilst stamping her own style on the series.
I gasped aloud at the ending - be prepared for a thunderbolt!!

I sincerely hope that there will be more of these to come - I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

A pacy thriller with almost too many incidents and characters for its own good. I was just getting caught up in the plot when I came across several paragraphs of diversion into a Greek myth, presumably added in order to explain the design of a specific building. This seems to be patronising the reader; I expect that those few readers who do not already know the myth would anyway understand the connotations attached to the building’s name. It spoiled the flow of the book, interrupting a critical plot development, and is in a very different prose style from the rest, as if it had been cut and pasted into place. Otherwise, this was a quite enjoyable, exciting read.

Wow! What a fantastic, gripping read this was. Pure Bond from start to finish. I’m blown away by how good this book was!

This is the second book in the double o series, but it works well as a standalone. I don’t normally like books featuring characters that originated with a different author, but I have enjoyed this outing. It’s very much in the spirit of anything Bond like. Utterly preposterous, fast paced, action packed and filled with colourful characters straight off the film screen. There’s a slightly plausible thread to the plot, but it’s not too important as this is pure escapist fiction. Nothing too cerebral to get you wondering or worried, just a typical Bond thriller . I was looking for something light after a few more challenging books and this hit the spot. It’s well written and some excellent dialogue and overall it hangs together well. I enjoyed it.

This is a story about double O agents as James Bond 007 is missing and when the BBC is bombed they have to try and find out who is behind the bomb.
A gripping story but for me too many characters and plots which I found at times hard to follow but enjoyable if you like spy stories
Thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins for a ARC.

The second instalment in the Double-O series which creates a parallel storyline amongst the secret service team while James Bond is missing, presumed dead. The BBC is bombed and the agents work out that a terrorist group is planning a series of attacks and they need to interrupt and terminate their line of funding. All the glamorous locations and lifestyle you would expect from a Bond base tale. A more modern take on the Fleming style which is an interesting approach. A good read

I’ve been reading some really dense (in a good way) non-fiction lately so Kim Sherwood’s latest Bond story, A Spy Like Me, came at just the right time. While you couldn’t exactly describe something dealing with national security, terrorism and agents with a licence to kill as ‘light’, it is fun and exciting to escape once more into the world of Moneypenny, M, Q and the Double Os. I read the previous book, Double or Nothing, about 18 months ago so I couldn’t remember all its twists and turns but there are just enough mentions of prior events here to jog the memory or make this follow-up worthwhile reading for someone who hasn’t read it. What I do remember is some of the characters: Johanna Harwood, formerly a surgeon and now 003, is just about functioning, grieving for one man dead and another missing in action; Joe Dryden, ex-forces and with direct comms to SIS inside his head, has also lost someone.
Kim Sherwood writes with a screenwriter’s eye; if you’ve seen a Bond film you can imagine the glamorous locations, powerful people and the notion that no one is telling the whole truth about who they are and what they’re doing. With more than one Double O in play, the action is even more heightened – with one hanging on for dear life in one part of the world and another dealing with equally bad baddies in another. It’s a non-stop whirl of espionage and great fun, with a killer cliffhanger ending.

This book was a brilliant second instalment of the Double 0 series. It was action packed from the very first page to the very last page. So many twists and turns, betrayals etc it just kept me wanting to read more and more. Also, that ending! I can’t wait for the third book!

This is a great Bond alike story. It has lots of adventure, action and several twists and turns. It took me a chapter or so to get into but once I did, I flew through the book. Nothing like the 00 experience to carry you through the weekend.

When you find a new series of books and think the next one can't possibly be just as good, but it's even better.
Enjoy the company of the 00's on their new mission. But there is a traitor.
Who would possibly betray and kill their own?
Follow the international team as they try to stop the next catastrophic event and bring down the terrorists.
Enjoy I did and looking forward to the next book already

A follow on that expands the story line from the first book as 00’s try to track and trace both nefarious villains and Bond himself. Further complicated by another a traitor in their midst it’s a race against both time and an ever changing landscape. Not to sure about slipping various Bond titles into the actual narrative but guess thats like a martini - personal preference. The ending leaves you compelled to read the next book which is never a bad thing.