Really only read The Dark Angels which is one of the short-stories here but I found no specific entry for that one in the database so take the rating "2" for what it is. ( )

A story collection rather than a novel, with five adventures spanning the career of Modesty and her lieutenant Willie Garvin from their early days in North Africa up to semi-retirement 40 years later.

The first story, 'Bellman', opens with a flashback to the days when Modesty ran The Network, a multinational criminal organisation based in Tangier. In 'The Dark Angels', Willie and Modesty are pitched against an infallible assassination ring sent to eliminate an American supermarket tycoon. In 'The Girl with the Black Balloon', a gang of kidnappers has been extorting millions from different governments, using the guise of different oddball organisations as cover. The final story, 'Cobra Trap', features a more mature Modesty and Willie, now in their 50s.

Full review on Past Offences ( )

A story collection rather than a novel, with five adventures spanning the career of Modesty and her lieutenant Willie Garvin from their early days in North Africa up to semi-retirement 40 years later.

The first story, 'Bellman', opens with a flashback to the days when Modesty ran The Network, a multinational criminal organisation based in Tangier. In 'The Dark Angels', Willie and Modesty are pitched against an infallible assassination ring sent to eliminate an American supermarket tycoon. In 'The Girl with the Black Balloon', a gang of kidnappers has been extorting millions from different governments, using the guise of different oddball organisations as cover. The final story, 'Cobra Trap', features a more mature Modesty and Willie, now in their 50s.

Full review on Past Offences ( )

This is definitely a collection that you should read only after you have read every other Modesty Blaise story. There are references to other stories, familiar characters, etc., but the most important matter is that it also contains Modesty Blaise and Willie Garwin's last adventure, which to me was made even more poignant by the knowledge that Peter O'Donnell passed away recently and there really will be no more stories by him.

Apart from the sadness of the last Modesty Blaise / Willie Garvin adventure, I very much enjoyed reading the collection. Their adventures never cease to entertain, whatever the setting. ( )

A series of short stories covering different times in the life of Modesty Blaise for which I have much, much love for.