Diamonds Are Deadly

Anna Zordan #3: “Diamonds Are Deadly” by James Eastwood. A mystery writer is written a serial for television, 13 episodes detailing the destruction of England by a mysterious terrorist organization. When the network sends the details to the government overseeing such programs, they reject the serial. However, someone steals the manuscripts for the first 12 episodes, and suddenly the program begins in real. Anna is sent to locate the author, and kept him safe until Sarratt can bring him in for interrogation. Unfortunately, the mastermind has his eyes on Anna, and things don’t go as planned. Anna is up against another woman equally as dangerous as she, and things may end badly for our super spy. At first, the plot seems idiotic, but the story really isn’t. This is the final entry in the series, and I think it’s the best. Although the first story reminded me of a play on Femme Nikita, this novel had more similarities to Modesty Blaise (at least a little bit). Maybe, if the series had continued, Anna Zordan would have truly become the super spy the author untended. Following is taken from this book, on Page 138: Names in parentheses are mine.

(Gloria) “You’re supposed to be highly intelligent.”

(Anna) “My IQ is 137.”

(Gloria) “Multilingual.”

(Anna) “Seven languages, including a smattering of Chinese.”

(Gloria) “An expert with weapons.”

(Anna) “Well, shall we say, small arms? I’m no good with the heavy hardware.”

(Gloria) “Unarmed combat.”

(Anna) “Care to try me?”

(Gloria) “You have a knowledge of economics, finance, and politics that enables you to sustain an intelligent conversation in almost any company. You have courage. You drive fast cars.”

(Anna) “A three time winner at Brands Hatch. And a couple of years ago I was within a millimeter of the Ladies Cup in the Monte Carlo Rally.”

(Gloria) “You can fly a plane.”

(Anna) “Simple types. Not jets.”

(Gloria) “And one of your hobbies is parachuting.”

(Anna) “So relaxing.”

(Gloria) “You’ve been an actress.”

(Anna) “Not a very good one. But it paid the rent.”

(Gloria) “You have a good body and an interesting, if not beautiful, face.”

(Anna) “Piquant, perhaps.”

(Gloria) “And sexually you are inventive, uninhibited, and – apparently on occasion – insatiable.”

(Anna) “So they tell me.”

Unfortunately, the one problem with the stories is that they end un-climatically, with a whimper instead of action. That is where the series falls short of ever hoping to compete with Modesty Blaize, and leaves Anna Zordan only moderately a super spy. Still, the stories are a lot of fun, and interesting reading.

Little Dragon From Peking

Anna Zordan #2: “Little Dragon From Peking” by James Eastwood. In this second story, Anna has been requested to attend a party by the “family”; a ruthless family that came out of Nazi Germany and now control a vast estate and power. The matriarch is old and dying, but wants one more successful achievement before her death; one that could mean a massive loss of life in Europe followed by another World War. Anna is recruited to assist in the scheme, and all she knows is the code, Little Dragon, which Peking is sending. In fact, she is sent to meet the Little Dragon, and be a part of the final plans of the old woman. This was a better novel than the first issue, and we see much more of Anna Zordan, and appreciate her ability as a British secret agent. Lots of fun.

The Chinese Visitor

Anna Zordan #1: “The Chinese Visitor” by James Eastwood. Anna has a gypsy spirit. She is a girl who loves excitement, danger, and adventure. She’s accidentally on the scene of an assassination in a cemetery, of all places, when a visiting Chinese diplomat is murdered. As the police notice her, she is grabbed, but fights back, and ends up in jail. It isn’t long before a rich suitor bails her out; however, it’s done on orders from a high official in British espionage, who has been following the girl’s trail since her mother and father (British agents) were murdered.  Once released, she finds a killer in her apartment, and in a struggle she kills him. Contacting Serratt, a British official, she thinks she’s heading for jail, but instead is recruited into British intelligence. Now she has a chance to do even more about her parents’ death.

The beginning was very similar to the movie, POINT OF NO RETURN (a remake of NIKITA, which I’ve never seen), in many respects: from the murder, to her jail time, and Serratt’s bringing her into the agency. Even to the music, except in PONR it was Nina Simone, in TCV, Anna prefers classic music. There is also a similar kissing scene between Anna and Serratt, as between Nina (Bridgett Fonda’s codename) and Bob (her government sponsor). But after the story truly gets going, all similarities cease.

There is enough action to keep the story interesting, though the author spends too much time with the enemy agents, and we don’t see enough of Anna Zordan. They do travel to different locations, and the final action takes places in a mountain hideout almost impossible to reach. There are three stories in the series, so maybe we see more of Anna in the next two stories. This first entry in the series is well worth reading, just for its similarities to POINT OF NO RETURN. A Fun Read.