*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: Often compared to her contemporary James Bond, we have always found Modesty Blaise to be superior! Starring in Peter O’Donnell’s superbly crafted thrillers, Modesty is the former crime queen turned secret operative (often for the UK Gov), along with her partner Willie Garvin. They first appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper strip, and O’Donnell went on to write 11 novels and 2 short story collections (there were also two films: the first from the 1960s with Monica Vitti, Dirk Bogarde and Terence Stamp, which, while having a high camp quotient, was nothing like the characters; the second, produced by Quentin Tarantino (himself a big fan) told of Modesty’s origins and was much truer to O’Donnell’s vision). Three Modesty Blaise novels and one short story collection new in this week, in great-looking paperback editions from Souvenir Press, including the first (Modesty Blaise). If you haven’t tried Modesty, she really is the best policy!
PICTURED: MODESTY BLAISE BY PETER O’DONNELL ALL SOLD
DEAD MAN’S HANDLE Souvenir 2007 UK PB VG £10
MODESTY BLAISE Souvenir 2006 UK PB VG £10
PIECES OF MODESTY Souvenir 2019 UK PB VG £10 Short stories
A TASTE FOR DEATH Souvenir 2000s UK PB VG/FN £10