The Spy Novel - James Leasor

A slow start to the week. It's nice and sunny so Jo and I spent an hour this afternoon on the deck enjoying the breeze. But other than that, we've been relaxing and catching up on a few shows.

My look at the spy novel follows, today's author, James Leasor

The Spy / Thriller Novel - James Leasor

James Leasor

English author James Leasor was born in Kent in 1923 and died in Wiltshire in 2007. He was a prolific writer, producing a variety of spy and thriller and historical books. He also wrote as Andrew MacAllan. A number of his books were turned into movies, including the Boarding Party which became The Sea Wolves starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven. My focus will be on his Dr. Jason Love series. Leasor became a full-time author with the first book in the Dr. Love series, Passport to Oblivion. This was turned into a movie as well, Where the Spies Are starring David Niven. I have read one of the Jason Love thrillers and one of Leasor's standalone novels. I'll highlight his Love series.

a. Passport to Oblivion (1964).











"Passport to Oblivion is the first book in English author James Leasor's Dr. Jason Love spy series of 9 books. Ian Fleming is probably the most well known master of the spy series, but I've discovered a number of other series the past couple of years; Adam Diment's Philip McAlpine books, James Mayo's Charles Hood books and Victor Canning's Rex Carver books, to name a few. Of the one's I've tried so far, they offer different styles to that of Fleming's Bond books.

Dr. Jason Love is a country doctor who served in the British army during WWII. He now has a small medical practice, teaches veterans judo in his spare time and enjoys his flashy Cord sports car. During this time period, the British spy services are facing a major crisis. Due to traitors in their service, the spy network in the Middle East has been compromised and neutralized for the most part. At the beginning of this story, one of their agents in Iran is murdered by Russian spies.

Trying to find someone to go to Iran to see what is going on, MacGillivray, deputy head of the Secret Service searches through old files to try to find someone unknown to the Russians who he can send to Iran. He comes across Dr. Love's file. It seems that once during the war, Love had helped him find Japanese sympathisers in the Indian Army. With that information, MacGillivray persuades Love to help him again.

Thus, Dr. Jason Love finds himself in Iran trying to discover what the missing English spy, K, might have discovered. That is the gist of this story. It's an interesting premise and a well-developed story. There are some typical spy craft type equipment that appears; pens that shoot darts, transmitters implanted in teeth, sword canes and such but they just make the story more interesting. There is sufficient action and interesting baddies that try to discover Love and to destroy him.

The story moves through Iran and then to Northern Canada in a quick transition; hot desert suns to frozen northern wastes. All in all, it's an interesting story. Love is a thoughtful amateur spy who manages, by his wits and physical abilities to keep ahead of his enemies. The story is positively comparable to the Bond books, easy to read and entertaining. I did like how this book refers to actual situations of the period, double agent George Blake whose traitorous actions resulted in the deaths of many British spies, Igor Gouzenko, the Russian spy who turned himself into Canadian authorities, etc. It added a different quality to this story. Most enjoyable. (4 stars)"

b. Passport to Peril (#2 / 1966).

"Passport to Peril is Dr Jason Love's second brilliant case history in suspense.

An adventure that sweeps from the gentle snows of Switzerland to the freezing peaks of the Himalayas, and ends in a blizzard of violence, hate, and lust on the roof of the world. Guns, girls and gadgets all play their part as the Somerset doctor, old car expert and amateur secret agent uncovers a mystery involving the Chinese intelligence service and a global blackmail ring."

c. Week of Love (#5 / 1969).











"Italy, Portugal, Holland, Scotland, Spain and England - 'seven glorious adventures of Jason Love, the doctor who gets in the most wonderful scrapes and always comes out on top."

In his career, Leasor wrote ten Jason Love novels. He also wrote one featuring Love and Aristo Autos. Finally he wrote two novels featuring Aristo Autos. The complete listing of Leasor's novels is available at this link. There you go, folks. I hope you take a chance on this series.