A Sunny Sunday (Yes I Will Mow The Lawn) And The Spy Novel - The Swinging 60s

Ida Lupino, not just an actress

A lovely fresh sunny day, it was nice taking the dogs out at lunch time. At a couple of locations the sidewalk was covered with pink cherry blossoms. Just lovely. I'm currently watching an episode of The Fugitive as I write this. Guest star is Jack Weston and it was directed by Ida Lupino.

Now on to my ongoing look at the Spy / Thriller genre

The Spy / Thriller Genre - Frederic Adam Diment (the '60s)

Adam Diment

I discovered Adam Diment by accident a couple of years back. He is somewhat of a mystery. Between 1967 and 1971 he wrote 4 spy novels, all featuring spy Philip McAlpine. (I think of McAlpine as a serious version of Austin Powers) After that he disappeared from public life and reports say he moved to Zurich and had no plans to write anymore novels. There were plans to turn The Dolly Dolly Spy into a movie starring David Hemmings but it never came to anything. I've managed to find 3 of the books and have enjoyed 2 so far. I've seen two copies of the fourth book but I don't think I want to spend $60.00 on it. We'll see. 😏

1. The Dolly Dolly Spy (1967).









"The Dolly Dolly Spy is the first of four books by Adam Diment featuring British spy, Philip McAlpine. It was first published in 1967 and it definitely has that '60s vibe about it. McAlpine is a security officer for a big firm and is blackmailed into working for a subset of MI6.

He is sent for pilot and armed combat training in the US and assigned to a job with a company, International Charters that works out of a small island in Greece. He does legal and illegal flying missions and periodically reports back to his boss in England with information on his missions. Ultimately he gets assigned a specific mission, to acquire a target that MI6 wants to interrogate.

On its own it's a relatively simple spy story but there is more to it than that. The feel for the time is excellent. It's maybe a James Bond light but the characters are interesting. McAlpine is a neat guy, kind of a coward but still a guy whose quick off the mark and a problem solver. There is enough action, a bit of sex and drugs and rock 'n roll, and an entertaining spy story. Diment disappeared after his fourth book and has retained a cult following (from what I read anyway). If the other books are as entertaining, I'm looking forward to them. (4 stars)"

2. The Great Spy Race (1968).

"The Great Spy Race by Adam Diment is the 2nd of four books that feature Philip McAlpine, reluctant spy for the English. Set in the psychedelic '60s, the book is a bit sexy and filled with action, especially the last chapters.

The book reminds me of the 1967 Casino Royale, which starred David Niven, and was filled with spies in a spyish rolic, and also Mike Myers, Austin Powers. Not that the book is a comedy, but it has a similar tone, providing a picture of the time; drugs, sex, fancy clothes.

The premise of the story is that a rich, ex-spy offers intelligence that all countries might want and they have to provide spies to take part in a race, using the old-fashioned spy techniques. McAlpine is black-mailed by his boss to take part and begins a journey from London to St Tropez to Geneva and ending at an island resort in the Indian Ocean called Mali. McAlpine must use tried and true techniques like blackmail, forgery and sex to get information to continue his journey and to beat the other spies to the end. Accompanied for part of the journey with the sexy Josephine, it's a fast paced adventure. Don't expect a classic of the spy genre, rather more of a cult spy story which is entertaining and action-packed. (3.5 stars)"

3. The Bang Bang Birds (1968).









"Philip McAlpine's escapes from death and encounters with girls begin in New York and move to Stockholm...espionage and the sale of secrets...glittering palaces of vice...golden girls with sub machine guns..."

4. Think, Inc. (1971).

"Philip McAlpine, Switched-on, turned-on, pot smoking, pop spy comes in from the cold for a hot number - Chastity, the coal-black sex-kitten."

There you go. Not your average, every day spy, eh?

Enjoy your upcoming week.