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The Professionals #4
Hunter Hunted
TV series 1st edition Sphere paperback 1978 vg++ In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
- GenresThriller
158 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 8, 2019
Once again written by Kenneth Bulmer under the Ken Blake house name, this volume is based on the shooting scripts for three episodes. The first is “First Night”, where an Israeli minister is kidnapped from the Festival Hall on the Southbank and, to avoid an international incident, it’s down to CI5 to find him. After an action packed opening, we then see some dogged detective work (the kidnappers are tracked by a Polaroid picture they’ve sent), which works slightly better in the episode than it does here. Great pacing, some humour and some nice observations on contemporary London.
The second, eponymous episode has CI5 charged with testing the new laser-sighted 180 and Cowley hands it to Bodie & Doyle. Whilst at headquarters, they encounter Kathie Mason, an ex-colleague of Doyle’s who’s interviewing to become a CI5 agent. After a night at her place, Doyle discovers the gun is missing and it seems someone is out to get their revenge on him. Brisk, involved and good fun, this cracks along with some nice dialogue, excellent set pieces (especially the demise of Doyle’s E-type) and some good interactions between the agents. I really liked the episode itself (especially Cheryl Kennedy as Kathie) and this does it justice.
“The Rack” is the final episode. Following a raid on ex-boxer (now criminal and drug dealer) John Coogan’s mansion, he and his brother are taken to CI5 for interrogation. The brother has a go at Doyle then punches him, in self defence Doyle retaliates and the brother dies of a ruptured spleen. A tribunal (the ‘rack’ of the title) is then set up, wherein prosecution lawyer Geraldine Mather decides to take on the Action Squad and cut them down to size. Briskly told, with good characterisation, this works well to flesh out Doyle and his feelings over perhaps (without giving away spoilers) causing the death of a man while Cowley has a great grandstanding speech on just why CI5 is so important (and, sadly, the words ring as true today as they did forty years ago).
All three are completely written (and Bulmer continues his fascination with Bodie’s ‘famous’ face and mobile lips) and feature some nice bits of poetic prose when describing a London that has mostly long since disappeared. The action scenes are deftly handled as are the locations (judging by certain aspects - the constant rain in “The Rack”, for example - it seems they were written from the shooting scripts rather than seeing the episodes) and there are some smart little character pieces that flesh the dynamic duo out well (it’s mentioned again that Doyle paints). Brisk, violent, occasionally amusing, I’m not sure how these would work if you’d never seen the programme but as an unabashed fan of the series, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended.
The second, eponymous episode has CI5 charged with testing the new laser-sighted 180 and Cowley hands it to Bodie & Doyle. Whilst at headquarters, they encounter Kathie Mason, an ex-colleague of Doyle’s who’s interviewing to become a CI5 agent. After a night at her place, Doyle discovers the gun is missing and it seems someone is out to get their revenge on him. Brisk, involved and good fun, this cracks along with some nice dialogue, excellent set pieces (especially the demise of Doyle’s E-type) and some good interactions between the agents. I really liked the episode itself (especially Cheryl Kennedy as Kathie) and this does it justice.
“The Rack” is the final episode. Following a raid on ex-boxer (now criminal and drug dealer) John Coogan’s mansion, he and his brother are taken to CI5 for interrogation. The brother has a go at Doyle then punches him, in self defence Doyle retaliates and the brother dies of a ruptured spleen. A tribunal (the ‘rack’ of the title) is then set up, wherein prosecution lawyer Geraldine Mather decides to take on the Action Squad and cut them down to size. Briskly told, with good characterisation, this works well to flesh out Doyle and his feelings over perhaps (without giving away spoilers) causing the death of a man while Cowley has a great grandstanding speech on just why CI5 is so important (and, sadly, the words ring as true today as they did forty years ago).
All three are completely written (and Bulmer continues his fascination with Bodie’s ‘famous’ face and mobile lips) and feature some nice bits of poetic prose when describing a London that has mostly long since disappeared. The action scenes are deftly handled as are the locations (judging by certain aspects - the constant rain in “The Rack”, for example - it seems they were written from the shooting scripts rather than seeing the episodes) and there are some smart little character pieces that flesh the dynamic duo out well (it’s mentioned again that Doyle paints). Brisk, violent, occasionally amusing, I’m not sure how these would work if you’d never seen the programme but as an unabashed fan of the series, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended.
January 11, 2025
Rating 3
Entertaining adaptation of early season episodes into novella length stories.
As with the other initial volumes in the series this contains three stories.
Thought they were good adaptations, fast paced, action oriented as was the series, a bit of background for the main protagonists and not over stretched.
Possibly could have been expanded slightly to have two episodes per volume.
Overall definite recommendation for any fans of the tv series.
Entertaining adaptation of early season episodes into novella length stories.
As with the other initial volumes in the series this contains three stories.
Thought they were good adaptations, fast paced, action oriented as was the series, a bit of background for the main protagonists and not over stretched.
Possibly could have been expanded slightly to have two episodes per volume.
Overall definite recommendation for any fans of the tv series.
May 25, 2023
Very good adaptation of a trio of episodes of the late seventies British TV series. Captures the interplay between the characters really well. Recommended.
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December 13, 2025Novelization of episode of TV show The Professionals.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews