Assignment: The Girl in the Gondola

Sam Durell #19

by Edward S. Aarons

Thriller, Murder mystery. Fawcett Pub.

Genres: Espionage, Fiction

158 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

AKA Paul Ayres, Edward Ronns.

Edward Sidney Aarons (September 11, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an American writer, author of more than 80 novels from 1936 until 1962. One of these was under the pseudonym "Paul Ayres" (Dead Heat), and 30 were written using the name "Edward Ronns". He also wrote numerous articles for detective magazines such as Detective Story Magazine and Scarab.

Aarons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a degree in Literature and History from Columbia University. He worked at various jobs to put himself through college, including jobs as a newspaper reporter and fisherman. In 1933, he won a short story contest as a student. In World War II he was in the United States Coast Guard, joining after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He finished his duty in 1945, having obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

Reviews

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 19th novel in the lengthy “Assignment” series featuring intrepid counter-espionage expert, Sam Durell, finds him deep in a Cold War plot involving an Albanian defector who makes some dangerous claims of missing nuclear missiles and plots by Russia and China to use them against one another. Sam’s efforts to thwart this nuclear threat take him to Venice as well as Athens and the Greek countryside. Along the way he must deal with a host of characters who may or may not be who they purport to be, including a couple of attractive young ladies. Alas the counter-espionage business can be rough.

This book has a twist I haven’t seen in any prior Assignment books. Durell actually disobeys orders and refuses to work with somebody, even though his bosses believe it is necessary in order to prevent nuclear holocaust. It’s a clear case of the age-old dilemma of whether or not to let those in the field exercise their own expertise on matters instead of relying on the bureaucrats in Washington to dictate the action.

I continue to enjoy these novels and still feel they are as good as most of Ian Fleming’s Bond novels and a bit more realistic. They are fairly quick reads and can be enjoyed in any order for there is very little continuity between books.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing only because it seems so average. Perhaps I always expect more of a story whose setting is split between Venice and Greece--there have been so many. So much there to be explored. And then with the addition of the Albanian angle, things seem even more promising. So what went wrong? The threat in this story comes from stolen Russian nuclear rockets. The Chinese have engineered their theft and then installed them in a warren of caves in their satellite, Albania. Durell has 72 hours to put them out of action before the Albanian rockets are launched at their Western and Russian targets, leaving China to pick up the pieces and dominate what is left of the world.

Intriguing enough, isn't it? But, here, Sam becomes a decoy. He never even goes to Albania. And the mystery introduced at the beginning, who killed General Pollini, dwindles into insignificance. The murderer had long ago left himself on the edges of the plot by the time the climax arrives. The only mild shock concerns the shenanigans of the Russian agent involved in all this. So, a mildly entertaining spy story, with a slightly melancholy ending.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a 1964 spy novel that went in directions I hadn't anticipated and did not like.

Durell is a sub-chief of the K section of the CIA. He's killed men before and will do so again. He's vacationing in Italy when he gets the call that a powerful foreign leader has been murdered. His murder matches the style of a Soviet agent that Durell would love to see killed. Before he has a chance to kill this Soviet assassin he learns that D.C. has made a deal with the Russians to have them work together to find the true killer of this leader and stop the plans that the Chinese have set in motion.

Durell thinks this isn't right and goes out on his own to bring his own type of justice.

I was swell with this premise, until the introduction of the women in the novel who come across as wholly unbelievable. They are so mouse-like and absolutely useless to the story, their absence would have been an improvement. Making matters worse, Durell is on a side mission, while the world shaking one goes down.

With a third of the novel left, I found myself reading just to end this book. How it ends is very disappointingly.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a bit unusual for a Sam Durell adventure - though telling you why would spoil the ending. Sam is in Venice to solve a murder, and discovers that he's in deeper than he expected. A defector from Albania informs him that China has smuggled nuclear missiles into the Albanian mountains and plans to launch them at both Russia and the US in order to set their enemies against themselves. Sam has to stop the plot, and - as usual - he doesn't know who he can trust. Plenty of adventure and excitement, set against the countdown to doomsday. As ever, very entertaining.

[Jim Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aarons can write a good sentence and evoke a sense of atmosphere and place, but his plot skills were lacking in this book.The main character, Durell, had a knack for not being where the main action was taking place and seemed to be there just to distract the bad guys while others carried the heavy load. James Bond, he's not, but I will give Aarons the benefit of the doubt, as he is a competent writer who can write a good action scene when he wants to.

[Lew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was never a fan of the Edward Aarons' Sam Durell books while growing up. Now, reading it is a bit nostalgic. This one was published in 1964 and takes back to the height of the cold war and beginning of the spy crazy in pop culture. This wasn't a bad story. I'm still more a fan of Matt Helm books.
Interesting side note is that my copy has a mirror image (except for the text) of the cover shown here.

[Printable Tire]

The only distinction this book has is it was the last book I read before I made The Grateful Undead.

Or it might've been The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.