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The Professionals #2
Long Shot
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 11, 2025
This is a novelisation of a tv show from the seventies and the kind of show with real tough men doing manly stuff. Not the kind of show that would be acceptable these days were woke has all the glory. But I do have all remastered episodes on the various shiny disks and really enjoy them to these days, even if I notice that there is stuff that is fairly outdated but a shedload of fun nonetheless. Ray Brody and his Partner Doyle work for CI5 and safeguard the UK against crime and its perpetrators. Their boss Cowley does expect the best from them, result count.
Several episodes have been novelised in this second book, I would prefer new stories but beggars cannot be choosers. A blast from the past probably not very PC but then again that has some charm too these days.
Several episodes have been novelised in this second book, I would prefer new stories but beggars cannot be choosers. A blast from the past probably not very PC but then again that has some charm too these days.
September 10, 2016
I'm having a great deal of fun with my Professionals re-watch-athon and its corresponding read-athon.
In this volume, some of the rushed production values on the publishing end show, most notably in the more than occasional misspelling of Bodie's name as "Brodie." Tsk, tsk.
That said, there is much to love here for someone who is a fan of the series.
In "Heroes," I loved the description of Shotgun Tommy McKay (easily my favorite guest character in the series) "with a mean nasty look to his jaws, a fey light in his pale eyes." The best exchanges in the episode (Doyle's "His whole family was wiped out by terrorists" and Bodie's "Unlucky... that they overlooked Tommy," for example) remain. I do think author Ken Blake did Bodie an injustice in underplaying how Tommy's death affected him, however; Lewis Collins played this scene with far more humanity.
In "Private Madness, Public Danger," Doyle's thoughts during the underwater disarmament scene were nicely put:
"You know, Bodie, if it blows - while we're still here?"
Bodie said: "We won't know a thing." Then he sucked a huge breath and ducked down again. The tension hung. Doyle lowered down on Nesbit, hating him for putting Bodie through this.
"The Female Factor" includes dialogue not in the episode, such as Bodie saying he placated their dates by telling them "That we... had turned gay and are running off to get married." Wait, isn't that eventually canon? Or did fandom lie to me? Just consider the bromance of an ending: "Doyle regarded him impassively; but they both knew they were warming up again, getting back to Bodie and Doyle, pushing events away behind them."
There are some lovely noir-flavored Cowley moments as well, especially in "Everest Was Also Conquered": "... he crossed to his desk, drew out the drawer, picked up the gun, slide it into his pocket. It weighed half a ton. But he was used to carrying weight, was George Cowley."
For completists and avid fans, this is a treat.
In this volume, some of the rushed production values on the publishing end show, most notably in the more than occasional misspelling of Bodie's name as "Brodie." Tsk, tsk.
That said, there is much to love here for someone who is a fan of the series.
In "Heroes," I loved the description of Shotgun Tommy McKay (easily my favorite guest character in the series) "with a mean nasty look to his jaws, a fey light in his pale eyes." The best exchanges in the episode (Doyle's "His whole family was wiped out by terrorists" and Bodie's "Unlucky... that they overlooked Tommy," for example) remain. I do think author Ken Blake did Bodie an injustice in underplaying how Tommy's death affected him, however; Lewis Collins played this scene with far more humanity.
In "Private Madness, Public Danger," Doyle's thoughts during the underwater disarmament scene were nicely put:
"You know, Bodie, if it blows - while we're still here?"
Bodie said: "We won't know a thing." Then he sucked a huge breath and ducked down again. The tension hung. Doyle lowered down on Nesbit, hating him for putting Bodie through this.
"The Female Factor" includes dialogue not in the episode, such as Bodie saying he placated their dates by telling them "That we... had turned gay and are running off to get married." Wait, isn't that eventually canon? Or did fandom lie to me? Just consider the bromance of an ending: "Doyle regarded him impassively; but they both knew they were warming up again, getting back to Bodie and Doyle, pushing events away behind them."
There are some lovely noir-flavored Cowley moments as well, especially in "Everest Was Also Conquered": "... he crossed to his desk, drew out the drawer, picked up the gun, slide it into his pocket. It weighed half a ton. But he was used to carrying weight, was George Cowley."
For completists and avid fans, this is a treat.
November 14, 2024
Rating 3.5
Another enjoyable entry in this series of adaptations of the classic tv series from the late 1970’s.
This title contains 4 episodes from the first season adapted into short stories essentially of 40 pages each. So the pacing is always very fast and no time is wasted getting to the central plot, with actions scene followed by action scene until the climax.
A long time since I have watched any of these but I was immediately taken back in time to when I watched them originally.
Characters felt true to the screen with some background added but not much I don’t think.
Overall a solid read and definitely worth picking up.
Will continue with the series over the next year or so with a book per month I think.
Another enjoyable entry in this series of adaptations of the classic tv series from the late 1970’s.
This title contains 4 episodes from the first season adapted into short stories essentially of 40 pages each. So the pacing is always very fast and no time is wasted getting to the central plot, with actions scene followed by action scene until the climax.
A long time since I have watched any of these but I was immediately taken back in time to when I watched them originally.
Characters felt true to the screen with some background added but not much I don’t think.
Overall a solid read and definitely worth picking up.
Will continue with the series over the next year or so with a book per month I think.
October 22, 2019
This novel adapts four episodes from the first season of the British television series from the producers of The Avengers. The episodes are shortened, due to the length of the book, but they move along at a quick
pace and it's an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon or evening. For anyone who enjoys the police dramas from the 70s and 80s, this is just up their darkened alley.
pace and it's an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon or evening. For anyone who enjoys the police dramas from the 70s and 80s, this is just up their darkened alley.
June 1, 2022
Great for fans of the old tv series. Almost word for word in places and if you remember the series then you can hear the voices in your head
Currently Reading
October 26, 2008pretty gd so far, lots of action!
December 13, 2025
Novelization of episode of TV show The Professionals.
Pseudonym of Kenneth Bulmer of sci fi favourites
Pseudonym of Kenneth Bulmer of sci fi favourites
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews