Here Comes Charlie M (Charlie Muffin, #2) in Espionage Aficionados

Jan 04, 2025 Michael Martz rated it liked it

Well, that was something, huh? "Here Comes Charlie M" follows on the heels of the "Charlie M" and, if anything, is even more audacious. I can't imagine where Brian Freemantle goes (or went... it's an old series) at this point but I intend to find out.

Charlie Muffin is a veteran English operational agent back in the 70's who'd been badly treated by his superiors. He exacted his revenge on them by conspiring with the Russians to obtain the return of their important imprisoned spymaster. His act wa Well, that was something, huh? "Here Comes Charlie M" follows on the heels of the "Charlie M" and, if anything, is even more audacious. I can't imagine where Brian Freemantle goes (or went... it's an old series) at this point but I intend to find out.

Charlie Muffin is a veteran English operational agent back in the 70's who'd been badly treated by his superiors. He exacted his revenge on them by conspiring with the Russians to obtain the return of their important imprisoned spymaster. His act was costly to the Brits, causing embarrassment to both their service as well as to the CIA, exposing the identities of many agents, and transferring a bunch of money that was supposed to go to the Russians to Charlie's hidden bank account. "Here Comes..." begins with Charlie and his wife Edith hiding out in Switzerland, with Charlie spending his days getting drunk and being challenged by Edith to get his act together. Both the Brits and the Americans are chomping at the bit to find him and arrest and/or kill him. Charlie makes an ill-advised trip back 'home', which gives the spy services enough of an opportunity to track him down, and the chase is on.

"Here Comes..." is the story of Charlie Muffin getting back on his feet, the spy services making plans to trap him, Charlie outsmarting his adversaries, a shocking denouement that results in a terrible loss for him, and an over-the-top reprisal. There are many, many twists and turns along the way as the the services and Charlie punch and counter-punch until one of the parties is defeated.

The Charlie Muffin series is certainly interesting, as it entices the reader to root for a guy who is likeable but extremely flawed. Charlie seems like an everyman character- a bit disheveled, not extremely handsome or athletic, likes a drink every now and then.... probably like a guy or two you know. However, he's also a skilled and brilliant operator, capable of outsmarting not only foreign adversaries but his own superiors and intent on avenging every single slight that he's ever suffered. His methods of revenge in the first two episodes in the series include betraying his country and murder, so perhaps he goes a bit overboard on the whole retribution thing?

I thought the first of the series, "Charlie M", was better, but "Here Comes..." is certainly a worthwhile read. The only problem I had is that the Brit and American spy organizations were almost comically inept and it was hard for me to consider the acts and planning to be plausible. It's great fun, though to follow Charlie's thought processes as he outwits his adversaries (and occasionally blows them up). 3.5 rounded down.... ...more

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