Lacks everything the women bring to the TV show

After the TV show, it was rather crushing coming to find how one note airport novel this book was. The combination of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's writing and the performances of Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer breathe something real and dark and funny to what, frankly, comes off as a male masturbational fantasy and competent, but unexciting, criminal action mystery.

It has power cishet dude vibes with a slightly chaste malegaze fascination with Villanelle's lesbian experiences and an utterly jarring and disgusting moment when a character talks about falling for a trans woman, which the book seems to suggest appeals to the character because he doesn't really like men or women. This character, seeming so very in love with this woman after one night, uses slurs against her when thinking about her. At least the book and character keep up the correct pronouns for her, but imagine if he had slept with any other marginalised woman? Would the author be so quick to have the character throw around other epiphets?

Honestly, if you've watched the show, just watch it again and read something new, and/ or save this for a last minute grab at an airport, which is really what this is. I have the next one and no intention of getting to it any time soon.

I am all the more in awe at what they managed to do with the TV show after reading this. Bravo to them. Meh to this.

Narration is decent, though some of the accents, particularly the London and Northern gents are rsrhwy ropey.

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2 people found this helpful

way better than the TV series

so much better than the TV show, I'm going to have to read the other now!!

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The TV dramatisation is better.

Too much focus on sex and violence at times, but moderately interesting. The narrator was OK.

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Great story, leaves you wanting more

This is a great book/audio. very well written. Great characters. leaves you wanting more at the end

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Buyer beware

I loved the tv series( I dont watch much but this had me gripped) and the book does not disappoint in fact it is better than the tv series.
However be aware this is only half a book and ends abruptly, dont get me wrong I love a cliff hanger but now I have to buy book two and at almost £20 each that seems excessive. I guess you can use credits but I still think to use 2 on was is effectively one book is a bit much.
The book is fantastic, the pricing is not!!!!

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47 people found this helpful

Excellent, thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Luke Jennings first installment of Codename Villanelle Book 1. The actress, Laura Kirman, was excellent, changing from accent to accent, and different characters. She really brought the book to life! I have also watched tv series season 1 and 2 and, the audio books, really fill in the gaps and the back story of Villanelle and Eve. I have also listened to book 2 which was highly compelling. Looking forward to book 3 with great anticipation. Great work and inspiring me to get on with my writing ambitions and dreams! looking forward to season 3 on tv, which has been commissioned!

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24 people found this helpful

Dodgy foreign pronunciations but compelling story

I wasn't sure about this one at first, but actually got into it quite quickly (maybe Chapter 2?) and ended up looking for jobs to do which gave me an excuse to keep listening! Good narration, though some dodgy pronunciations made me a bit cross (can't be that hard to check first, can it)? Intriguing characters, if a little unrounded / cliched, and a compelling story that meant I downloaded volume 2 as soon as I had finished!

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4 people found this helpful

Disappointed

I was looking forward to this - but give me Isabella Rose any time. I didn't like the main characters, and found I was pleased when it ended.

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So so boring!!!

This is one of the rare occasions where the TV show is actually so much better than the book!! Really disappointed as I was really looking forward to it. I don't even know if I can be bothered to finish it!

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Better than the TV show

Yes, it close to the TV plot, but some of the elements are different the humour is not as important in the book and the social aspects of the characters are more evident in the book; as usual a book gives you more background, and it explains some of the events better, plus at I can create my cast and not worry about BBC quotas of inclusion and let the characters be what they are in the book.

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1 person found this helpful