Codename Villanelle

“Killing Eve” is my new favorite show, so I was excited to find out it was based on a book! While I am grateful to Mr. Jennings for inspiring the series with his work, I have to say the show is superior to its origin.

As a total admirer of the BBCA television series “Killing Eve,” which is based on this, and as someone who is so often the “but the book was better” guy when it comes to adaptations, I wanted to like this book so much more than I did.

This is just a standard spy thriller, a bit on the dull side, with one-dimensional characters and a meandering plot. In the book’s version of the world Eve is after Villanelle not because of the appealing self-questioning or confused obsessiveness Sandra Oh’s Eve displays, but simply because she’s the good-spy character who is angry that her colleague was killed by the baddie. The book’s Villanelle is not the badass mischievous psychopath infatuated with her pursuer as Jodie Comer plays the role, but just another unexcitingly-written assassin who has some dull sex scenes with strangers in between killing people and musing over her tragic past of killing people. The barely-written-at-all supporting cast are also nowhere near as interesting as the TV versions; prepare for the thrilling adventures of stock spy colleague, stock hacker kid, stock assassin guy, stock Chinese person, and so on. This book is “Killing Eve” minus anything that made the TV series interesting.

It’s obvious that, while this novel was used as a starting point, the real charm of “Killing Eve” comes from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jodie Comer, Sandra Oh, and the rest of the cast and crew adding real depth, spark, charm, and appeal to the characters and settings. This novel is basically the rough-draft pencil sketch of a masterpiece painting, better completed by others.

Skip the book. Watch the show. Somewhat exciting but never on the edge of my seat. It was liberally peppered with designer names, popular artists (to the point that it frustratingly pulled me out of the story), but missed opportunities to describe details. For example, it described Villanelle’s pants then said she was wearing a “Miu Miu sweater.” Not a color, texture or sleeve length, just designer. Is this product placement? Is the author looking for freebies? And there’s a “Nikki Minaj song.” It was excessive and made me realize how temporary this book is supposed to be. It’s like reading a book written in the 70’s that describes a club scene where the girl is wearing plaid bell bottoms and the floor is full of people dancing to Afternoon Delight. It’s embarrassing at most, distracting at least. On the bright side, you get a little bit of Villanelle’s history, which I’ve either missed in the series or it hasn’t been described yet, but likely will. Really, don’t spend the money on the book. The series is much better (and I’ve only seen the first 2 episodes). In addition, Sandra Oh’s Eve is much more brilliant/funny/sassy than the author’s. The book lacks character development to an extreme degree.

I want to find things to like about this compilation, but its difficult after watching the BBC adaptation; the television series is so much better, this really was a disappointment.

Codename Villanelle lost its first star from me due to a few glaring technical inaccuracies: the author calls a gun magazine a clip (NOT the same thing), and he refers to either a flash-bang grenade or a concussion grenade as a stun grenade. This is not a term used by anyone in the know. Why either of these two things mattered to me is that an action/spy thriller depending on weaponry for authenticity needs to be, well, authentic.

The book lost its second star because, frankly, its not all that thrilling. *SPOILERS* For example, neither Simon nor Konstantins characters are well-developed, so I cared very little when they were both killed off. Also, Im still at a loss as to why Eve so badly wants to get Villanelle before Simons murder. Shes just interested in the rarity of female assassins? Ok…thats boring.

I wouldnt recommend this book; I highly recommend the BBC series.

So poorly written that I gave up at page 51 (of 200, paperback), two pages after Eve is finally introduced, and donated the book to the library. Assassin training is lifted from the 1990 ‘La Femme Nikita’ film, including the ‘grande dame’ teaching her haute couture. Dull plotting and unrealistic dialogue. If you’re into thrillers, do yourself a favor and instead read the first two Jack Carter novels by Ted Lewis.