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Jonathon Fairfax #3
The Spy Who Came in from the Bin
He only knows three things about himself: he’s polite, he likes tea, and everyone wants to kill him.
Berlin: a man wakes up in a bin* with no idea who he is. He’s taken to hospital for treatment. Then people start trying to assassinate him.
The man has to find out why, how to get them to stop, and what the CIA has to do with all this. There’s also the little problem of working out who he used to be, and why that changed. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Piper and best friend Lance are trying to find him…
Jonathon Fairfax – still the world’s most socially awkward hero – is back. If only he knew.
‘A hugely entertaining novel … a surprising, yet strangely fitting, progression to the Jonathon Fairfax story.’
Scott Pack (former head buyer for Waterstones)
Pick up the latest Jonathon Fairfax novel – sequel to two Amazon bestsellers: The Perpetual Astonishment of Jonathon Fairfax (‘A comic gem’ Stylist, ‘You can’t help being tickled’ The Guardian, Bath Novel Award shortlist) and Jonathon Fairfax Must Be Destroyed (‘A funny, daft-yet-relatable, nerve-jangly thriller’ Emerald Street).
*That’s a trashcan or dumpster, for American readers.
The Jonathon Fairfax novels can be read in any order.
Berlin: a man wakes up in a bin* with no idea who he is. He’s taken to hospital for treatment. Then people start trying to assassinate him.
The man has to find out why, how to get them to stop, and what the CIA has to do with all this. There’s also the little problem of working out who he used to be, and why that changed. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Piper and best friend Lance are trying to find him…
Jonathon Fairfax – still the world’s most socially awkward hero – is back. If only he knew.
‘A hugely entertaining novel … a surprising, yet strangely fitting, progression to the Jonathon Fairfax story.’
Scott Pack (former head buyer for Waterstones)
Pick up the latest Jonathon Fairfax novel – sequel to two Amazon bestsellers: The Perpetual Astonishment of Jonathon Fairfax (‘A comic gem’ Stylist, ‘You can’t help being tickled’ The Guardian, Bath Novel Award shortlist) and Jonathon Fairfax Must Be Destroyed (‘A funny, daft-yet-relatable, nerve-jangly thriller’ Emerald Street).
*That’s a trashcan or dumpster, for American readers.
The Jonathon Fairfax novels can be read in any order.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2020
245 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Shevlin
8 books126 followersChristopher Shevlin is, essentially, an older, bearded and slightly shorter version of Jonathon Fairfax. He grew up in Yorkshire and spent his whole adult life in London, before going to Berlin to write his second novel, Jonathon Fairfax Must Be Destroyed. The book is set in London.
When life is hard, he has always turned to books for comfort. His favourites include his battered old Jeeves Omnibus, Douglas Adams’s Dirk Gently books, 1066 And All That, the Molesworth books, and Augustus Carp By Himself. His ambition is to write books that are even a tenth as comfortingly odd.
To find out more about Christopher Shevlin, his books, and the disturbingly assertive squirrels of Helsinki, please visit www.christophershevlin.com
(Author photo by Matthias Gottwald: der-gottwald.de)
When life is hard, he has always turned to books for comfort. His favourites include his battered old Jeeves Omnibus, Douglas Adams’s Dirk Gently books, 1066 And All That, the Molesworth books, and Augustus Carp By Himself. His ambition is to write books that are even a tenth as comfortingly odd.
To find out more about Christopher Shevlin, his books, and the disturbingly assertive squirrels of Helsinki, please visit www.christophershevlin.com
(Author photo by Matthias Gottwald: der-gottwald.de)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
November 24, 2020
‘You’re all idiots. You’ve accidentally recruited Jonathon into the CIA.’
Jonathon is the most hilarious dope. He gets himself into situations very few could and out of them again... Somehow. Christopher Shevlin has a humour that makes the most boring things funny. I found myself reading lines and retelling them to my girlfriend when she questioned why I was laughing every ten seconds.
You don't need to read the other books in the series first. A bit like jonathan, you could read it back to front and still make sense of it. I have to say I will always like the first installment the most. But the same ridiculousness and hilarity will be bestowed upon you when purchasing this book.
This book is a magical mix of Jason Bourne and dumb and dumber. The two should not work but somehow they just do.
A big thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of the book for an honest review. If you want action, humour, romance and people who most probably oil their bibles then check this book out.
Jonathon is the most hilarious dope. He gets himself into situations very few could and out of them again... Somehow. Christopher Shevlin has a humour that makes the most boring things funny. I found myself reading lines and retelling them to my girlfriend when she questioned why I was laughing every ten seconds.
You don't need to read the other books in the series first. A bit like jonathan, you could read it back to front and still make sense of it. I have to say I will always like the first installment the most. But the same ridiculousness and hilarity will be bestowed upon you when purchasing this book.
This book is a magical mix of Jason Bourne and dumb and dumber. The two should not work but somehow they just do.
A big thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of the book for an honest review. If you want action, humour, romance and people who most probably oil their bibles then check this book out.
September 11, 2024
Interesting one this. I mean, it’s rather clever and a wonderful core concept of ‘natural disrupters’. (I’m reasonably confident that’s not a spoiler but who knows? Do you feel spoiled? Well do ya punk?)
Anyway…
It’s clever but not as funny as the others. And I kinda liked the funny. I like the clever too and that it’s so well constructed, but so is my new kitchen.
There’s a 4th in the series but maybe I need a break. I will return….
Anyway…
It’s clever but not as funny as the others. And I kinda liked the funny. I like the clever too and that it’s so well constructed, but so is my new kitchen.
There’s a 4th in the series but maybe I need a break. I will return….
February 9, 2021
I often find myself uncontrollably grinning from ear to ear whilst reading Jonathan Fairfax books.
In 'The Spy who came in from the Bin', it's as fun as ever to watch Jonathon bumble his way through absurdly high stakes situations. This is probably the most exciting Jonathon Fairfax plot and when it gets going it's a real page turner. It also contains my favourite running joke of the whole series, relating to the literal translation of German speech, which had me audibly chuckling.
The new characters brought into the fold add to an already stellar supporting cast and the Berlin setting is a refreshing relocation for the very British humour.
All in all, the third Jonathan Fairfax novel is easy to read, hard to put down and consistently amusing. Plain and simply, these are just really enjoyable reads.
In 'The Spy who came in from the Bin', it's as fun as ever to watch Jonathon bumble his way through absurdly high stakes situations. This is probably the most exciting Jonathon Fairfax plot and when it gets going it's a real page turner. It also contains my favourite running joke of the whole series, relating to the literal translation of German speech, which had me audibly chuckling.
The new characters brought into the fold add to an already stellar supporting cast and the Berlin setting is a refreshing relocation for the very British humour.
All in all, the third Jonathan Fairfax novel is easy to read, hard to put down and consistently amusing. Plain and simply, these are just really enjoyable reads.
December 1, 2020
I’ve read an advanced copy of this book. It is set in Berlin where a man is found without memory from a bin and sent to a hospital where he is treated for a stroke that doesn’t exist. Then a series of misunderstandings and weird things follow (as usual). The book describes a lot of Berlin scenes that made me want to visit Berlin and follow the routes they had taken in the story.
This is the third book in the Fairfax series; I felt it’s quite different from the previous two. The location is changed; Jonathon has gained some skills and tactics although still absurd and clumsy; it has more insights into life, the world and the people.
It involves real spy agencies, and gets a bit serious in the end, but still maintains the humour, absurdity and the weirdness I loved about the series.
The story is quite well structured. It is funny, mysterious, gripping, and very enjoyable.
This is the third book in the Fairfax series; I felt it’s quite different from the previous two. The location is changed; Jonathon has gained some skills and tactics although still absurd and clumsy; it has more insights into life, the world and the people.
It involves real spy agencies, and gets a bit serious in the end, but still maintains the humour, absurdity and the weirdness I loved about the series.
The story is quite well structured. It is funny, mysterious, gripping, and very enjoyable.
May 23, 2021
Johnathon Fairfax the most unlikely hero ever. Socially and physically awkward, very polite and kind he gets himself into impossible situations. His world is very surreal and should be totally unbelievable but, somehow, Christopher Shevlin makes it all plausible within the context of the novel. I will not go into the details of characters and plot as other reviewers have covered those angles comprehensively, but if you want genuine humour and a good old chortle read this book, ( and it's companions).
December 1, 2020
I read the two previous installments and couldn't wait for the return of Jonathon Fairfax. And a return it is – hilariously beautiful and beautifully hilarious.
November 30, 2020
I received a free ARC from the author.
Well ... WOW. Did you know what a knife-fish is? You will know by the end of this turbulent spy story. Quite a complex plot! And funny. Being a native German speaker myself, the English German used by Chris Shevlin is quite hilarious. Well done, keeps you guessing until the end
Well ... WOW. Did you know what a knife-fish is? You will know by the end of this turbulent spy story. Quite a complex plot! And funny. Being a native German speaker myself, the English German used by Chris Shevlin is quite hilarious. Well done, keeps you guessing until the end
December 8, 2020
With deceptively simple, witty and inventive descriptions of Berlin and its inhabitants in the early 2000s, Christopher Shevlin makes the absurd seem plausible in this tale of internecine war between spies.
The clever and compassionate unfolding of Jonathon’s view of the world after he loses his memory, his poignant sense of loss, and his bewildered interaction with others, are both funny and sad, as are the farcical sociopathic machinations of both British and American secret ‘intelligence’ organisations.
He is hunted by assassins, then rescued. But is the rescuer really the enemy? Then hunted and rescued again. Tension mounts. Who is it that wants Jonathon dead—and why? As the plot twists and turns we pick up clues, but I didn’t guess the ending.
It’s an intelligent, clever, funny/sad tale that deals honestly with a very pressing problem—the abuse of power by so-called ‘intelligence’ agencies that have become laws unto themselves, accountable to no one, sending gung-ho assassins around the world to murder, incite wars and revolutions, install vile dictators, impose illegal sanctions that are defacto acts of war, starving and killing millions.
Five stars doesn’t seem sufficient reward for this brave tale.
Rigby Taylor.
The clever and compassionate unfolding of Jonathon’s view of the world after he loses his memory, his poignant sense of loss, and his bewildered interaction with others, are both funny and sad, as are the farcical sociopathic machinations of both British and American secret ‘intelligence’ organisations.
He is hunted by assassins, then rescued. But is the rescuer really the enemy? Then hunted and rescued again. Tension mounts. Who is it that wants Jonathon dead—and why? As the plot twists and turns we pick up clues, but I didn’t guess the ending.
It’s an intelligent, clever, funny/sad tale that deals honestly with a very pressing problem—the abuse of power by so-called ‘intelligence’ agencies that have become laws unto themselves, accountable to no one, sending gung-ho assassins around the world to murder, incite wars and revolutions, install vile dictators, impose illegal sanctions that are defacto acts of war, starving and killing millions.
Five stars doesn’t seem sufficient reward for this brave tale.
Rigby Taylor.
April 7, 2021
What to say. This book I have read!
It looked like a quirky book, so I bought it. I have to say that I struggled to remain focused, normally finishing a novel in 2-5 days. This took much longer as I struggled to stay with it.
The plot is improbable, the characters are most unusual, and the outcome almost impossible, but somehow I stuck with it and got some enjoyment as a result.
I loved the use of “English German” - having learnt German in school - and appreciated this humour. I also liked some of the analogies used throughout.
A bit of a fantasy, but with a message about the madness in this world because of the desire for power, and the control of situations. This messes with the lives of people, damages countries and relationships,causes suffering, misery, death. Is this quirky book a light-hearted way of trying to teach the world a lesson about life, and how it can be?
It looked like a quirky book, so I bought it. I have to say that I struggled to remain focused, normally finishing a novel in 2-5 days. This took much longer as I struggled to stay with it.
The plot is improbable, the characters are most unusual, and the outcome almost impossible, but somehow I stuck with it and got some enjoyment as a result.
I loved the use of “English German” - having learnt German in school - and appreciated this humour. I also liked some of the analogies used throughout.
A bit of a fantasy, but with a message about the madness in this world because of the desire for power, and the control of situations. This messes with the lives of people, damages countries and relationships,causes suffering, misery, death. Is this quirky book a light-hearted way of trying to teach the world a lesson about life, and how it can be?
March 23, 2021
I just love this character, i find him very comforting and am sorry to come to the end of this trilogy. I love the descriptive way the author writes Jonathon's summary of things and people such as:
'Every single thing about Otto was round and unthreatening. His head was round and surmounted by a crown of fine yet unruly white hair. He was short but quite wide around the middle, which gave him the impression of being a ball of clothes, as though some garments had got into a fight and he was trying to break it up.'
And this instantly made me think of Bowie:
'He was a strikingly handsome man, with the kind of sculpted face that makes you instantly feel bad about yourself if you’re looking at it from inside a normal face.'
I'll try more of this author's books, but i'll miss Jonathon, maybe more books will be written in this series - there's plenty of living left for this character to do and i'd read anything starring him.
'Every single thing about Otto was round and unthreatening. His head was round and surmounted by a crown of fine yet unruly white hair. He was short but quite wide around the middle, which gave him the impression of being a ball of clothes, as though some garments had got into a fight and he was trying to break it up.'
And this instantly made me think of Bowie:
'He was a strikingly handsome man, with the kind of sculpted face that makes you instantly feel bad about yourself if you’re looking at it from inside a normal face.'
I'll try more of this author's books, but i'll miss Jonathon, maybe more books will be written in this series - there's plenty of living left for this character to do and i'd read anything starring him.
May 31, 2024
Interestingly, this is both the best Jonathon Fairfax book and the one I laughed at the least.
The Spy Who Came in from the Bin leans towards humorous thriller, rather than humour with a sorta-kinda thriller plot. It does so VERY well. “You idiots! You accidentally recruited Jonathon to CIA!” should tell you all you need to know. Okay, and also the fact that he has amnesia (hardly a spoiler, we find out around approx. the first page). I ate through the book, of course – I don’t think Christopher Shevlin knows how to NOT write great stuff. I just expected to laugh my moobs off, again, like with the previous instalment – currently my top book of 2024 (I’m writing this on May 31). Jonathon Fairfax Must be Destroyed is a political satire with a good glop of 90s action movie thrown in, AND with Jonathon in it. So, I set my expectations to eleven before I started on The Spy Who Came in from the Bin. While I laughed, it was mostly a humorous thriller. So, basically, I decided to get salmon and got a very well done steak. It was some great steak. I was just in the mood for salmon.
This book made my life better (again). It’s absolutely necessary. You must read it. And yet, it’s a 8.5/10 (rounded down to 4/5 for GR) rather than 10/10 that Jonathon Fairfax Must be Destroyed. Despite being better as a book in general. You know what, ignore me, buy it, love it.
I have received a free copy of this book from the author. This did not influence my review.
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
The Spy Who Came in from the Bin leans towards humorous thriller, rather than humour with a sorta-kinda thriller plot. It does so VERY well. “You idiots! You accidentally recruited Jonathon to CIA!” should tell you all you need to know. Okay, and also the fact that he has amnesia (hardly a spoiler, we find out around approx. the first page). I ate through the book, of course – I don’t think Christopher Shevlin knows how to NOT write great stuff. I just expected to laugh my moobs off, again, like with the previous instalment – currently my top book of 2024 (I’m writing this on May 31). Jonathon Fairfax Must be Destroyed is a political satire with a good glop of 90s action movie thrown in, AND with Jonathon in it. So, I set my expectations to eleven before I started on The Spy Who Came in from the Bin. While I laughed, it was mostly a humorous thriller. So, basically, I decided to get salmon and got a very well done steak. It was some great steak. I was just in the mood for salmon.
This book made my life better (again). It’s absolutely necessary. You must read it. And yet, it’s a 8.5/10 (rounded down to 4/5 for GR) rather than 10/10 that Jonathon Fairfax Must be Destroyed. Despite being better as a book in general. You know what, ignore me, buy it, love it.
I have received a free copy of this book from the author. This did not influence my review.
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
November 28, 2024
What a fun spy novel, taking place during the cold war. Unfortunately, I read this 3rd out of four books first, but Jonathon is so entertaining, I will likely go back to the others and forward to the last.. Fortunately, it was very easy to follow and very entertaining. Jonathon Fairfax wakes up in a hospital, having been rescued from a garbage bin. He was unconscious and now he is unable to remember who he is or anything at all about his life. He is in Berlin and he speaks English. After he is picked up by a wife he cannot remember, we fall into a three stooges -- in a good way-- circus of people battling to take charge of Jonathon for various purposes, some loving, some confused and some sinister and also confused. Central to the circus is that Jonathon just naturally is an accident prone klutz who usually comes out on top.
The characters are very satisfying, the writing peppy and I am glad I read it. H
The characters are very satisfying, the writing peppy and I am glad I read it. H
July 7, 2022
It is not as funny as the previous ones, but there is definitely a subtle sarcasm and humor typical of Fairfax that pops in here and there. The beginning was slow, but I liked the way the story picked up pace. There were so many characters that initially I lost track of who was coming in, and everyone has a hidden agenda. There's no way to differentiate one from the other. Jonathan has his hands full.
Again, this one is slightly complex as compared to the previous ones. Halfway through I nearly lost interest. The pace was killing me. It just kept going on and on. However, I didn't want to give in and I am glad I didn't. The story turned out really fun with an unexpected climax.
Recommended that you read the other two books in the series before you pick this up as they contain the essence of who Jonathan is and to read this you need to know him.
Again, this one is slightly complex as compared to the previous ones. Halfway through I nearly lost interest. The pace was killing me. It just kept going on and on. However, I didn't want to give in and I am glad I didn't. The story turned out really fun with an unexpected climax.
Recommended that you read the other two books in the series before you pick this up as they contain the essence of who Jonathan is and to read this you need to know him.
June 13, 2021
I found the third book about Jonathon Fairfax to be as hilarious as the first two. This author is so creative! The characters are complex and likeable... with Jonathon being the most complex and hilarious. There are few authors that can create an adventure with such likable characters... and a main character with so much relatable depth. Jonathan Fairfax is lovable, funny without trying and deep without being annoying. I can see the influence of Douglas Adams in his writing without any similarities except humor. I've read all three books in record time as they are very hard to put down due to the zany adventurous nature of the story line. Thank you Mr. Shevlin for providing hours of reading, laughter, and very likable flaw-ridden characters we can all relate to.
Lauren Basham
Lauren Basham
April 11, 2023
A man wakes up in a bin in a Berlin street.He has no memory of how he got there, but with the help of various random people he finds out where he lives and what his name is. Or might be. He also seems to have attracted some people who want to kill him and keep trying.
Meanwhile a man, possibly from one of the "secret" agencies visits a woman who reported the man missing two years before. When the man is contacted by Shannon from the CIA, things don't really become clearer, just that his life is in danger and the lives of all the people who are helping in have also become endangered.
Will he get his memory back? Will everybody die? Why does currywurst taste so nice? Read the book and get at least one answer to these questions!
Meanwhile a man, possibly from one of the "secret" agencies visits a woman who reported the man missing two years before. When the man is contacted by Shannon from the CIA, things don't really become clearer, just that his life is in danger and the lives of all the people who are helping in have also become endangered.
Will he get his memory back? Will everybody die? Why does currywurst taste so nice? Read the book and get at least one answer to these questions!
December 4, 2020
Hilarious!
A lot of chuckles, and some laugh out loud for several minutes points. It picks up nicely in the middle of Berlin, slowly piecing together how Jonathan wound up in a garbage dumpster with amnesia. It brings back together the main characters of the last book, and of course, throws in two quirky new ones to keep the humor on track. Excellent.
A three way chase to bring all the characters together in hilarious fashion. The twist on German culture, and trying to find common words in translation, had me chuckling. Man, you should definitely make a movie out of this series.
A lot of chuckles, and some laugh out loud for several minutes points. It picks up nicely in the middle of Berlin, slowly piecing together how Jonathan wound up in a garbage dumpster with amnesia. It brings back together the main characters of the last book, and of course, throws in two quirky new ones to keep the humor on track. Excellent.
A three way chase to bring all the characters together in hilarious fashion. The twist on German culture, and trying to find common words in translation, had me chuckling. Man, you should definitely make a movie out of this series.
December 8, 2020
Just what we need right now
When the world seems so stressful and out of control, a story that reminds us to laugh about it all is just the antidote we need. Add in a positive response by the American government, plus a reminder to love and cherish our friends and you can't go wrong.
This is the third book in the series, and although it isn't exactly necessary to read the first two books before this book, they are funny and entertaining and will help you fall in love with Jonathon, Piper, Lance and the whole ridiculous world that Jonathon creates. So my advice is to read all three, in order. You will be glad you did!
When the world seems so stressful and out of control, a story that reminds us to laugh about it all is just the antidote we need. Add in a positive response by the American government, plus a reminder to love and cherish our friends and you can't go wrong.
This is the third book in the series, and although it isn't exactly necessary to read the first two books before this book, they are funny and entertaining and will help you fall in love with Jonathon, Piper, Lance and the whole ridiculous world that Jonathon creates. So my advice is to read all three, in order. You will be glad you did!
June 1, 2021
It seems that sometimes by the third or so installment of a series that a few ideas, themes or plot devices are reused, reapplied or recycled and somehow Christopher Shevlin avoids these pitfalls and yet again writes a brilliantly hilarious misadventure with the world's greatest natural disruptor: Jonathon Fairfax. From the start where Jonathon finds himself being pulled from a dumpster and suffering from amnesia to end, it's a rollicking adventure. It's rather like James Bond meets Wooster and Jeeves except more fun.
I've read the complete series, which I highly recommend and I eagerly await the next installment.
I've read the complete series, which I highly recommend and I eagerly await the next installment.
December 18, 2022
I loved this book and the previous two Jonathon Fairfax novels!! Jonathon is definitely a most unlikely hero and that makes him so easy to love and root for in these stories. He embodies the awkwardness that a lot of people may experience and feel self-conscious about so I think we can see a little of ourselves in Jonathon too. The supporting characters are wonderful. I love the quirkiness that the author brings to all the different people you encounter in these stories as well. The humor is low-key and makes you chuckle and smile - which is just perfect! All three Jonathon Fairfax novels are must reads!!! I hope more Jonathon Fairfax novels are coming.
May 6, 2023
The first book in the trilogy is one of my favorites, so I was disappointed to find this is one of the most over-written books I've ever picked up. The convoluted, ever-self-aware dialogue gets grating pretty quickly. When there's this level of urgency to cram any witticism and sardonic remark possible into every.single.line, they start to lose their zip.
It could have been a light, fun 200 page book if there was some restraint and editing, but to get to the almost 300 pages, I was slogging...
I loved the first book so, so much, the second slightly less, but still fresh and delightful, but this one felt like a self-indulgent ramble with zero editing.
It could have been a light, fun 200 page book if there was some restraint and editing, but to get to the almost 300 pages, I was slogging...
I loved the first book so, so much, the second slightly less, but still fresh and delightful, but this one felt like a self-indulgent ramble with zero editing.
December 14, 2020
Shevlin has acknowledged his debts to Douglas Adams and P. G. Wodehouse, and this is never more clear than in his latest Jonathon Fairfax adventure. A charming cousin of Arthur Dent and Bertie Wooster, Jonathon is a mostly harmless everyman for our time, stumbling awkwardly through an increasingly dangerous world full of guns, lies, bad food, and worse music. The Spy Who Came in from the Bin, which, ironically, I finished the day John le Carre's death was announced, is one of the few good things about 2020.
March 2, 2021
The first two were better
Loved the first, second was okay and saw this and thought I’d give it a go. I have loved Christopher Shevlin’s wit. Heck even reading his usual banter after the book was fun. It actually reminded me of why i liked previous fairfax books. It was as much for his hilarious sidebars as the story itself. This story unfortunately was too random for me. Took me a relative while to get through it. Very easy to put down. Made it, but will check reviews before i go back to this well.
Loved the first, second was okay and saw this and thought I’d give it a go. I have loved Christopher Shevlin’s wit. Heck even reading his usual banter after the book was fun. It actually reminded me of why i liked previous fairfax books. It was as much for his hilarious sidebars as the story itself. This story unfortunately was too random for me. Took me a relative while to get through it. Very easy to put down. Made it, but will check reviews before i go back to this well.
April 12, 2021
Another excellent book about Jonathon Fairfax. This one was a little different from the other 2 to get into, but once I was halfway through, I finished it up much faster than my usual reading pace. Lots of good humour and things about Germany and the CIA. I enjoyed the new characters that were introduced and of course the old gang from the first 2 books.
I was also pleased to be reminded that I had read all of the books recommended by the author, of which Hitchhiker's Guide is still clearly the best.
I was also pleased to be reminded that I had read all of the books recommended by the author, of which Hitchhiker's Guide is still clearly the best.
July 26, 2022
I didn't find Johnathon Fairfax does Bourne Identity enjoyable. The author tries to make JF a bumbling super spy but those two things inherently cannot coexist, or they at least require much better writing. Because JF is a well-trained spy, not himself stumbling awkwardly through. I just didn't enjoy the whole premise.
I loved Johnathon Fairfax must be Destroyed and I was really disappointed. I didn't laugh once, the whole second half was a real slog. The spy intrigue wasn't enjoyable for me because the characters weren't fleshed out enough. Just ... Really disappointed personally.
I loved Johnathon Fairfax must be Destroyed and I was really disappointed. I didn't laugh once, the whole second half was a real slog. The spy intrigue wasn't enjoyable for me because the characters weren't fleshed out enough. Just ... Really disappointed personally.
February 29, 2024
Who can you trust?
This book warms up steadily like underfloor heating as the many threads come together. I loved the other Jonathan Fairfax books and was a bit sad at the beginning to see Shevlin had wiped much of his character out at the start, but the clever way the various characters come together, the lovey morals about doing the right thing, and the really unexpected grand finale earned it it's 5 stars. Can we have a #4 book please, maybe this time about Jonathan astonishingly bringing down the arts, music, fashion or media industries? Fashion would be spectacular.
This book warms up steadily like underfloor heating as the many threads come together. I loved the other Jonathan Fairfax books and was a bit sad at the beginning to see Shevlin had wiped much of his character out at the start, but the clever way the various characters come together, the lovey morals about doing the right thing, and the really unexpected grand finale earned it it's 5 stars. Can we have a #4 book please, maybe this time about Jonathan astonishingly bringing down the arts, music, fashion or media industries? Fashion would be spectacular.
March 2, 2021
The Bourne Identity: For The Perpetually Astonished
This is the 3rd in the Jonathon Fairfax series. For those who have not the other 2, shame in you!!! This is like a version of that film, about that bloke but without Matt Damon. However this would make a great film for Matt Damon to star in. You get Russians, Americans, Brits and Germans, with lots of humour, some cats and dogs. Oh, and it's set in Berlin.
This is the 3rd in the Jonathon Fairfax series. For those who have not the other 2, shame in you!!! This is like a version of that film, about that bloke but without Matt Damon. However this would make a great film for Matt Damon to star in. You get Russians, Americans, Brits and Germans, with lots of humour, some cats and dogs. Oh, and it's set in Berlin.
March 8, 2021
The Best Jonathon Yet
A perfect lockdown read, when the news is always dreary and life needs a little levity. Jonathan's latest adventure is his most awkwardly humorous so far. Amnesia and politeness combine to make Jonathon the perfect target for a trio of assassins. But why? What has he done? And who is it he's missing? The CIA joins in to help out, and Jonathon has as much trust for them as he has memory. After all, waking up in a dumpster will shake a guy.
A perfect lockdown read, when the news is always dreary and life needs a little levity. Jonathan's latest adventure is his most awkwardly humorous so far. Amnesia and politeness combine to make Jonathon the perfect target for a trio of assassins. But why? What has he done? And who is it he's missing? The CIA joins in to help out, and Jonathon has as much trust for them as he has memory. After all, waking up in a dumpster will shake a guy.
May 30, 2022
I liked this one, but not as much as the first two books in the series. One of the things I've liked in these is the setting, and Berlin just didn't 'grab' me as much as London (although the rendering of German into English is brilliant, and funny). It is interesting to see Jonathan being Jonathan even while not knowing who he is, and the notion of 'disrupters' and their strategic deployment is interesting, but overall there was too much that I missed from the previous.
June 27, 2024
3,5 stars
I had high expectations but a grin and a chuckle was all this 'funniest book ever' could evoke.
The end was a bit of an anti-climax for me, absurd and not plausible.
It was an enjoyable read nonetheless and I'll read the rest of he Jonathan Fairax books in good time.
For people who speak German the conversations in that language were funny, as if someone used a beta version of google translate.
I had high expectations but a grin and a chuckle was all this 'funniest book ever' could evoke.
The end was a bit of an anti-climax for me, absurd and not plausible.
It was an enjoyable read nonetheless and I'll read the rest of he Jonathan Fairax books in good time.
For people who speak German the conversations in that language were funny, as if someone used a beta version of google translate.
December 3, 2020
I rarely write reviews but this series has made me smile at least once every page. I have been avoiding thrillers and tragic or violent books, since Covid hit and so finding these books has been a pleasant relief. The writer has a style which reminds me of Tom Sharpe. Congratulations. I look forward to the next book.
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