What do you think?
Rate this book
Once is Never Enough
The perfect hero for a world gone mad…
An old enemy seeking revenge sends James Flynn back around the bend and into a wild adventure even more deranged than his last one. Once again he believes that his psychiatric hospital is the headquarters of Her Majesty’s Secret Service and that he is a secret agent with a license to kill.
With the help of Sancho, his reluctant sidekick, Flynn confronts a mysterious new adversary just as unhinged as he is and far more deadly. The entire planet is in danger and the fate of the world now rests in the hands of a man suavely dancing on the thin line between objective reality and batshit crazy.
An old enemy seeking revenge sends James Flynn back around the bend and into a wild adventure even more deranged than his last one. Once again he believes that his psychiatric hospital is the headquarters of Her Majesty’s Secret Service and that he is a secret agent with a license to kill.
With the help of Sancho, his reluctant sidekick, Flynn confronts a mysterious new adversary just as unhinged as he is and far more deadly. The entire planet is in danger and the fate of the world now rests in the hands of a man suavely dancing on the thin line between objective reality and batshit crazy.
Audiobook
Published May 19, 202
64 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Haris Orkin
8 books112 followersHaris Orkin is a playwright, screenwriter, game writer, and novelist, which is a fancy way of saying he has career commitment issues. Fortunately, other people don’t seem to mind. He’s a WGA and BAFTA Award–nominated narrative designer whose credits include more than a dozen video games, including Resident Evil: Shadows of Rose and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger.
He invented James Flynn because therapy is expensive. Flynn is everything Haris is not—utterly fearless, absurdly good-looking, effortlessly charming, and just a tad unhinged. (Except for maybe the unhinged part. That might be autobiographical.)
He lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife, where he enjoys movies, music, books, and the great outdoors, specifically sitting on his deck with a bourbon and admiring Grizzly Peak from a safe distance.
He invented James Flynn because therapy is expensive. Flynn is everything Haris is not—utterly fearless, absurdly good-looking, effortlessly charming, and just a tad unhinged. (Except for maybe the unhinged part. That might be autobiographical.)
He lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife, where he enjoys movies, music, books, and the great outdoors, specifically sitting on his deck with a bourbon and admiring Grizzly Peak from a safe distance.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 18, 2020
A tongue in cheek parody on the 007 books with a "mental patient" who believes he is a 007 type agent who is being chased by a drug lord and who in his persona as an agent managed to defeat. He is also hired by a multi millionaire to help him in his security and manages to do so in a series of inadvertent successes. Any the story goes from periods where James in in the home and others when he is out chasing the bad guys and succeeding in his lucky bumbling way. A light read and a break from heavier material.
June 9, 2022
As a native Washington state resident, I have spent my fair share of time on the Puget Sound. I married in to a boating family. I was over joyed when our hero made a random trip to the San Juan islands! What a surprise for me to get to have a character so close to home. I loved that Flynn buys a marine atlas because my husbands parents literally own the Puget sound atlas and distribute it (really. Like if you were to order one right now that would be my in laws you talk to). Anyways, all that to say I get the area and thus I literally laughed out loud at the over the top absurdity of Flynn’s boat getting flipped in the middle of the night in a shipping channel. Do you know how cold that is? I mean that, do you?! I think you have about eight minutes before hypothermia kicks in. I know the book isn’t serious and there are lots of absurd moments to enjoy, but I had to laugh when it simply said “it was cold” instead of “dear god! I can’t remember how to breathe, all my muscles have seized and stopped working and my testicles have sucked so deeply inside my body I might throw up” level cold. He rights his boat and goes on his little way…. Yeah that wouldn’t happen. Shipping lanes are deep water that flows from Alaska. But our hero seems above such trivial details.
I loved the book and would highly recommend but feel free to laugh along with me at this scene.
I loved the book and would highly recommend but feel free to laugh along with me at this scene.
July 8, 2023
Satire with a heart!
Haris Orkin has created the most heroic lunatic the world has ever known!
Although the book begins with a somewhat disturbing whiff of reality, James Flynn rallies once again to save the world with his odd mix of suave super spy and mental patient. This book merrily mixes humor, pathos and very well-wrought action: highly recommended!
(now on to “Goldhammer”)
Haris Orkin has created the most heroic lunatic the world has ever known!
Although the book begins with a somewhat disturbing whiff of reality, James Flynn rallies once again to save the world with his odd mix of suave super spy and mental patient. This book merrily mixes humor, pathos and very well-wrought action: highly recommended!
(now on to “Goldhammer”)
April 15, 2022
James Flynn strikes again in Haris Orkin’s explosive and humorous spy thriller Once Is Never Enough! James Flynn believes he’s a secret agent. The only problem with that is that he’s completely crazy. But when an even crazier madman threatens the world, it’s up to one crazy man to stop the other. The first James Flynn novel was an absolutely delightful romp filled with humor, depth, and fun Bond-esque action, and the second delivers in that same wonderful vein! There’s plenty of fun spy intrigue, but the best part of the book is to see how that overlaps with what’s actually happening outside Flynn’s skewed mind. If you love Bond or spy comedies, grab your vodka martini and travel on a crazy adventure with Once Is Never Enough!
March 9, 2025
Another fun book
This book is just fun. It's got adventure and action. Haris Orkin created great characters and put them into absurd situations that really make the story work for me. I'm going to start the next book I'm the series right now.
This book is just fun. It's got adventure and action. Haris Orkin created great characters and put them into absurd situations that really make the story work for me. I'm going to start the next book I'm the series right now.
March 28, 2025
Only a Matter of Time
More laugh out loud humour, thrills and raw emotion in comedy spy thriller sequel, remarkable as much for the empathy shown to the broad range of recurring characters. We can still sleep safely for now.
More laugh out loud humour, thrills and raw emotion in comedy spy thriller sequel, remarkable as much for the empathy shown to the broad range of recurring characters. We can still sleep safely for now.
May 23, 2024
Wow
I can't stop laughing. Yesterday, I sent a copy of the first book to a friend. Great action, but the antics of the characters will leave you howling. Read this series soon.
I can't stop laughing. Yesterday, I sent a copy of the first book to a friend. Great action, but the antics of the characters will leave you howling. Read this series soon.
February 26, 2025
what a hoot.
A fun read. A great character. Loved the Humor mixed in with the excitement. Looking forward to next fun read.
A fun read. A great character. Loved the Humor mixed in with the excitement. Looking forward to next fun read.
October 17, 2025
3.50-375.
Decent enough but it felt long and drawn out. Some of the details seemed extrantaneous. Once again, we can't just say " a gun" we have to say " a pistol with a polymer grip and extended mag".
It felt choppy. Upon review there were several open plot holes and things to be resolved.
The sympathy to billionaires was odd, and the MacGuffin of the villian seemed like a cliche- but then, this book does cliches really well. Again, knows the cliches and plays with them, we'll see.
Still sympathetic to mental health and what patients suffer but it does seem like a convinient short hand to solve several problems. Yet for that the expectations versus reality were very rarely played for laughs and that was refreshing.
Decent enough but it felt long and drawn out. Some of the details seemed extrantaneous. Once again, we can't just say " a gun" we have to say " a pistol with a polymer grip and extended mag".
It felt choppy. Upon review there were several open plot holes and things to be resolved.
The sympathy to billionaires was odd, and the MacGuffin of the villian seemed like a cliche- but then, this book does cliches really well. Again, knows the cliches and plays with them, we'll see.
Still sympathetic to mental health and what patients suffer but it does seem like a convinient short hand to solve several problems. Yet for that the expectations versus reality were very rarely played for laughs and that was refreshing.
July 2, 2025
I Needed This!
I so needed this hysterical and wonderful book! Mr. Orkin's writing is brilliant as are each character he creates! Long live Haris Orkin along live Flynn, James Flynn!
I so needed this hysterical and wonderful book! Mr. Orkin's writing is brilliant as are each character he creates! Long live Haris Orkin along live Flynn, James Flynn!
June 20, 2020
Fun read
Enjoyed the characters and the story. One flew over the Cuckoos nest meets last detail and I love Lucy. It’s fun to read a story set in places I’ve lived, Saratoga and the San Juans and the attention to detail I could see it happening. Now I have to go back and read the first book though this one stands alone.
Enjoyed the characters and the story. One flew over the Cuckoos nest meets last detail and I love Lucy. It’s fun to read a story set in places I’ve lived, Saratoga and the San Juans and the attention to detail I could see it happening. Now I have to go back and read the first book though this one stands alone.
June 17, 2020
Enjoyed this
I actually liked several of the characters enough to daydream about them long after finishing the read. Action scenes had me missing the rest of my life in order to not interrupt them by
Putting the book down
I actually liked several of the characters enough to daydream about them long after finishing the read. Action scenes had me missing the rest of my life in order to not interrupt them by
Putting the book down
August 8, 2020
What a ride! James Flynn returns together with his half-hearted and skeptical sidekick, Sancho, for yet another adventure or should I say misadventure.
The undulating journey begins melancholically before the story pounces on you. Brandishing his alter-ego once more as a Double-O secret agent for “Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” Book 2 shows Flynn tackling enemies from all sides this time.
The bulk of the story takes place in California enmeshed with sentimental moments, comedic scenes, and gritty pages. A few scenes became my personal favorites and I also enjoyed the presence of new and colorful characters accompanying the main man throughout his whirlwind mission. I wouldn’t be surprised if a producer turned the first two books into a made-for-TV-movie.
Some familiar themes have been embedded in the story but keep an eye on the protagonist. He is an intricate character that deserves admiration as well as pity. You know the saying… sometimes, even heroes need to be saved.
The undulating journey begins melancholically before the story pounces on you. Brandishing his alter-ego once more as a Double-O secret agent for “Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” Book 2 shows Flynn tackling enemies from all sides this time.
The bulk of the story takes place in California enmeshed with sentimental moments, comedic scenes, and gritty pages. A few scenes became my personal favorites and I also enjoyed the presence of new and colorful characters accompanying the main man throughout his whirlwind mission. I wouldn’t be surprised if a producer turned the first two books into a made-for-TV-movie.
Some familiar themes have been embedded in the story but keep an eye on the protagonist. He is an intricate character that deserves admiration as well as pity. You know the saying… sometimes, even heroes need to be saved.
November 12, 2023
James Flynn was still delusional, still didn't have any real training (of any sort) and had no grip on reality, but he still believed he really was a James Bond secret agent. Yet, he saved a group of multi-millionaire's who end up owing their lives to him. In this second instalment of James Flynn, this reader thought it fell into too much into pulp fiction (yes, I know it is only a story) and thought the introduction of his "super powers" was just dumb. Whilst, I'll never look at a tube of toothpaste the same way or dental floss for that matter, it was Orkin's prose that lifted this trashy pulpy novel from two to a very respectable three and half stars. 3 STARS.
September 12, 2020
Haris Orkin’s James Flynn returns in another fun-filled action-packed escapades. The delusional mental 00 super spy is out again saving the world, whether it wants to be saved or not. It is a delightful romp that puts a smile on your face throughout. I really liked the banter between Flynn and Sancho and enjoyed how Flynn gets himself out of trouble without having a clue about what’s going on around him. I wish this series goes on as long as the Bond films. Can’t wait to see where the dapper and suave Flynn goes to next.
May 26, 2020
This is a hilarious caper story, with a unique premise. James Flynn is a delusional person who believes that he works with Her Majesty's Secret Service, as a "00" agent. He translates that belief in himself into a series of actions that convinced me! If you read this, you'll laugh a lot and say "hmmm" many times.
I wouldn't have picked this, but my book group is reading it this month. Great choice!
I wouldn't have picked this, but my book group is reading it this month. Great choice!
November 13, 2020
From an unabashedly 007 fan... This follow up to the first James Flynn contains less of the roller coaster flying off the rails non-stop action, but had a more enjoyable story line. Much more back story here about James that really endears you to his character. Don't get me wrong however, there is still plenty of incredulous action here for all the 007 fans.
Really looking forward to reading the next escapade!
A couple of nits from this long time Silicon Valley resident though...
Autonomous cars (fictional or real) do not use "sonar" (chapter 11) unless they intend the car to also work as a submarine.
You can tell Haris Orkin lives in SoCal as all freeway names mentioned in chapter 11 prefix the freeway name with "the" as in "the 101". Northern California residents call a freeway by its numbers only and that's it. e.g. "drive 280 north to Saratoga" If you tell locals to head north on the bayshore hwy, they will look at your confused, shrug, then say "Bayshore??? Oh, you must be from LA... Do you mean go 'north on 101'?" Yeah, these are stupid pedantic comments, but as a local reading about Silicon Valley locations, the descriptions just didn't make sense.
Really looking forward to reading the next escapade!
A couple of nits from this long time Silicon Valley resident though...
Autonomous cars (fictional or real) do not use "sonar" (chapter 11) unless they intend the car to also work as a submarine.
You can tell Haris Orkin lives in SoCal as all freeway names mentioned in chapter 11 prefix the freeway name with "the" as in "the 101". Northern California residents call a freeway by its numbers only and that's it. e.g. "drive 280 north to Saratoga" If you tell locals to head north on the bayshore hwy, they will look at your confused, shrug, then say "Bayshore??? Oh, you must be from LA... Do you mean go 'north on 101'?" Yeah, these are stupid pedantic comments, but as a local reading about Silicon Valley locations, the descriptions just didn't make sense.
July 12, 2021
A bit of a slow start but when it took off it was fantastic. The opening felt necessary but wished it could be a bit shorter. Still, well pulled together. A little disappointing in the adversary they face but also loved the changing dynamics between the characters.
June 22, 2020
4 1/2 stars, rounded up. While certainly not a literary classic, this was an entertaining read with good character development and a fun story line.
July 20, 2020
Funny, and adventurous.
I really liked the characters. The story had many cute twists. Never dull. Touching. A good getaway. Very much enjoyed.
I really liked the characters. The story had many cute twists. Never dull. Touching. A good getaway. Very much enjoyed.
November 17, 2020
I assume after the success of the first book a second had to be written. James Flynn is a fun character and the books would make a great movie. I enjoyed the first book more.
December 13, 2020
A good sequel to You Only Live Once. Someone needs to make movies based on these.
March 2, 2021
This was fun, but not quite as good as the first one. I would happily read another James Flynn book, though.
October 1, 2021
Wonderful
A great balance to the new James Bond movie. May James Flynn keep confronting his inner devil and bring us many more years of enjoyment!
A great balance to the new James Bond movie. May James Flynn keep confronting his inner devil and bring us many more years of enjoyment!
July 23, 2024
These James Flynn books are so much fun, especially if you appreciate the old Ian Fleming novels. It's like Inspector Clouseau meets James Bond. Delightful!
November 24, 2024
These stories are well done as far as character interactions and depth of development. I look forward to reading the next episode in the series.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews