TO CATCH A SPY

The romantic leads of David Dodge’s novel To Catch a Thief (1952)—and Alfred Hitchcock’s film—live again in this authorized sequel, and they’re in more trouble than ever.

Everything you ever knew about John Robie and Francie Stevens was wrong. Robie, a cat burglar who fought for the Resistance after his release from prison, is allied with French counterespionage chief Count Paul Du Pre. Robie still has moments when he’s tempted to steal things—especially Francie, who’s renounced her love for him because he’s such a taker and taken up herself with unblemished American cultural attache Alex Dandridge. Every time Robie approaches Francie trying to win her back, he’s so consumed by self-doubt that he blushes and stammers like a schoolboy. And no wonder, because Francie’s charmed by her new beau and her invitation to model Paris designer Marcel Julien’s new styles during Riviera Fashion Week despite her complete lack of experience. In fact, her bold flirting with the Prince of Monaco suggests that maybe she’ll turn into Grace Kelly, the much more seasoned model who became Princess Grace. In the course of his work with Paul, Robie stumbles on evidence of an international conspiracy that regrettably demotes Francie’s mother, the shrewd Maude Stevens, to a minor role, and she’s repeatedly upstaged by the Commissaire Lepic, whose bumbling puts him just a step above Inspector Clouseau, and a newly minted crew of musclemen, blackmailers, and assassins. The fact that debut novelist ONeill is already working on a sequel tells you everything you need to know about how this first installment will turn out.

A perfectly fine mix of action and romantic intrigue for anyone who doesn’t know, or who can forget, Dodge and Hitchcock.