A.K.A. Jane [Mass Market Paperback]

Maureen Tan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

Plagued by memories of her lover's murder, burnt-out MI5 operative Jane Nichols moves to Savannah, Georgia, and devotes herself to writing hard-boiled private eye novels, however, amongst Savannah's historic houses is an enemy from her past.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Coy debut action-romance featuring a British secret agent turned bestselling mystery novelist who can't quite stay out of the spy business. After her parents are murdered in an apparent IRA strike, Jane Nichols is raised by her kindly grandfather, a retired British Navy admiral who guides her toward the fatherly MI5 chief Douglas MacDonald. Packing a Walther PPK (one of James Bond's trademark weapons), Nichols takes to dangerous, violent IRA infiltration like a seasoned pro--until her lover (and fellow spy) Brian Hurst dies trying to protect her from a contract killing ordered by a red-headed, American-based IRA terrorist. Nichols tries to work out her romantic frustrations by pounding out a pseudonymous American trenchcoat mystery series that becomes successful enough for her agent to warn her to prepare for tax problems. Then Nichols's next spy job results in the death of a British undercover cop. Racked by nightmares and guilt, she quits MI5 and retires to a cozy bed-and-breakfast in Savannah, Georgia, intending to tour the swamps and continue her writing career. But, alas, she can't help but discover that her erstwhile red-headed adversary, Jim O'Neil, is a respected pillar of the local community. Newcomer Tan owes more to Sharon McCrumb than John le Carr‚, as Nichols submits to the advances of tough-talking Savannah Police Chief Alex Callaghan, a fan of her mysteries. As the two of them expose O'Neil, who drops into brogue as he strangles his victims, Tan piles on the clich‚s- -numerous blows, for example, cause Nichols repeatedly to ``explode'' in pain. At last, the besotted, Callaghan will murmur to Nichols, ``You're one tough cookie.'' Predictable but crisply written female fantasy, frothy and fun. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446606677
• ISBN-13: 978-0446606677
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,700,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On a scale of 1-10, this is an 11, October 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A.K.A. Jane (Hardcover)

For the past seven years, Jane Nichols, a counter-terrorist assigned to Britain's MI5 team, dreams of avenging the death of her lover and partner, who died during a botched operation. Now Jane is retiring to pursue her obsession: getting even by killing Jim O'Neil, the IRA agent who destroyed her life seven years ago.

She moves to Savannah, Georgia and adopts one of her alter-egos, Max Murdoch, author of a detective series. Her seemingly simple project is quickly compounded by the fact that Jim has just been voted the Georgia businessman of the year and is widely respected throughout the state. Jane decides to look closely at her nemesis's business. She partners with her former British MI5 mates, their American counterparts, and the Savannah chief of police, handsome Alex Callaghan, who raises once dead feelings of passion in the deadly assassin. Still Jane continues to investigate even as she knows that as she gets closer to the truth about her arch-enemy, she steps ever closer to death.

AKA JANE introduces a very interesting new protagonist, who as she allegedly has come in from the cold, still uses the skills she has gained over the years. Jane will quickly gain a large fan appreciation. The story line is straight forward with very few twists and turns, but surprisingly that adds to the overall fun of an exciting spy-like thriller.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jane Nichols is my heroine!, August 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A.K.A. Jane (Mass Market Paperback)

Jane Nichols is an absolutely electrifying character. She is a woman of steel, a key operative of the MI-5, a woman James-Bond. Fearless, tough, no-nonsense, take-charge, knows how to get what she wants, Jane is simply awesome!

Jane's soft side shows in her personal life. Her first sexual encounter with Alex is so devastating sexy in which she had been making love to her memory with Brian. That Alex had merely provided the necessary body. The haunting of the violent death of her parent and her lover, Brian, giving her bad dreams. All these showed Jane is a human and has feeling too, despite the fact that she can be a lethal fighting machine.

Jane Nichols is my heroine!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, May 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A.K.A. Jane (Mass Market Paperback)

Even after I read the cover text I expected this to be something like "Murder, she wrote" or "Scarescrow & Mrs. King". But it's actually a very good thriller with a surprisingly convincing heroine. Of course, there has to be some romance. Obviously, it can't be helped. But the relationship between Jane and her lover, Savannah's police chief, is at least mildly interesting. But Tan and Jane Nichols are at their best when it comes to action, plotting and deceiving. I really hope that Jane Nichols won't retire to soon. This series could be a winner.