I think this could have been a lot better; and it's a shame to say that because it's a nice looking, well designed and presented book overall. The Contender book 'Spooks Confidential'(c2003) by Jim Sangster could have been a bit better so I was hoping that this new book would have been a big improvement.
Why do I personally find it a let-down? Because considering it's billed as a 'behind the scenes' book, its fairly sketchy really in its behind the scenes coverage, and it isn't really that comprehensive. There is quite a lot of space given over to the development of the 'real life' intelligence services, and while that puts the tv dramas into some sort of context I'd have like to have seen far more detailed info on *how* this series was produced, rather than 'filler' which has been seen elsewhere. As I say, there IS information on the writing and production...but not a hell of a lot of it.
Out of 187 pages,nearly half the book is devoted to (yawn) episode guides. At one time,several years ago, episode guides were very rare but these days they are *everywhere*, and while the series is brought up to date in terms of episode synopses, fans will have the details already, or can access them fairly easily via the Internet etc. And of course, they have the DVDs. That said, there is some interesting comment on the episodes sprinkled through the book as well which is of course a redeeming feature. The blow by blow accounts of each story are rather boring and a little pointless in my own view. Others of course may find it all a handy reminder.
I do think it's worth a purchase and if you're a fan like me you'll buy it anyway. My main gripe is the relatively little space given over to what the book is supposed to be about (ie BEHIND THE SCENES), and the far from comprehensive treatment.
Not bad, but could have been ever better in my opinion.