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Review

‘Behind Moneypenny’s polished perfection is a daring dastardly heroine’

(Daily Express )

‘A riveting, page-turning diary. What a woman!’

(OK )

‘Brilliant … Bridget Jones’ Diary crossed with Spooks’

(Daily Mirror )

‘Thrilling’

(Joanna Lumley )

Product Description

It’s the mid-1960s and the British secret intelligence service is hit by a series of defection scandals. Facing considerable personal danger, Jane Moneypenny combines forces with 007 to try to smoke out a mole that she is convinced is buried deep in the heart of the Office. But as Bond is sacked and M forced into retirement, Moneypenny may have to find him alone.

Forty-two years later, Miss Moneypenny’s niece and heir, Kate Westbrook, starts to suspect that her aunt’s death was not an accident. She is sure the clues to what happened lie in the search for the mole. But as she pieces them together, she realises that there are significant forces determined to prevent her.

From the glamour of 1960s Jamaica to the treacherous beaches of the Outer Hebrides, Final Fling relates the thrilling adventures of the world’s most famous secretary and reveals just how far people are prepared to go to defend – or betray – their beliefs.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Moneypenny's Final Fling, 7 Jun 2008

By	Devin Zydel - See all my reviews

In her concluding chapter to the thrilling Moneypenny Diaries trilogy, author Samantha Weinberg fuses together the danger and suspense of Jane Moneypenny's 1964/65 diaries along with a ring of mystery and intrigue that surrounds the current day quest of niece Kate Westbrook to create a captivating tale that truly doesn't let go until the very last page.

Final Fling successfully follows on from 2005's Guardian Angel and 2006's Secret Servant in that once again, the reader is allowed to feel completely immersed in the events facing Jane during the 60's thanks to the `day-to-day' style created by the diary entries. What makes this third novel different from the previous two, however, and even more exciting because of it, is almost a full half of the 282 page-long story is dedicated to the current day affairs of Kate Westbrook--who continues on her perilous quest to uncover the details surrounding her aunt's mysterious death in 1990. The result is an overall mix of both the adventure one would expect to find in any literary James Bond adventure, but also that added mystery element. Weinberg is so adept at keeping the pace soaring as Kate moves from location to location, questioning anyone who'll possibly point her in the right direction for more information. Naturally, there are various forces who track her every move and seemingly have no limits when it comes to stopping her.

In Final Fling, Jane's diaries open in July 1964 with the famous secretary more convinced than ever that there is a hidden mole, or `Sieve', in the SIS, leaking secrets that could cost the lives of its agents. This paranoia eventually comes to sweep over the entire office with the usually well-respected `M' becoming the subject of ridicule and Bill Tanner acting aloof and unapproachable towards Jane. Things become complicated further when Deputy Chief Christopher `Kit' Linford-Hunter--someone who doesn't exactly take a liking to Jane--and associate Percy Warren make their way into positions of leadership at the office. What eventually follows is a series of exciting investigations with `M', James Bond and Jane that involves leaks of information, bitter confrontations and more.

On the other end of the spectrum, some 40 years later, Kate Westbrook continues in her search for answers regarding the death of Jane and also to discover the identity of the Sieve, the traitor she believes responsible one way or another for that act. Assisting her is Ferdy Macintyre, a man she at first despises as a result of his warnings against publishing Jane's diaries, but then comes to admire (with some additional traces of a romance) after several meetings between the two.

Traveling to various London locations as well as the Outer Hebrides island chain off the west coast of Scotland, Kate questions several locals who were in the vicinity when Jane's boat tragedy was officially announced as an `accidental death' in October 1990. A much older Bill Tanner, other SIS officers who had worked alongside Jane and additional acquaintances also share their thoughts on the matter with Kate, including Randall Macallan, a man full of secrets and surprises.

The question of `Who is the Sieve?' does finally get answered and it comes in one of the very last diary entries by Jane. This is a particularly strong move by Weinberg. With the latter half of the novel switching back and forth between Jane diaries and Kate's present day story, it is fitting that the full details of the Sieve's actions and this person's ultimate fate should come directly from Jane, since she experienced the consequences of this traitor first-hand.

In terms of timeline structure, The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling is a bit of an oddity. Examining the status of several of the main characters at the end of the story and depending on how much importance one places on the dates, this continuation novel can be looked up as not only the final chapter of the trilogy, but also the entire literary James Bond canon. Even when it appears that the story has reached its finale, there's one more surprise to be found on the last page. The entire trilogy really is a rollercoaster ride of mystery, suspense and action and Samantha Weinberg could not have brought it to a more spectacular end than she does here.

commanderbond.net - James Bond website

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bittersweet...loved the book but so sad this is the final installment, 9 Nov 2008

By	Snapdragon (London) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Final Fling: The Moneypenny Diaries (Paperback)

The Moneypenny Diaries have been an annual treat for me and `Final Fling' definitely doesn't disappoint. It's now the mid 60s and Moneypenny is still convinced there is a mole in MI6 and when she is packed off to the regional office in Jamaica she is convinced that she is being deliberately kept out of the way. Never a shrinking violet, she defies orders and returns to London much to M's consternation. However, after a chance encounter with a Russian, she is brought back into the fold and joins forces with M and 007 to flush out the mole once and for all. Suspicion falls on a number of likely candidates; Hunter, Warren and (sadly) Moneypenny's friend, Bill Tanner.

`Final Fling' is slightly different from the two earlier novels (Guardian Angel and Secret Servant) because Moneypenny's neice, Kate Westbrook, takes over much of the narrative as she tries to find out if her aunt was murdered and if so, by whom. There is also less of a historical context as opposed to Secret Servant, which had copious footnotes relating to real historical events. Having said that, this conclusion was perfect in that it tied up all the loose ends in a really satisfying way.

I, for one, am really sorry that there won't be any more Moneypenny Diaries, but I'll be keeping a close eye on what Samantha Weinberg comes up with next....perhaps we'll learn more about Mary Goodnight?

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5.0 out of 5 stars Moneypenny goes out on top, 16 May 2008

By	John Cox (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

The conclusion to Samantha Weinberg's Moneypenny Diaries is one of the very best James Bond continuation novels. It's a true third act adventure that not only wraps up this wonderful 3 book saga, but can also be seen as the very last James Bond book -- a Final Fling indeed.

The plot is a solid series of payoffs and twists, including a delightful twist on the very last page that made me gasp out loud. I also got so caught up in the author's skillfully spun web of intrigue and subterfuge that I suddenly found myself suspecting that maybe these "diaries" are REAL; that these books are, in fact, a clever MI6 plot to out a Cold War secret via a piece James Bond "fiction." I found myself looking over my shoulder as I raced toward the conclusion, feeling as if I was making a momentous, and potentially dangerous, discovery here. Effective fiction indeed!

I'm sad to see this series end, but it certainly went out on a high. Thank you "Kate" for this wonderful contribution to the James Bond canon.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read - the best of the series
The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling was definitely the most thrilling book of the series. Her eyes opened to the possibility that her aunt, Jane Moneypenny, did not die in a... Read more

Published 2 months ago by S. Bogart

5.0 out of 5 stars Very very good Miss Moneypenny
This is the final in a trilogy of books based on the 'moneypenny' diaries written by 'Kate Westbrook'. Read more

Published 12 months ago by rach fitz

5.0 out of 5 stars better than bond
I've absolutely loved the moneypenny series and although it is sad that this is the last in the trilogy it was a great conclusion. Read more

Published 13 months ago by C. Anderson

5.0 out of 5 stars Hopefully it's not really over
Another corker from Dr Westbrook. I hope that she finds another batch of her Aunt's diaries somewhere. If this really is the last we'll hear from her, at she's gone out on a high

Published 14 months ago by Book Reader

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	97% buy the item featured on this page: Final Fling: The Moneypenny Diaries 5.0 out of 5 stars (7) �12.59
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