​What am I doing reading a spy thriller? I don’t like spy thriller. But I like Villanelle. And how!
Killing Eve (The TV show adaptation of Jennigs novels) is about as close to my idea of perfect entertainment as it gets. Until the last few minutes of the final episode. So naturally I was curious to see how my favorite character favored in books.
And to my great surprise, the book was actually fun. I started it at 9:30 pm and read in one sitting until 1:30 am. Jennings is a very dynamic writer, his book is a slick and sleek action sequence but with enough character development and literary touches to denote quality.
The thing of is it … it’s no Killing Eve. On its own, the book would be fun, but it pales when compared to its infinitely superior adaptation. As Villanelle would say, “Sorry Baby.”
BBC show took plenty from the books, but spun it so cleverly, with such pazazz and style and darkly humorous notes, that it shines like the brightest star. And most DUE to its brightest star, Jodie Comer, who inhabits the role of Villanelle so perfectly.
So, as a result, Jennings’ Villanelle on page is ice and on screen is fire.
To the book’s credit, it does make things like all the killings for instance, seem more realistic. But who wants reality when you can have a near-perfect more then?
In the end, Codename Villanelle is a well-crafted dispassionate, emotionally distant spy thriller, wherein Killing Eve is a spectacularly done, sizzling love story with spies in it. Choose your own adventure.
I, for one, intend to read the rest of the books, if only to honor the creator of such a spectacular character. Which is more than the BBC show manage to do in the end. 
Long live Villanelle!