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Title:  From Eroica With Love #9

Author:  Yasuko Aoike

Publisher:  CMX

ISBN:  9781401208783

May Contain Spoilers

NATO operative Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach and KGB agent Mischa the Bear Cub enjoy a drinking session in a dingy bar while waiting for their men to arrive.  Soon the two, drunk, are exchanging blows while berating each other for previous offenses.  While they pummel each other, the smarmy waiter smiles, clutching the papers that the Major had given to him just before the fight began.  As the combatants near the verge of collapse, the Major realizes what a huge mistake he’s made. The waiter is actually Eroica in disguise, and  he’s just made off with the all important Lubyanka report! 

In this volume, the Major is forced to chase after the Earl like a little puppy dog.  He can’t believe he was stupid enough to hand over the papers to the thief, and now, much to Dorian’s delight, he is forced to pursue him to Egypt.  To complicate matters, the Earl’s cheap accountant has devised a way to add some extra moola to the safe;  he copies the report, and plans to sell it to everyone that wants a copy!  When the bungling bean-counter allows a copy to be stolen from him, NATO, the KGB, and a very flamboyant art thief are all forced to work together to get it back.

This series is a James Bond spoof, peopled with an unlikely assortment of individuals.  James, the accountant, is so tight-fisted with his money that he wears tattered under-garments and sleeps under raggedy blankets.  Klaus is a no-non-sense tough guy, who has no sense of humor and fewer people skills.  The Earl, also known as the thief Eroica, lusts after beautiful things, and has set his sights on possessing the Major. He makes no secret of his desire for the Klaus, going so far as to voice his disappointment that the Major would rather ogle a belly-dancer than him.  I haven’t quite determined how the Klaus feels about this, other than considering that the Earl is a gigantic pain in the ass.

As the Lubyanka report makes its way, musical chair style, from party to party, Klaus is centered on regaining possession of it.  When the report at last ends up in the hands of the spoiled Saleem al Sabaah, whom Klaus just insulted days before, he has no choice but to ask for the help of the KGB and the bothersome thief responsible for the entire ordeal.  This leads to an impromptu strip-tease by Dorian, cross-dressing, and an attempted double cross.  Though in typical flashy Eroica fashion, he jauntily teases the Major before fleeing the scene of the crime.  

I admit that Klaus constantly referring to everyone as a wanker soon grew tiresome, as did the characters’ constant blathering;  everybody talks all the time, which wouldn’t be so irksome if they were actually saying something of substance.  This is a light, fluffy read, diverting for a time, but it probably won’t make a lasting impression.  Kind of like angel food cake.  You’ll go off in search of the ice cream next. 

Grade: C+

Rated for Teen

Review based on a galley provided by the publisher, CMX.