It's amazing how Mr. ONeill's writing followed so flawlessly that of Mr. Dodge, To Catch a Spy is a perfect sequel to To Catch a Thief. The atmosphere and beauty of the French Riviera is captured in the story as well as all the mystery that abounds in the area. The story easily flows with action after action, the characters are relatable and the scenes are full of French glamour. Looking forward to reading the next books in the series!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks for the ARC of 'To Catch A Spy' in exchange for an honest review.

While this fun, terrific thriller works fine as a stand alone, I'd recommend everyone treat themselves to either the original book or a viewing of the classic 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly (even if you've seen it before). Trust me it will make the experience of reading this book even more entertaining.

With permission from original author David Dodge's estate, Mark O' Neill effectively continues the adventures of John Robie - former American, circus acrobat, former French Resistance fighter, former master jewel thief and former romancer of the beautiful, audacious heiress Francie Stevens.

Francie's broken up with John, whose less-than-legal past previously landed him in dangerous trouble, but she and her sardonic widowed mom are back on the dazzling French Riviera just in time for the swirl and glamour of Fashion Week. John's itching to rekindle his once fireworks-worthy romance with Francie, but all new troubles and threats envelop him.......and may very well also involve Francie. too.

In helping out a long time friend from French Intelligence, John's stumbled upon a Russian spy ring whose ringleaders are a lethal bunch with an inexhaustible supply of minion thugs. Even worse, this nefarious cabal may have something to do with Francie's recruitment as a stunning new fashion model for a famous designers new creations. But now Francie's not only a freshly minted fashion superstar, she's also acquired a new protective boyfriend as well, So John has his hands full.....slugging it out with the thugs out to kill him, somehow relighting the fire between him and Francie while trying to untangle her possible involvement in the spy plot.

Loved every single minute of this, which plays out among all the same gorgeous locations everyone will remember from the movie. Yet author O'Neill does make this new book his very own, which is more of a non-stop, breathless James Bond-ish adventure as opposed to Hitchcock's more leisurely romantic suspense. I devoured it in one sitting and certainly wouldn't mind if John and Francie, both born adventurers, embark on an all new captivating caper. One of the best beach reads you'll find this year.

"To Catch a Spy" by Mark O'Neill is the authorized sequel to David Dodge's classic novel "To Catch a Thief," famously adapted into the 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film. This sequel revisits the French Riviera, where retired jewel thief John Robie becomes entangled in a perilous game of espionage. As he attempts to rekindle his romance with Francie Stevens, now a model for a top French designer, Robie finds himself pursued by ruthless adversaries and begins to question Francie's true intentions. If you're a big fan of the original movie, it's really no comparison to the characters portrayed here. The author does a great job of depicting Cannes, France in the 1950s, and you can almost imagine yourself there. However the combination of romance and espionage between the two characters is just not as believable as the movie version. However, it is a nostalgic, well written return to the characters and setting made famous in the original 'To Catch a Thief', just without the witty charm and repartee.

Anyone who has not seen the movie, To Catch a Thief, has a treat in store. I have watched it multiple times, each time with great enjoyment. Therefore, I was intrigued by this title which is a sequel (approved by the estate) to the earlier movie (and book). I requested it right away from NetGalley and was delighted to receive it.

I loved spending time with John Robie and Francie again in this suspenseful and enjoyable novel. Take a virtual trip to France, sit down with this one and watch your day go by happily.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

A year has elapsed since the events chronicled in David Dodge’s classic crime novel, To Catch A Thief. Gentleman thief John Robie has earned the continuing parole of not only himself but also the Resistance comrades who were once imprisoned with him, by proving that neither he nor they were responsible for the string of copycat burglaries that recently plagued the French Riviera. Along the way, he lost his heart to the beautiful, plucky Francie Stevens, right as she declared her intention to move back to America without him.

In Mark O’Neill’s authorized sequel, Francie has come back to Cannes with both her mother and a new boyfriend in tow. While she and John had tried to make a go of things, she ultimately decided to break things off, as doubts as to his character and intentions incessantly plagued her:

QUOTE
Did he want her, or was she just another jewel to be had, one that could ensure a different life? There were other instances, too, in which he put himself first. People like that could be tolerated and even enjoyed for a while. But in the long run, they made unsuitable partners.

“Well, I have no idea what he’s done,” said Mother. “I do know you, however. And you can be very demanding. Are you sure this isn’t one of those times? Are you sure you’re not looking for perfection when you should be looking for happiness?”
END QUOTE

Francie assures Mother that she’s more than happy with her new boyfriend Alex Dandridge, who’s been nothing but supportive of her burgeoning career as a fashion model. That’s actually the reason she’s back in France, to walk the runway for famed designer Marcel Julien during Riviera Fashion Week. She’s hoping to avoid John, who will have hopefully retired back to his countryside villa and won’t be anywhere in sight.

Unfortunately for her, John has heard that she’ll be working Fashion Week, and is determined to speak with her and plead his case again. To this end, he’s trying to get his good friend and neighbor Paul du Pre, a wealthy and well-connected nobleman, to score him an official invitation. Before he can make the request though, he discovers that Paul has a small favor to ask of him.

Paul has recently been appointed a director of the French counterespionage department, and needs an extra set of eyes for what should be a simple surveillance mission. When that quickly gets out of hand – to deadly result – John finds himself embroiled in a world of espionage. He’s not thrilled about it but he is, above all things, effective, no matter the disapproval of the people around him as he uses less than savory methods to get what he needs:

QUOTE
“So we’re back to thieving, are we?” Paul shook his head, disappointed. “I knew this was a bad idea.”

“Listen to me. These men threatened my life. And I have a chance to help you stop them and do it the right way–by bringing you the intelligence you can’t otherwise get.” John was simmering, but he kept going. “Tell me, how do you think your spies get information? Do you think they look it up in a library? Not a chance. They do what I did. And just so you know, I took nothing. So no, I’m not back to thieving.”

Paul’s face turned red. He lowered his eyes, then said, “I hear you, and I apologize.”
END QUOTE

Will John be able to help Paul while rekindling his relationship with Francie? Or will they all discover that their presences in Cannes are once more intertwined more deeply than they’d ever dreamed?

To Catch A Spy is Mr O’Neill’s imaginative debut novel, taking the characters from the original book – that were further popularized by Alfred Hitchcock’s delightful movie of the same name – and continuing their story with an international espionage twist. While some of the characterizations fall flat, and the story overall feels curiously provincial in contrast to Mr Dodge’s far more nuanced take on crime and morality, the homage is overall entertaining, with the callbacks to the movie being particularly charming. The ending sets up for a juicy sequel too, indicating that there will be more adventures of John Robie to come!

I did not read the other books, so it took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I did, it held my interest with suspense and mystery. It was fast-paced and an easy read with good characters.

BOOK REVIEW:
To Catch a Spy by Mark O’Neill

What happens when a reformed jewel thief gets tangled in a web of spies and political intrigue? Enter To Catch a Spy, the thrilling authorized sequel to “To Catch a Thief”! Set against the dazzling backdrop of 1950s Cannes, this novel is a perfect mix of suspense, romance, and nostalgia.

🕶 The Story: A year after clearing his name, John Robie—aka Le Chat—wants nothing more than to rekindle his romance with Francie Stevens, now a model at the first-ever Fashion Week. But his plans take a dangerous turn when espionage, secrets, and deception pull him back into a world he thought he’d left behind.

💎 What I Loved:
✨ The glamorous Riviera setting
✨ A fast-paced plot full of twists
✨ Francie’s transformation from socialite to a key player in the mystery
✨ The perfect blend of classic charm & fresh intrigue

📖 Fans of old-school thrillers and stylish espionage stories will love this one! Mark O’Neill captures the spirit of the original while making it his own. As Harlan Coben put it, “A worthy sequel to the classic—which is a heck of a recommendation!”

📅 Release Date: April 1, 2025
📚 Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Great story!!!

I've read the original novel To Catch A Thief by David Dodge, so I was really excited to pick up the sequel. I think this is a fantastic addition to the series and it feels very true to the original. The plot was exciting, and all of the characterization was done really well. I felt like all of the characters had the same charm as the original novel.

I do think the writing was a little dry and the book did drag in certain places, but overall, I enjoyed it.

Pre-Read notes

I received a digital copy of David Dodge's TO CATCH A THIEF and a digital copy of this book, Mark ONeill's TO CATCH A SPY, a sequel written currently and approved by Dodge's estate. I finished Dodge's book, which was completely delightful, just a couple weeks ago. I'm very much looking forward to ONeill's take on the era, the setting, and the characters!

Final Review

Everything was peaceful. Francie checked her wristwatch. She still had time to relax. p216

Review summary and recommendations

I was looking forward to something similar to Dodge in style or even approach, but this book is very different from the source material. For how dissimilar these two works are, I think, ONeill might have been better served just writing an original story with original characters.

Big TW for violence against women and SA for this one, two warnings I definitely didn't have to give for Dodge's original book.

I recommend this book to fans of contemporary thrillers or crime capers.

“There’s an old saying where I come from.” He raised a finger, and with a trace of a smile said, “If you know too much, you get old very quickly.” p225

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. That opening scene was Awesome. Holy crap, I'm a little breathless.

2. I absolutely love this expression! He’s just a common thief. p51 What do you think this means? My husband says it's an expression referring to a fleabitten gutter snipe picking pockets, or something equally base. I think it's an irony, since theirs are never "common" in the sense that they don't represent a very large portion of the population. So the expression is a way to insult a criminal while also acknowledging how remarkable thieves really are. Depending on how I interpret this expression would probably bear on how I interpret the scene, if not the story.

3. It's so good to see Francie again! She's a wonderful character, demure and yet brave, a curious collection of fashionable, societally gifted, and down to earth. ONeill writes a fair Francie for a contemporary audience.

4. The prose is clear and not difficult to read or follow, but amidst the constant activity, I found it difficult to hold onto the thread of the plot.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. "Insouciance"? Please. He *means* carelessness. No clue why he didn't just say that, because this is a ridiculous word for the context. The worst thing is that every character speaks in this same stilted, forced tone and elevated diction.

2. Trigger warning for SA and attempted rp. I was honestly surprised to find this scene in this book, as it's such a huge deviation from the feel of the source material, and fairly out place for the mystery genre itself. It feels like ONeill is using this scheme for shock value, which I find rather exploitative.

3. Quite a few detailed fight scenes in this one.

4. Francie's throat was as dry as the beach. p245 😬 Who's going to tell him that a beach's defining characteristic is water?

Rating: 🗼🗼🗼 /5 dangers in Paris
Recommend? it's okay, I expect other readers will like it more
Finished: Mar 13 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
👊 fight scenes
🌪 lots of violence
🕴🏾 spy capers
🗼 Paris

Thank you to the author Mark ONeill, publishers Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of TO CATCH A SPY. All views are mine.
---------------

I haven't read To Catch a Thief but I very much enjoyed the movie so I was curious about this novel which builds on this story of John Robie, the thief, and Francie, the socialite, Taken as a standalone, this makes a fine read, with a zippy plot, You can visualize the characters, the dialogue is well written and it's quite entertaining. Thanks to netgalley for the arc.

"Estate approved sequel to the novel To Catch a Thief by David Dodge and 1955 Academy Award-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock.

It's been a year since John Robie, notorious Riviera jewel thief, proved his innocence by catching a copycat burglar. And it's been a year since John has seen Francie Stevens, the adventurous socialite who not only saw through his disguise, but helped him catch the copycat. Now Francie is returning to the Riviera for its first-ever Fashion Week as a model for a top French designer, and John plans on rekindling their romance. But there's a problem. While helping a friend, John chases down a mysterious courier, whose ruthless associates now want John dead. To make matters worse, when Francie arrives, she has a boyfriend in tow, and tells John that she wants nothing to do with him.

John has to figure out why he's a hunted man, and why Francie is acting suspiciously. Digging deeper, he discovers a spy ring with evil intent. As John works unofficially to gather evidence, a question begins to haunt him - could Francie Stevens be a spy? With his enemies closing in, John turns to his cat burglar skills to try to save his life and expose the traitors. To survive, he has to catch the spies before they catch - and kill - a retired thief!"

And his years working with the French Resistance shall also come in handy!

Overall, a very pleasant read. Well-paced, eventful, with a vibrant décor and interesting characters. I would recommend it even if you aren't familiar with all the references. A compelling piece of entertainment.

Kudos to Mark O'Neill for brilliantly capturing the writing style and essence of David Dodge while bringing John Robie's story back to life over 70 years later. To Catch a Spy maintains the cleverness and suspense of To Catch a Thief, as we follow John Robie on a new adventure, attempting to rekindle his relationship with Francie Stevens while uncovering a spy ring with sinister intentions.

I truly hope Mark O'Neill continues to write more stories featuring John Robie, so we can follow along on these exciting adventures. If you love classic suspense with clever plotting and a touch of elegance, I highly recommend picking up To Catch a Spy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Very well written and I appreciated that although I didn't read the prequel, I was able to catch up rather quickly. No pun intended. I rather enjoyed the strong female character and glad she gave the lead a run for his money.

☕Review: To Catch a Spy

💌Rate: 5 Stars!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎆Praise: When this book comes out in paperback and hardback I am buying both editions! I couldn't believe an amazing author thought the idea of making a sequel to the ever exhilarating an adventurous movie To Catch a Thief! Mark O Neill is a genius! I have watched that movie so many times I memorized all the lines and all the heart stopping moments of true love and fireworks!

🍨 We come back to find John Robie and Francie crossing paths during fashion week in the beautiful French Riviera! The way the author describes the Rivera had me feeling as if I was back watching the movie looking at all the colors in each landscape. Along with all the mysteries that took place! The author does an amazing way of describing the beautiful fashion and other scenes which is the heartbeat of the Riviera!

🍰Characters: John Robie and Francie come back to one another except she comes back with a new boyfriend! Lots of spying and ulterior motives behind original motivations either come to light or make you keep guessing! A very fashionable way to grab a reader's attention! The characters have to deal with the fact that on the outside everything looks like a beautiful shiny oyster and they think there's a pearl with their endeavors! But on the inside there's a lot more hidden then they bargained for or suspected. This book truly left me on the edge of my seat and appreciating the vintage sequel coming to life!

🌌 Extra/Tropes: I don't want to give too much away but all I have to say is this book should get 10,000 stars! My vintage heart could not stop singing when I was granted the access to read this book early! Bravo!!

🍪Sequel from a Classical Movie
🍪 Romance
🍪Spies
🍪 Beautiful Setting
🍪Must Read

I absolutely loved John Robie's character in book 1, To Catch a Thief, so I was so excited to see his story reignited over 70 years later. Mark ONeill did a phenomenal job bringing Le Chat back to life on another exciting heist and I appreciated that it read as though David Dodge wrote it himself. I loved that new side characters were introduced along with the reappearance of characters from book 1 that brought so much charm and whimsical moments throughout the story. I really loved the Author Note at the end, it truly showed Mark ONeill's passion for Le Chat's story. I hope John Robie's story continues in future books as he is such a fun character to readI absolutely loved John Robie's character in book 1, To Catch a Thief, so I was so excited to see his story reignited over 70 years later. Mark ONeill did a phenomenal job bringing Le Chat back to life on another exciting heist and I appreciated that it read as though David Dodge wrote it himself. I loved that new side characters were introduced along with the reappearance of characters from book 1 that brought so much charm and whimsical moments throughout the story. I really loved the Author Note at the end, it truly showed Mark ONeill's passion for Le Chat's story. I hope John Robie's story continues in future books as he is such a fun character to read!

To Catch A Spy picks up where the intrigue left off in the first book, throwing John Robie, the reformed cat burglar, back into a world of danger, deception, and romance. After a year of proving his innocence and catching a copycat thief, Robie is hoping to rekindle his romance with the beautiful Francie Stevens. But when she returns to the French Riviera for its first-ever Fashion Week with a new boyfriend in tow, Robie's plans for a reunion quickly unravel.

What follows is a fast-paced, tension-filled adventure as Robie finds himself embroiled in a web of mystery and danger. His attempts to rekindle his connection with Francie are thwarted by the arrival of ruthless enemies after a mysterious courier, and the deeper Robie digs into the situation, the more he uncovers about a dangerous spy ring operating under the radar of the glamorous Riviera. The sharp twists and turns of the plot keep readers on edge as Robie must rely on his old larcenous skills to navigate a deadly game of espionage, all while questioning the loyalty of the woman he thought he knew.

The tension between Robie and Francie is palpable, and her sudden coldness toward him adds layers of complexity to their relationship. Is she part of the spy ring, or is she just caught in a dangerous situation? The author expertly plays with the uncertainty of her true motivations, keeping the reader guessing. Robie’s struggle to understand whether he can trust her—while trying to survive the deadly threats closing in on him—adds an emotional depth to the novel that elevates it beyond a mere thriller.

Set against the backdrop of the dazzling Riviera during Fashion Week, the novel shines with its rich setting, offering a glimpse into the world of high fashion, espionage, and intrigue. The glamorous world of models and designers contrasts sharply with the dark, shadowy world of spies, creating a compelling juxtaposition that heightens the suspense.
How to catch a spy is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling, with a perfect balance of romance, action, and mystery. As Robie tries to expose a dangerous conspiracy, readers are taken on a wild ride filled with twists and a constant sense of danger. Whether you're a fan of classic thrillers or modern espionage tales, this book delivers a highly entertaining, edge-of-your-seat experience that will keep you guessing until the final page

John Robie is a very accomplished individual. He trained as an acrobat in the circus and has maintained his climbing abilities. Now an ex-patriot living on the French Riviera, he has honed his craft as a jewel thief. He frequents the posh hotels and other places where the rich and famous go to play.

Francie Stevens is a young lady learning the modeling trade. She is very lovely and picks up the business fairly well. Francie has an off/again, on/again affair with John, and although they seem to hit it off, they soon part ways.

She is lured by wealthy designers who want her to help with their activities. She does not know she is being used, but many of the designers are engaged in many nefarious activities. Francie.

This story is well written and the plot has many twists that will keep any reader glued to the outcome. The characters are particularly well developed. The French Resistance during WWII honed the skills of many of the participants.

While the author was given approval to write this sequel by the estate of David Dodge (who wrote To Catch a Thief) and did an admiral job, there was a certain writing style that wasn’t quite found in this novel. You might note a perceptible difference. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

For a first-time author, this book is extraordinarily well-written. All of the plot points hold together and bring new dimensions to John Robie and Francie Stevens that are believable and built on the foundations that David Dodge laid in To Catch a Thief in 1952.

It helps to read (or have read) Dodge's book first (new edition coming out in April 2025!), but it is not strictly necessary. Just be aware that the characters are based on Dodge's book, not on Cary Grant and Grace Kelly!

John Robie, proficient acrobat, and reformed jewel thief, wants to rekindle his relationship with Francie Stevens. Known as Le Chat, he was extremely handy at separating jewels from their wealthy owners. He paid his debt to society in prison, and by serving in the French Resistance, where his fighting skills teamed up with his acrobatic prowess to create a lean mean fighting machine. Last active proving he was no longer a thief by catching  a copycat criminal, he was thrown off by Francie's rejection, and at least wanted a chance to talk things out with her. Hoping to enlist his friend Paul as an ally in getting her back, they meet in a hotel in Cannes, but the subject never comes up. Instead, Paul, the director of French Counter Espionage, pointed out a man he wanted watched. But as soon as he was spotted, the mystery man ran back into his hotel with John scrambling up a building to stop him. They met on his balcony, and as they fought, the man purposely fell to his death, leaving a large duffel bag filled with cash. This detail John kept to himself. But he saw a path to speaking  to Francie-she was going to be a fashion model at the  prestigious Riviera Fashion Week in Cannes, and John could attend under the pretense of spying for Paul...what could possibly go wrong?

If this sounds familiar, it should, O'Neil was given the nod by the Dodge estate to write the sequel to the novel-To Catch a Thief. Immortalized in the Hitchcock movie by the same name, the film featured Cary Grant as Robie and Grace Kelly as Francie. Because the original novel is so old (1952,) it is best to watch the movie before reading this novel to catch up on the plot. The book is very referential to the movie, it even gives a nod to certain places used as settings, and to Hitchcock himself. It is difficult to picture the characters as anyone else other than the movie stars,  even though the reader finds out that Francie and John are around the same age. In the movie he's about the age of her mother.

This is totally a plot-driven, action adventure novel and can be very absorbing and exciting. If you are in the mood for a fifties era convoluted plot filled with shady characters, slimy villains, and beautiful women, this just might be your next spy novel du jour.