Written in the 1960s this book shares the feel of TV shows, films and novels dealing with the post WWII spy; the special agent who takes on the world single-handed and shuns support from colleagues as the help will only get in the way of their succeeding in their mission. Stories/shows/programmes/films I would include in sharing the atmosphere of this book are: Danger Man, The Ipcress File, and Man in a Suitcase. These are the types of books/screen adaptations that have minimal violence in them; perhaps the type of fisty-cuffs that on old shows that cause amusement to our present day cynical minds. Quiller avoids violence as much as possible and never carries a gun.

The first story in Adam Hall's Quiller series, The Quiller Memorandum, was made into a successful film in 1966. It is my enjoyment of this film (and it is one I go back to time and again as comfort viewing) that drove me to see if it was based on a book. The 9th Directive is the second of fifteen Quiller novels. I do not think I will read all 15 but I think it highly probable that I will read some more of them.

Adam Hall was an interesting person. "Adam Hall" was only one of many pen-names used by the author to segregate his different types of novels. Elleston Trevor is the name of the author, a name he took when he abandoned his birth name of Trevor Dudley-Smith. The Flight of the Phoenix is probably his most famous work. It was also made into a successful movie, and I believe it has been remade in more recent years. He wrote this as Elleston Trevor.

The sixties appears to have been quite a busy time for authors and scriptwriters in the area of single-handed spying heroes. It would have been from this pool of stories that James Bond would have eventually appeared as the big money spinner. Unlike James Bond, Quiller relies on ordinary technology rather than clever devices that push the boundaries of belief at the time they are used.

Would I read another novel by Adam Hall/Elleston Trevor?
Yes.

Would I recommend The 9th Directive?
Yes.

Who would I recommend this book to?
Anyone who likes spy novels and mysteries, and who likes the older style spies who are not supported by futuristic technology that exists only in the mind of the story-teller.

Anyone who has watched and enjoyed the film The Quiller Memorandum should enjoy the Quiller books. ( )

OK, I'm prejudiced, but this is great stuff! Look at the timeline of world events in '64 and '65 (if you don't remember), especially the events in Asia. Hall is writing in the moment and the reader has to play catch-up all the way to the end. My guess for the identity of "the Person" is Lord Mountbatten. Next stop "The Striker Portfolio," Quiller No. 3. ( )

Rather a disappointment despite great Bangkok atmosphere. Too many twists and turns and implausibilities piled on top of one another. Quiller is trying to prevent the assassination of a British VIP, never named, but presumably a Royal of some sort, but he is outsmarted at every turn. His ratiocination is interesting to follow and the book has a realistic veneer that is pleasing, but the plot tries one's patience after awhile. I won't give up on Quiller, but I hope he does better next time. ( )

Typical Quiller - exotic locale, crisp writing, a bit of esoteric knowledge about interesting subjects, and a few twists. Quiller is in Bangkok attempting to prevent the assassination of a British dignitary only referred to as "the person". A good thriller. ( )