[1] The novel was released a year prior to the 1966 film version of Modesty Blaise; while the film was not a critical success, the book proved popular with fans of both the comic strip and readers of spy fiction (Blaise was promoted on the cover of the first American edition by Doubleday as the feminine answer to James Bond), and O'Donnell followed up with 10 more novels and two short story collections over the next 30 years.

The American first edition by Doubleday was featured prominently in the Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction (the hit man played by John Travolta is twice shown reading the book).

Sir Gerald's job turns out to be a perilous intervention against the criminal mastermind Gabriel, who intends to steal a huge consignment of diamonds.

The action starts in the south of France, where Willie causes Pacco (who is on Gabriel's payroll) to lose his head (literally).

The diamond heist succeeds, and the action moves to a small island in the Mediterranean where Modesty has to vanquish the incredible Mrs. Fothergill in unarmed combat.