TO LOVE A THIEF

Japanese reviews were originally posted on Comic C’moA. Some reviews may contain spoilers for unreleased content or topics unrelated to MangaPlaza services.

• 

  Posted by Readers in Japan

  Jan 28, 2017 (PST) | Translate to English
  「怪」盗なし。諜報部員の私情と過去メイン
  No “strange” stealing. Intelligence Officer's Personal Affair and Past Main
  HQで最も好きなのは、星合先生の描かれる、この作品の局長の様な人。ストーリーは、上司とのラブ、命を狙われる事件の真相追求。ダブルオーセブンの「わたしを愛したスパイ」を思い出す。恋愛対象は異なるけれど。先生のハーレクインコミカライズ作品「かなわぬ恋」も連想。こちらは、ニースの最高級ホテル、ネグレスコを活動拠点に華やかなる情報収集の展開。海にパーテｨに。アルプスでのスキーまである。有能なひとは、その有能ぶりが人間的魅力となってその圧倒される存在感で目が離せなくなってしまう。諜報活動には、知力体力行動力決断力社交性何もかも揃ってる万能タイプの人が関わっているイメージがあり、局長ニックも、全部持ってる感満載。上司からでなく、部下からの告白のため、軍隊育ちのヒロインへのセクハラ疑惑は免れるし、人を欺く愛人設定も、諜報関係者であればHQ様式の契約とかなくてもないとは言えないだろう。国家機密漏洩に絡む国際スパイ、みんな美形では隠密行動は出来ないし、表の顔は実業家なのはアメリカでは国際移動頻繁でも不思議はないためないことではないらしいのだが、スパイにスカウトされるのは、どこの国でもいそうな地味タイプと聞いているので、はじめからリアリティは度外視。すてきな局長を好きになってるヒロインが、その上司を自分も守りたい、という話に、スリリングなサスペンステイストを加えた、と受け止めればよいだろう。このストーリー、わたしには、主人公は局長のニックだ。もっと言えばストーリーより、スパイ同士の恋を見させてもらってるシチュエーションで味わう視覚に訴えている作品。同盟関係にない国のインテリジェンス活動従事者が自ら身分を明かす、とは実際には考えにくい。もっと一般的に考えても、推理ものや探偵もののテレビや小説にもある、犯人がペラペラ手の内や犯した悪事などを語りだすのも、実は変だと常日頃想思っている。この種のフィクションというものは、黙秘なんてしないのがリアルでないなと痛感している。それより彼がスカウトされて一人前の諜報部員となるところを、養成の過程を見てみたかったが、このストーリーの本筋から離れるので触れられていない。それでも要所要所、目で楽しませてもらった。ただ、ラブシーン、いつも綺麗でいいのだが、HQには私はそこまでなくても酔える展開を期待する。タイトルはピンと来ない。

  What I like most about HQ is the person drawn by Mr. Hoshiai, who looks like the director of this work. The story is a love affair with the boss and the pursuit of the truth of an incident where his life is being targeted. Reminds me of “The Spy Who Loved Me” by Double O Seven. Love interests are different, though. The teacher's Harlequin comicalized work “Unfulfilled Love” is also associated. This is a glamorous information-gathering development using Negresco, the finest hotel in Nice as its base of activities. Party to the sea. They even ski in the Alps. When it comes to competent people, their ability becomes a human appeal, and their overwhelming presence makes you unable to take your eyes off them. There is an image that a versatile type of person with intelligence, physical strength, ability to act, determination, sociability, everything is involved in espionage activities, and it is full of the feeling that Director Nick also has everything. Since it is a confession not from her boss, but from her subordinates, allegations of sexual harassment against the heroine raised in the military are spared, and if you are an intelligence person, you can't say that you don't need an HQ style contract or something. All international spies involved in leaking national secrets can't act covertly in good shape, and it seems that it's not surprising that the face on the front is a businessman even if they move internationally frequently in America, so I've heard that people being scouted by spies are plain types that seem to exist in any country, so reality is ignored from the beginning. It would be good to accept that the heroine, who is in love with the wonderful director, added a thrilling suspense to the story that she wants to protect her boss too. For me, the main character in this story is Nick, the director. More importantly, rather than the story, it is a work that appeals to the visual senses experienced in situations where spies are shown in love with each other. It is actually unlikely that intelligence workers in countries that are not in an alliance will reveal their identity themselves. Even if I think about it more generally, I always think that it's actually strange that the culprit starts talking fluently about his hands or misdeeds he committed, etc., which are also on TV and novels of mystery and detective stories. In this kind of fiction, I am keenly aware that not being silent is not real. More than that, I wanted to take a look at the training process where he was scouted and became a full-fledged intelligence officer, but since it is far from the main story, I haven't been touched upon. Even so, I was pleasing to the eye at key points. However, love scenes are always beautiful, but I expect HQ to be intoxicated even if it doesn't go that far. The title doesn't come right.

  Helpful

• 

  Posted by Readers in Japan

  Oct 29, 2022 (PST) | Translate to English
  ?
  ?
  結構面白かった。ハーレクインでも少しサスペンス物が入っている物語は読んでて面白い。ネックレスを盗んだ時は、マジかよこのヒーロー‼怪盗って・・怪盗？盗み方がセコイ?って思わず思ってしまったけど。

  That was pretty interesting. Even in Harlequin, it's interesting to read stories that contain a bit of suspense. When you stole a necklace, are you serious about this hero ‼ phantom thief... phantom thief? how to steal is ridiculous? I thought about it unintentionally though.

  Helpful

• 

  Posted by Readers in Japan

  Jan 21, 2022 (PST) | Translate to English
  つい
  At last
  ラブレース氏のほかの作品の後書きに本作の事があったので、気になって立ち読みしたら面白そうで何の割引も無いのに買ってしまいました。Harlequinにしてはスケールが大きくて色恋沙汰とか人間関係やお金の事でウジウジという所が少ないのが好みの方にはお薦めです。

  There was something about this work in the afterword of Mr. Lovelace's other works, so when I was curious and read it, it seemed interesting and I bought it even though there were no discounts. I recommend it to those who like the fact that the scale is large for Harlequin and there are few places where people are clueless about love affairs, relationships, or money.

  Helpful