A brilliant thriller that is written flawlessly, the perfect choice for the fans of James Bond. The first book in a trilogy that promises to impress, it is the kind of story that hooks the reader from the first lines. I absolutely loved the concept and I happily returned to the universe created by Ian Fleming, enjoying the fresh perspective of Kim Sherwood.
My opinion:
James Bond is missing! The famous 007 agent has been captured, maybe even killed. No one knows where he is or what happened to him. They suspect that a military company is involved but shedding light on the matter turns out a genuine challenge. The author introduces us to a new generation of spies, Johanna Harwood (003), Joseph Dryden (005), and Sid Bashir (009). As said, they represent “the very best and brightest of MI6”, with impressive skills, cunningness, and of course, a license to kill. They will not stop at anything to protect their country, knowing very well that the fate of the world rests in their hands.
For me, the strong point of the book was the fact that the story centered around the climate crisis. We have Sir Bertram Paradise, a tech billionaire, who claims he can reverse the climate crisis and save the planet. The new agents will be responsible for unraveling the truth before it is too late. Throughout the story, you can feel the sense of urgency, this is brilliantly achieved! It is as if you were watching the story unfold right before your eyes, with an exciting mix of mystery and adventure. The stakes are high, as they should be in any James Bond story.
I loved how the authors brought all the familiar characters into the story, along the new agents. Q, M, and Moneypenny join the adventure, their presence guiding the story at an exciting pace. There are plenty of action scenes and chases to keep the reader entertained, a touch of romance for an interesting contrast. Kim Sherwood has taken the universe of Ian Fleming and added her own input, and I think it is so clever to create a story where James Bond is actually missing. However, despite his absence, one can feel him present in everything. The new agents are always comparing and contrasting their decisions, trying to think how James Bond would handle a particular situation.
Verdict:
This was an awesome read! Kim Sherwood has written a great book, transporting the world of James Bond into her own and adding subtle touches to make it quite enjoyable. Plenty of twists and turns, new and old characters, a great cliffhanger so that we are eager for the second book in the trilogy… exceptional! I always imagine how hard it must be to write a book on a topic that has been so often explore and bring something new into the picture. I believe this is one of the best James Bond books and I am excited for the sequel!
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