Double or Nothing: An explosive new 2022 spy thriller novel, blowing the world of James Bond wide open! (Latest official 007)

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I’ll likely read the next contribution to this trilogy, but I hope I don’t need to be introduced to an entire new crop of 00s and learn all their foibles and quirks through flashbacks and narrative detours. There’s too much book, it’s 415 pages and three different primary characters it’s shoving in your face. Her second book, Double or Nothing (2022), is the first in a trilogy commissioned by the Ian Fleming Estate to expand the world of James Bond. Sadly no matter how diverse the characters they do nothing to enliven the story, this novel just drags along. Essentially remove the Double OO connections and you are left with a workmanlike spy thriller without any real demarcation from so many others.

David Highfill says: “Kim Sherwood has pulled off the seemingly impossible task of writing a new Bond novel that’s both respectful of Fleming’s original genius and yet refreshingly modern. But as mentioned the story just rambles along, the fast pace you are used to in Bond novels are few and far between.

The book finishes amidst crosses and double crosses and I’m excited to see where Sherwood takes us next, I would recommend this one, despite missing the key component of James Bond. is missing possibly dead, the only certain thing is that Rattenfänger PMC ( meaning Ratcatcher /Pied Piper) a private military company have their ratty fingers all over it.

M has been shuffled off to semi-retirement and for some unknown reason his former secretary Moneypenny, with no military experience, is now in charge of the Double-O section. So I can see what they want to do, but it takes more than simply willing it into existence to create a character so long lasting. They’d do well to learn from this and have Bond being Bond and introducing new characters which break from the white male stereotype.I can’t help thinking about the film franchise and how there’s constant speculation about who should play Bond next – should they be a POC, should they be female etc. Poor Major Boothroyd (Q) has been replaced by a computer, with the credit for that invention not belonging to him but a Mrs Keator (who? Very different to a Fleming novels which tend to get straight into the action with throw away women and a cruel and dangerous Bond.