Author: ANTHONY Horowitz

Trigger Mortis ( 2015 )

( with original material by Ian Fleming )

( published by Orion Books )

So "Bond is Back in a thrilling new novel" as stated on the back cover. Set in 1957 after Fleming's Goldfinger, Horowitz best know ( to me ) for tv's Foyle's War and the Alex Rider books ( alas never read but seen the movie ). The silver cover can be folded into a model rocket which is aided by double page of blue diagrams ( shown on inside of front & rear ).

The story is told over 304 pages: 24 Chapters ending with 4 pages of acknowledgements, 3 pages about Fleming & his books. After a Prologue about a scientist called Keller and his wife Gloria, PART ONE of chapters is called 'What goes up ...' and PART TWO '... must come down.' Being a late reader to this new adventure for 007, the narrative was familiar due to listening to BBC Radio 4's enjoyable 10-part adaptation/series of the book.

After Goldfinger's demise, Pussy Galore is around in the early chapters based in Bond's London flat. Back at work M throws James into the world of Grand Prix racing due to his driving skills ( this part is based on Fleming's material ) but he needs training by Logan Fairfax, a talented lady racer. This is to enable him to protect an English driver at the famous Nurburgring from an old foe, SMERSH but why ? At the race track he meets the villain, a Korean millionaire called Jai Seong aka (Jason) Sin and the lady interest, an American called Jeopardy Lane who isn't what she says she is ? The adventure moves to American soil and the launch of a test rocket called The Vanguard on Wallops Island. So what is Trigger Mortis and most importantly will Bond save the day again ? In an exciting runaway climax in New York the author keeps the suspense going with a daring bike chase. He concludes the final chapter with a twist in rainy London. Enjoy ( at £18.99 or better a library copy ) !

Forever And A Day ( 2018 )

( with original material by Ian Fleming )

( published by Orion Books )

Bond's latest literary adventure - "the prequel to Casino Royale" to be read & reviewed.