Described as “the finest book in the Bond franchise” by The Independent, this is the fifth novel to feature Ian Fleming’s iconic British secret agent. Much of its action takes place in Istanbul and, later, on board the Orient Express. Set in the midst of the Cold War, the Russian intelligence service unit, SMERSH, is intent on assassinating the British Secret Service’s most feared agent. James Bond is lured to Turkey, where he meets Colonel Tatiana Romanova, an attractive young Soviet spy who reportedly wants to defect to the West.
Bond’s misogynistic attitude towards women may appear outdated to modern readers, but Fleming remains the undisputed master of the spy story, creating an intricate plot full of action, double dealing and intrigue.
