I thought it would be interesting to read the first James Bond book Casino Royale, by Ian Fleming, and then read a newer Bond book written by Jeffrey Deaver ~ who was selected by the estate to carry on Fleming's character. Others over the years have written Bond novels, but I found Deaver and Carte Blanche to be a perfect mix of the classic Bond with a contemporary, modern reboot. James is in his early thirties, a veteran of the Afghan war, who joins a new organization independant of MI5 or MI6.
We are introduced again to Moneypenny, M and Q and there is a brief section which describes how James became a 00 agent. While this is not new, it doesn't drag or hinder the tone of the book at all.
Deaver has done a great job of maintaining the style and tone of the other Bond books I have read, while punching it up with more action and intrigue. This never gets out of hand, or becomes overly gratuitous. The action is mainly physical; hand fights, gun fights, and it's always in a believable way ~ you can see an actual person carrying out these plans. He has weaknesses but keeps his eye on the main goal of the job at hand. He is not a superhero or super spy, but an ordinary man fighting evil.
The story starts in Serbia where Irishman Niall Dunne is trying to derail a cargo train, causing a massive chemical spill. After Bond thwarts the plan, he investigates a Recycling consortium which may have ties to the train incident. Green Way International is run by Severen Hydt, an enigmatic man with oddly long fingernails and strange desires for death and decay. In a page-turning sequence, Bond investigates an abandoned UK hospital ready for demolition by Hydt's company and gets caught in the crushing blast. He follows Hydt to Dubai and meets up with old friend CIA agent Felix Leiter. They learn of an impending attack with devastating casualties and tail Hydt and the Irishman to South Africa. Bond impersonates a Seth Efricen millionaire and begins working with Hydt to discover his ultimate plan.
There is also a side story about Bond's search for the truth about his family. Were his parents spies as well? Some questions are answered in ways that build nicely on the Bond character.
While Hydt's recycling plant, with all it's material crushing equipment could lead to story into an overblown finale, Deaver stays with the tone of the original Bond character and keeps the action man to man and physical. There are plenty of twists and great characters.
If you imagine a Bond novel to be full of intrigue, action, exotic locales, and clever thinking ~ You'd be right, and not disappointed in Carte Blanche.
If you like action, this is a Bond book to read.
2011 / Paperback / 544 pages
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