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On His Majesty's Secret Service

A James Bond Adventure

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On His Majesty's Secret Service

By: Charlie Higson
Narrated by: Charlie Higson
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It is the 4th of May, two days before the Coronation of King Charles III and the world’s favourite spy has his work cut out for him. Bond is sent at the last minute to thwart an attempt to disrupt the Coronation by the wealthy, eccentric and self-styled Athelstan of Wessex, who is on a deadly mission of his own to teach the United Kingdom a lesson. Can Bond dismantle his shady plans and defeat his privately hired team of mercenaries?

Charlie Higson returns with a brand new Bond adventure. On His Majesty’s Secret Service celebrates the Coronation of King III Charles and will be published on Thursday 4 May ahead of the Coronation on Saturday 6 May–60 years after the publication of Ian Fleming’s tenth novel, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in 1963. Ian Fleming Publications and the author, Charlie Higson, are donating all royalties from print, audio and ebooks to the National Literacy Trust.

©2023 Charlie Higson (P)2023 Ian Fleming Publications Action & Adventure Espionage Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Royalty Adventure
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King Zero By: Charlie Higson
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Definitely a Daniel Craig and not a Sean Connery Bond, but what should we expect with such a short amount of writing time available!…. Great potential though for Mr Higson to write more Adult Bond novels

What should we expect?

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Spinning blur of silver like a spent cartridge spat out by a handgun?

It's a 50p piece ferchrissakes!

This really is James Bond as imagined by Alan Partridge - and I bet he tucks his rollneck into his trousers.

Great joke near the end, though...

James Bond as Imagined by Alan Partridge

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There are a lot of negative reviews slamming this novel for being "woke". It's a Bond novel set in 2023, so I don't think Fleming's casual racism, homophobia and sexism would fit a present day Bond story. It's a good story, although I'm not overly sold on Charlie Higson's narration. That said, I'd love him to continue writing adult Bond novels.

New Monarch, New 007

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I really didn’t enjoy this book. It’s message is very heavy handed and it wasn’t all that entertaining. A rushed Bond book that isn’t really worth your time.

Heavy handed and rushed

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I watched an interview with the author Charlie Higson on Breakfast TV just before The Coronation. He made a point of saying he hadn't had much time to write this James Bond story in time for release on the big day. There was no chance to get to know any of the characters and the plot development was dispensed with great speed. It did slow down a bit during the description of Budapest and I imagine Mr Higson had either been there recently or had just read a Simon Calder travel feature about the Hungarian capital. I was expecting the prices of accommodation to be mentioned.

The 'zeit geity' reference to pens not working (or getting lost) was way too cheesy.

I shall be interested to read other reviews.

Quickly rushed for a deadline?

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