February 20, 2023
This entertaining James Bond pastiche, the authorized first in a projected trilogy, from British author Sherwood (Testament) introduces a diverse team of new 00 agents: 003 Johanna Harwood (of Algerian French descent), 004 Joseph Dryden (gay), and 009 Sid Bashir (Muslim). The trio’s multiple missions include discovering what tech billionaire Sir Bertram Paradise, a cross between Elon Musk and every previous Bond villain, is up to with his climate change solution, Cloud Nine, and looking for Bond himself, who’s been missing for 17 months. The action-packed plot takes the agents to predictably far-flung locales with ample opportunities for violence. Bond fans will welcome such familiar supporting characters as Bill Tanner, M’s roving chief of staff, and Bond’s CIA friend, Felix Leiter. No luxury brand goes unnamed, and Bond himself is quoted often. But there are also surprising changes: Q has been replaced by a supercomputer, and Moneypenny has become the 00 team’s leader. Sherwood’s refreshing update on the venerable franchise more than makes up for a narrative that at times gets bogged down with personal and intradepartmental drama. Readers will be curious to see what’s next for her team in book two. Agent: Jonny Geller, Curtis Brown (U.K.).