by William Boyd
First published 2022
James Bond arrives in Zanzarim in 1969 with orders to prevent civil war in the small West African nation. The veteran agent works alone, but his mission takes a brutal turn when local militia interfere and a beautiful woman becomes his ally. Bond suffers a traumatic experience that changes everything. He abandons M's direct orders and pursues his own violent justice instead. His unauthorized quest takes him to Washington, D.C., where he uncovers a complex conspiracy and witnesses new atrocities. Bond may get his revenge, but success comes with a price. A duplicitous enemy will haunt his future, watching his every move. This is Bond as a damaged man driven by personal demons rather than duty.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, action, espionage
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: damaged-hero, personal-vendetta
Setting: Zanzarim, Washington D.C.
Period: 1969
336 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: graphic-violence, violence