CarlAlves

This is the first James Bond novel that I have read. What struck me is that the novel isn’t quite as action oriented with as much high spots as the movies typically are. Bond came off as a little more cerebral in this novel. In Casino Royale Bond is dispatched to the Royale-les-Eaux casino in France where he is trying to bankrupt a Russian agent at the baccarat table. Bond goes up against “Le Chiffre” in a grueling and intense battle at the baccarat table. The table games set up the action that follows, which involves assassins, explosions, and kidnapping. After Bond’s female associate, Vesper Lynd, is taken by the baddies, Bond is determined to get her back.

Although this wasn’t what I expected based solely on having watched Bond films (mostly of the Roger Moore/Sean Connery variety), I still found Ian Fleming’s writing style to be enjoyable. The pace of the novel could have been faster for my liking. The characterization of Bond was well-handled however, and there was enough action to satisfy most readers. After this novel, I’ll be looking to read additional Bond novels from Ian Fleming.

Carl Alves – author of Blood Street