I read this in just over 3½ hours on a flight from Seattle to Germany, the home of the Grand Prix Nürburgring that Bond drives in the early part of this novel. This is just one of many aspects that helped this novel come alive, and to date it is the best post-Fleming Bond book I have read.

Perhaps part of this is because Ian Fleming wrote most of the Grand Prix section for a Bond television series, never produced. The estate allowed Horowitz to expand on this treatment for the novel, and in his author's note he credits this with helping it have the right Bond "voice". The setting is also unusual - immediately subsequent to Goldfinger - and this adds a character, the wonderful Pussy Galore. I couldn't read that section without picturing Honor Blackman, and naturally Sean Connery. The Bond here doesn't feel as much like Connery, though, and I agree with my friend's suggestion of Roger Moore for this Bond.

Back to the plot. While the Grand Prix was authentic Fleming, it also felt the most out of place. The idea of Bond just jumping into a major circuit race seemed a little far-fetched. Getting past that, the rest of the novel flows beautifully, with never a dull moment and an exciting race to the finish. All of the big James Bond elements are there. Highly recommended, and I look forward to Horowitz' next Bond novel.