FOREVER AND A DAY

With all the ingredients the listener expects from a James Bond novel, this prequel to CASINO ROYALE introduces the younger James Bond as he earns his license to kill. Narrator Matthew Goode does a sterling job of taking the listener back to the 1950s and helps paint a picture of a postwar world full of steely spies, truly evil villains, and, of course, a beautiful woman. Listeners get a true sense of the time, and Goode's characterizations help to conjure up images of opportunistic characters finding new openings in peacetime Europe. His narration helps create the feel of a traditional James Bond story, full of adventure combined with the reassurance of a predictable outcome. His pacing is a perfect match for this latest take on Ian Fleming's legacy. K.J.P. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2018]