DEVIL MAY CARE

Faulks has written a new James Bond thriller to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Ian Fleming's birth. It's the 1960s, and Bond is called in to investigate a poppy kingpin who is threatening to flood Britain with illegal drugs. Sebastian Faulks's Bond starts out moodier than listeners would expect, but this abridgment quickly transforms into a familiar Bond adventure. When it does, Tristan Layton's narration goes into full swing as well, his voice relishing the danger of Bond's encounters. He creates an impressive range of character voices, including that of a villain who exhibits a cruelty that could make listeners wince, but avoids over-the-top excess. The reading's not quite cinematic, even with music that echoes Bond scores. Nonetheless, the formula thrills make an exciting listen for Bond fans. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]