SOLO

The late Ian Fleming created James Bond, but he continues to live through authors such as William Boyd, who has written the most recent authorized entry in the series. This thriller has the elements of a great 007 story, including evil villains, exotic locales, and fine wine, women, and food. In this case, Bond is sent to Africa to quash rebels in the midst of a bitter civil war. While intriguing, the story is missing the spark that would make it memorable, but this production benefits from Dominic West's performance. West revels in the panache that makes Bond so enduring. He brings to his performance a debonair tone that meshes well with Bond's character. While not the best Bond work, this is certainly a good one. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2013]