NOVEMBER 2015 - AudioFile
Actor David Oyelowo brings a magical performance rich with gravitas to this James Bond audiobook. His accents are excellent, and the characters are an extremely varied lot: a Korean psychopath, a Russian race-car driver, Americans, and, of course, the British Bond—James Bond. But Oyelowo goes further, shifting from methodical pacing to heart-pounding, breathless descriptions at just the right moments—for example, when portraying Bond’s thought processes during a crucial race. The production ends with the author’s discussion of his research for the book. M.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
The New York Times Book Review - Felix Salmon
…the heart of any thriller is the plot, and…Horowitz doesn't disappoint. The action moves with high velocity from Britain to Germany to the United States and back to Britain, the odds are always in the bad guys' favor, and the villain is a dastardly millionaire straight out of central casting. A mysterious mogul with a dark history and no regard for human life, he also has, naturally, a weakness for delaying the execution of spies by explaining to them, in detail, the cunning and despicable plot they were sent to discover. He should have killed Bond when he had the chance.
Publishers Weekly
★ 09/07/2015
At the start of this impressive James Bond pastiche from bestseller Horowitz (Moriarty) set in 1957 soon after the action of Goldfinger, a German rocket scientist working for the U.S. sells secrets about a forthcoming American launch. Meanwhile, Bond, who's living in London with Pussy Galore, of Goldfinger fame, travels to Germany to participate in an auto race, during which the Soviet SMERSH agency is planning to kill a British driver. (This section is based on original unpublished material written by Ian Fleming.) At the race, Bond encounters evil genius Sin Jai-Seong, a Korean multimillionaire; meets Jeopardy Lane, who has her own reasons for pursuing Jai-Seong; and discovers photos of an American rocket (the title refers to a "panic button" that can explode a malfunctioning rocket before it crashes). The sturdy plot involves a suitably diabolical and grandiose scheme. An excellent mimic of Fleming's prose, Horowitz delivers an entertainment sure to please James Bond fans. Agent: Jonny Geller, Curtis Brown (U.K.). (Sept.)
From the Publisher
As Bond-villain plots go, this is a clever one…. There are more than enough pleasures for even the strictest Bond aficionado in Trigger Mortis.… The book barely puts a foot wrong.… I especially liked the way the book starts with a sentence that Fleming himself might have written: ‘It was that moment in the day when the world has had enough.’ We all know moments like that, and we all know that the thing to do when such moments linger too long is to pick up a James Bond book.” — Wall Street Journal
“Impressive…. The sturdy plot involves a suitably diabolical and grandiose scheme. An excellent mimic of Fleming’s prose, Horowitz delivers an entertainment sure to please James Bond fans.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Great fun…[for] readers who can’t get enough of James Bond at his coolest and suave-est.” — Seattle Times
“Horowitz…delivers the tersely precise prose that makes Bond so compelling, but more than that, he also supplies touches of Fleming’s cruel poetry…. A brisk and effective ride.” — The Guardian
“Horowitz has written a humdinger of a Bond story, so cunningly crafted and thrillingly paced that 007’s creator would have been happy to have owned it…from his brilliant first chapter on, Horowitz is a pitch-perfect mimic of the Fleming one-line punch….He even gets the clichés spot on.” — Simon Schama, Financial Times
“The heart of any good thriller is the plot, and…Horowitz doesn’t disappoint. The action moves with high velocity…. Also stays true to the Bond of Fleming’s books.” — New York Times Book Review
“As Bond-villain plots go, this is a clever one…. There are more than enough pleasures for even the strictest Bond aficionado in Trigger Mortis.… The book barely puts a foot wrong...” — Wall Street Journal
“In Horowitz’s expert and mischievous hands, Bond hasn’t been scolded into becoming all things to all people. Instead, he’s still Bond, James Bond, license to do what he damn well likes.… Brilliant.… Thank goodness Mr. Horowitz has delivered us a great new story.” — Matthew Dunn, FoxNews.com
“If Anthony Horowitz’s byline weren’t on the cover, readers could bring themselves to believe that the new James Bond thriller actually came from the late Ian Fleming’s typewriter. Trigger Mortis fits seamlessly among the original Cold War-era gems…. Bona fide Bond in every way.” — Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“…promises to be the best Fleming homage yet.” — Publishers Weekly
“A new James Bond novel shakes and stirs the notoriously anachronistic superspy.” — Advocate.com
“It’s quickly apparent that Horowitz is doing something both clever and audacious.... Very much of its period.... A clever and enjoyable pastiche, which manages to press many of the buttons that were the purview of 007’s creator.... There will surely be an appetite for more outings à la Horowitz.” — The Independent (UK)
Matthew Dunn
In Horowitz’s expert and mischievous hands, Bond hasn’t been scolded into becoming all things to all people. Instead, he’s still Bond, James Bond, license to do what he damn well likes.… Brilliant.… Thank goodness Mr. Horowitz has delivered us a great new story.
Simon Schama
Horowitz has written a humdinger of a Bond story, so cunningly crafted and thrillingly paced that 007’s creator would have been happy to have owned it…from his brilliant first chapter on, Horowitz is a pitch-perfect mimic of the Fleming one-line punch….He even gets the clichés spot on.
New York Times Book Review
The heart of any good thriller is the plot, and…Horowitz doesn’t disappoint. The action moves with high velocity…. Also stays true to the Bond of Fleming’s books.
The Guardian
Horowitz…delivers the tersely precise prose that makes Bond so compelling, but more than that, he also supplies touches of Fleming’s cruel poetry…. A brisk and effective ride.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
If Anthony Horowitz’s byline weren’t on the cover, readers could bring themselves to believe that the new James Bond thriller actually came from the late Ian Fleming’s typewriter. Trigger Mortis fits seamlessly among the original Cold War-era gems…. Bona fide Bond in every way.
Seattle Times
Great fun…[for] readers who can’t get enough of James Bond at his coolest and suave-est.
Wall Street Journal
As Bond-villain plots go, this is a clever one…. There are more than enough pleasures for even the strictest Bond aficionado in Trigger Mortis.… The book barely puts a foot wrong.… I especially liked the way the book starts with a sentence that Fleming himself might have written: ‘It was that moment in the day when the world has had enough.’ We all know moments like that, and we all know that the thing to do when such moments linger too long is to pick up a James Bond book.
The Independent (UK)
It’s quickly apparent that Horowitz is doing something both clever and audacious.... Very much of its period.... A clever and enjoyable pastiche, which manages to press many of the buttons that were the purview of 007’s creator.... There will surely be an appetite for more outings à la Horowitz.
Advocate.com
A new James Bond novel shakes and stirs the notoriously anachronistic superspy.
Wall Street Journal
As Bond-villain plots go, this is a clever one…. There are more than enough pleasures for even the strictest Bond aficionado in Trigger Mortis.… The book barely puts a foot wrong.… I especially liked the way the book starts with a sentence that Fleming himself might have written: ‘It was that moment in the day when the world has had enough.’ We all know moments like that, and we all know that the thing to do when such moments linger too long is to pick up a James Bond book.
The Financial Times
Horowitz has written a humdinger of a Bond story, so cunningly crafted and thrillingly paced that 007’s creator would have been happy to have owned it. . . . From his brilliant first chapter on, Horowitz is a pitch-perfect mimic of the Fleming one-line punch.
NOVEMBER 2015 - AudioFile
Actor David Oyelowo brings a magical performance rich with gravitas to this James Bond audiobook. His accents are excellent, and the characters are an extremely varied lot: a Korean psychopath, a Russian race-car driver, Americans, and, of course, the British Bond—James Bond. But Oyelowo goes further, shifting from methodical pacing to heart-pounding, breathless descriptions at just the right moments—for example, when portraying Bond’s thought processes during a crucial race. The production ends with the author’s discussion of his research for the book. M.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine