First of all, I'm going to come clean – I'm an avid fan of 007, largely a legacy of my late father, who never missed a single James Bond movie.

So here it is at last – Devil May Care – a masterful continuation of the James Bond series, providing an electrifying new chapter in the life of the charismatic spy.

Written to mark what would have been the centenary birthday celebrations of the creator of James Bond, the late Ian Fleming (May 28, 1908), the latest Bond novel was penned by Sebastian Faulks, who was invited to write the book by Ian Fleming Publications.

In this story, Faulks takes us to the Middle East, a location not featured before in a Bond novel. But first the tale begins with the savage execution of an Algerian drug runner on the outskirts of Paris in the 1960s. This seemingly isolated event leads to the recall of 007, who has to ditch his sabbatical in Rome for more familiar territory – a dangerous and intriguing mission.

A mysterious magnate
'M', the head of the United Kingdom's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service, assigns Bond to shadow the mysterious Dr Julius Gorner, a power-crazed pharmaceutical magnate, whose wealth is only exceeded by his greed.

It seems that Gorner has taken an unhealthy interest in opiate derivatives and Bond has been tasked with investigating the goings on. In typical 007 style, somehow Bond manages to conjure up a glamorous accomplice virtually from nowhere in the form of Scarlett Papava, who he'll come to rely on in a life-and-death struggle with his greatest adversary yet.

A mysterious chain of events threatens to lead to global catastrophe. A British airliner goes missing over Iraq. The thunder of looming war echoes around the Middle East, while in Britain, a tide of lethal narcotics threatens to engulf the country, already struggling with the social upheavals of the late 1960s. Can Bond save the planet from disaster? Has he ever let us down?

Then is now
Sebastian Faulks manages to successfully transport Bond back to the height of the Cold War in a tale featuring almost electrifying pace and tension. Devil May Care not only captures some of the very essence of Ian Fleming's original work, it also shows Bond struggling with many of the dangers currently facing the modern world.

As a dedicated fan, I was impressed by Faulk's efforts at writing “as Fleming”. Although it's a mammoth task to match the elegance and excitement of Fleming's original style, Faulks makes an impressive effort while managing to keep faith with the main character.

At the end of the day, Bond remains the most important part of any Bond film or book. The reason why? Probably because so many men continue to aspire towards becoming like the suave agent, with his love for beautiful women and fast cars.