A terrible book. I couldn’t get through 50% of the book. Poor writing, no plot, silly characters, waste of time.

A riotously fun homage to and expansion upon the world of Bond. Contains both a loving depiction of the legendary agent, and also opens up his world in such fun ways by depicting the young and diverse set of agents sent to rescue him when he disappears. Sherwood crafts meticulously executed and evocatively described action scenes without sacrificing attention to character and plot. Lots of fun!

Are you looking for a new James Bond book? Well, I have good news and bad news. Double of Nothing is a James Bond universe title. You have M, Q, Moneypenney and the normal backup crew. The bad news? James Bond is missing! Read the back cover! This is a tale of other OO agents - specifically 003, 004, and 009 - hunting for James while trying to save the world from several foes who are separately and together trying to end the world. The atmosphere is definitely that of the James Bond movie universe more than the Ian Fleming books, but Kim Sherwood manages to provide a thrill ride with car chases, shoot-outs, super-computers, huge egos, and the need for a scorecard to figure out who is working for who, their motive, and can you actually believe the person. So if you enjoy the movies, or just like a good, twisted spy tale, pick up Double or Nothing and read it already!

Thanks Netgalley and Goodreads for the chance to read this title.

I was intrigued by the concept of this book, but was very disappointed once reading. I really could never get past the idea of Moneypenny being in charge of the 00 section. Moneypenny, really??? I found the characters flat and very "un Bond like". And perhaps that's the crux of the problem, all are compared to Bond and found lacking. Perhaps it would have been better to have this be the next generation of 00's without being contemporary to Bond, Moneypenney, Q, etc. A fresh start without having all the old gang around and the constant specter of Bond himself. I understand this is proposed to be a trilogy but am unsure if I will continue with the rest.

James Bond is missing, and a new cast of 00 agents is taking up the slack. A billionaire is attempting to avert climate change disaster, but much more is going on behind the scenes than meets the eye. Great book for Bond fans, with car chases and action around the world. Sherwood nicely establishes the new agents with interesting personalities and backstories.

When you think of James Bond, you probably think about the movies. How could you not? The James Bond films have been a consistent part of popular culture since Sean Connery first clad the trademark tux in 1962. Did you know, though, that James Bond the character comes from Ian Flemming's books that date back to 1953? The character's staying power, in both film and the written word, stems from the ability of the series to evolve with the changing times. Looking back at the older versions of Bond, there's plenty of fun, but there's just as much to cringe about. Flemming passed away in 1964. Since then numerous authors have given their take on 007, keeping the legendary character alive through many new adventures. Kim Sherwood is the latest author tapped by the Flemming estate to take on the mantle of writing about the famous James Bond. With the first novel, Double or Nothing, in her planned trilogy Sherwood attempts to take the series in a bold new direction.

In the present day, MI6, a branch of the British Secret Service, looks and functions much differently than it did in the decades past. Bond's secretary Moneypenny has taken charge of the infamous Double Os, bringing in a new crop of secret agents. Q is no longer simply a person who comes up with ingenious inventions to aid the agents. Instead, Q in this world is a supercomputer, capable of the kind of sentient AI that the world seems closer and closer to bringing to reality. Most notably, James Bond the famous agent 007 is missing. He's either been taken captive or killed, either of which is not ideal. Without the tenured agent to head her mission, Moneypenny turns to a group of new agents. 003, 004, 008, and 009 will each need to team up to head off the latest threat.

Taking on a famed series such as Bond is no small undertaking. Sherwood approaches the task with vigor and a willingness to make the book her own. I've been a fan of Bond films since I was a kid, so I was really excited when William Morrow offered me the opportunity to read the latest Bond novel. Sherwood brings the series into the modern era by correcting a few wrongs from the series's past and by focusing the plot on the timely subject of climate change. It is difficult, though, to call Double or Nothing a James Bond book. The character is missing at the start of the novel and does not make an appearance in the story. Instead, Sherwood focuses on a group of young, diverse agents. While each of these new characters has redeeming qualities, none of them emerged as a central character strong enough to carry a series. After a promising opening, the novel begins to shift perspectives between each agent, causing the pace of the narrative to slow. Just as I thought things were picking up, the perspective would shift and the momentum would die. There's an intriguing thriller buried within this book, but it ultimately can't decide what exactly it wants to be. Is this a James Bond book? A fast-paced thriller? A novel filled with espionage and intrigue? Double or Nothing makes an attempt to be all of these things, but ultimately never lives up to the legacy that it is attempting to continue.

In this new storyline in the MI6 saga, a number of Double O's have been killed or disappeared. Sir Emery Ware, M, has moved up to Chief of MI6. Moneypenny is now the Section Chief and has been recruiting new talent. And Bond is missing after an aborted mission.
M has Sid Bashir, 009, on a secret assignment to ferret out a traitor in the agent ranks. Moneypenny has Joseph Dryden, 004, to infiltrate a tech billionaire's security team to find out whether the cloud seeding quantum computer is a savior or destroyer of the planet. Johanna Harwood, 003, has her own agenda that involves the mercenary assassins, Rattenfanger.
A fast moving spy thriller that involves the Double O's, with new and old faces working together to help save the world from mad men, again.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this e-galley of "Double or Nothing".

Regrettably, while I appreciate the effort to pull Bond into the 21st century, this just left me cold. It was confusing at first (so many 00's) and I couldn't decide if it was an appreciation of the series or a parody. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I DNF so over to others.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. When a man claims he can solve many issues, people believe him. It is up to a group of individuals to delve deeper into his claims to see if they are true. This book was ok.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

This book is a new take on the world of James Bond, and while I LOVE James Bond, I just didn't get pulled into the story. It started out slow, and did get better later into the book. But it did not grab me like some books do.

007 goes missing and is presumed dead, and they send the other agents to hunt him down.

I received a free copy of, Double or Nothing, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I could not get into this book at all, Ive never seen a James Bond movie, maybe that might of helped, but he is missing and there are new spy's looking for him.

Double or Nothing is a bold new take on the world of James Bond with fresh faced protagonists paired up with returning characters from Ian Fleming’s work in a new light.
When 007 goes missing and is presumed dead by the MI6 at large, the fate of his discovery and the safety of the larger world fall to three new 00’s, the very best and brightest of the modern MI6 with license to kill. Each with their own personal connection either to Bond or the mission, find themselves on parallel roads when a tech billionaire claims to be able to prevent the climate crisis. This enigmatic and potentially world-altering claim sends the three 00’s on globetrotting assignments with exotic dangers awaiting them. The plot thickens when the disappearance of James Bond appears to have some connection with the tech billionaire and it’s only the beginning of the unrelenting twists and turns that keep you on your toes.
Kim Sherwood weaves together missions and characters running in tandem to achieve a singular goal without any of them realizing the bigger picture till the opportune moment, which makes for a very twisty narrative that hits you unexpectedly throughout its length. Even though James Bond is present in spirit and memory of the characters as the story progresses, the focus is undeniably on the new protagonists that come from diverse backgrounds equipped with distinctive and inclusive personalities to match the modern climate. A far cry from the suave and unflinching demeanor of Bond, these new 00’s grapple with the morality and lasting emotions of their actions in profound manners that shape them further as the new generation of spies and assassins.
In addition to the cerebral nature of the narrative, Kim Sherwood augments the story with well-placed crisp action sequences that match the wild, raw, and exotic vibes of Double or Nothing. From stealth incursions to brutal fisticuffs, all the way to a very Bond-like vehicular combat, there’s plenty of excitement to go around for readers who prefer their spy stories with a dash of cinematic action.
The world-building styled prose requires some getting used to for those who are more interested in fast-paced storytelling but ultimately, Double or Nothing is a rewarding spy thriller with a sinister overtone that will surely carry over to the next book after that terrifying cliffhanger.


Full review will be posted on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kashif-hussain