Trigger Mortis

Trigger Mortis is a James Bond novel set in 1957, taking place two weeks after the events of Goldfinger. The story centers on Cold War tensions and the Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union. The novel incorporates previously unpublished material by Ian Fleming himself, specifically a segment called "Murder on Wheels" that Fleming wrote for an unproduced television series. Bond girl Pussy Galore from Goldfinger returns as a key character in this new mission. Agent 007 faces threats at a Grand Prix racing competition and confronts a new adversary with a dangerous scheme that could alter the course of the Space Race. The plot moves from the racetracks of Germany to the streets of New York City. The novel stays true to Fleming's original vision while expanding the Bond universe with new elements and fresh insights into familiar characters. It examines themes of loyalty, revenge, and the human cost of espionage during a pivotal moment in Cold War history.

Readers praise Horowitz's ability to capture Ian Fleming's writing style and tone. Many note that the book feels authentic to the original Bond series while incorporating a more modern sensibility. The racing sequences and action scenes receive frequent mentions for their pacing and intensity. Readers liked: - Integration of original Fleming material - Period-accurate details and research - Character development of Bond and the female protagonist Common criticisms: - Middle section paces slower than beginning/end - Some find the villain underdeveloped - A few readers felt the plot was overly complex Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) "Captures Fleming's voice perfectly" appears frequently in reviews. Multiple readers noted it "feels like discovering a lost Fleming novel." Some critical reviews mentioned it being "too formulaic" or "trying too hard to check all the Bond boxes."

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The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy A Soviet submarine commander's defection sparks a tense cat-and-mouse game between NATO and Soviet forces during the Cold War.

The COBRA Event by Richard Preston An FBI agent races to stop a bioterrorist plot in New York City while navigating political tensions between government agencies.

The Company by Robert Littell The story tracks CIA operations from the agency's founding through the Cold War, including real historical events and espionage missions.

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth A professional assassin methodically plans to kill French President Charles de Gaulle while intelligence agencies work to stop the plot.

🔸 The story incorporates actual plot elements written by Ian Fleming for a never-produced James Bond TV series from the 1950s, making it uniquely authentic to Fleming's vision. 🔸 This was the first James Bond novel to be set in the established timeline between Fleming's original books rather than as a contemporary story or prequel. 🔸 Anthony Horowitz was the first Bond continuation author to be allowed to include Pussy Galore, one of Fleming's most iconic characters, in a new story. 🔸 The book's title "Trigger Mortis" is a play on the Latin term "rigor mortis," continuing the tradition of Bond titles with clever wordplay. 🔸 Before writing Bond, Horowitz created the Alex Rider series about a teenage spy, which was often described as "James Bond for young readers" and has sold over 19 million copies.