Having been dismissed by MI6, Q has returned to his quiet hometown of Wickstone-on-Water – quiet apart from the murder that he recently solved. Now recruited by the local constabulary, one of whom is the woman he left at the altar, as a consultant, he finds himself investigating the unsolved death of Lawrence Noble, a tech giant turned antique dealer.
Noble was found dead inside a haptic suit – the sort of thing used for a full augmented reality experience – having been tortured and poisoned with cyanide. What secrets was he hiding? What is the importance of the golden antique compass covered in runes found by his body? As Q gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear the truth is rooted in the past – someone with ties to James Bond’s past… and someone else far, far worse…
Book Two of Vaseem Khan’s Q series, and we find Q settling into life in Wickstone following the events of Quantum Of Menace. Vaseem has built a strong cast of characters here, and gives them all chance to develop, both in themselves and their relationship with Q, whether it be his father, Mort, his ex-fiancée Kathy, his protégé Zak or his dog, um, Bastard. All of the characters are well-drawn and actively add something to both the plot and Q’s development. The only fly in the ointment here is Kathy’s ex-husband, who fulfils the traditional role of police-colleague-who’s-a-pain-in-the-arse. Going to be honest, could have done without him.
Having said that, it’s about the only problem I did have with this book. Vaseem again blends the spy and whodunnit genres well, with an interesting and, to me at least, very recognisable link to Bond’s past. Both Bond and Moneypenny put in brief appearances that don’t feel gratuitous, but rest assured, this is Q’s book. And it does give Q the chance to say the line…
The Q series is developing nicely and I’m very curious to see where it goes next. Will the villain return? What will happen with Q and Kathy? What about Mort? What about Zak? And will Bastard find true love with the dog he meets in the park? Well, let’s hope Vaseem is already busy on Book Three…
The Man With The Golden Compass is out on Thursday 22nd October from Bonnier Books in hardback and ebook. Many thanks for the review e-copy.
