James Bond returns in Raymond Benson’s Never Dream of Dying, and this time around things get emotional for Ian Fleming’s 007 as he goes after Le Gerant, the leader of the notorious Union organization that has been causing him so much trouble over the past few novels.

With his adventures taking him across the continent all the way to the Cannes Film Festival Bond has his hands full as he hunts down leads on what the Union is up to. He finds himself caught up in the world of movie-making as the Union is using a big blockbuster as cover for their actions.

But his heart connects for the first time in a long time, with a model-turned-actress, Tylyn, a stunningly beautiful woman who has the eyes of the world upon her. Something that won’t do any good for Bond, who needs to keep out of the public eye, but the heart wants what it wants.

There are some reveals and returning characters (Hey look it’s Mathis!) that have to be pulled into the story if it’s going to include an actual arc that deals with Bond’s heart.

By setting the action in the film world, this allows for some big-budget action sequences which almost makes the book feel a little meta. And the film that is being worked on, Pirate Island, sounds a lot like Waterworld, there’s even an exploding tanker, something Bond uses when he has to make a perilous escape.

There’s a bit of a superstitious/paranormal edge to the tale, something that was brushed up against in Live and Let Die, so it’s not new territory for Bond, and at least it’s handled nicely. It seems there are dreams that the villain, Le Gerant, a blind man, is having that hint about who will die and when.

It’s a fast-moving tale and Benson balances the action with Bond’s growing feelings for Tylyn. And we all know how things go for 007 when his heart gets involved. The action sequences are fun, and Q-branch gives Bond a unique camera which will help Bond out a couple of times, not to mention the useful utilities in the heel of his shoe.

The novel works to wrap up the Union story even as it plants the seeds for the next 007 adventure, The Man with The Red Tattoo, by introducing Goro Yoshida, a Japanese terrorist.

I really enjoy Benson’s novels, he layers in Fleming-esque details about clothes, locations, food, and drink. He delivers the spirit of the character, and continues to walk the line between the cinema and literary version of the character.

Benson will deliver one more original novel The Man with the Red Tattoo, and then leave the franchise with his adaptation of Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as 007, Die Another Day.

But never fear, James Bond Will Return.