Live and Let Die: A James Bond Novel (James Bond, 2)

British pirate treasure is being smuggled into New York. The British Secret Intelligence Service suspects Mr. Big, a Harlem gangster and SMERSH operative, is behind the illegal activity. Agent 007 is sent to take out the crime lord. James Bond gets plenty of help while going after such dangerous prey. With the aid of Felix Leiter from the CIA and Mr. Big’s beautiful girlfriend, Solitaire, Bond works to recover the stolen gold. The action takes the secret agent from New York to Florida and on to the Caribbean. As he pursues the notorious Mr. Big, Bond must adopt the motto “live and let die.”

Live and Let Die was the second 007 novel by Ian Fleming. First published in 1954, it has been reworked and republished without the racist labels and descriptions common to the time. The improved language takes nothing away from Fleming’s story and, in many places, makes it easier to read. The novel Bond is not as witty as the movie version. Many of his clever comebacks are spoken by secondary characters and villains in the book. This makes for a more human secret agent and more dynamic opposition.