With a Mind to Kill

A James Bond Novel

By: Anthony Horowitz

Narrated by: Rory Kinnear

Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

"It’s almost uncanny how well Mr. Horowitz summons Bond’s mindset . . . Yet this Bond also feels the winds of change: 'He had his licence to kill. But was it possible that in this new, more questioning age, that licence might have expired?' A drop of retro pleasures, a pinch of things to come; shaken, not stirred." — Wall Street Journal

Internationally bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s third James Bond novel, after Forever and a Day.

It is M's funeral. One man is missing from the graveside: the traitor who pulled the trigger and who is now in custody, accused of M's murder—James Bond.

Behind the Iron Curtain, a group of former Smersh agents want to use the British spy in an operation that will change the balance of world power. Bond is smuggled into the lion's den—but whose orders is he following, and will he obey them when the moment of truth arrives?

In a mission where treachery is all around and one false move means death, Bond must grapple with the darkest questions about himself. But not even he knows what has happened to the man he used to be.

©2022 Anthony Horowitz (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"If your audiobook production is from the James Bond library, make sure to get a narrator who understands the language. So it's no great surprise that Kinnear deftly handles the spy-speak present in author Horowitz's third Bond novel.... Naturally, the Olivier Award-winning Kinnear smoothly provides the many needed British accents. And he is equally adept at supplying the Russian and German accents heard during Bond's overseas imprisonment. What results is an enjoyable thriller with a cinematic flair." (AudioFile)

Best Bond Story Yet

I’m a fan of Bond books and movies, and this one struck me as the best story to-date! Suspense-packed from start to finish and tastefully narrated.

Another hit

Horowitz is great, loved this book a ton. Fun and exciting Bond - book is great

Verry good Bond book, even better audiobook

I used to be a big James Bond fan and have recently become a huge Anthony Horowitz fan. I really enjoyed this book. James Bond is not a likable character, so I always find myself questioning why I'm reading. But he is a fascinating character when he's written well. The drive and determination combined with impressive knowledge and practical intelligence make him a fun character.

The misogyny is ever-present, but Horowitz narrates in a way that seems to be critical of the character flaw rather than basking in it as lots of the films have done. The alcoholism is brushed over in this book.

The plot itself is a fun one with mind control at the center. Brainwashing and counter-brainwashing is a fun espionage game, especially with Bond as the subject. A few fun twists and surprises, but on the whole, this is a paint-by-numbers Bond story. I don't say that to discredit it, but it won't convert a non-bond fan because it is true to the classic formula.

As for the audio performance, I've become a fan of Rory Kinnear's work with Horowitz's other work. I could listen to him all day. In fact, I have.

A True Bond Adventure

Full Disclosure: I am a staunch Anthony Horowitz fan. Every adult mystery he's written has landed on my Favorites list. And it's no different with his James Bond novels.

If it's James Bond you want, Horowitz will give it to you and make the experience an exciting, suspenseful, and entertaining one. In this novel, Bond is asked to infiltrate the Russian group that recently almost killed him in order to find out what the East Germans are up to, foil their plot and return unscathed. Horowitz creates an interesting Bond adventure that includes mind control, several killings, a bombing, a love interest, and plenty of double-crosses.

The narration by Rory Kinnear is, as usual, perfect.

A true Bond adventure.

Like the Ian Fleming books

This is likely one of the best books after Fleming death. Much like how he wrote

Great book

I really enjoyed the book, it was a great listen! I have enjoyed all three of his continuation novels. I know this is supposed to be his last, but I hope things change and he writes another Bond novel!

These books needs to be made into movies.

These books needs to be made into movies. Maybe this is what Christopher Nolan has in mind.

Hits the bullseye!

Dead on, with a surprise ending, true to Bond! Keel them coming. Pitch perfect delivery.

Take a Risk

If you are a 007 fan, you will enjoy this story. It has all the classic Bond story elements. Unfortunately, that’s where some of the problems come in to play. I enjoy this author, however, he needs to veer from the basic elements of a Bond novel. It’s time to incorporate some new story components.

Fun, atmospheric, and suspenseful sequel to The Man With the Golden Gun

After the Man With the Golden Gun, Bond goes deep undercover behind the Iron Curtain. No joke, this reads like it was written by Ian Fleming himself. There are plot twists, reveals, and near misses as Bond navigates Leningrad, Moscow and East Berlin, a dystopian world where nothing is truly what it seems. The story is a suspenseful espionage thriller grounded in Cold War history — including a cameo by a very famous historical figure — with elements of The Manchurian Candidate and Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much. Anthony Horowitz does a great job of keeping up the mounting suspense as the story progresses at a rapid pace. His characters are plausible and there’s a lot of inner dialogue by Bond as he ruminates on his career and the meaning of it all even as he’s on yet another seemingly impossible assignment. Like Fleming, Horowitz uses his settings — like the bleak, oppressive Soviet-era Moscow — very effectively to build mood and atmosphere. A quick, fun read/listen for fans of the original Bond books, like me, and a satisfying coda to the Fleming series. Rory Kinnear, the actor who Bond movie fans (also me!) will recognize played Chief of Staff Bill Tanner during the Daniel Craig era, does a solid and engaging narration of the book. I can’t wait to read and listen to Horowitz’s other two Bond novels!