Forever and a Day

A James Bond Novel

By: Anthony Horowitz

Narrated by: Matthew Goode

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

A spy is dead. A legend is born. This is how it all began. The explosive prequel to Casino Royale, from best-selling author Anthony Horowitz.

Forever and a Day is the story of the birth of a legend, in the brutal underworld of the French Riviera, taking listeners into the very beginning of James Bond’s illustrious career and the formation of his identity.

M laid down his pipe and stared at it tetchily. “We have no choice. We’re just going to bring forward this other chap you’ve been preparing. But you didn’t tell me his name.”

“‘It’s Bond, sir,'” the Chief of Staff replied. “James Bond.”

The sea keeps its secrets. But not this time.

One body. Three bullets. 007 floats in the waters of Marseille, killed by an unknown hand.

It’s time for a new agent to step up. Time for a new weapon in the war against organized crime.

It’s time for James Bond to earn his license to kill.

©2018 Copyright 2018 Ian Fleming Publications Limited and The Ian Fleming Estate (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Narrator Matthew Goode does a sterling job of taking the listener back to the 1950s and helps paint a picture of a postwar world full of steely spies, truly evil villains, and, of course, a beautiful woman... His narration helps create the feel of a traditional James Bond story, full of adventure combined with the reassurance of a predictable outcome. His pacing is a perfect match for this latest take on Ian Fleming's legacy." (AudioFile)

True to cold-war Bond. even to the chauvinism .

Eerily in line with Fleming's original Bond novels, even down to the sexism, love of cards and quick wit.

A great novel

This novel really does channel Ian Flemings novels! Highly recommend it. The narrator does an amazing job with all the voices and accents. Really puts you into the middle of the story! A must read and listen! Have listened to it twice and bought the hard copy. Going to read it for myself now!

Write Another Day

Pretty good novel. Liked exploring some of the pre-Casino Royale Bond that Fleming had not presented.

Goode is excellent as a narrator, but would prefer he leaves the non-007 voices to other actors. Sounds strange for him to do every role.

Plot was a letdown after much buildup. Basically a reworking of Live And Let Die. Would like to see more from Horowitz though.

A Bond to Remember

This book was everything you could ask for in a prequel to the Bond stories of Ian Fleming. The settings presented put me right there in the South of France. There was intrigue from start to finish. Matthew Goode’s reading of the book was perfection. Of course Anthony Horowitz did a spectacular job writing the novel.

Fantastic Prequel!

Excellent writing, story, and an overall great start to the Bond books. Fantastic action and a great villain with excellent narration to boot.

James Bond lives again

this book is a wonderful continuation to the James Bond franchise although it is a quick read it is full of twist and turns

Classic Bond story!

Very enjoyable story. Such a good time witnessing the birth of an icon on his first mission as a 00 agent. Great job from the writer as well as the performer.

Bond. James Bond - Origin Story

A spy is dead. A legend is born.
The sea keeps its secrets. But not this time.
One body. Three bullets. 007 floats in the waters of Marseilles, killed by an unknown hand.
It’s time for a new agent to step up. Time for a new weapon in the war against organized crime.
It’s time for James Bond to earn his license to kill.
This is the story of the birth of a legend, in the brutal underworld of the French Riviera.

Horowitz has done an admirable job at an origin story for James Bond as he is promoted to 00 status after 007 is found dead in the south of France. While this is Bond's first mission with a license to kill I felt that this book was not up to the same level as his previous 007 novel "Trigger Mortis". The villains in this novel didn't inspire the level of emotion out of me as I hoped it would. The story does seem a bit typical & parts of the end were a touch anti-climatic. I am such a fan of James Bond that I still enjoyed this book immensely.

Matthew Goode is a treasure!

This zoomed by and was finished all too quickly. The writing is taut and while it puts you in the time period, it isn't full of clunky references. It's a James Bond novel, so no spoilers here... There are women, bombs, gambling, cars, Queen and country. Good times!

Matthew Goode's narration is fantastic. I was blown away by how effortlessly the characters that came to life through his voice.

A very solid Bond continuation novel

A well-written and frequently entertaining prequel story detailing Bond’s first mission as a 00. Severine is an appealing heroine, there are a number of really well-rendered set pieces, and Horowitz keeps up the pace admirably. A lot to like about Matthew Goode’s performance, too, which suits the material perfectly. Not necessarily one of my all-time favorite Bond novels, but easy to recommend and in my opinion relatively more satisfying than With a Mind to Kill. I’d read it again & probably will one of these days.