By Royal Command

By Royal Command by Charlie Higson

Fifth in the 'Young Bond' series

This book is not the best from the series but it still kept you on your toes. (Set just before WWII.)After his last adventure in Mexico, James is back at Eton. He then goes on a skiing trip saving his own life and another pupil. When he gets back from Switzerland he meets his old friends and falls in love with a maid. They have a picnic together and she introduces her brother. This brother seems to be nice but is he? He then tries to kill James and the King with one bomb but James gets out of it and stops the bomb and the brother. But now the Police want James' love, and he will not let that happen. They leave the country taikng money and a passport from a friend. They quickly get into Switzerland where they were ambushed by Soviet Union troops. They lock him up in a castle where he finds out that the maid is with the Russians and he has been led into a trap. He escapes, only to get caught in a battle between red Russians, white Russians and The British Secret Service. He survives but is not allowed back to Eton. he has to go to another school where one of is old friends are. I am giving this book 7/10 because it isn't the best Young Bond book I have read.

MB

I enjoyed this book and again like the one before it delivered a pacey and exciting story. James is once again in difficulty and having to deal with not only growing up but also relationships and friendships. The premis for the story is as described above by Matt however Charlie Higson manages to pull together the historical events that were occuring and weave them with the pure fanatasy of the James Bond story. You get a sense of how the James Bond we know from the many books and films became the spy and secret agent. There is lost youth and the grown up world all mixed into one. This is an excellent book for kids and adults who want a bit of escapism. I highly recommend this book and give it an 8 out of 10

Overall score of 7.5 out of 10

JB