What a fun read this is- the second outing for Q, the scientist from the Bond novels who is now going it alone investigating crimes for the police having left the Secret Service after the new M has forced him to retire.
In this one the reader learns more about Q’s background and his earlier teenage romance with Kathy who is now a police detective. It seems that he still has feelings for her.
Q is also trying to become closer to his estranged father, Mort, whilst investigating the torture and murder of Laurence Noble a games developer and tech millionaire.
Noble had become reclusive before his death and started collecting antiquities leading some very unsavoury people to go after him searching for something he has acquired.
As Q begins to investigate it becomes clear that these people will stop at nothing to get what they want and when they threaten those close to him Q must use all his scientific inventions and brain power to keep ahead and solve the crime.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was well written, exciting and very clever, maybe a bit tongue in cheek but that just added to the fun.
I really liked Q- what a great character, gifted in many ways but still learning how to deal with relationships and feelings at the grand old age of 50! I found him very endearing. In this book he learns more about his father and has to try hard to forget the past and give Mort a chance. Mort and Q are very similar in that Mort has the same issues with Q in the relationship department.
I’m certainly looking forward to another book in this excellent series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.