Brokenclaw: A James Bond thriller

John Gardner's Bond #10

by John Gardner

Official, original James Bond from a writer described by Len Deighton as a 'master storyteller'.On holiday in Victoria, British Columbia, Bond becomes intrigued Lee Fu-Chu, a half-Blackfoot, half-Chinese philanthropist who is known as "Brokenclaw" because of a deformed hand. On his return to the UK Bond is tasked to investigate the kidnapping of several scientists who have been working on a new submarine detection system. It becomes clear that Brokenclaw is behind the kidnapping and worse, he has a devastating plan to cause economic meltdown through the collapse of the dollar. Bond has no choice but to enter his lair ...

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage, Action, Mystery, Spy Thriller, Mystery Thriller

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1990

About the author

Before coming an author of fiction in the early 1960s, John Gardner was variously a stage magician, a Royal Marine officer and a journalist. In all, Gardner has fifty-four novels to his credit, including Maestro, which was the New York Times book of the year. He was also invited by Ian Fleming’s literary copyright holders to write a series of continuation James Bond novels, which proved to be so successful that instead of the contracted three books he went on to publish some fourteen titles, including Licence Renewed and Icebreaker.

Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series.

Reviews

[Thomas Stroemquist · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though Gardner's writing is not horrible in this one, I feel I can't honestly reward it any more stars. 007, staying widely removed from Fleming's character, keeps running into only stunningly beautiful girls (never women, god forbid), which he experiences the fastest kind of insta-love with. In this book, he meets a new colleague too, which he interacts all of 10 minutes with, but that of course would go to his death for him, since "he has become a friend". So, for variety: insta-BFF:s! Amazing. The 'story' would maybe hold up as a screenplay; for a book, one requires a bit more logical connections. Bond's stumble into a super-villain's devious (if pretty bland) plans is odd even for him. Not much happens for about half the book and sometimes it feels like Gardner hinted at details without giving them, as if counting with that us readers knowing the ropes as well as him by this time. Bond, the ultimate manly man (as described by Gardner by him doing everything 'manly'; he drinks coffee 'scalding', he showers (again) 'scalding' AND 'ice cold', he towels 'vigorously' and he kisses 'hard') gets to prove his manhood in an ending which is as unnecessary as it it is silly-stupid.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bond, James Bond, my second 007 novel this year, with the continuation writer John Gardner this time who did follow Ian Flemings’ creation on a more literary level than any other writer after Fleming.
This time 007 takes on a Chinese American Indian man who works for the Chinese intelligence services while he is an awesome gangster at the same time whose misdeeds cannot be proven by the American justice agencies. In essence a Mr Big from LALD but in a different ethnicity.
But still where LALD by Fleming was exciting and adventurous this 007 outing starts exciting but manages to be boring which is quite a task to manage. It feels more like a talking spystory and we’re it not for a certain James Bond I probably have given up. The honor match between the baddie and 007 is daft beyond words and definitely not very Fleming. Bond does something very stupid and makes no sense at all.
The book was alright but certainly not one of Gardners better 007 outings, but worth a reread after its release. If I am to reread the Gardner series in the future I will certainly give this one a miss.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this novel to be every bit as engaging as the original Ian Fleming stories. The author does a good job of holding the reader's attention. The story is the typical Bond story, with an evil mastermind and his henchmen set in a plot for world domination. I won't say more than that; it would ruin your future reading experience. Suffice it to say that if you are a fan of 007, pick up this quick read.

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book got off to a slow start - didn't seem like Gardner style writing, very elementary. Got better as it went along, then got dramatic at the very end. OK read but not the best of Gardner.

[Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

BROKENCLAW is a little drab. As the Gardner series continues, it has become so Americanized (which the Fleming series never would have done), Bond seems to develop feelings for every woman he encounters, and he has continued to cut back on the booze and cigarettes. I barely recognize him.

To be fair, Brokenclaw has the potential to be a fine villain - he's silky smooth and manipulative. But it just seems each good plot point is never resolved! The climax had potential, but ended abruptly, as did the story.

This is the 10th Gardner Bond, and I'd rank it 10th out of those 10.

2 1/2 stars.

[Ira Livingston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although Gardner isn't a bad writer, his Bond is becoming harder and harder to believe. For instance the last four books Bond has fallen in love with the last four women agents that he has teamed up with. This only belittles the Tracy situation, and on,y marriage of Bond.

I want to go back to the Cold Bond, with truly interesting villains. Brokenclaw is a terrible character, seeming to be created on being a "freak" with two right hands, and a history of both. Chinese and Native American. Both of these not really being researched and becoming more racist in appearance than immersed within actual lore.

And I didn't think I would get tired of the wit from the films, but it really doesn't work in literature, and becomes over used and extremely cliche.

Overall rating of book series:
1 - Casino Royale / On Her Majesty's Secret Service
2 - Goldfinger
3 - From Russia with Love
4 - Live and Let Die / For Special Services / Scorpius
5 - Diamonds are Forever / Dr. No / License Renewed
6 - Moonraker / Icebreaker
7 - Nobody Lives Forever
8 - Thunderball
9 - Colonel Sun
10 - You Only Live Twice / No Deals, Mr. Bond
11 - James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me (Wood)
12 - For Your Eyes Only / Octopussy & The Living Daylights
13 - The Man with the Golden Gun
14 - The Spy Who Loved Me
15 - Win, Lose or Die
16 - James Bond and Moonraker (Wood)
17 - Role of Honor, Brokenclaw
18 - Licence to Kill

[Christian D. D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action-packed and eerily prescient!

Another fun-filled and action packed Bond novel by John Gardner, the worthy successor to Ian Fleming (God rest both their souls).

And considering that this novel was written in 1990, back in the waning days of the Cold War when China was still considered our ally against the Soviets (the then-recent massacre at Tiananmen Square notwithstanding) and Japan was considered to be America’s greatest economic rival and potential conqueror, how prescient that the plot of this book should involve a Chinese plot to destroy the U.S. economy in addition to stealing our military secrets....asymmetrical warfare, foreseen 29 years in advance !!

RANDOM STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS (and noteworthy passages):

“In fact Bond was irritated by the way this old and famous hotel served what it called an English Tea. During his four days in Victoria, Bond had avoided taking tea at the hotel, but today he had played two rounds of golf with indifferent partners at the Victoria Golf Club and returned earlier than usual. Tea seemed to be in order and he was shown to a small table right by a massive potted plant.” I thought 007 hated tea in general (at least in the Fleming novels)?

—Wow, still willing to use “Indian” instead of “Native American” in 1990.

—Wow, “half-breed,” another un-PC term!

—Mmmm, Eggs Benedict.....

—““there was little chance here of getting his beloved precisely boiled egg or the De Bry coffee, Tiptree strawberry jam or Cooper’s Vintage Oxford marmalade which made up his breakfast ritual back home. “ Will have to add those items to my bucket list, particularly for a future UK trip.

—““Cynically, he thought the world had gone crazy. For instance, they were happy about heading for a smoking-free society, yet doing little about the thousands of alcohol-related deaths in the home, on the roads and in hospitals. The antismoking lobby appeared to gratify that other guilt which knew little headway was being made against drug abuse.” Bingo!!

“But CELD was the Central External Liaison Department, while CCI stood for Central Control of Intelligence. They were Red China’s answer to the CIA, the SIS, NSA and any other Intelligence outfit you could think of.” Will have to look this up on Wikipedia....

—“I enlisted in the United States Navy when I was eighteen years of age—I am twenty-six now.” A Lieutenant Commander in a mere 8 years total Time-In-Service including prior enlisted time? Highly unlikely.

—“‘Don’t mock me, little oily mouth,’ he began, aggressively. ‘Father,’ she laughed again. ‘You’ve been reading too many James Clavell novels. Little oily mouth indeed. You’ll start talking of secret stalks in a minute.’” Ha, a James Clavell (R.I.P.) reference, priceless!

—“Bill Orr was the Service’s head Witchdoctor, a man with stratospheric skills in psychiatry and its attendant arts.” Right-o!

—“‘They tell me it takes three years to get over a really broken heart and accept the facts.’ ‘You are a chauvinist pig, James. For men, maybe only three years; for women it can be much longer—if ever.’” That’s deep.

—“The martini was just as he had ordered it and prepared to his usual formula. ‘Three measures of Gordons, one of vodka, half of Kina Lillet, shaken not stirred, until it's very cold. Then add a thin slice of lemon peel.’” Eternal Classic.

—“‘While I was still at school, which was not for all that long, I made a vow that I would one day only allow the best food in the world to pass my lips.’” Ah, good ol’ 007, ever the bon vivant!

—“Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.” Must remember that!

—““I fear that I’m not impressed with what used to be known in my old country as champagne Communists.” AMEN!!

—“the. 38 Special ammunition would blow a sizeable hole in anyone who got in its way.” Um, really?

—Penhaligon’s cologne, will have to remember that one!

[Clem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brokenclaw is about the eighth or ninth James Bond book by John Gardner, who took over the super-spy series after the late Ian Fleming. For those (such as myself) who are fans of the James Bond movies, know that the majority of these movies, up through the Timothy Dalton era, were somewhat loosely based on Fleming’s novels and short stories that he wrote from 1957 up until his death in 1964. The books were immensely popular in their day, and whereas time hasn’t been as kind since the writing style is somewhat dated, they become a source of fascination due to the longevity of the films.

Although there was one lone novel by a lone author in 1968 (Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis), John Gardner was the first author who resurrected the literary spy in a series of novels beginning in 1981 through 1995. These books were released in a timespan that usually resulted in one book per year, and although they don’t have the same rich literary sweep as the Fleming novels, they were overall well received as somewhat of a “B” novel. Meaning, other than the James Bond fan, they never received much attention.

The James Bond of the books, both Gardner’s and Fleming’s, was a bit more dry and a bit more serious. Humor is almost non-existent, yet the stories are all quite fantastic as to the fact that they can never be taken quite seriously. There isn’t nearly the same amount of action as there is in the films - especially the latter day ones. You won’t read about extensive boat chases on the Thames river, exploding warehouses, or people being pushed out of airplanes without parachutes, but then again, those scenarios don’t translate that well to the written word anyway.

As matter of fact, with Gardner’s books, there really isn’t that much action at all. The stories contain a lot of introspection and, to be fair, kind of all blend after awhile and become a bit too similar. Maybe it’s my impatience, but I don’t have luck recalling much of the details of these books. I couldn’t really say “That’s the James Bond book that ____________”. At the risk of sounding a bit OCD, I almost find myself reading these books out of obligation. Once I’ve read everything by an author, I have a hard time stopping. Fortunately, these books by John Gardner aren’t too detailed nor too long and can be easily polished off over a weekend.

Having said all of the above, I confess that although I’m reviewing a book I read less than two months ago, I have a hard time remembering much of the details. It’s hard when so many of the stories are so similar. Usually, the trend in the books revolve around a “thriller” of an introduction setting up the plot, then an obligatory meeting with M, the chief (who has a much larger role, it seems, in the John Gardner books), a “good guy” (or girl) that will double-cross him somewhere in the plot, and there’s always "the Bond girl". Yes, they're in the books as well. In this novel, the villain is of Native American descent, wanting to bring some sort of destruction somehow, somewhere on the globe, and Bond outwits him near the end in a very sadistic, tribal ritual where he “competes” against Brokenclaw - complete with piercings, burnings, and other nastiness to the flesh. It’s quite sickening.

Still, the book does what it sets out to do, and whereas reading all of the Gardner books probably aren’t necessary, it’s probably worth it to pick up one or two at a used bookshop. This one is par for the course.

[David]

When the Gardner novels appeared through the 1980s and 90s, I found them all interesting enough, wasn't disappointed in them, felt they were a reasonable successor to Fleming, etc. I find on rereading that they've aged less well. There's more obviously a kind of formula operating, especially once the first novelization appeared. Of course, one must not expect too much out of the ongoing sequence of James Bond novels. They are not in le Carre territory. I remember Stephen King quite honestly labelling himself as the literary equivalent of a big Mac and fries, not at all a gourmet chef of an author. But I do have the feeling that both the Raymond Benson books, and the standalone one offs that the series has now become, still work a bit better than the mid-period Gardner novels.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of Gardner's better instalments in the Bond series, perhaps worth 4.5 stars. I found it particularly interesting that the locations were all places I've lived or near places I've lived. It began in my own backyard, in Victoria, BC, where Gardner gave some very accurate descriptions of the Inner Harbour, the Royal BC Museum, and the Empress Hotel...the latter of which he seemed to disdain as rather gauche. I gather he had a good experience visiting the museum. From there it was on to San Francisco and then to Wenatchee. The plot was just convoluted enough to be interesting, but still easy to follow and with a rather suspenseful ending in the O-kee-pah ritual.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gardner creates a villain which had the potential to be so much more but is left a bit undeveloped. Good plot about stolen submarine secrets. Starts in Victoria, British Columbia and mostly dwells in and around San Francisco. There are a bit too many unpleasant and unsavory elements to this novel for me to rate it higher (e.g., a climactic severe torture scene, interspersed racially insensitive descriptions and comments, throwing people to the wolves, and more sexually perverse behaviors than you'd expect from this series). It was not one of Gardner's favorite stories either.

[John Yelverton · Rating 2 out of 5]

It starts off as a typical, old school spy novel, and it's relatively enjoyable... then the ending shows up and ruins everything. Not only was it pointless, but it was a type of Cowboy/Indian ending that even Zane Grey would have rejected.

[John Fishlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Set out in San Francisco, Monterey, and Big Sur. Some of my favorite places!

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weak plot, horrible dialogue, ridiculous villain (which makes Bond's mancrush on Lee even more absurd), & lame action scenes all add up to an embarrassment of a Bond book

[Jeff Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and entertaining

Not an intricate spy novel but enjoyable. Gardner writes clearly, maintaining the suspenseful crescendo throughout. A decent Bond genre intrigue.

[Richard Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

NB: This review originally appeared on The Reel Bits for my 007 Case Files series. The original contains images not reproduced here. It may contain traces of SPOILERS, nuts and was manufactured on the same machinery that produces dairy products.

After a brief diversion into the film world with an adaptation of Licence to Kill, official continuation author John Gardner returns to his primary James Bond universe. Although the end of the Cold War has arrived, and MI6 is on the lookout for new threats, Gardner uses BROKENCLAW as a vehicle to travel back to the age of Ian Fleming. Unfortunately, he brings some of the cultural baggage back with him.

As seems to be the tradition, Bond begins this outing with a threat of resignation. Instead of just accepting it and ending the series, M sends Bond to British Columbia for some R&R. Bond becomes intrigued by a charismatic man named Lee Fu-Chu, described as a half-Blackfoot, half-Chinese philanthropist. He’s known as ‘Brokenclaw’ due to a physical deformity in his hand.

Bond is later ordered to go to San Francisco and investigate the kidnapping of two scientists working on a submarine detection system and countermeasure known as LORDS and LORDS DAY. Bond goes undercover with CIA agent “Chi-Chi” Sue to discover that Brokenclaw Lee has been working with the Chinese government in this nefarious plot.

Although they were completely unrelated, it’s really interesting to see that both this and Permission to Die – the graphic novel from writer/illustrator Mike Grell that appeared around the same time – both take place in British Columbia and involve early warning missile systems. Both throwback to an earlier era, a natural reaction when another one is coming to an end and, unfortunately, they both contain a dose of racial and cultural stereotyping.

As one can imagine with a villain who has Native American and Chinese ancestry, especially one whose name is synonymous with his handicap, Gardner engages in a fair bit of ‘othering.’ Although there is speculation that Lee himself is playing into myths around his biracial ancestry, it’s mostly Gardner (referring to Lee as a “kind of half-breed”) who does very little to elevate Lee beyond early Fu Manchu models. It’s exacerbated by a climax in which Lee and Bond fight with bow and arrows and compete in a tortuous ordeal based on the Mandan O-kee-pa Ceremony. It’s a simplification and appropriation of a traditional ceremonial trial that Gardner groaningly compounds by drawing comparisons between “the old brutal ways” and the modern “reservation Indians,” ignoring an entire history of colonialism in-between. We guess Bond is keeping up the British end, after all.

It’s worth considering Brokenclaw in the tradition of other Asian villains like Dr. Julius No. While Gardner stops short of calling anybody a “Chegro” (as Fleming did in 1958), he gives him henchmen with names like Bone Bender Ding while following Fleming’s Dr. No model in every other way. Brokenclaw even has a visible handicap, just as No sported insect-like metal mandibles for hands. “There are times when I don’t know whether to be inscrutable and mysterious or play the noble savage,” observes Lee, while revealing that Gardner only envisages these two possible roles for Lee’s mixed ancestry. Thankfully, Chi-Chi is no Honeychile Rider. Bond is put in his place at least once by Chi-Chi, when he says “You Chinese are so inscrutable.” Chi-Chi quips back: “I’m an inscrutable American, Captain Bond.”

Speaking of American attitudes, there’s a weird critical thread against the United States and anything vaguely new (or at least Gardner’s version of new). M at one point objects to Bond’s “constant use of these odd American terms” (in reference to calling someone “a bit of a flake”). Bond later has to explain “the American phrase ‘real soon’.” Welcome to the crazy days 1990? What’s even stranger is that this isn’t the first time the issue has cropped up in Gardner’s books. While it is presumably some good natured ribbing from across the pond, it also comes off as quaintly out of touch.

If we attempt to paddle out of these messy cultural waters, the same ones we’ve always had to wade with Bond stories, we’re still left with an odd beast of a book. It’s story set in the immediate post-Cold War era that recognises the significance of Tiananmen Square democracy protests, deals with nuclear submarines, and has sub-plot about the collapse the dollar — but literally ends with bows and arrows. Gardner is almost aggressively traditional here, which might have been a reaction to a film franchise that was at a crossroads. So, when he next penned the character, he drew on his own military background for a very different approach to the character. More on that in the next chapter of the 007 Case Files.

James Bond will return…in The Man from Barbarossa.

[Paul Lyons · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of the better James Bond books written by John Gardner. In addition to being somewhat dull, "Brokenclaw" contains situations and scenarios that don't make sense, and appear counter to the way the James Bond character would typically behave. Though I did what I could to give the author the benefit of the doubt throughout the novel, the last quarter of "Brokenclaw" failed to pay off in any satisfying way.

Since "Brokenclaw" is the author's ninth original James Bond book, one can't blame John Gardner too much for running out of good ideas. He had previously written some fine 007 stories, with the best by far being his third book in the Bond series: "Icebreaker." But THIS? "Broken Claw"? Not so much. Not with a lackluster plot involving a rich, Chinese-American Indian gangster who makes a deal with China to steal the plans for a top secret US-UK submarine detection device AND destroy the Western World's stock market by messing with their computers. Well, maybe it wasn't such a bad plot device, yet it was not executed well.

First off, since WHEN does 007 ever watch helplessly on the sidelines, unarmed, while an officer of the law is beaten to death? When does it ever happen that James friggin Bond, 007, chooses to do absolutely nothing to save another man's life...so Bond can save his own skin? When does that happen in any James Bond book, or movie? The answer is simple: NEVER. Yet for some crazy reason, John Gardner has James Bond do just that in "Brokenclaw." On top of all that, it is never ever explained WHY Brokenclaw's men choose to beat an FBI agent to death. Why was that even necessary? Makes no bloody sense!

Then, Bond is paired with a diminutive CIA operative nicknamed "Chi-Chi," which is fine. Bond and Chi-Chi go through hell together infiltrating Brokenclaw's secret California fortress. Thankfully they survive, yet Brokwnclaw, his evil FBI henchmen, and an evil Chinese General escape and are still at large. So does the experienced 007 do? He takes Chi-Chi back to her own, known apartment, and soon leaves her there alone so Bond could go out and fetch some wine. WHAT? So of course, Chi-Chi is kidnapped and taken hostage while Bond is out. IDIOT! When did 007 turn idiot? Okay, fine, I mean he DID almost get eaten by starving wolves, but STILL! C'mon! James Bond would never ever do something so dumb.

Worse, since when is James Bond SO attached to a paramour that he is insistent on fighting a dangerous antagonist one on one? When did Bond become so personal with an opponent that he would be willing to have stakes driven into his shoulder blades and legs and then race bleeding and in agony to get a bow and arrow to shoot a kill a villain in an ancient Indian ritual just to prove Bond was the better man? Huh? How does that make sense? 007 says "I must face Brokenclaw alone." Why? What was the reason, aside from a strange plot device? Who IS James Bond in "Brokenclaw" exactly? Darned if I know.

On top of all that, John Gardner uses the same "M is holding back on 007" motif for the fourth or fifth time in his books (maybe more). It was a unique idea six books ago, now it's just old, tired and nonsensical. What ever happened to M just giving James Bond an assignment, and Bond does the assignment? That worked well with Ian Fleming's novels. Why go so far astray from that?

Look, "Brokenclaw" may be better than "Scorpius," yet that's not saying much. This is one of those books where it became too easy to put the book down, and more challenging picking the book back up. Sure, "Brokenclaw" is not garbage, and certainly has at least some good moments (that I can not think of at this moment), yet it is just not that good.

[Dustin Dye · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Gardner considered Brokenclaw to be among the worst Bond books he wrote. I actually found it to be one of the more engaging of his books. Not that that's saying much.

PROS:
* Brokenclaw is a smooth villain with an unusual physical trait, and would be at home in the Ian Fleming series.
* Brokenclaw's henchman are menacing and constitute a real threat.
* Bond runs afoul of the FBI early in the novel, so there is additional conflict coming from both sides.
* The final scene involving a barbaric test of endurance was the most exciting conclusion to any of Gardner's books yet.

CONS:
* Gardner's writing in these books can best be described as serviceable. His prose is dry and he tells the story with little one could recognize as style.
* Formulaic. If you have read a number of Gardner's books, you can pretty much feel when the torture scene is due.
* Henchmen disposed of too easily.
* Plot points resolved too quickly.
* Bond falls too hard for the girl in this book, even though she will surely be forgotten by the next one.
* Wanda's dad says a corny phrase, and she accuses him of reading too many James Clavell novels. John Gardner has no room to criticize any author, especially not Clavell. Clavell's Asian characters might have been prone to exclaim mildly off-color/corny stock phrases, but a few pages earlier Gardner introduced us to Brokenclaw's lookout whose name was, I shit you not, Luk See. (Fun fact, James Clavell's daughter, Michaela, played Miss Moneypenny's assistant in Octopussy.)
* Fleming had established Bond's distaste for tea in a couple instances. I believe it was in Goldfinger Bond wouldn't drink tea on principle. He blamed it for the fall of the British Empire. In another story, I think "A Quantum of Solace," Bond says he doesn't like tea because it is flat and bland. I found it amusing how these two instances of expressing a dislike for tea were separated. His first expression is based on principle, the second on taste. I have a feeling Bond's dislike for the taste came before his principled boycott. This seemed realistic to me. However, in Brokenclaw we have Bond drinking tea.

My expectations for Gardner's Bond series are pretty low at this point, but this was one of his more decent books.

[Stuart Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual, James Bond is stuck behind a desk pushing papers. He threatens to resign so M sends him on holiday. He goes to Vancouver because that's where he'll meet the main villain and because it reminds him of Scotland, but mostly because that's where he'll meet the main villain. The main villain is Brockenclaw Lee, a half Chinese half Crow Indian billionaire that nobody knows where his money comes from. Or they do know but can't prove it.

Bond gets called to San Francisco where he is told that 5 top scientists on the top secret submarine detection project have disappeared. A 6th scientist who hasn't disappeared is a Chinese-American woman named Wanda and she is being blackmailed by Brockenclaw. With information from her Bond and a Chinese-American CIA agent named Chi-Chi infiltrate Brockenclaw's organization. Then they have to figure out how to get out.

There's a whole lot of buildup in this one. There are a couple of unnecessary infodumps concerning the life story of the girls. Three infodumps now that I think about it. Brockenclaw has a big supervillain plan that hardly impacts the story. Bond's entire plan seems to be to find the secret hideout and call in an airstrike. Both the Chinese-American girls are treated as expendable. Not a problem for the CIA girl because she proves to be useless.

Not much going on, the whole thing is basically a setup for the distinctive showdown at the end. Bond gets his bones bent, fights wolves, and gets skunked.

[J.J. Lair · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many of my reviews, I check off Bond traits. This book starts off checking boxes right away.
Eggs and Champagne -check
No one makes decent eggs- check
Villain has a hand deformity- check
Prior characters- Tanner- Quute- M- check
Ex machina save- check

Bond, being on vacation, sees a person that he thinks is fishy. It leads to him spying on the guy. It leads to a deeper issue involving America, China and England.
We get investigation and secret identities. Wanda and Tony’s story is predictable. A lot of torture and beatings. That dare challenge at the end is torture. The smearing scene for the wolves was weird.
Warning if you get this for Kindle, it is formatted badly. There aren’t spaces or asterisks signaling scene changes. Ed is in scenes where Bond just talked and they weren’t together a moment ago. That’s when I realized the formatting issue.
Four stars for story, but lost points for the formatting making this difficult.

[Tony Drummond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brokenclaw sees a break from the usual formula. Here for 80% of the book, Bond is an actual spy and we see him infiltrate the villain's liar and using a range of spy craft.

The problem is that we have no action scenes until the last 20% of the book and when it comes it is very underwhelming. As with other Gardner books, Bond is often saved by others rather than being the hero.

Some other annoying points are that we have some gratuitous product placement plus various random quotations from literature.

Although set in 1990, this book has the tone and style of a 60's Bond novel and it is hard to picture Timothy Dalton as Gardner's Bond. These books must have been popular for Gardner to have written so many but it is hard to see why on the evidence of his first 10 books.

[Daniel Callister · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gardner's Bond is not my favorite Bond, but I like his books enough to keep reading them. The action all takes place in the American northwest, and since I live in the northwest, this book definitely did not scratch my "various and exotic locations" itch. Good villain. No Q. Lacked the classic quips and zingers I expect from a Bond installment.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the better Gardner Bond novels. A terrific villain in Brokenclaw and a well constructed plot that has the world at stake. Particularly enjoyed the ending and the brokenclaw native american standoff. Not sure I can see it being a Bond film due to changing times but I enjoyed it and a great weekend read.

[Peter O'Brien · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book boasts a good concept for the villain, the ending is better than most of Gardner's other James Bland books, but as always the book is largely one big wasted opportunity where not a lot actually happens.

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story, colorful villain, but after a long set-up the ending is way too abrupt and a lot of loose ends are left dangling in the wind; could have benefitted from another 10 pages or so to flesh out the ending.

[Kost As · Rating 2 out of 5]

Θα είμαι αυστηρός αυτή τη φορά! Έδωσα πολλές ευκαιρίες στον κ. Gardner να επαναφέρει το Bond, James Bond, στα πρότυπα του Ian Fleming, αλλά ο γλυκούλης τον απομακρύνει ολοένα και περισσότερο. Ανούσια δράση, χαρακτήρες καρικατούρες και γενικότερα αρκετά βαρετό βιβλίο.

Πάμε για άλλα...

[Fraser Merricks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bond up against someone superior and similar in all traits to himself. Enjoyed the story, however I felt the ending wasn't up to bond standard. An enjoyable read but needed a better ending in my opinion. Good to see M being involved thoroughly in this story.

[Jeff Mayo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gardner's Bond is too far removed from what Ian Fleming envisioned for me to enjoy this one. The story is dated, boring, and is basically indistinguishable from most of Gardner's Bond novels. The characters are clichés in this one. It killed a couple of days of quarantine.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is been my least favorite of the Gardner 007 novels this far. It reminds of the late Roger Moore period where they would just throw things at the wall and see what would stick. Still, when you need some mindless, escapism, James Bond is hard to beat.

[Adam Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boy was this slow. All of the action happens in the last 50 pages and there are a lot of things that happen to rob Bond of his agency as the world's greatest spy.

Gardner has written better and I hope the next one is better than this.