The Hook and the Eye

by Raymond Benson

FELIX LEITER – JAMES BOND'S TRUSTED FRIEND AND ALLY – TAKES CENTER STAGE IN A BRAND NEW ADVENTURE BY LEGENDARY BOND NOVELIST, RAYMOND BENSON.

It is 1952. Felix has lost his job at the CIA and finds himself working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency. What starts as a simple surveillance job turns into anything but when Felix stumbles upon a murder and a cabal of spies embedded in Manhattan. Hired to transport the impossibly beautiful and impossibly secretive Dora from New York to Texas, Felix is thrust into a non-stop adventure, where danger and deceit lie in wait around every bend in the road.

The Hook and the Eye is a mystery, a romance, a spy story and a postcard to a lost Americana. It is also Raymond Benson at his very best.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2025

About the author

Raymond Benson is the author of approximately 40 titles. Among his works are the critically-acclaimed and New York Times best-selling serial THE BLACK STILETTO, and he was also the third--and first American--continuation author of the official James Bond 007 novels. His latest novels are HOTEL DESTINY--A GHOST NOIR, BLUES IN THE DARK, IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT and THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE.

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago Raymond Benson wrote the superb James Bond Bedside Companion. He then went on to write a series of James Bond novels, many of which were reasonably entertaining. This time he turns his eye to 007's old CIA friend Felix Leiter.
I was very pleasantly surprised to find that The Hook and the Eye turned out to be better than any of the James Bond novels Benson wrote. There's a great feel for New York City in 1952, all the characters are well drawn & the plot is a gripping one.
This novel is set between Ian Fleming's James Bond novels Live & Let Die & Diamonds are Forever, so there's a feeble excuse for me to read Diamonds are Forever yet again.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The name is Leiter, Felix Leiter.
And so we get a Raymond Benson tale of 007's best American friend who in " Live and let die" lost bits of an arm & leg to a shark. True to Fleming this story takes place in 1952 after Felix has gone through restoring from his terrible wounds and has to learn to live and operate his missing limbs with prosthetics. Of course he cannot remain in the CIA and so accepts a referal to a major detective agency called Pinkterton. It is here that Leiter has to find purpose in his life again. When hé undertakes a job for Pinkterton, with his CIA boss looking over his shoulder, he finds that hé is still the whole package.

Felix Leiter is a creation of Ian Flrming as a counterpart from the CIA for his most famous James Bond 007. In the Fleming books the character is a dependant ally and friend. They both share professionalism, love for their country and good things in life. Leiter loves his cars. And the Felix Leiter in this book feels similar to the Texan fellow in the Fleming novels.

Benson gained a reputation because of his bedside companion on the subject of a certain English spy. Later on he wrote several continuation books which were not always well received by the fans. Some of the reactions were nothing more than envy that this writer got the chance. I did enjoy Raymond Bensons Bond books they were fun were Gardners' 007 books became more tired. Bensons 007 books were a combination of movie and book 007. However this solo adventure about Felix Leiter shows that this writer can tell a tale and has his knowledge of 50's America is good. The Studebaker stuff from the book comes straight from a Fleming novel and is enhanced by Benson.

A great pleasurable novel from the Fleming world, one can only hope that Benson will at least write another one. zbased upon this one I would gladly commit my money on a pre-order.

A brilliant bit of fun for the 007 literary fans.

[Iain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benson back in the world of Bond, and showing the correct way to expand the Bond universe, with a period tale with Felix Leiter at its centre. It has the feel of the original Fleming books, with the 1950s setting allowing the Cold War, Soviets and SMERSH to return as the main adversaries in a enjoyably convaluted plot. Leiter's disabilites (missing hand and leg after shark attack) add an interesting and unusal dimension to the typical spy story. For some reason, Ian Fleming Publishers have not made this paperback widely available, which seems like a mistake - it's superior to more recent attempts to broaden the Bond world, and I would happily follow further Leiter adventures.

[Martyn Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a superb idea, a book solely focussed on Felix Leiter set in the original Fleming timeline.

There’s been a Dynamite graphic novel focussed on Felix, and Kim Sherwood brought Felix out as a major and really memorable character in her modern day 007 series Double or Nothing.

So this book is exciting for multiple reasons, a Fleming accurate Leiter in his own solo adventure, and a return to the Bond universe by Benson, a Bond continuation author between 97-2002 and author of the 80s Bond Bedside Companion.

For me, the first and final thirds of this story work best, the first person a nice noir-esque vibe that brings Leiter’s voice to life nicely. The middle third - where the road trip begins - feels like it should become a step up and more exciting, but when we leave NYC we lose some of the intrigue and charm and things become slightly generic and repetitive. The final third picks up again and it’s a nice ending to an intriguing plot.

Recommended?: most Bond fans will love this. A great adventure, well written and enjoyable. Felix is really brought to life as a grounded, human character that isn’t on the super hero levels of Bond, especially as he’s recovering from the events of Live and Let Die and regaining his confidence. This makes the story smaller, less action, more plotting and far more risks to our main character when things get spicy. Worth a read!

[Tyson Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felix moves to the forefront

Raymond Benson, the author of many James Bond continuation novels and short stories, along with his superlative Black Stiletto series, embarks on a new serial novel featuring Felix Leiter, Bond’s best friend from six Fleming novels, in his first solo adventure. The first episode is available now, and it really delivers!

[Diane & · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Wonderful Side bar Novel

I am a huge fan of Raymond Benson. His James Bond novels are so descriptive and much in line with Fleming. It is a real treat to have him return to the series to write about Felix Leiter. I hope this will be the beginning of a new franchise.

[Christopher M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how on board I was for an expanded Bond universe after the Moneypenny diaries, but Raymond Benson has form with some great Bond novels and this was much better than it needed to be, a Chandleresque noir confection with twists and turns at every beat. Gripping.

[Ian Grozdanovic-Whittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good, with plenty of twists and turns. It isn’t up to the great Ian Fleming’s standards though.

[Steve Lockett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and fast paced story about Felix Leiter, better know as the CIA agent from James Bond books and movies.

[Ken Funsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this author's post-Fleming Bond adventures, but this mystery-suspense THE HOOK AND THE EYE surprised me. It is a delightful story and yet how different from the previous books I've read starring the inimical Mr. Bond. Here, the hero Felix Leiter (missing a few limbs post-Mr. Big's shark tank in Fleming's "Live and Let Die") is challenged--in more ways than one. He's not only cripplied--a prosthetic leg and a hook for a hand--but lacks a hero's usual confidence. In other words, he's the anti-Bond, introspective and unsure of himself in what is now a "half-body." And yet he perseveres, learning to drive, even learning to shoot left-handed. Accurately too. And gets a job in the private sector with Pinkerton's famous detective agency. Eventually, Felix Leiter learns that what Mr. Big's shark has left him with is still enough to be a hero. Even to still be attractive to the opposite sex. Reminiscent of George C. Chesbro's Mongo the Magnificent (another "challenged" hero) and especially of Dick Francis's injured jockey Derek Franklin in his mystery "Straight," Felix Leiter learns to master his new reality, one that is not only physically challenging but emotionally and ethically challenging as well. I for one hope that Benson plans to feature Leiter in a new series, so readers can continue to experience the marvels of his hook as well as his heart.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining Chandler-esq thriller starring James Bond CIA buddy, Felix Leiter.
Set between Live And Let Die (where Leiter had a disagreement with something that ate him) and the Vegas set Dismonds Are Forever.
Benson has a good style and the book is very readable, in fact I could have read it quicker but life gets in the way!
Lots of Cold War shenanigans and duplicitous goings on. Is everyone who they seem to be? It’s fun finding out, and I can’t be the only one to Google Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico when Benson stages part of the narrative there.

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set very firmly in the original Ian Fleming timeline, The Hook and the Eye has Felix Leiter front and center. After Felix has been thrown to the shark, while he is still mastering the use of hook, he finds himself no longer employed by the CIA. Landing new employment with the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency Felix finds himself doing a favour for his old CIA boss and getting in the middle of spy ring trying to steal nuclear weapon plans. Felix is presented very much in the Fleming style.
Good fun quick read for Ian Fleming fans.

[Terrance Layhew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hook and The Eye is a thrilling page turner! Benson's writing retains the spark and brilliance he brought to the Bond novels, bringing Felix Leiter's world to the page. Weaving elements of noir, detective and espionage, The Hook and The Eye is a masterclass in good genre fiction.

The characters, place and world, easily feel like they fit and feel from the Bond canon. Fans of James Bond and detective fiction will enjoy giving this a read.

[Neil Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a fan of the Benson James Bond novels and have always liked Felix Leiter as a character so this was a no brainer for me.

The book didn't disappoint as it smoothly picked up from the post shark attack Felix.

Benson keeps the essence of Felix throughout the book as the tough Texan with a can-do attitude easily deals with what comes his way.

I would be interested in more of these books in a series so fingers crossed

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This never happened to the other fella

I wasn't sure how these Bond spin-offs would work, bu
t so far, Moneypenny, Q, and now Felix Lieter have all been fun reads. All very cinematic and as in this particular novel, the merest mention of 007. A good read for all, even if Bond doesn't mean anything to you.

[Mr M L Kiteley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the format, didnt realise i wanted to spend more time with Felix. Good read.

[Colin Hilding · Rating 3 out of 5]

A genuine Felix Leiter novel.

[Mike Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

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