Hurricane Room

Double O Trilogy #3

by Kim Sherwood

James Bond returns in the final installment of Kim Sherwood’s thrilling Double O Trilogy, and he must team up with the rest of the Double O Section to stop a threat from inside the agency itself.

Bond is alive

But after mental and physical torture at the hands of Colonel Mora, the diabolical head of private military company Rattenfänger, 007 is not the same man he once was. Has the unbreakable agent finally been broken? Or is MI6’s most lethal spy simply waiting for the right moment to exact revenge? Johanna Harwood, 003, has made it her mission to convince him to trust her again, because MI6 needs their deadliest weapon now more than ever...

There’s a traitor inside the gates

Bond may be back, but the Double O division is barely holding on. Conrad Harthrop-Vane, 000, has turned traitor. He has been systematically taking out his fellow agents right under the noses of those in power, and now he has abducted Moneypenny. To make matters worse, he may have had help from inside the organization. Joseph Dryden, 004, is left to hold down the fort in Moneypenny’s absence, but enemies are closing in on all sides.

The final showdown is about to begin

Rattenfänger is planning a cyberattack on an unimaginable scale— one that would sever the internet, leaving the Western world at Mora’s mercy. It’s up to Bond, the rest of the Double O’s, and a few other trusted allies to unmask the traitors working with Mora. Can they save the world—and the soul of 007?

Audible Audio

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

Kim Sherwood is an author and creative writing lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, where she lives in the city. Kim Sherwood’s first novel, Testament (2018), won the Bath Novel Award and Harper’s Bazaar Big Book Award. It was longlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize and shortlisted for the Author’s Club Best First Novel Pick. In 2019, she was shortlisted for The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. Her second book, Double or Nothing (2022), is the first in a trilogy commissioned by the Ian Fleming Estate to expand the world of James Bond. Her next novel, A Wild & True Relation, was described by Hilary Mantel as “a rarity – a novel as remarkable for the vigour of the storytelling as for its literary ambition. Kim Sherwood is a writer of capacity, potency and sophistication.”

Reviews

[Todd Groeber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an advance copy of this fabulous book. Action packed from the start. My favorite of the trilogy. The subtle drips of Bond lore is spread throughout, which I love. She has created a new cast of characters that I hope are utilized in some way in the future. To have Bond in action with a new generation of agents is just what we needed. The trilogy is a must read. Highly recommended

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hurricane Room: Or How I Learned James Bond Isn't the Only One Who Can Save the World (And Look Good Doing It)

Look, I need to confess something: I'm am a huge James Bond fan. *I've seen all the movies. Read all the books. Wrote reviews on them too. For the last three years, I have eagerly followed Kim Sherwood's Double-O trilogy. It is a series where Bond goes missing. Other Double-O agents have to save the day. It's like finding out your favorite restaurant has a whole secret menu you never knew about. If you're anything like me, you would definitely order everything on a secret menu. Obviously.

The Setup (Bond Is Gone, Everyone Panic)

Here's the deal: This is the third and final book in the trilogy. James Bond has been missing for the last two books. The Ian Fleming Estate recruited Kim Sherwood—a hardcore Bond fan and fantastic writer—to answer the question, "What if 007 wasn't around and MI6 had to rely on their OTHER highly-trained operatives?" Which, honestly, seems like good organizational planning.

Meet Your New Double-O Agents (They're Better Than You Think)

The star of this show is Johanna Harwood, 003, who is somehow even more badass than Bond himself. Is that possible? APPARENTLY. There's a scene where she outsmarts and survives a band of soldiers while NAKED in a RUSSIAN FOREST. Let me repeat that: naked, Russian forest, multiple armed soldiers. And she wins.

Then there's Joseph Dryden, 004, who's basically holding down MI6 while everything falls apart around him. And Conrad Harthrop-Vane, 000—yes, TRIPLE-O—who has turned traitor and is systematically taking out his fellow agents. *That's a terrible employee.* The worst! Someone needs to talk to HR.

## Bond Is Back (But Is He Really?)

So Bond does return in this book? Spoiler alert-----> I guess. But it's literally in the description. After being tortured by Colonel Mora, the head of a private military company called Rattenfänger. *Great name. Very villain-y.* Right? Bond has been through mental and physical torture, and he's not the same guy. Has the unbreakable agent finally been broken? Or is he just waiting for the right moment to go full Bond on everyone?

Johanna has made it her mission to get Bond to trust her again, because MI6 needs him. There's a traitor inside the agency, Moneypenny has been abducted, and Rattenfänger is planning a cyberattack that would basically shut down the entire internet and leave the Western world at their mercy. *No internet? That's the real horror story.* Finally, a threat I can truly understand.

Why This Works (Surprisingly Well)

Here's what I loved: Kim Sherwood clearly knows and loves this world. You can feel it on every page. The action is Bond-level spectacular—chases, fights, espionage, gadgets, the whole deal. But what really got me was that I actually cared about these new Double-O agents. They're not just Bond substitutes; they're fully realized characters with their own skills, flaws, and reasons for existing.

The mystery of what happened to Bond carries through the trilogy and gets resolved here in ways that feel earned. The traitor plot kept me guessing. *Did you guess right?* Absolutely not, but that's kind of the point of a mystery. And the final showdown has everything you want: high stakes, clever spy work, emotional payoffs, and enough action to make you forget you're sitting on your couch in sweatpants.

The "I Want This as a Film Series" Factor

And here's the thing: this SHOULD be a film series. Or a TV show. Or something. These characters deserve to be on screen. Johanna Harwood navigating a Russian forest while naked and armed with nothing but her wits? That's cinema, baby. Who doesn't want to see more spy movies? Well, I WANT TO SEE *THESE* SPY MOVIES.

The book balances multiple storylines. Bond's recovery and revenge, the hunt for the traitor, the race to stop the cyberattack, Moneypenny's abduction. Somehow it manages to keep all the plates spinning without dropping any. That's hard to do. I've read books that can't juggle two plotlines without everything collapsing.

The Verdict

"Hurricane Room" is the final installment in an excellent trilogy, and even coming in cold at book three, I had a great time. Kim Sherwood has expanded the Bond universe in ways that feel both fresh and respectful of the source material. The action is top-notch. The characters are compelling. The stakes feel real. And most importantly, it made me care about what happens to people other than Bond in this world.

If you're a Bond fan and you haven't read this trilogy, you're missing out on something special. If you're NOT a Bond fan but like spy thrillers with great characters and clever plotting, give it a shot anyway.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go stand in my backyard and pretend I'm surviving in a Russian forest.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double O #3
She’s found him,at last. James Bond. However, 003, Johanna Harwood’s actions are unauthorised by MI6 but that’s the least of her worries. Somehow she has to get him out of Russia and evade capture and rebuild his trust and that’s not going to be easy. Meanwhile, Moneypenny has been captured by Colonel Mora, the head of terrorist organisation, Rattenfänger, which it seems has links to the past. To add to the incredibly dangerous situation, MI6 is in turmoil, agents have been turned and who can be trusted is one of 003 and 007’s biggest problems. Its dire straits especially as Rattenfängers plan to seize control of the west cyber intelligence is just about to become a reality. Can Bond and the remaining loyal 00’s save a rapidly worsening situation?

The Ian Fleming estate has recruited Kim Sherwood to write this trilogy. I think she’s definitely done the originals and Ian Fleming 100% justice. The 00’s she has created are terrific characters, especially 003 in Johanna Harwood and 004, Joseph Dryden and her portrayal of Bond is excellent. Of course it wouldn’t be a James Bond book without Moneypenny, M, Q and an unbelievably dangerous enemy in the brilliantly named Rattenfänger. The name strikes evil into your heart, never mind what they intend to do led by Mora, who is evil personified. The whole thing feels very authentic and I’m sure Ian Fleming would nod in approval.

The plot is vast, totally immersive and there’s truly never a dull moment. It brings Bond bang up-to-date with the inclusion of events such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It’s very exciting, it’s audacious and complex with the storytelling feeling cinematic as the loyal 00’s especially Johanna use wit, initiative, guts, untold bravery and apparently have nine lives each! There are shocks aplenty, numerous moments of suspense and tension with plot twist after twist. The ending is an explosive thrill a minute.

The novel has numerous strengths, but I particularly love the fabulous locations that are used, especially in Russia without outstanding descriptions giving a very strong sense of place.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed the series but in my opinion this one is the best, with the trilogy going out with a bang. Or three. Highly recommended to fans of the originals and to thriller fans in general.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction, Hemlock Press for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Martin Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The new Bond trilogy goes out with a bang.

After a slightly confusing prelude section, "Hurricane Room" opens shortly after the events of "A Spy Like Me". Joanne Harwood, 003, has finally tracked down James Bond, 007. He's spent two years as the prisoner of Mora, head of the Rattenfänger group and isn't in good shape. All she has to do now is get him out of Russia, and defeat the group from taking over the Western world's intelligence network. Soon she and Bond are on the run, pursued by former colleagues, now enemies, the Russian intelligence services, and sundry others. Moneypenny is no help -she's been taken prisoner too, and even M seems a lost cause.

In what is certainly the most riveting book in the trilogy, the reader is finally rewarded with a non-stop rollercoaster ride, with chases, underground bases, and three-dimensional baddies. It's a sprawling story, with an interesting premise, perhaps just a few too many threads to keep track of, but ultimately a Bond story worthy of the big screen. The final 100 pages certainly wouldn't shame a 60's blockbuster movie. Those who have followed the trilogy should be satisfied with the tying up of plotlines, and the fates of the various characters.

So, in summary, - Bond is back. Having been little more than a ghost in books one and two, he emerges as a broken soul, whose only motivation is to get revenge on the man who held him prisoner for two years. But we do get to see deeper inside the man, something Fleming never really did. Back too, are the others in the OO-section - it's just a pity it's so tricky remembering who is 000, 003, 004 etc.

I'd definitely recommend reading books one and two before diving into this book - and your patience will be rewarded.

[David Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hurricane Room is Kim Sherwood’s third double-O book in the trilogy authorised by the Fleming estate.

I can see the attraction of trying to expand a Bond universe, but the whole point of Bond is that he’s a sole agent, not playing particularly well with others. Having other double-O agents isn’t new but giving them the limelight is. It’s a strange concept too to have double-Os with numbers greater than 9.

To be fair I wasn’t a great fan of the first two books as it seemed wrong not to have, essentially, a James Bond story without James Bond. Anyway, Hurricane Room addresses this by bringing Bond back into the fray.

He’s not quite the Bond we recognise, having been affected by a long captivity and torture. Think a combination of Die Another Day and Skyfall. He’s a changed man - in need of revenge and struggling with trust.

The title refers to a mental "safe room" where James Bond retreats in times of extreme danger. This was a concept introduced by Ian Fleming in From Russia, with Love.

The story is firmly a spy thriller having classic Bond hallmarks; suggestive banter, martinis, and a trope type death trap.

There are a number of callbacks/Easter eggs that Bond fans will recognise and understand. If you’re not a hardcore Bond fan you’ll probably enjoy the story but might miss some of these subtleties.

It is an action driven, complex, plot. You need to have read Kim Sherwood’s two previous double-O books to understand the story fully.

Better than the first two of the trilogy. More Bond than those!

Thanks to the NetGalley and publisher for a the opportunity to read and review the prerelease novel in return for honest feelings and review.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️ Blurb -
James Bond returns and the Double O agents make their last stand in this gripping and explosive spy thriller.
The return of 007
Agent 003, Joanna Harwood, has finally found James Bond after years of searching. All she has to do is get him out of Russia alive and convince him to trust her again.
A mission for revenge
But Bond trusts no one. And he wants revenge on Mora, the monstrous figure at the head of Rattenfänger – a terrorist organisation with links to the past.
The final showdown
MI6’s Double O section is in pieces. Moneypenny is captured. Agents have switched sides. And Rattenfänger’s plans for hijacking the cyber-intelligence of the West are finally about to be realised.
Bond and the remaining Double Os must work together to save the world – and figure out which of them are still loyal…
💛 Review -
Even though I hadn't read anything by the author or the rest of the series, I still enjoyed the book and soon understood who was who and what was going on. I really enjoyed this novel. It was so action packed and full of adventure that sometimes I forgot that I was reading and was swept away with the characters in the book. I found the story was easy to follow, had good pacing and a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💙 Thank you to Harper Fiction and the author Kim Sherwood for my proof copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ben Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim Sherwood's Hurricane Room is the third volume in her James Bond adventures - albeit the life of that superspy seen through the prism of her central characters, notably Agent 003 Joanna Harwood. After the thrilling Double or Nothing and A Spy Like Me, we know Sherwood is capable of writing both the big action set pieces whilst also giving an emotional core to her work and to her characters - something which was missing in others versions of Ian Fleming's Bond.

Hurricane Room feels very timely with the hijacking of computer systems, A.I. and the war in Ukraine all featuring in various ways. Sherwood even finds one of those Bond-movie sequences involving deadly animals - snakes here - which nod to the series past whilst being thrilling on their own.

This series has been a highlight of modern Bond storytelling in prose and Sherwood really feels like she's on top form here. This is a fast-paced, thrilling adventure which builds not only Joanna Harwood up, but colours in Bond and particularly Miss Moneypenny in interesting light. I really hope Sherwood keeps the keys to the Bond series as I'd love to spend some more time in her version of this world.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book of the Double 0 Trilogy. Could be read as a stand alone but i definitely recommend you read first two books as this follows on from the events in the previous reads. All the usual suspects are here but this trilogy focussed on all the 00’s and whilst Bond barely featured in the previous books he has a larger presence in this one.

Briefly, after two years as a prisoner of Rattenfänger James Bond is back but having been rescued by 003 (Johanna Harwood) they still have to escape from Russia. This involves a treacherous trek through Siberia to reach Japan as he is determined to wreck revenge on Colonel Mora and his Rattenfänger Group. Meanwhile the Double O team is splintered with some having switched sides, Moneypenny has been captured by Rattenfänger and there are only a few agents left who trust each other as there is clearly a mole inside the team.

My favourite of the three books although the whole series has been very entertaining. I loved how up to date the author kept this with the Russian/Ukraine war, AI and the potential effects of the destruction of undersea digital fibre optic cables. This is typical Bond book, an adrenaline filled read with an explosive finale that felt very authentic. Great series. 4,5⭐️

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collin’s for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

In this book we finally see Johanna Harwood save 007 himself Mr. James Bond. But after almost two years of captivity James has been in his hurricane room and doesn’t know who he can trust. James and Johanna try to get back and save Moneypenny from Mora and the traitor 000 and stop them from trying to rule the world. I was so glad when both 000 and Mora meet their just desserts and James Bond saying “I’m 007, Bond, James Bond” and while reading this final book I decided to watch the James Bond movies and am currently on Thunderball. I am so glad that James and Johanna got their happy ending after all that they have gone through. I cannot believe that this is the last book in the trilogy but at least I can still read the first book in the series that I still haven’t read yet.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Bond has been kept prisoner by an organization called Rattenfanger after being betrayed by someone within MI6. Now he has been found he seems a shell of his former self, not knowing who to trust.
This is the third book in a trilogy and can be read as a standalone, but it may help with keeping track of so many characters if you have read the first two books. Hurricane Room is a classic Bond story of non-stop action, daring escapes, survival in extreme situations and a relentless hunt for a master criminal. There are some great characters including the 000s, Moneypenny, M, Q and their quarry Mora in this sometimes quite complex plot. In the second half of the book especially, the action is quite enthralling and it is easy to imagine this transferring to the large screen.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agent 003, Joanna Harwood, has finally found James Bond after years of searching. All she has to do is get him out of Russia alive and convince him to trust her again. But Bond trusts no one. And he wants revenge on Mora, the monstrous figure at the head of Rattenfänger – a terrorist organisation with links to the past. MI6’s Double O section is in pieces. Moneypenny is captured. Agents have switched sides. And Rattenfänger’s plans for hijacking the cyber-intelligence of the West are finally about to be realised. Bond and the remaining Double Os must work together to save the world.
This is the third book in the trilogy & at last Bond appears. I’d recommend reading in order to fully appreciate it. Well written, fast paced , strong characters & I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you love Bond then this trilogy is for you
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final instalment of the "Double O" trilogy expanding the world of James Bond beyond the original Ian Fleming novels .Unlike the classic Bond stories ,this series treats the Double O agents as a team with competing loyalties which opens the door for tension ,betrayal and shifting alliances. The plot revolving around a global cyber attack rather than Cold War nostalgia. An interesting take on James Bond a fast paced thriller with a big explosive Bond finale .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

rollercoaster of a story that has numerous 00's trying to thwart evil and save the world as we know it.
007 is MIA presumed dead if not working for the enemy. 003 does not believe this to be true and has gone AWOL to find him.
Secrets of long ago crimes are discovered as the consortium of 6 nations agree to the new monitoring and data assessment tool goes live.
You will be gripped by the fast paced action and needing to find out what happens to the 00 team.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book in this trilogy opens with a quite confusing prologue however once the story starts, it heads off like a bullet train barely stopping for breath. Bond is back in this one too having been found by Johanna - another double O. I can easily see this one as a film with lots of action throughout as the team all traverse the globe trying to save it. I think Kim has ended the series on a great high. Overall 4.5*

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review