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Q Mysteries #1
Quantum of Menace
Q is out of MI6 . . .
. . . and in over his head
After Q (aka Major Boothroyd) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6's 00 agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seem uninterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that Napier's ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces . . . Can Q decode the truth behind Napier's death, even as danger closes in?
. . . and in over his head
After Q (aka Major Boothroyd) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6's 00 agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seem uninterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that Napier's ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces . . . Can Q decode the truth behind Napier's death, even as danger closes in?
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2025
77 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
Vaseem Khan
55 books1,006 followersVaseem Khan is the author of two award-winning crime series set in India and the upcoming Quantum of Menace, the first in a series featuring Q from the James Bond franchise. His debut, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020. In 2021, Midnight at Malabar House, the first in the Malabar House novels set in 1950s Bombay, won the CWA Historical Dagger. Vaseem was born in England, but spent a decade working in India. Vaseem is the current Chair of the UK Crime Writers Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 3, 2025
Major Boothroyd, or Q as he is known throughout the book, is unceremoniously chucked out of his job as head of Q Section in MI6. The world has moved on. Time for new faces. He returns to his home town, Wickstone , where with something less than enthusiasm, he sees a quiet uneventful retirement. Until, that is, he receives a note from an old childhood friend, Peter Napier, recently deceased, implying that his death, reported as a suicide was no such thing. Included in the note is a code which if deciphered, will give Q clues as to what really happened. Napier was a brilliant scientist who, with other brilliant scientists, was working on quantum computing in his lab on the outskirts of Wickstone.
Q, of course decides to investigate and so puts himself in danger, and along the way we meet a rejected old flame, now a detective (corny) his estranged father, and various thugs and criminals heading up a major drugs racket, all in the sleepy town of Wickstone.
I was looking forward to digging into this book but was really disappointed. I found the plot slow, the writing plodding and the characters hard to care about. There was a great deal of repetition about Q and his shock at being “ let go”. There were anecdotes about 007 which just made it appear that Q sort of hero worshipped him and did nothing to move the plot forward. The humour such as it was, I thought somewhat clichéd. In all of this, very little sense of danger or personal risk…until about 3/4 of the way through.
I’m sorry to give this book such a negative review but maybe I’m missing something as so many people have raved about it. However, this is my honest opinion after a complete reading of the book
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy which I read on my kindle though it wasn’t formatted properly.
Q, of course decides to investigate and so puts himself in danger, and along the way we meet a rejected old flame, now a detective (corny) his estranged father, and various thugs and criminals heading up a major drugs racket, all in the sleepy town of Wickstone.
I was looking forward to digging into this book but was really disappointed. I found the plot slow, the writing plodding and the characters hard to care about. There was a great deal of repetition about Q and his shock at being “ let go”. There were anecdotes about 007 which just made it appear that Q sort of hero worshipped him and did nothing to move the plot forward. The humour such as it was, I thought somewhat clichéd. In all of this, very little sense of danger or personal risk…until about 3/4 of the way through.
I’m sorry to give this book such a negative review but maybe I’m missing something as so many people have raved about it. However, this is my honest opinion after a complete reading of the book
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy which I read on my kindle though it wasn’t formatted properly.
November 9, 2025
"Q. Cząstka strachu" - czyli wydajmy sobie słaby fanfik
Zacznę od tego, że uwielbiam przygody Jamesa Bonda - czy to filmy czy teraz książki, które zyskały drugie życie dzięki wydawnictwu Skarpa Warszawska. I właśnie to wydawnictwo jakiś czas temu zaspamowała FB postami w stylu "Premiera książki ze świata Jamesa Bonda" albo "Bez Q nie byłoby Bonda" albo "Wojciech Chmielarz poleca książkę Q. Cząstka strachu". I z jednej strony powinienem się cieszyć, że dostaje coś nowego z tego świata ale z drugiej zapaliła mi się wielka czerwona lampka ostrzegawcza i pomyślałem "ej Pafeu, to chyba scam". Nie pozostało mi nic innego jak przeczytać i samemu ocenić. I mogę to całe doświadczenie podsumować jednym słowem: Qpa (pun intended)
Nawet nie wiem od czego zacząć, chyba może od tego że już nigdy nie zaufam żadnej kampanii reklamowej prowadzonej przez żadne wydawnictwo na FB. Ta książka nie ma absolutnie nic ciekawego do zaoferowania. Bo w sumie jak stworzyć coś ciekawego o postaci, którą praktycznie tylko znamy z filmów - wiemy tylko tyle, że pracowała ona w MI6 jako zbrojmistrz/rusznikarz dla agentów 00. Bo autor nie mógł bazować na książkach, bo tam Q po prostu nie było (tak się nazywał cały wydział a nie jedna osoba) więc pozostaje tylko wiedza z filmów. A więc dostajemy byłego już agenta Q, czyli majora Boothroyd, który przez ostatnie 30 lat pracował w MI6 i postanawia wrócić do miasteczka z którego pochodzi by rozwiązać tajemniczą śmierć swojego przyjaciela z dzieciństwa który był znanym "informatykiem kwantowym".
No i spoko i fajnie ale co dalej? Noo w sumie to nic - nasz bohater jedzie z punktu A do punktu B i zadaje pytania. Gdy już zada wystarczająco dużo pytań, to musi sobie gdzieś usiąść i pomyśleć by magicznie wymyślić kolejny trop, który prowadzi go coraz bardziej do rozwiązania całej sprawy. I nie żebym teraz krytykował to podejście bo nie każda książka musi mieć koniecznie 51234 scen akcji by była ciekawa - po prostu tutaj te rozmowy są zrobione naprawdę nijako. Q jedzie do salonu samochodowego by zadać niewygodne pytania: "jasne Q siadaj, wszystko Ci opowiem", Q spotyka się z gansterem i pyta go czy był związany ze śmiercią: "oczywiście że tak, fajnie że pytasz". Chyba najbardziej mnie załamała rozmowa z pewnym profesorem na uniwersytecie, który widzi Q pierwszy raz ale znajdzie czas by wyjaśnić mu działanie komputerów kwantowych... noż kurwa, rozmowy z NPCami w Oblivionie wypadają lepiej niż w tej książce.
Jak już jestem przy wątku komputerów kwantowych, czy innych zagadnień naukowo/technicznych to są tutaj tylko pustymi frazesami, które pewnie były zasłyszane przez autora z jakichś wiadomości. Chociaż sam pomysł na fabułę jest nawet OK to autor w żaden sposób nie umie tego w ciekawy sposób przedstawić. Jak już mówimy o bezsensowych fragmentach to autor notorycznie dorzuca jakieś nawiązania do popkultury, które niczemu nie służą. Jednak najgorszą rzeczą, którą autor zrobił to nadużycie produktów firmy Apple - ja w pewnym momencie się zastanawiałem, czy nie pominąłem gdzieś fragmentu sponsorowanego. Możecie znaleźć fragmenty w stylu "wzięła swojego iPhone'a", "biegał w swoim Apple AirPods", "wyjął swojego iPad Mini" albo najgorszy "Apple Watch ma znakomity system GPS". Autorze, ja Cię błagam... jeszcze brakowało mi sceny, by nasz bohater kupował sobie najnowszy model iPhone'a - ale to może będzie w kontynuacji, kto wie.
Pomówmy chwilę o głównym bohaterze, bo w końcu "Bez Q nie byłoby Bonda". To więc jakimi umiejętnościami, może się pochwalić nasz zbrojmistrz z MI6, których nie ma nasz słynny agent 007. Otóż Q ma... znajomości. Gdy w pewnym momencie bohater stoi w miejscu ze swoim śledztwem to wykorzystuje swoje byłe kontakty w brytyjskim wywiadzie by dostać ściśle tajne informacje do których już nie powinien mieć dostępu. Pomyślicie "ale Pafeu, przecież coś musi być oprócz tego, w końcu tworzył gadżety dla Bonda" i w sumie racja, ma gadżety - całe 3: ukrytą kamerkę (którą potem skomentował, że można dostać na eBayu) małego drona i zegarek do wysyłania sygnału SOS wraz z małą piłą. No jak na kogoś kto zajmował się tym przez 30 lat to wygląda to strasznie biednie.
Ostatni akapit poświęcę samej fabule, czyli całemu śledztwu dot. śmierci jego przyjaciela z dzieciństwa. Chciałbym napisać, że to jest coś nowego i odkrywczego ale nie mogę - tam po prostu nie ma nic oryginalnego. Tak jak pisałem wcześniej: Q jedzie z jednego miejsca do drugiego by zadać pytania by potem zadać pytania gangsterom by na końcu pojechać do osoby która była zaangażowana w morderstwo by powiedzieć że już wszystko wie. Wymęczyło mnie też to, że jeżeli bohater jechał w jakieś niebezpieczne miejsce to bez jakiegoś planu i na wielkim spontanie. I nawet nie martwiłem się o to, że coś może mu się stać bo autor już mnie oswoił, że na bohatera zawsze czeka jakieś "magiczne wybawienie z opresji".
Kończąc ten mój dłuższy rant na mogę stwierdzić, że ta książka ABSOLUTNIE nie potrzebowała wykorzystywać świata Jamesa Bonda i agentów MI6. Moim zdaniem autor był zbyt leniwy by stworzyć zupełnie postać od nowa, więc wziął sobie Q i postanowił dokleić do niego nijaką historię. Chociaż jak tak sobie myślę, to autor również nienawidzi tego całego świata, bo nieraz trafiałem na fragmenty w których to Bond był poniekąd mieszany z błotem. Jeszcze jest sporo rzeczy, o których mógłbym tu napisać ale po prostu mi się nie chce. Idę zrobić sobie kolację. Nie czytajcie tej książki.
Ocena: ★☆☆☆☆
Zacznę od tego, że uwielbiam przygody Jamesa Bonda - czy to filmy czy teraz książki, które zyskały drugie życie dzięki wydawnictwu Skarpa Warszawska. I właśnie to wydawnictwo jakiś czas temu zaspamowała FB postami w stylu "Premiera książki ze świata Jamesa Bonda" albo "Bez Q nie byłoby Bonda" albo "Wojciech Chmielarz poleca książkę Q. Cząstka strachu". I z jednej strony powinienem się cieszyć, że dostaje coś nowego z tego świata ale z drugiej zapaliła mi się wielka czerwona lampka ostrzegawcza i pomyślałem "ej Pafeu, to chyba scam". Nie pozostało mi nic innego jak przeczytać i samemu ocenić. I mogę to całe doświadczenie podsumować jednym słowem: Qpa (pun intended)
Nawet nie wiem od czego zacząć, chyba może od tego że już nigdy nie zaufam żadnej kampanii reklamowej prowadzonej przez żadne wydawnictwo na FB. Ta książka nie ma absolutnie nic ciekawego do zaoferowania. Bo w sumie jak stworzyć coś ciekawego o postaci, którą praktycznie tylko znamy z filmów - wiemy tylko tyle, że pracowała ona w MI6 jako zbrojmistrz/rusznikarz dla agentów 00. Bo autor nie mógł bazować na książkach, bo tam Q po prostu nie było (tak się nazywał cały wydział a nie jedna osoba) więc pozostaje tylko wiedza z filmów. A więc dostajemy byłego już agenta Q, czyli majora Boothroyd, który przez ostatnie 30 lat pracował w MI6 i postanawia wrócić do miasteczka z którego pochodzi by rozwiązać tajemniczą śmierć swojego przyjaciela z dzieciństwa który był znanym "informatykiem kwantowym".
No i spoko i fajnie ale co dalej? Noo w sumie to nic - nasz bohater jedzie z punktu A do punktu B i zadaje pytania. Gdy już zada wystarczająco dużo pytań, to musi sobie gdzieś usiąść i pomyśleć by magicznie wymyślić kolejny trop, który prowadzi go coraz bardziej do rozwiązania całej sprawy. I nie żebym teraz krytykował to podejście bo nie każda książka musi mieć koniecznie 51234 scen akcji by była ciekawa - po prostu tutaj te rozmowy są zrobione naprawdę nijako. Q jedzie do salonu samochodowego by zadać niewygodne pytania: "jasne Q siadaj, wszystko Ci opowiem", Q spotyka się z gansterem i pyta go czy był związany ze śmiercią: "oczywiście że tak, fajnie że pytasz". Chyba najbardziej mnie załamała rozmowa z pewnym profesorem na uniwersytecie, który widzi Q pierwszy raz ale znajdzie czas by wyjaśnić mu działanie komputerów kwantowych... noż kurwa, rozmowy z NPCami w Oblivionie wypadają lepiej niż w tej książce.
Jak już jestem przy wątku komputerów kwantowych, czy innych zagadnień naukowo/technicznych to są tutaj tylko pustymi frazesami, które pewnie były zasłyszane przez autora z jakichś wiadomości. Chociaż sam pomysł na fabułę jest nawet OK to autor w żaden sposób nie umie tego w ciekawy sposób przedstawić. Jak już mówimy o bezsensowych fragmentach to autor notorycznie dorzuca jakieś nawiązania do popkultury, które niczemu nie służą. Jednak najgorszą rzeczą, którą autor zrobił to nadużycie produktów firmy Apple - ja w pewnym momencie się zastanawiałem, czy nie pominąłem gdzieś fragmentu sponsorowanego. Możecie znaleźć fragmenty w stylu "wzięła swojego iPhone'a", "biegał w swoim Apple AirPods", "wyjął swojego iPad Mini" albo najgorszy "Apple Watch ma znakomity system GPS". Autorze, ja Cię błagam... jeszcze brakowało mi sceny, by nasz bohater kupował sobie najnowszy model iPhone'a - ale to może będzie w kontynuacji, kto wie.
Pomówmy chwilę o głównym bohaterze, bo w końcu "Bez Q nie byłoby Bonda". To więc jakimi umiejętnościami, może się pochwalić nasz zbrojmistrz z MI6, których nie ma nasz słynny agent 007. Otóż Q ma... znajomości. Gdy w pewnym momencie bohater stoi w miejscu ze swoim śledztwem to wykorzystuje swoje byłe kontakty w brytyjskim wywiadzie by dostać ściśle tajne informacje do których już nie powinien mieć dostępu. Pomyślicie "ale Pafeu, przecież coś musi być oprócz tego, w końcu tworzył gadżety dla Bonda" i w sumie racja, ma gadżety - całe 3: ukrytą kamerkę (którą potem skomentował, że można dostać na eBayu) małego drona i zegarek do wysyłania sygnału SOS wraz z małą piłą. No jak na kogoś kto zajmował się tym przez 30 lat to wygląda to strasznie biednie.
Ostatni akapit poświęcę samej fabule, czyli całemu śledztwu dot. śmierci jego przyjaciela z dzieciństwa. Chciałbym napisać, że to jest coś nowego i odkrywczego ale nie mogę - tam po prostu nie ma nic oryginalnego. Tak jak pisałem wcześniej: Q jedzie z jednego miejsca do drugiego by zadać pytania by potem zadać pytania gangsterom by na końcu pojechać do osoby która była zaangażowana w morderstwo by powiedzieć że już wszystko wie. Wymęczyło mnie też to, że jeżeli bohater jechał w jakieś niebezpieczne miejsce to bez jakiegoś planu i na wielkim spontanie. I nawet nie martwiłem się o to, że coś może mu się stać bo autor już mnie oswoił, że na bohatera zawsze czeka jakieś "magiczne wybawienie z opresji".
Kończąc ten mój dłuższy rant na mogę stwierdzić, że ta książka ABSOLUTNIE nie potrzebowała wykorzystywać świata Jamesa Bonda i agentów MI6. Moim zdaniem autor był zbyt leniwy by stworzyć zupełnie postać od nowa, więc wziął sobie Q i postanowił dokleić do niego nijaką historię. Chociaż jak tak sobie myślę, to autor również nienawidzi tego całego świata, bo nieraz trafiałem na fragmenty w których to Bond był poniekąd mieszany z błotem. Jeszcze jest sporo rzeczy, o których mógłbym tu napisać ale po prostu mi się nie chce. Idę zrobić sobie kolację. Nie czytajcie tej książki.
Ocena: ★☆☆☆☆
October 24, 2025
4* Quantum of Menace - Vaseem Khan. A first outing for Q and it’s a super romp of mystery, intrigue and fun.
Q’s time in MI6 is up, having being unceremoniously removed from his role in favour of a new Q. At a loss as to what to do, he receives news of the death of his childhood friend Pete, a cutting edge computer scientist. Just before his death Pete wrote to Q, suggesting that his life may be in danger.
Having spent a career hidden in a lab, Q takes to the field to try and work out what happened to his friend. Returning to his childhood village, he has to confront many ghosts of the past, a whole posse of potentially bad actors and unravel a knotty mystery.
I’ve read just about everything Vaseem has written and was thrilled when this series was announced. He has absolutely thrown himself headlong into this new series, picking up a character that is so well known but which next to nothing is known about. There is dry humour and gadgets a plenty, along with plenty of nods to the many other characters in the Bond series.
The story is superb and keeps you guessing all along (I guessed some but not all of the twists) and the wider cast are all worthy additions in their own right. I romped through this over 2 days. If you like Bond and/or just love a good mystery, you will hugely enjoy this book. Looking forward to the next instalment but please fit in a Malabar House as well.
I note the nod in the acknowledgements about having a bit of fun at the expense of those of us from Newcastle … I hope one of the Northern authors is set for some revenge.
Thanks to Bonnier Books and Netgalley for an ARC.
Q’s time in MI6 is up, having being unceremoniously removed from his role in favour of a new Q. At a loss as to what to do, he receives news of the death of his childhood friend Pete, a cutting edge computer scientist. Just before his death Pete wrote to Q, suggesting that his life may be in danger.
Having spent a career hidden in a lab, Q takes to the field to try and work out what happened to his friend. Returning to his childhood village, he has to confront many ghosts of the past, a whole posse of potentially bad actors and unravel a knotty mystery.
I’ve read just about everything Vaseem has written and was thrilled when this series was announced. He has absolutely thrown himself headlong into this new series, picking up a character that is so well known but which next to nothing is known about. There is dry humour and gadgets a plenty, along with plenty of nods to the many other characters in the Bond series.
The story is superb and keeps you guessing all along (I guessed some but not all of the twists) and the wider cast are all worthy additions in their own right. I romped through this over 2 days. If you like Bond and/or just love a good mystery, you will hugely enjoy this book. Looking forward to the next instalment but please fit in a Malabar House as well.
I note the nod in the acknowledgements about having a bit of fun at the expense of those of us from Newcastle … I hope one of the Northern authors is set for some revenge.
Thanks to Bonnier Books and Netgalley for an ARC.
October 14, 2025
I really wanted to like this book, it was an anticipated release but I didn’t really enjoy it.
I’ve liked James Bond since I was a kid and I love the films so I appreciate the premise but this didn’t work for me.
The storytelling didn’t work, I felt confused and I couldn’t work out things properly. The writing style wasn’t for me. In places it felt very repetitive.
I liked the authors creativity and what he tried to convey in the book but it just didn’t work for me but I do think other readers will really enjoy it.
I’ve liked James Bond since I was a kid and I love the films so I appreciate the premise but this didn’t work for me.
The storytelling didn’t work, I felt confused and I couldn’t work out things properly. The writing style wasn’t for me. In places it felt very repetitive.
I liked the authors creativity and what he tried to convey in the book but it just didn’t work for me but I do think other readers will really enjoy it.
October 2, 2025
This is a great audiobook superbly narrated by Alexander Armstrong. Q is all for solving the mystery of the death of his childhood friend. There’s many twists and turns along the way. It’s great Q has some of his own gadgets to help him in ‘sticky’ situations. Do look out for Bond. There’s complex characters and relationships with trauma and guilt going back years.
Highly recommend the audiobook. Enjoyable and entertaining.
Highly recommend the audiobook. Enjoyable and entertaining.
September 26, 2025
It’s easy to see what the publisher’s brief was: the adventures of Bond’s Q crossed with The Thursday Murders Club; Fleming told by Osman. On paper it’s a good idea, bringing together two very successful formulas. Sadly, in reality, it doesn’t quite work and the book ends up falling unsatisfactorily somewhere between a number of stools.
Vaseem Khan’s book has a retired (more forced into leaving the service early in fairness) Q finding his way in normal life, investigating the death of a friend in an apparently quiet backwater town. The town hides some dark secrets and, as Q’s hometown, some characters from his past. Its inhabitants and those connected to the story, including - perhaps especially- the stories criminals and gangsters, have time for slice of life, somewhat amusing, musings about the world. The set up and telling of the tale is all very Osman-ish cosy crime adjacent, then. One of things all that makes you appreciate, is exactly how skilful Osman is in putting all this together. When his plotting doesn’t quite fit together, it doesn’t matter because the rest of the confection is so pleasing. The tone is artfully light and frothy in a way very few can put together and - talented author though Khan might be - he can’t quite achieve the same level of charm.
All of which means the other flaws in the book become rather more apparent. There’s the underdeveloped sudden move into genuine spy story arriving and disposed of in a few pages and serving no real purpose. There’s the fact that most readers will find themselves well ahead of Q at a number of points, including the solution to the central mystery; in fact it’s a solution so obvious it will probably occur to most readers familiar with mystery stories at the same time Q reaches the incorrect conclusion he is soon dissatisfied with. And there’s ongoing mystery as to why everyone calls the central character Q, even if they’ve known him since childhood.
Bond fans might be left wondering which incarnation of Q or Major Boothroyd is being described. Not the original Armourer of the books, not the Desmond Llewellyn original Q from the movies but not it turns out Ben Whishaw’s Q either. This is definitely contemporary Q is someone quite new, sharing only his name (both real and service code name initial) with the character from the films.
There are some nice ideas here. The Quantum of the title refers to quantum computing (as well as to the title of Bond story) and the potential for such computers to rewrite the rules for every piece of encryption software in the world is a great starting point for a thriller.
But this isn’t it. It isn’t badly written and it has potential to do something interesting but it is also a book that is tonally all over the place - a talking cyborg-ish AI called Honeypenny (geddit?) appears to have arrived from a quite different story - and which doesn’t quite work as a mystery and never gets started as a spy thriller.
A shame, but not a book I can really recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance proof.
Vaseem Khan’s book has a retired (more forced into leaving the service early in fairness) Q finding his way in normal life, investigating the death of a friend in an apparently quiet backwater town. The town hides some dark secrets and, as Q’s hometown, some characters from his past. Its inhabitants and those connected to the story, including - perhaps especially- the stories criminals and gangsters, have time for slice of life, somewhat amusing, musings about the world. The set up and telling of the tale is all very Osman-ish cosy crime adjacent, then. One of things all that makes you appreciate, is exactly how skilful Osman is in putting all this together. When his plotting doesn’t quite fit together, it doesn’t matter because the rest of the confection is so pleasing. The tone is artfully light and frothy in a way very few can put together and - talented author though Khan might be - he can’t quite achieve the same level of charm.
All of which means the other flaws in the book become rather more apparent. There’s the underdeveloped sudden move into genuine spy story arriving and disposed of in a few pages and serving no real purpose. There’s the fact that most readers will find themselves well ahead of Q at a number of points, including the solution to the central mystery; in fact it’s a solution so obvious it will probably occur to most readers familiar with mystery stories at the same time Q reaches the incorrect conclusion he is soon dissatisfied with. And there’s ongoing mystery as to why everyone calls the central character Q, even if they’ve known him since childhood.
Bond fans might be left wondering which incarnation of Q or Major Boothroyd is being described. Not the original Armourer of the books, not the Desmond Llewellyn original Q from the movies but not it turns out Ben Whishaw’s Q either. This is definitely contemporary Q is someone quite new, sharing only his name (both real and service code name initial) with the character from the films.
There are some nice ideas here. The Quantum of the title refers to quantum computing (as well as to the title of Bond story) and the potential for such computers to rewrite the rules for every piece of encryption software in the world is a great starting point for a thriller.
But this isn’t it. It isn’t badly written and it has potential to do something interesting but it is also a book that is tonally all over the place - a talking cyborg-ish AI called Honeypenny (geddit?) appears to have arrived from a quite different story - and which doesn’t quite work as a mystery and never gets started as a spy thriller.
A shame, but not a book I can really recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance proof.
December 18, 2025
After Q, aka Major Boothroyd, is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6’s 00 agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist, Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seen uninterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that Napier’s ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces. Can Q decide the truth behind Napier’s death, even as danger closes in…?
Well, well, well…. What a gem of a book! A really great idea to bring Q into the spotlight and share his story. We have a well-known character that we don’t actually know an awful lot about. Here, we get to know Q on a whole other level and it’s a great journey. The plot is well thought out and has plenty of twists and turns. I got some right but not all of them.
There’s appearances from some other well-known characters and the rest of the wider cast more than play their part. Familiarity, dry humour, emotional musings and a good old fashioned mystery all rolled into one. I really can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Well, well, well…. What a gem of a book! A really great idea to bring Q into the spotlight and share his story. We have a well-known character that we don’t actually know an awful lot about. Here, we get to know Q on a whole other level and it’s a great journey. The plot is well thought out and has plenty of twists and turns. I got some right but not all of them.
There’s appearances from some other well-known characters and the rest of the wider cast more than play their part. Familiarity, dry humour, emotional musings and a good old fashioned mystery all rolled into one. I really can’t wait for the next book in the series.
October 23, 2025
This new foray into the world of James Bond, approved by Ian Fleming Publications, focuses not on the iconic spy but on his gadget provider, Q. Forced to leave MI6 due to office politics, Q is somewhat at a loss. He then receives a letter from an old friend who has recently died, with a mysterious encryption in it. As he investigates his friend's death and discovers more about rhe dangers of quantum computing, he finds himself forced to confront his past.
This was a fun read. I loved the style of writing, full of dry wit. Although Bond is not the hero of the story, there are many flashbacks to his interactions with Q and we also meet familiar characters such as Moneypenny.
A recommended read for fans of James Bond, digital threats and murder mysteries.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun read. I loved the style of writing, full of dry wit. Although Bond is not the hero of the story, there are many flashbacks to his interactions with Q and we also meet familiar characters such as Moneypenny.
A recommended read for fans of James Bond, digital threats and murder mysteries.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2025
I wasnt sure what to expect from this, given it's a spin off front James Bond, obviously by another author. However, I got sucked into it straight away. I liked the writing style, the humour and the characters. I liked seeing a different side to Q and all of the potential new stories coming out of this one. It was quite a gentle book.
Will definitely read the next book in the series.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Will definitely read the next book in the series.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2025
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Zaffre for my copy, this is my honest review.
I was over the moon to get this book as I’m a big fan of Q and all his inventions. Whilst there are plenty of references to Bond and how he might act or react, this was still very much a book with Q at the centre of things. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the world from Q’s perspective and felt like he had growth in the book, recognising his past foibles and errors in judgement and adapting how he dealt with situations now. Delving into the past that had shaped him was fascinating and I loved getting that background to fill in our mysterious Q.
The story begins with Q being unceremoniously retired from his post at MI6 when the new M takes over pushing a different agenda. Forced to look introspectively at his life he returns to his home town where his old friend has just died. Although the coroner's report and police investigation are in agreement that it was death by misadventure, Q is not convinced and a letter from beyond the grave pulls him in to begin his own investigations.
The more he investigates the more it becomes evident he is on to something as someone is trying to stop him.
Being back in his home town is proving to be a haunting experience of lost opportunities and past hurts. Q must face his past demons if he will ever be able to move forward.
The book cleverly weaves in modern crime and warfare and links it to the story with a crime family and quantum computing. Using all his expertise and wiles Q refuses to be sidelined and doggedly keeps pursuing the answers, even when it puts him in grave danger.
I enjoyed getting to know the side characters both young and old in the book, including some familiar faces such as Moneypenny, they added the right amount of life into Q bringing him into being. They helped to shape him and showed his complexities. I found his relationship and treatment of Zak particularly heartwarming.
The ending tied everything up but left it open ended enough that I hope there will be more in this series as I would definitely want to dive back into this world. More please!
I was over the moon to get this book as I’m a big fan of Q and all his inventions. Whilst there are plenty of references to Bond and how he might act or react, this was still very much a book with Q at the centre of things. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the world from Q’s perspective and felt like he had growth in the book, recognising his past foibles and errors in judgement and adapting how he dealt with situations now. Delving into the past that had shaped him was fascinating and I loved getting that background to fill in our mysterious Q.
The story begins with Q being unceremoniously retired from his post at MI6 when the new M takes over pushing a different agenda. Forced to look introspectively at his life he returns to his home town where his old friend has just died. Although the coroner's report and police investigation are in agreement that it was death by misadventure, Q is not convinced and a letter from beyond the grave pulls him in to begin his own investigations.
The more he investigates the more it becomes evident he is on to something as someone is trying to stop him.
Being back in his home town is proving to be a haunting experience of lost opportunities and past hurts. Q must face his past demons if he will ever be able to move forward.
The book cleverly weaves in modern crime and warfare and links it to the story with a crime family and quantum computing. Using all his expertise and wiles Q refuses to be sidelined and doggedly keeps pursuing the answers, even when it puts him in grave danger.
I enjoyed getting to know the side characters both young and old in the book, including some familiar faces such as Moneypenny, they added the right amount of life into Q bringing him into being. They helped to shape him and showed his complexities. I found his relationship and treatment of Zak particularly heartwarming.
The ending tied everything up but left it open ended enough that I hope there will be more in this series as I would definitely want to dive back into this world. More please!
December 20, 2025
I have always been a huge James Bond fan, I have seen every single film at least 25 times, but can you believe I have never read any of Ian Flemings Bond books! So when I seen this new spin off mystery series about Q I immediately bought it!
The Blurb...
"After Major Boothroyd (aka Q) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6's 00 agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note.
The police seem uninterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that Napier's ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces . . . Can Q decode the truth behind Napier's death, even as danger closes in?"
This was such a great insight into our beloved quartermaster and I loved learning all about his backstory. Vaseem's writing is incredible and I loved how he developed sharp twists that kept me engaged right to the end with some great characters. I am a huge science geek so loved that aspect of the storyline.
I would love to see this story adapted on screen. I hope Mr Villanueve has been sent a copy 👀
One tiny thing for me is I would have loved a bit more action/violence but I guess that's what 007 is for 🤣
A great book, perfect for all Bond fans. I hope you read this soon if it's on your list 🥰
Sad I have to wait until October for book 2.
October 26, 2025
Musze przyznać, że nie spodziewałem się tak dobrej książki osadzonej w świecie najsłynniejszego szpiega. Zbrojmistrz Q po zwolnieniu ze służby bada sprawę śmierci swojego przyjaciela z przeszłości. Początkowo trudno było mi się połapać w tym wszystkim wraz z pojawiającymi się nowymi postaciami, ale dzięki temu ma się wrażenie, że akcja gna naprzód. W ogóle początek przypominiał mi nieco strukturą powieści Dana Browna. Główny bohater od początku daje się lubić przez co ksiazka wciąga jeszcze bardziej. Fajna rozrywka i na pewno must read dla każdego fana 007.
November 5, 2025
3.5⭐️ Enjoyed this but it seemed to take awhile to get going….first half 3⭐️ then second half 4⭐️. This is the first of a new series so I think the introducing of the characters is what slowed it down at the beginning. Looking forward to future instalments though.
December 13, 2025
I knew I wanted to read this book when I first saw it announced. I was a bit nervous about how the author would write one of my favourite fictional characters from other books and films but there was no need as the book was better that I could possibly have imagined ad I am looking forward to the next instalment that I’m about to go and pre order
December 6, 2025
Enjoyed 70% of it but didn’t like the ending or the build up to the ending
July 15, 2025
I was desperate to read this book as I love this author’s Malabar House series & I also love the world of Bond. My prayers were answered & I was sent a gorgeous proof copy. Q is out of MI6. To find out why, you will have to read this thriller set in & around his boyhood home.
Q has returned to Wickstone after receiving a short cryptic note with an apparently random set of letters at its end. The note is from Peter Napier, a quantum computer scientist & Q’s childhood friend. Q receives the message after a verdict of misadventure has been returned on the latter’s death, but Peter had suggested that he was in danger & his life was being threatened. Although he heard from his friend too late, Q is convinced that Peter would not have killed himself, especially given his water phobia, so decides to investigate.
Wickstone is full of memories for Q & we learn something of his backstory. There are some passages that are laugh out loud, especially when Q’s father & his inherited dog are involved.
I would highly recommend this to all Bond fans & those who just love a rollicking good thriller. It is well paced with a couple of twists which hold the readers interest, & an appearance by James himself. Could this be the start of a series? I do hope so, I can’t wait for another instalment.
I think you can tell I enjoyed this book; review posted THREE MONTHS before publication! And if I could have given it more stars, I would have!
Q has returned to Wickstone after receiving a short cryptic note with an apparently random set of letters at its end. The note is from Peter Napier, a quantum computer scientist & Q’s childhood friend. Q receives the message after a verdict of misadventure has been returned on the latter’s death, but Peter had suggested that he was in danger & his life was being threatened. Although he heard from his friend too late, Q is convinced that Peter would not have killed himself, especially given his water phobia, so decides to investigate.
Wickstone is full of memories for Q & we learn something of his backstory. There are some passages that are laugh out loud, especially when Q’s father & his inherited dog are involved.
I would highly recommend this to all Bond fans & those who just love a rollicking good thriller. It is well paced with a couple of twists which hold the readers interest, & an appearance by James himself. Could this be the start of a series? I do hope so, I can’t wait for another instalment.
I think you can tell I enjoyed this book; review posted THREE MONTHS before publication! And if I could have given it more stars, I would have!
October 26, 2025
After being 'relieved of duty' by MI6, Q returns to his quiet hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His childhood friend, quantum computer scientist Peter Napier has died, by misadventure or suicide, the authorities say. Q receives a 'if you're reading this I'm dead' letter from the deceased weeks after he has passed but the police seem uninterested. So he decides to investigate it himself. Who had Napier's groundbreaking work attracted, and will Q uncover the truth in time?
Presenting a prologue that feels like a cold open, the prose is given the cinematic feel we desire for this story. The intrigue is brought in early. With a dry wit, more than a dash of sarcasm, a dog named Bastard, and a nod to a legendary character as a member of the household, Q is 'revelling' in his let's call it forced retirement. I love that he is referred to as Q in the book (making my James Bond loving heart happy), even though technically he isn't Q anymore. A fish out of water situation, since he isn't the one who usually investigates; he's the gadget guy. Though he uses his skills to his advantage, creating his own brand of inquiry and thrills. He is proper and persistent...
There is a matter-of-fact but simultaneously companionable tone to the narrative. Peppered with pinches of figurative speech, those bring forth intense and beyond vivid, truly unconventional images. These bring notes of antithesis to the character-enrichened, we-can-solve-the-mystery, oftentimes smile, even chuckle-worthy tale.
Different POVs, each with their own distinct voice, notes of snarkiness in most of them, frame the main POV. The changes between them are quite often, keeping us on our toes, sometimes even in the same chapter! Some are immediately clear about their place in the story; others make us wonder. I liked how we dipped into innermost thoughts. The tidbits of the characters' lives and surroundings, small but standout details in the descriptions, make them and their circumstances more alive, grounded in reality, engaging. All the story threads weaving and weaving...
The musings, history and activities of the supporting characters do get a little long-winded and I think, no I know, I needed more Q in a book about... Q. I love the dangling of prospective secrets like anyone, but not repeatedly. Some answers along the way, sooner, would have been nice. This is still a very clever foray, with jaw-dropping surprises, one of which I predicted, though I still enjoyed witnessing Q's attempts to get there. Puts a mirror up to society, to different views of it, to our relationships with others — philosophy of life. Philosophy of technology.
This is a puzzle-solving, detective-like crime mystery, a spy thriller without the spy you might be expecting, and that is a good thing. I really loved that an unanswered thing about Q was left that way, a promise for us to find out in future installments.
Does you know who show up? I can't tell you
Presenting a prologue that feels like a cold open, the prose is given the cinematic feel we desire for this story. The intrigue is brought in early. With a dry wit, more than a dash of sarcasm, a dog named Bastard, and a nod to a legendary character as a member of the household, Q is 'revelling' in his let's call it forced retirement. I love that he is referred to as Q in the book (making my James Bond loving heart happy), even though technically he isn't Q anymore. A fish out of water situation, since he isn't the one who usually investigates; he's the gadget guy. Though he uses his skills to his advantage, creating his own brand of inquiry and thrills. He is proper and persistent...
There is a matter-of-fact but simultaneously companionable tone to the narrative. Peppered with pinches of figurative speech, those bring forth intense and beyond vivid, truly unconventional images. These bring notes of antithesis to the character-enrichened, we-can-solve-the-mystery, oftentimes smile, even chuckle-worthy tale.
Different POVs, each with their own distinct voice, notes of snarkiness in most of them, frame the main POV. The changes between them are quite often, keeping us on our toes, sometimes even in the same chapter! Some are immediately clear about their place in the story; others make us wonder. I liked how we dipped into innermost thoughts. The tidbits of the characters' lives and surroundings, small but standout details in the descriptions, make them and their circumstances more alive, grounded in reality, engaging. All the story threads weaving and weaving...
The musings, history and activities of the supporting characters do get a little long-winded and I think, no I know, I needed more Q in a book about... Q. I love the dangling of prospective secrets like anyone, but not repeatedly. Some answers along the way, sooner, would have been nice. This is still a very clever foray, with jaw-dropping surprises, one of which I predicted, though I still enjoyed witnessing Q's attempts to get there. Puts a mirror up to society, to different views of it, to our relationships with others — philosophy of life. Philosophy of technology.
This is a puzzle-solving, detective-like crime mystery, a spy thriller without the spy you might be expecting, and that is a good thing. I really loved that an unanswered thing about Q was left that way, a promise for us to find out in future installments.
Does you know who show up? I can't tell you
October 24, 2025
Vaseem Khan’s Quantum of Menace is a bold, entertaining spin-off that takes the James Bond universe and explores the world of Q, the MI5 gadget genius.
The story opens with Major Boothroyd being unceremoniously ejected from MI6. BeHe’s hardly begun to adjust to the quiet calm of his hometown, Wickstone-on-Water, before his forced retirement is interrupted by the death of an old friend, Peter Napier. Napier was a brilliant quantum computing scientist who left behind a cryptic note and a trail of breadcrumbs. This is a story that combines espionage, mystery, and technological thriller with a dry sense of humour that we know from Vaseem Khan’s other excellent books.
Khan clearly enjoys writing Q. Major Boothroyd is prickly, and out of his depth when the action starts. There’s something oddly vulnerable about him. Stripped of his reason for being, estranged from his father and still a bachelor, he seems lonely and out of place. He’s looking after the terribly named Bastard, a dog he found when its master died unceremoniously in non-suspicious circumstances. The dog is depressed – well, who wouldn’t be with a name like that – and is Q’s only companion in his lonely existence. Yet he remains the archetypal engineer: logical to a fault, dryly sarcastic, and always looking two steps ahead in deduction. For a man who’s spent his career arming the 00 agents, he finally takes his own step into the spotlight. Khan has taken a man we know only as a gadget genius and given him personality and heart.
The plot moves swiftly, with a twisty plot and personal complications for Q. He uncovers information that Napier’s research was exploring a genuinely alarming possibility. Napier’s quantum computer could pose a threat to worldwide security. Recognising that this invention could attract attention from various state adversaries and open doors for espionage, not to mention corporate greed, Q sets out to track down Napier’s potential adversaries. It all feels disturbingly realistic.
Although the stakes are high, Khan’s wit keeps the tone engaging. Lines like “Retirement isn’t so bad once you stop expecting to survive it” are typical of Q’s dry humour and lend a nice balance between tension and levity to his prose.
Khan’s dialogue is sharp, his settings well described, and his characters believable. Quantum of Menace works not just as a Bond novel but as an entertaining thriller in its own right. It’s witty, twisty, and makes Q an endearing figure. Khan has delivered a quantum leap for Q’s character, and created a figure I’m keen to see much more of.
Verdict: Smart, witty, and entertaining.
The story opens with Major Boothroyd being unceremoniously ejected from MI6. BeHe’s hardly begun to adjust to the quiet calm of his hometown, Wickstone-on-Water, before his forced retirement is interrupted by the death of an old friend, Peter Napier. Napier was a brilliant quantum computing scientist who left behind a cryptic note and a trail of breadcrumbs. This is a story that combines espionage, mystery, and technological thriller with a dry sense of humour that we know from Vaseem Khan’s other excellent books.
Khan clearly enjoys writing Q. Major Boothroyd is prickly, and out of his depth when the action starts. There’s something oddly vulnerable about him. Stripped of his reason for being, estranged from his father and still a bachelor, he seems lonely and out of place. He’s looking after the terribly named Bastard, a dog he found when its master died unceremoniously in non-suspicious circumstances. The dog is depressed – well, who wouldn’t be with a name like that – and is Q’s only companion in his lonely existence. Yet he remains the archetypal engineer: logical to a fault, dryly sarcastic, and always looking two steps ahead in deduction. For a man who’s spent his career arming the 00 agents, he finally takes his own step into the spotlight. Khan has taken a man we know only as a gadget genius and given him personality and heart.
The plot moves swiftly, with a twisty plot and personal complications for Q. He uncovers information that Napier’s research was exploring a genuinely alarming possibility. Napier’s quantum computer could pose a threat to worldwide security. Recognising that this invention could attract attention from various state adversaries and open doors for espionage, not to mention corporate greed, Q sets out to track down Napier’s potential adversaries. It all feels disturbingly realistic.
Although the stakes are high, Khan’s wit keeps the tone engaging. Lines like “Retirement isn’t so bad once you stop expecting to survive it” are typical of Q’s dry humour and lend a nice balance between tension and levity to his prose.
Khan’s dialogue is sharp, his settings well described, and his characters believable. Quantum of Menace works not just as a Bond novel but as an entertaining thriller in its own right. It’s witty, twisty, and makes Q an endearing figure. Khan has delivered a quantum leap for Q’s character, and created a figure I’m keen to see much more of.
Verdict: Smart, witty, and entertaining.
November 9, 2025
Q is out of MI6 and into a new world of deceit and death. After Q (aka Major Boothroyd) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6's OO agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seem uninterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that Napier's ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces . . . Can Q decode the truth behind Napier's death, even as danger closes in?
So first up I’m going to openly admit I’m not an avid James Bond fan but I was intrigued by this title & I am pleased to report I was very pleasantly surprised.
It is very interesting to see the typical spy story told from a different angle, not the devil-may-care suave main character spy as usual. Q is, in his own words, a scientist, and not someone who likes to be at the forefront of the action, working away in the background to assist activities. Taking centre stage in this title, and recently having been made redundant from MI6, the story evolves around Q and his delving into the death of an old friend.
The story takes us back to Q’s childhood home where he hasn’t been to for 30 years, and his personal investigation sees many twists and turns. I must admit I did figure out several of the curveballs but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the title, I did however find some of the repetitive prose a little distracting at times but, especially within the audiobook, can understand why this is relevant.
The intrigue around his real name is also cleverly executed throughout, at various points you think the reveal is imminent but I won’t spoil it by saying if it is all revealed by the end!
Alexander Armstrong as the narrator is perfectly cast, honestly I couldn’t have imagined a better fit and I sincerely hope any follow-up titles will see him return to the role. A book filled with intrigue and some genuinely laugh-out-loud banter (classic British humour of course in sticking with the Bond brand), I throughly enjoyed and I look forward to the continuation of this series.
So first up I’m going to openly admit I’m not an avid James Bond fan but I was intrigued by this title & I am pleased to report I was very pleasantly surprised.
It is very interesting to see the typical spy story told from a different angle, not the devil-may-care suave main character spy as usual. Q is, in his own words, a scientist, and not someone who likes to be at the forefront of the action, working away in the background to assist activities. Taking centre stage in this title, and recently having been made redundant from MI6, the story evolves around Q and his delving into the death of an old friend.
The story takes us back to Q’s childhood home where he hasn’t been to for 30 years, and his personal investigation sees many twists and turns. I must admit I did figure out several of the curveballs but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the title, I did however find some of the repetitive prose a little distracting at times but, especially within the audiobook, can understand why this is relevant.
The intrigue around his real name is also cleverly executed throughout, at various points you think the reveal is imminent but I won’t spoil it by saying if it is all revealed by the end!
Alexander Armstrong as the narrator is perfectly cast, honestly I couldn’t have imagined a better fit and I sincerely hope any follow-up titles will see him return to the role. A book filled with intrigue and some genuinely laugh-out-loud banter (classic British humour of course in sticking with the Bond brand), I throughly enjoyed and I look forward to the continuation of this series.
August 20, 2025
It's time for Q to enter the spotlight in this enjoyable murder-mystery.
"Quantum of Menace" opens in the present day, and Major Boothroyd, known to some as Q, finds himself unemployed - the result of a new M finding him surplus to requirements. While he is pondering his future, word reaches him of the death of a friend from long ago - and when a letter from this friend arrives, suggesting his death was not suicide, Q welcomes the opportunity to fill the void. So after a long, long absence, he returns to his hometown of Wickstone-on-Water, where he encounters people and memories he'd rather forget.
Quickly, Q is drawn into a mystery- the Police are satisfied the death was suicide, but some probing by Q soon uncovers more questions. However, his investigations inevitably bring him into contact with old friends and places, and memories he's kept under wraps. And this is what keeps the story alive - the author has cleverly taken a character from the Bond universe, about whom we know very little, and built him a back-story full of events and people that allow him to emerge more three-dimensional than he ever did in the books or films. The fact that everyone in the village knows he's "Q" - and calls him that - despite the fact that "Q" worked in a top-secret department of MI6 is a minor gripe. Add in some bang-up-to-date villains, science and greed, and the story takes off. There's plenty of sub-plots, red herrings and diversions to keep mystery fans happy.
Things fans of the James Bond world should consider - this is not the Q as represented by Desmond Llewelyn, nor even Ben Whishaw. Bond himself only appears briefly. Nor is this the 1960's world of James Bond - this is now. And this not a spy novel - it's a murder mystery. If you accept this, "Quantum of Menace" is an enjoyable adventure, fast-moving and held together with a nice back-story of Q's life before MI6.
The story is full of reflections of the Bond universe - Q remembering his time at MI6, his relationships with Bond, Moneypenny and more. There's gadgets, and girls and villains.
Whether or not you're a Bond fan, I'd recommend giving this book a try - it's a fine read.
"Quantum of Menace" opens in the present day, and Major Boothroyd, known to some as Q, finds himself unemployed - the result of a new M finding him surplus to requirements. While he is pondering his future, word reaches him of the death of a friend from long ago - and when a letter from this friend arrives, suggesting his death was not suicide, Q welcomes the opportunity to fill the void. So after a long, long absence, he returns to his hometown of Wickstone-on-Water, where he encounters people and memories he'd rather forget.
Quickly, Q is drawn into a mystery- the Police are satisfied the death was suicide, but some probing by Q soon uncovers more questions. However, his investigations inevitably bring him into contact with old friends and places, and memories he's kept under wraps. And this is what keeps the story alive - the author has cleverly taken a character from the Bond universe, about whom we know very little, and built him a back-story full of events and people that allow him to emerge more three-dimensional than he ever did in the books or films. The fact that everyone in the village knows he's "Q" - and calls him that - despite the fact that "Q" worked in a top-secret department of MI6 is a minor gripe. Add in some bang-up-to-date villains, science and greed, and the story takes off. There's plenty of sub-plots, red herrings and diversions to keep mystery fans happy.
Things fans of the James Bond world should consider - this is not the Q as represented by Desmond Llewelyn, nor even Ben Whishaw. Bond himself only appears briefly. Nor is this the 1960's world of James Bond - this is now. And this not a spy novel - it's a murder mystery. If you accept this, "Quantum of Menace" is an enjoyable adventure, fast-moving and held together with a nice back-story of Q's life before MI6.
The story is full of reflections of the Bond universe - Q remembering his time at MI6, his relationships with Bond, Moneypenny and more. There's gadgets, and girls and villains.
Whether or not you're a Bond fan, I'd recommend giving this book a try - it's a fine read.
October 12, 2025
4.5 stars
Filled with warmth, wit and more than a touch of nostalgia, this new James Bond spinoff series has got off to a rollicking start. Featuring Q as never seen before, it’s a satisfying, romp of a read from start to finish.
We join Q freshly ousted from his decades-long role as the Mr Gadget of MI6, the collateral damage of a new broom sweeping clean. Now just plain Major Boothroyd, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water, where his close childhood friend and renowned quantum computer scientist, Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances. His death is ruled a suicide, but Q suspects foul play—based on a cryptic note Pete sent to him on the day he drowned—and sets out to investigate.
As one would expect with the first in a new series, author Vaseem Khan devotes much of this book to delineating the character of Q, including the fractured relationships with his father Mort and his first love Kathy, now the detective in charge of the case. After decades working at the center of a vast machine, this Q feels cast adrift and hurt by his summary dismissal. He may be no field agent, but he’s determined to do right by his friend.
All of this is a different version of the Q we know. He is still very much a boffin—with a stash of gadgetry and a robot assistant he calls Miss Honeypenny—but a much more human and endearing iteration; moreover, one with a surprising penchant for sardonic one-liners.
The wit was in fact one of my favorite aspects of this murder mystery. That and Q’s constant references to James Bond—usually with an eye roll—whom I was delighted to see making a cameo appearance (on a metaphorical white horse).
The pace and plotting are perfectly judged to deliver a propulsive read, with short, snappy chapters alternating between Q, the various bad actors he’s up against, and the voices of Mort and Kathy, all leading to a thrilling, pulse-pounding finale.
Suffice to say, I’m invested and already looking forward to Q’s next outing.
Filled with warmth, wit and more than a touch of nostalgia, this new James Bond spinoff series has got off to a rollicking start. Featuring Q as never seen before, it’s a satisfying, romp of a read from start to finish.
We join Q freshly ousted from his decades-long role as the Mr Gadget of MI6, the collateral damage of a new broom sweeping clean. Now just plain Major Boothroyd, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water, where his close childhood friend and renowned quantum computer scientist, Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances. His death is ruled a suicide, but Q suspects foul play—based on a cryptic note Pete sent to him on the day he drowned—and sets out to investigate.
As one would expect with the first in a new series, author Vaseem Khan devotes much of this book to delineating the character of Q, including the fractured relationships with his father Mort and his first love Kathy, now the detective in charge of the case. After decades working at the center of a vast machine, this Q feels cast adrift and hurt by his summary dismissal. He may be no field agent, but he’s determined to do right by his friend.
All of this is a different version of the Q we know. He is still very much a boffin—with a stash of gadgetry and a robot assistant he calls Miss Honeypenny—but a much more human and endearing iteration; moreover, one with a surprising penchant for sardonic one-liners.
The wit was in fact one of my favorite aspects of this murder mystery. That and Q’s constant references to James Bond—usually with an eye roll—whom I was delighted to see making a cameo appearance (on a metaphorical white horse).
The pace and plotting are perfectly judged to deliver a propulsive read, with short, snappy chapters alternating between Q, the various bad actors he’s up against, and the voices of Mort and Kathy, all leading to a thrilling, pulse-pounding finale.
Suffice to say, I’m invested and already looking forward to Q’s next outing.
October 24, 2025
A continuation of the legend that is James Bond sees Q, made redundant by the new M, return to his home town to investigate the death of a childhood friend. In the process he has to face an old sweetheart, now a local police inspector, reunite with his estranged father and adopt a dog called Bastard. Imbued with gentle humour and a sense of nostalgia for the old days the first part of the book was quite slow going. As new characters are introduced the story goes off at a tangent to fill in back stories which makes the main thread lose impetus and I felt there was a tendency to repeat key facts just in case the reader has lost track of what is going on. This is set in present times, the story revolving around quantum computing and Q is aged at around 50 at the start of the book but at times seems much older.
I realised the audio narration was contributing to the slow pace of the story and after speeding up to 1.25 x normal speed I began to enjoy the book more as this eliminated the frequent pauses and rarely sounded hurried. The narration was clear and concise, the foreign accents quite effective but was let down a bit by the female voices, the men were characterised very well although once or twice in dialogues it wasn’t always clear who was speaking - as though he got the voices mixed up!
As things started to happen and the pace (literally) picked up the elements of the plot came together to a logical and satisfying conclusion - although for me there were no surprises.
Bond is often in Q’s mind and it appears that he has secreted a few gadgets away from MI6 but there is also a very human side to the story, I liked Mort, Q’s father especially, but it is never overly sentimental and doesn’t drift too far from being believable and realistic. A good balance and good story telling, I enjoyed it very much.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
I realised the audio narration was contributing to the slow pace of the story and after speeding up to 1.25 x normal speed I began to enjoy the book more as this eliminated the frequent pauses and rarely sounded hurried. The narration was clear and concise, the foreign accents quite effective but was let down a bit by the female voices, the men were characterised very well although once or twice in dialogues it wasn’t always clear who was speaking - as though he got the voices mixed up!
As things started to happen and the pace (literally) picked up the elements of the plot came together to a logical and satisfying conclusion - although for me there were no surprises.
Bond is often in Q’s mind and it appears that he has secreted a few gadgets away from MI6 but there is also a very human side to the story, I liked Mort, Q’s father especially, but it is never overly sentimental and doesn’t drift too far from being believable and realistic. A good balance and good story telling, I enjoyed it very much.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
November 30, 2025
Quantum of Menace (Q Mysteries, Book 1) (Audiobook)
Author: Vaseem Khan Narrator: Alexander Armstrong
Rating for the Story: 10/10
Rating for the Narrator: 9/10
After Q’s unexpected dismissal from MI6, he finds himself back in his hometown investigating the death of his childhood best friend, Peter Napier, a renowned quantum computer scientist. Although Peter’s death is ruled accidental by the police, Q receives a cryptic letter from him on the day of his death, suggesting foul play. A sinister conspiracy seems to shroud Peter’s demise.
I really enjoyed this brilliant book. It’s such a clever idea to put Q from the Bond franchise front and center as the main character, investigating the death of his friend. Although some might find the plot lingers a bit in the first half, I didn’t mind it, as the author needed to establish Q’s background and introduce the major characters in this first novel and I think it was done really well. The crime mystery might not be the most complex, but it’s logical and well structured. It was great to see Q using his MI6 connections and expertise to investigate the case, and even Bond makes an appearance. It was also really fun to see Q using high-tech spy gadgets or improvising with ordinary objects to get himself out of danger. His dog, Bastard, and his robot companion, Honeypenny, were just two of the many delightful touches throughout the story. Overall, the book felt like a mix of cozy crime, James Bond, and a bit of MacGyver.
Alexander Armstrong did a really good job narrating this audiobook. Although I occasionally had to relisten because some of the character voices sounded similar, his performance overall was very effective in capturing the emotions and personalities of each character. I especially loved his nuanced delivery during the interactions between Q and his father, Mort.
This is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to so far this year, and I’m really looking forward to the next in the series.
Author: Vaseem Khan Narrator: Alexander Armstrong
Rating for the Story: 10/10
Rating for the Narrator: 9/10
After Q’s unexpected dismissal from MI6, he finds himself back in his hometown investigating the death of his childhood best friend, Peter Napier, a renowned quantum computer scientist. Although Peter’s death is ruled accidental by the police, Q receives a cryptic letter from him on the day of his death, suggesting foul play. A sinister conspiracy seems to shroud Peter’s demise.
I really enjoyed this brilliant book. It’s such a clever idea to put Q from the Bond franchise front and center as the main character, investigating the death of his friend. Although some might find the plot lingers a bit in the first half, I didn’t mind it, as the author needed to establish Q’s background and introduce the major characters in this first novel and I think it was done really well. The crime mystery might not be the most complex, but it’s logical and well structured. It was great to see Q using his MI6 connections and expertise to investigate the case, and even Bond makes an appearance. It was also really fun to see Q using high-tech spy gadgets or improvising with ordinary objects to get himself out of danger. His dog, Bastard, and his robot companion, Honeypenny, were just two of the many delightful touches throughout the story. Overall, the book felt like a mix of cozy crime, James Bond, and a bit of MacGyver.
Alexander Armstrong did a really good job narrating this audiobook. Although I occasionally had to relisten because some of the character voices sounded similar, his performance overall was very effective in capturing the emotions and personalities of each character. I especially loved his nuanced delivery during the interactions between Q and his father, Mort.
This is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to so far this year, and I’m really looking forward to the next in the series.
July 29, 2025
Bruised from his ousting from MI6 on account of contrived ‘budget cuts’ by the new M, Q is back in civilian life not knowing what has hit him. When his childhood friend reaches out to him from beyond the grave Q can’t let go of investigating the reasons behind his friend’s death. He shows all the resourcefulness you would expect from a scientist who has been equipping the Double O agents of the British secret service.
Now for a confession. I’ve not read any Ian Fleming or any incarnation from the Bond universe before, so I was not sure what to expect. I grew up watching the Bond films in the Roger Moore era. There’s a witty style in the narrative. Early on Khan shows his inventedness with witty similes. Without the sexism and overt jingoism of the dramatised versions Khan weaves the light hearted Roger Moore era, in particular, into this work as Q’s relentlessness to unearth the truth proceeds. Q is given a purpose in seeking out, not just who killed his friend, but why. He’s given a past and a family as background stories to the overall plot and he inherits his neighbour’s depressed dog, known as Bastard. He draws on mantras he’s heard uttered by James Bond.
The story is built up layer by layer and just when it seems Q has discovered the truth there’s still pieces of the puzzle missing. As a lover of the Bond universe and an accomplished crime novelist Vaseem Khan brings us a believable character in Q/Major Boothroyd who no doubt will have several more interesting outings as the series progresses. For lovers of crime fiction there’s the layers of mystery within a mystery to solve. For lovers of James Bond there are repeated references to Bond and ways Q has interconnected with the life of the secret agent with a promise of more to come on that front. A five star recommendation. I expect this book is going to win some awards too.
Now for a confession. I’ve not read any Ian Fleming or any incarnation from the Bond universe before, so I was not sure what to expect. I grew up watching the Bond films in the Roger Moore era. There’s a witty style in the narrative. Early on Khan shows his inventedness with witty similes. Without the sexism and overt jingoism of the dramatised versions Khan weaves the light hearted Roger Moore era, in particular, into this work as Q’s relentlessness to unearth the truth proceeds. Q is given a purpose in seeking out, not just who killed his friend, but why. He’s given a past and a family as background stories to the overall plot and he inherits his neighbour’s depressed dog, known as Bastard. He draws on mantras he’s heard uttered by James Bond.
The story is built up layer by layer and just when it seems Q has discovered the truth there’s still pieces of the puzzle missing. As a lover of the Bond universe and an accomplished crime novelist Vaseem Khan brings us a believable character in Q/Major Boothroyd who no doubt will have several more interesting outings as the series progresses. For lovers of crime fiction there’s the layers of mystery within a mystery to solve. For lovers of James Bond there are repeated references to Bond and ways Q has interconnected with the life of the secret agent with a promise of more to come on that front. A five star recommendation. I expect this book is going to win some awards too.
September 22, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This probably has to have been my most anticipated book of the year. I met Vaseem at the Harrogate Crime Festival and he seemed like such a nice man.
My late father was an enormous James Bond fan, and even though he died eight years ago, I still keep hold of his Bond DVD collection, so yeah, this had a lot to live up to. And if I'm honest, it didn't.
I struggled with it. It felt a bit...I don't know how t explain it, like the characters were trying to be all mysterious and in doing so, every sentence felt like an internal commentary, like every sentence was trying to be mysterious and it felt a bit flimsy, I suppose is the way I can describe it. Like everything was trying to hard and I was struggling to actually figure out the meaning of the sentence. I don't know fi that made sense but it's the only way I can describe it.
It's quite repetitive. I don't mind repetition on the whole, but it was too much in this and grated on me.
It's in the third person and had a number of narrators and POVs, which I usually like but I found it quite confusing flitting from one to the next and I was struggling to keep up.
I found myself tuning out a bit, like I kept looking at the page number to see how long I had left, and I was wondering if I could skip bits. I usually give a book 25% through before I DNF and I could have given up at several points here but I did push through.
I can appreciate Vaseem's ability in world creating, that was impressive.
Maybe the spy genre is one that I appreciate more on the screen than on the page, who knows. I don't usually feel bad about writing negative reviews because it's just my opinion, but because I like Vaseem as a person (of what I know him) and this has been praised so much, but I have to be honest. Looking at other reviews, it does feel like a 5 star or 2 star read, so I feel I'm not alone.
But it does post the question as to whether we needed a dedicated Q book or not. I'm not sure Q is a reliable and strong enough narrator to have his own book.
This probably has to have been my most anticipated book of the year. I met Vaseem at the Harrogate Crime Festival and he seemed like such a nice man.
My late father was an enormous James Bond fan, and even though he died eight years ago, I still keep hold of his Bond DVD collection, so yeah, this had a lot to live up to. And if I'm honest, it didn't.
I struggled with it. It felt a bit...I don't know how t explain it, like the characters were trying to be all mysterious and in doing so, every sentence felt like an internal commentary, like every sentence was trying to be mysterious and it felt a bit flimsy, I suppose is the way I can describe it. Like everything was trying to hard and I was struggling to actually figure out the meaning of the sentence. I don't know fi that made sense but it's the only way I can describe it.
It's quite repetitive. I don't mind repetition on the whole, but it was too much in this and grated on me.
It's in the third person and had a number of narrators and POVs, which I usually like but I found it quite confusing flitting from one to the next and I was struggling to keep up.
I found myself tuning out a bit, like I kept looking at the page number to see how long I had left, and I was wondering if I could skip bits. I usually give a book 25% through before I DNF and I could have given up at several points here but I did push through.
I can appreciate Vaseem's ability in world creating, that was impressive.
Maybe the spy genre is one that I appreciate more on the screen than on the page, who knows. I don't usually feel bad about writing negative reviews because it's just my opinion, but because I like Vaseem as a person (of what I know him) and this has been praised so much, but I have to be honest. Looking at other reviews, it does feel like a 5 star or 2 star read, so I feel I'm not alone.
But it does post the question as to whether we needed a dedicated Q book or not. I'm not sure Q is a reliable and strong enough narrator to have his own book.
September 24, 2025
Before I start this review, I should confess that I am not a fan of Bond, he is not my cup of tea. The reason I mention this is that some readers may think that Quantum of Menace, written by Vaseem Khan, may not be for them. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Bond is still alive and well, you will be reassured to know. Blowing things up, and bedding women with great enthusiasm and aplomb, but not in this book. This is not Bond, this is the Bond adjacent world, where Q takes centre stage.
Q has taken early retirement from MI6, allegedly by mutual consent, though he felt it was rather more of an enforced changing of the guard. He is brought back to his childhood home of Wickstone-on-Water, by an encrypted letter from his friend Peter Napier. It was written on the day Peter died, which seems too much of a coincidence for Q, despite the local police finding nothing amiss.
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, two of the names brought a smile to my face whenever they were mentioned. I will let you work out which ones for yourself. The book was well written, and kept me engaged as the chapters flew by. The audiobook is ably narrated by Alexander Armstrong. I think his voice is perfectly pitched, especially for Q and Mort.
The humour is dry, and generously scattered through the pages. I could feel the amused arched eyebrow on Vaseem’s face as he wrote, and Alexander’s smile as he voiced the wry witty words. I enjoyed the nods to Bond, some of which were tongue in cheek, all were written with great affection to Fleming’s hero.
Quantum of Menace is a hugely enjoyable and entertaining read, at the gentler end of the scale. It is a book that will appeal to many readers, I will be gifting it to my Dad as I know he will enjoy it too. There appears to be scope for a second book in the series. I will keep my fingers crossed, as I would love to return to Wickstone.
Bond is still alive and well, you will be reassured to know. Blowing things up, and bedding women with great enthusiasm and aplomb, but not in this book. This is not Bond, this is the Bond adjacent world, where Q takes centre stage.
Q has taken early retirement from MI6, allegedly by mutual consent, though he felt it was rather more of an enforced changing of the guard. He is brought back to his childhood home of Wickstone-on-Water, by an encrypted letter from his friend Peter Napier. It was written on the day Peter died, which seems too much of a coincidence for Q, despite the local police finding nothing amiss.
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, two of the names brought a smile to my face whenever they were mentioned. I will let you work out which ones for yourself. The book was well written, and kept me engaged as the chapters flew by. The audiobook is ably narrated by Alexander Armstrong. I think his voice is perfectly pitched, especially for Q and Mort.
The humour is dry, and generously scattered through the pages. I could feel the amused arched eyebrow on Vaseem’s face as he wrote, and Alexander’s smile as he voiced the wry witty words. I enjoyed the nods to Bond, some of which were tongue in cheek, all were written with great affection to Fleming’s hero.
Quantum of Menace is a hugely enjoyable and entertaining read, at the gentler end of the scale. It is a book that will appeal to many readers, I will be gifting it to my Dad as I know he will enjoy it too. There appears to be scope for a second book in the series. I will keep my fingers crossed, as I would love to return to Wickstone.
October 16, 2025
Vaseem Khan widens the James Bond universe with a semi-cosy crime novel that focuses on the activities of Major Boothroyd, better known as Q. Quantum Of Menace, (Bonnier, 23 October 2025), opens with Q back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water after being unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence. His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seem uninterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate, and soon discovers that Napier’s ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces.
This is an enjoyable romp that falls somewhere between the spy thriller and the classic murder mystery. The pacing is slow to start with, but it picks up as the story progresses, and the ending produces some good thrills and a neat final twist. The setting of Wickstone-on-Water is well described and interesting, and the book covers a wide range of themes and social issues. The plotting is well thought through and quite elaborate, with a number of different strands and several suspects. There is also a neat sting in the tail.
Q is a fascinating character, and Khan nicely fleshes him out and gives him a good, complex backstory that plays a part in unravelling the murder of Napier. There is a rich supporting cast of interesting characters, and regulars from the James Bond books and films make brief appearances, including the man himself!
Overall, Quantum Of Menace is an enjoyable slice of entertainment with a good story, interesting characters and amusing dollops of humour.
Full review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/o...
This is an enjoyable romp that falls somewhere between the spy thriller and the classic murder mystery. The pacing is slow to start with, but it picks up as the story progresses, and the ending produces some good thrills and a neat final twist. The setting of Wickstone-on-Water is well described and interesting, and the book covers a wide range of themes and social issues. The plotting is well thought through and quite elaborate, with a number of different strands and several suspects. There is also a neat sting in the tail.
Q is a fascinating character, and Khan nicely fleshes him out and gives him a good, complex backstory that plays a part in unravelling the murder of Napier. There is a rich supporting cast of interesting characters, and regulars from the James Bond books and films make brief appearances, including the man himself!
Overall, Quantum Of Menace is an enjoyable slice of entertainment with a good story, interesting characters and amusing dollops of humour.
Full review here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/o...
October 27, 2025
„Q. Cząstka strachu” jest zmyślnym połączeniem thrillera szpiegowskiego, gdzie Khan łączy świat Bonda z intrygą skupiona na technologii.
Pomysł zbudowania historii wokół legendarnej postaci „Q” z MI6 mnie kupił od samego początku, bo Boothroyd zawsze miał dla mnie w sobie lekko niewykorzystany potencjał. Postać dostaje trochę nowe życie, wysuwając się na pierwszy plan, a nie jak było to dotychczas działający w cieniu 007. Q po powrocie w rodzinne strony oczekuje chwili wytchnienia, jednak śmierć przyjaciela zmienia wszystko i rozpoczyna się gra, której stawka jest znacznie większa niż życie jednostki.
Historia jak to w tym uniwersum bywa utrzymana jest w konwencji thrillera szpiegowskiego, połączonego z kryminałem. Fabuła rozwija się dynamicznie, ale bardzo spójnie. Skupienie się fabularnie wokół technologi i rewolucyjnych odkryć nadaje tej historii dużo współczesności i autentyczności. Doceniam, że autor nie bał się wprowadzać wątków humorystycznych, które były odświeżające i nadały historii jeszcze więcej Bondowskich nut, ponieważ gdy napięcie zaczyna szczytować, Khan za sprawą dialogu, czy sceny był w stanie rozładować napięcie, by ponownie je odbudowywać.
Książka nie jest pozbawiona refleksji na temat lojalności i kosztów, jakie często musi ponosić geniusz i samotności ludzi będących niemal zakładnikiem pracy. Mnie rozbudowanie postaci Q zdecydowanie zadowoliło, ponieważ pokazanie złożoności tego bohatera, jego wewnętrznego rozdarcia dodała historii jeszcze więcej emocji. Khan stworzył świeżą, inteligentną powieść szpiegowską z współczesnym zacięciem. Bardzo dobry łącznik między klasyką szpiegowską a uwspółcześnioną wersje thrillera, gdzie technologia może stanowić prawdziwe zagrożenie.
October 28, 2025
I was quite excited when I heard that Q was going to get his own book series. An integral part of the Bond series, he must deserve the limelight? No? Well, actually, sorry, but, after reading this, the series opener, I do actually think no...
If I read once I read many, many times how he has been "let go" from the agency. Cast adrift, with no lifeline. That really didn't sit well with me but was instrumental to having him go it alone, which is the point of this new series. But, even though I tried to come to terms and accept it, I couldn't.
Now, if you imagine the main character as someone other than Q, then the story he gets embroiled in actually worked really well for me. Hence I finished the book. Even though the first half to two thirds was so slow... Maybe that also didn't help me get on with Q... I did like it that he has history with the Cop, and I also enjoyed his relationship with his father, and his dog who I can't name here!
There were the obvious cameos from the Bond universe, including the man himself, which I can't help wondering were included to hammer home the fact it was Q that was the MC as, even with scant knowledge of him from previous books (and of course the films) never really felt completely right to me. The majority of which also added little to the overall plot but did add to the overall story dragging.
Gee I do sound scathing... But I have to say it as I saw it. Maybe it just wasn't for me? Maybe I wanted more than it gave? Maybe my expectation was too high? Maybe the series will get better with time? I'll probably give book two a chance as I never sack a series off after just one book but I don't think I will rush to get hold of a copy...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
If I read once I read many, many times how he has been "let go" from the agency. Cast adrift, with no lifeline. That really didn't sit well with me but was instrumental to having him go it alone, which is the point of this new series. But, even though I tried to come to terms and accept it, I couldn't.
Now, if you imagine the main character as someone other than Q, then the story he gets embroiled in actually worked really well for me. Hence I finished the book. Even though the first half to two thirds was so slow... Maybe that also didn't help me get on with Q... I did like it that he has history with the Cop, and I also enjoyed his relationship with his father, and his dog who I can't name here!
There were the obvious cameos from the Bond universe, including the man himself, which I can't help wondering were included to hammer home the fact it was Q that was the MC as, even with scant knowledge of him from previous books (and of course the films) never really felt completely right to me. The majority of which also added little to the overall plot but did add to the overall story dragging.
Gee I do sound scathing... But I have to say it as I saw it. Maybe it just wasn't for me? Maybe I wanted more than it gave? Maybe my expectation was too high? Maybe the series will get better with time? I'll probably give book two a chance as I never sack a series off after just one book but I don't think I will rush to get hold of a copy...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
October 31, 2025
Wszyscy znamy Q — genialnego wynalazcę z filmów o agencie Jej Królewskiej Mości. Nigdy bym nie przypuszczał, że kiedyś stanie się on głównym bohaterem książki z bondowskiego uniwersum. A jednak! I to jakiej książki! Połączenie powieści szpiegowskiej i kryminału totalnie mnie kupiło.
Nie jest to opowieść o 007, ale o zwolnionym z MI6 majorze, który dotąd dostarczał Bondowi techniczne nowinki potrzebne w akcjach. Tym razem to on wyrusza na misję — prywatną i emocjonalną. Bo Q ma coś, czego Bondowi zawsze brakowało: paletę uczuć i ogromną dozę empatii. To właśnie one pomagają mu rozwikłać zagadkę śmierci przyjaciela z dzieciństwa, a nam – cieszyć się z tak znakomicie nakreślonej przez Vaseema Khana postaci.
Q to bohater, któremu kibicujemy od pierwszych stron. Jest ludzki, zwyczajny, mimo że wyszkolony przez służby, gdzie emocje raczej się ukrywa niż okazuje. Książka trzyma w napięciu do ostatniej strony i dostarcza kapitalnej rozrywki, czerpiąc z ducha Iana Fleminga. Cień najsłynniejszego szpiega przewija się przez całą fabułę, aż w końcu i on sam się pojawia — co stanowi miłe zaskoczenie, choć tym razem nie gra pierwszych skrzypiec.
Vaseem Khan stworzył inteligentny, przebiegły thriller z wyczuciem i humorem. To opowieść napisana sprytnie, pełna cech klasycznej sensacji, ale wyróżniająca się dowcipem i dystansem. Dzięki temu książka czyta się błyskawicznie – pomagają w tym krótkie, dynamiczne rozdziały. To inteligentna, przemyślana w każdym calu rozrywka i popkulturowa zabawa z najwyższej półki.
Ciekawe, czy Q doczeka się własnej serii — i ekranizacji. Myślę, że mogłyby być równie ekscytujące jak powieści o Bondzie, a może nawet ciekawsze.
Serdecznie polecam.
Za egzemplarz dziękuję @skarpawarszawska
Nie jest to opowieść o 007, ale o zwolnionym z MI6 majorze, który dotąd dostarczał Bondowi techniczne nowinki potrzebne w akcjach. Tym razem to on wyrusza na misję — prywatną i emocjonalną. Bo Q ma coś, czego Bondowi zawsze brakowało: paletę uczuć i ogromną dozę empatii. To właśnie one pomagają mu rozwikłać zagadkę śmierci przyjaciela z dzieciństwa, a nam – cieszyć się z tak znakomicie nakreślonej przez Vaseema Khana postaci.
Q to bohater, któremu kibicujemy od pierwszych stron. Jest ludzki, zwyczajny, mimo że wyszkolony przez służby, gdzie emocje raczej się ukrywa niż okazuje. Książka trzyma w napięciu do ostatniej strony i dostarcza kapitalnej rozrywki, czerpiąc z ducha Iana Fleminga. Cień najsłynniejszego szpiega przewija się przez całą fabułę, aż w końcu i on sam się pojawia — co stanowi miłe zaskoczenie, choć tym razem nie gra pierwszych skrzypiec.
Vaseem Khan stworzył inteligentny, przebiegły thriller z wyczuciem i humorem. To opowieść napisana sprytnie, pełna cech klasycznej sensacji, ale wyróżniająca się dowcipem i dystansem. Dzięki temu książka czyta się błyskawicznie – pomagają w tym krótkie, dynamiczne rozdziały. To inteligentna, przemyślana w każdym calu rozrywka i popkulturowa zabawa z najwyższej półki.
Ciekawe, czy Q doczeka się własnej serii — i ekranizacji. Myślę, że mogłyby być równie ekscytujące jak powieści o Bondzie, a może nawet ciekawsze.
Serdecznie polecam.
Za egzemplarz dziękuję @skarpawarszawska
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