Mixed results here. A promising opening and middle section fizzles out with an all too brief anticlimax. Fleming has an knack for succinct and evocative scene setting and the depiction of the horse meet is great as is the period detail (when read with modern eyes). Setting Bond back in America is a shame though after the unexpected British setting of the last book but at least we're not saddled with the sheer degree of racism we got with [b:Live and Let Die|17304110|Live and Let Die (James Bond, #2)|Ian Fleming|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359471206s/17304110.jpg|171188]. Here it's much more tempered. So that's an improvement?

Bond himself is exposed a little more (he wants kids!) and we see a softer side to him at times as Miss Case brings on the mushy. However, his complete inability to put it all together and spot the two assassins near the end is just ridiculous, even if it does set up a suspenseful stand off.

Not bad but could have been a lot better.