James Bond

A man known only as Le Chiffre is in charge of a communist trade union in France and has dipped considerably into its funds. He intends to make up the deficit by gambling, before his masters in Moscow send the dreaded SMERSH to kill him. British Secret Service, in conjunction with the French and Americans decide to make sure he loses at the casino and sends James Bond to do the task.

The first half of the book is a spellbounding tale of intrique, gambling, deadly encounters and sheer luck as Bond succeeds in his mission. The latter half is an unrelated and unnecessary attempt to create depth and emotion through a terrible tale of the affair between Bond and the girl sent to assist him with the mission. I recommend you only read to first part of the book up to the end of the Baccarat game – for the latter half you only need to know that Vesper was a double agent working for the Soviets and she commits suicide.

A review of the movie can be found here.

A review of the movie can be found here.

A review of the movie can be found here.

A review of the movie can be found here.

A review of the movie can be found here.

A review of the movie can be found here.