What you are looking at is the best spy novel ever written. Flemming's work might now be a little dated, but is well worth reading. The novel is much better than the film, as we get to see Bond as a more vulnerable being that what we do on screen. Of course, the best scenes are those taking place around the Bacarat table; they are extremely intense and will hold your attention for hours.

One of the better murder mysteries of recent years, Too many Murders pushes the tiny Holloman police department to its limits. Twelve murders occur in one day, and although Carmine quickly solves one he soon comes to realise that the others may be connected to a mysterious, communist threat originating with a defence company.

Although lacking the twist endings of the other books, it is still my favourite, notably for an unintentionally funny exchange between Delmonico and an FBI agent (you wouldn't expect that kind of outburst from one of McCullough's characters), and the rather inventive death by oversized bear-trap right at the start.

For loves of old school mysteries, you can't go past his.