KEY POINTS:
Hurricane gold
By Charlie Higson
Puffin, $25
A clever conceit of Charlie Higson's excellent Young Bond series is that the novels loosely parallel the sequence established by Ian Fleming's original novels of the adult 007. Hurricane Gold finds the teenage James once again in more exotic climes. While Fleming's fourth Bond Diamonds Are Forever saw the world's greatest spy heading to Africa to lick wounds sustained in his previous adventure, Hurricane Gold begins with his similarly injured youthful self, convalescing in Mexico, where he inevitably runs into trouble - in Lagrimas Negras, a secret island hideaway for wealthy criminals run by the tyrannical El Huracn.
From ancient Mayan temples to devastating floods, Higson chucks everything into the mix, creating a rip-roaring tale that will appeal to readers of all ages. A true Bond aficionado, Higson deftly lays the seeds for the not particularly pleasant adult that the young James will later become, depicting a quick-witted, athletic boy not academically gifted but surely bound for greater things. He also neatly preludes next year's fifth - and his last - Young Bond. Enjoy the ride while you can.
- Detours, HoS
