Book No. 5 From Russia With Love

Well, here it is. Ian Fleming's fifth Bond novel was published in 1957. It is my favorite Bond novel. It is also the favorite of former president Kennedy. He gave a top 10 list of his favorite books to Life magazine in 1961, and From Russia With Love was the only fiction book on the list.

There are spoilers in this plot summary.
Before the novel begins, Fleming wrote a disclaimer. In it he says that the facts about the SMERSH organization are true. He also states the address, and the meeting room described is an accurate detail. True, Ian Fleming worked for Naval Intelligence during World War II, but is he being serious? I don't know. And I can't ask him either.
The first third of the book does not revolve around James Bond at all Instead, SMERSH is given the front seat. But SMERSH is falling behind on the job. A super secret meeting is held to devise of a plan to become more intimidating and let everyone know who's the boss. They decide they must destroy the "thorn in their thumb" the one man who brought down two important SMERSH agents, Le Chiffre and Mr. Big. You guest it, James Bond.
They put SMERSH agent Rosa Kleb in charge of the job. She hires super killer Donavan "Red" Grant to do the deed. To get Bond out in the open she orders Russian Corporal (and beautiful hottie) Tatiana Romanova to claim she fell in love with Bond, while studying his file photo. She's told to offer the Russian Spektor machine used to decode secret messages. An obvious trap that SMERSH believes will be "so obviously a trap" that Bond and MI6 can not resist.
Well, not surprisingly, M and the rest of the MI6 smell a trap a mile away. And it being so obvious, M sends Bond right into the trap, confident that his agent will either actually receive the Spektor, or he could get to the top of the organization, and bring it crumbling down.
So both said ego on, both playing eachother, and knowing that each side is attempting to play eachother. But SMERSH didn't account for Tatiana actually falling in love with James Bond. She helps him to kill his would-be assassin, Red Grant. But Rosa Kleb tracks him down, and comes after him with her poisoned tip shoe. Bond shoots her, but not before she poisons Bond, and he falls to the ground.

This is my favorite Bond novels by Ian Fleming. I love how the first third doesn't mention James Bond but only once. Then Red Grant is the perfect assassin. I love hoe Ian Fleming gives the backgrounds of him and the rest of the SMERSH organization. Its great to finally know the specifics of their organization after them being mentioned in previous books. I suggest for you to read this book. Its a 10/10.