I read the original book in advance of the upcoming  full-cast audio adaptation of Young Bond: SilverFin on October 29, 2026.

This might be good for young adults. But I found it too unbelievable, even for a James Bond story.

SilverFin is a 2005 spy novel written by Charlie Higson. It is the first book in the Young Bond series, which chronicles the adventures of Ian Fleming’s iconic superspy James Bond during his teenage years in the 1930s.

He wrote 4 more after this one.

Plot Overview

• Eton College: The story begins in 1933 with a 13-year-old James Bond starting his first term at Eton College, where he deals with the rigors of school life, joins the school’s athletic ranks, and faces a cruel bully named George Hellebore.
• The Scottish Highlands: During his Easter holiday, James travels to the remote shores of Loch Silverfin in Scotland to stay with his terminally ill Uncle Max and Aunt Charmain.
• The Missing Boy: While there, James teams up with a local boy named Red Kelly to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Red’s cousin.
• The Hellebore Secret: Their search leads them to a heavily guarded castle owned by George Hellebore’s father, Lord Hellebore. Inside, they uncover a horrific, illegal medical experiment involving Nazi scientists and a serum derived from eels designed to create unstoppable “supersoldiers.