The Man with the Red Tattoo is a James Bond novel written by Raymond Benson, published in 2002. It is the sixth and final book in Benson’s continuation of the original James Bond series created by Ian Fleming. The story takes place in Japan and follows the iconic British secret agent, James Bond, as he investigates a mysterious criminal organization known as the Union.

The novel begins with Bond on vacation in Japan, where he meets a beautiful woman named Chiara. However, their romantic encounter is cut short when Bond receives a call from his superior, M. He is informed that a British businessman named Richard “Richie” Hanley has been murdered in Tokyo, and it appears to be the work of the Union.

Bond is assigned to investigate Hanley’s death and uncover the motives behind it. As he delves deeper into the case, he discovers that Hanley was involved in a secret project called “Garden of Death,” which aims to develop a deadly virus capable of wiping out entire populations. The Union intends to use this virus as a weapon for their own nefarious purposes.

Bond’s investigation leads him to cross paths with several intriguing characters, including Dr. Guntram Shatterhand, the head of the Garden of Death project, and his wife, Kissy Suzuki. He also encounters old enemies such as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who is believed to be dead but resurfaces as part of the Union.

As Bond gets closer to unraveling the truth behind Hanley’s murder and the Union’s plans, he faces numerous challenges and dangers along the way. From high-speed car chases through Tokyo to intense hand-to-hand combat, Bond must use all his skills and resources to stop the Union from unleashing chaos and destruction.

Throughout the novel, Benson incorporates elements of Japanese culture and tradition, providing readers with an immersive experience in this vibrant setting. From sumo wrestling matches to visits to ancient temples, the story is infused with rich descriptions of Japan’s unique atmosphere.

The Man with the Red Tattoo is a thrilling and action-packed James Bond adventure that combines espionage, suspense, and international intrigue. It showcases Bond’s resourcefulness, intelligence, and unwavering determination to protect the world from evil forces.

• The Man with the Red Tattoo

• James Bond (Original Series)
• By: Raymond Benson
• Narrated by: Simon Vance

When an English businessman and his family are killed in Japan by a dangerous form of West Nile disease, James Bond suspects a mass assassination. Investigating with the help of beautiful Japanese agent Reiko Tamura and his old friend, Tiger Tanaka, Bond searches for the killer and his only surviving daughter, Mayumi.

Bond’s discoveries lead him to believe that two powerful factions controlled by the mysterious terrorist Goro Yoshida are playing God. Between them, they had created a perfect weapon, a weapon small and seemingly insignificant enough to strike anywhere without being noticed.

With just a few days to go before the emergency G8 summit, Bond must finish work to discover when – and how – the next attack will happen. It’s a race against time as Bond confronts both humans and nature in a desperate attempt to stop the spread of a deadly virus that could destroy the Western world.

The Man with the Red Tattoo is usable and quite amusing, which is why this is a 4 star book. The biggest problem this book has is its over-reliance on nostalgia. While the previous book brings a character of the Fleming days through the story, that character is used less and has a greater effect than Tanaka’s return here. Due to the indiscriminate focus on the nostalgic element, the story does not flow as expected. But all in all, once again, The Man with the Red Tattoo is a usable and entertaining movie. It’s worth a try if you’re a 007 fan.

The alliance is dead but Goro Yoshida is still out there and he has a plan to unleash a deadly virus in the decadent West. Bond stumbles across many helpful allies and some pretty ferocious villains that make this book hard to put down. Raymond Benson ended his Bond writing career brilliantly. If you are a James Bond fan then you must read all six of Benson’s original Bond novels!!

 

Audiobookss audio player

Hi everyone, please be noticed that the Audio player doesn't play next track on IOS version < 15.6. If you are facing that issue, just upgrade your IOS to version 15.6 to fix it. Enjoy!