I’m a huge fan of Vaseem Khan, both as a writer and a fabulous human being. Consequently it was a real treat to catch up with Vas at my local literary festival and have him sign a copy of the first in his spin-off series from the Fleming James Bond books; Quantum of Menace. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Quantum of Menace today.
You’ll find other posts on Linda’s Book Bag featuring Vaseem here.
Published by Zaffre, Quantum of Menace is available for purchase through the publisher links here.
Quantum of Menace
Q is out of MI6 . . .
. . . and in over his head
After Major Boothroyd (aka Q) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6’s Double O agents, he is adrift, unsure of his place in a world where the stakes aren’t always life or death. But when he learns that his childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, Q is drawn back to his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water.
Frustrated by the police, who consider the case closed, Q is compelled to investigate, starting with a cryptic note Napier sent him on the day of his death. Q soon discovers that Napier’s ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces . . . but can he decode the truth before danger closes in?
My Review of Quantum of Mencace
Recently ousted from MI6, Q is at a loose end.
Having long been a fan of Vaseem Khan’s historical Malabar House series, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a James Bond spin-off as I’ve never read one of the original books. What I found was enough familiar reference to 007 to please any Bond fan, but without overwhelming or alienating those of us without any depth of knowledge. Quantum of Menace is a skilful and carefully crafted start to a series that I fully expect to be equally as popular as Fleming’s books. I loved it.
The plot is a belter. It romps along, blending mystery, science and organised crime with conventional policing, alongside intelligent sleuthing from Q. I must mention too the smashing wit threaded throughout and the variety of sentence structure that means tantalising hooks draw in the reader, making them desperate to know what happens next. There’s impressive insight into the world of quantum physics and espionage too so that Quantum of Menace is multi-faceted, providing something for any reader.
Q is a brilliant creation as he is obsessive in believing his childhood friend Peter Napier was murdered and he has a strong sense of justice and what is right. At the same time, he’s more than willing to circumvent the rules, pull in favours or behave in an underhand manner. In effect, he’s human. I loved the potential for romance with Kathy; the woman Q spurned years before and am hoping that might develop in future books. Equally appealing is his upbringing, relationship with his father and the insight into why Q behaves and thinks as he does.
Indeed, Q has a marked sociological and emotional depth. Q’s understanding of Zak for example, illustrates how we all have potential and provides a subtle insight into immigration, single parent families and prejudice. I loved these emotionally intelligent asides to the main plot because they added depth and texture to Quantum of Menace. There’s also an unnerving gravitas beneath the lightness of touch. Big tech, cyber security, international threat and control, all bubble under the surface, echoing elements that we hear about every day so that there’s an unsettling authenticity to this romp of a book.
Bridging the gap perfectly between gritty thrillers and cosy crime, Quantum of Menace is a triumph. Hugely entertaining, filled with both realism and surprise, this story is a real corker. It’s packed with drama, stylishly written and completely addictive. I thought it was absolutely excellent.
About Vaseem Khan
Vaseem Khan is the author of two award-winning crime series set in India, the Baby Ganesh Agency series set in modern Mumbai, and the Malabar House historical crime novels set in 1950s Bombay. His first book, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020, and is translated into 16 languages. The second in the series won the Shamus Award in the US. In 2018, he was awarded the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Award for Literature. Vaseem was born in England, but spent a decade working in India. In 2021, Midnight at Malabar House won the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger, the world’s premier award for historical crime fiction.
For more information about Vaseem visit his website, or follow him on X @VaseemKhanUK, Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook.
English (US) · 