High Time to Kill

James Bond (Original Series)

By: Raymond Benson

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's summary

The Union is a criminal organization with tentacles throughout the world, specializing in military espionage, theft, intimidation, and murder. After one of its agents assassinates Bond's friend and host at a glittering dinner in the Bahamas, the Union becomes 007's priority target.

When information vital to Britain's national security is stolen, both M and Bond suspect that the Union is behind it. The trail leads Bond from one of England's most exclusive golf clubs to the cosmopolitan city of Brussels and finally to an expedition up the icy heights of the legendary mountain Kangchenjunga, the third tallest peak in the world. Led by the abrasive mountaineer Group Captain Roland Marquis, aided by the expedition's sexy and beautiful doctor, Hope Kendall, and opposed by an unknown traitor working out of SIS itself, Bond must pit his strength and guile against two deadly adversaries - the forces of nature at high altitude and the most resourceful criminal minds he has ever encountered.

©1999 Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. JAMES BOND and 007 are the registered trade marks of Danjaq LLC, used under license by Ian Fleming Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

I wish they'd make a movie of this

What did you love best about High Time to Kill?

The isolated setting and clear goal

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Absolutely. I found myself really trying to imagine the mountain setting

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He's the best

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I thought this would make for a really interesting Bond movie.

Any additional comments?

This may be my favorite Bond story of all time.

Formulaic but Excellent James Bond

Bond is amazing in the Raymond Benson books, written mostly through the 90's but still have a relevant feel in technology and culture although pre 9/11. I actually started on the last book of his series not realizing how many there were but this title you can listen to without listening to the previous books in the series.

"High Time to Kill" is Benson's 3rd original Bond in the series and is the best since the first "Zero Minus Ten". The action, characters and locations are typical Bond, but that is good thing. While I say Formulaic and Typical, I think most Bond fans find comfort in that - There is the women, the double-crosses and mystery that you need to see through to the last word. This book specifically gives some excellent characters to love and hate, possibly the best built characters outside of Bond himself. It also introduces a great arch nemesis in The Union, a group of baddies that Bond will run into over the next few novels.

Simon Vance is an EXCELLENT voice for Bond novels. I have tried to listen to a few other Bond novels not voiced by Mr Vance and I just can't get over how well he does. If you are a fan of the movies and want a more modern Bond story, I find the Ian Flemming novels a bit antique after so many great modern Bond movies have been made.

classic Bond

great story with some twists. high time to kill. Lmao. the reader brought the story to life

great book

Interesting storyline, good characters and good range of locations. Good representation of Bond and really well narrated.

Better than most

This is one of the first bond novels in a long line that has not been as predictable as the others

Pleasant Surprise

The Benson Bond is solid. And this escapade and plot was very good, and something that easily could be seen converted to a modern movie. The only critique is that the mountain climb was a bit drawn out.

Benson’s Best Bond

Great fun and an original situation. Would love to see some version of this make it into the film series. Interesting locales, villains, Bond girls and HIGH excitement. I really thought the character of Bond’s friend Chandra was terrific too and would be great on screen. No one performs Bond novels better than Vance either. He really portrays Fleming’s world, as does Mr. Benson.

Great Bond novel

Exciting novel featuring The Union. Very vivid story telling and Simon Vance is the master

Simon Vance gives well textured performance

Simon Vance’s performance is well balanced and modulated to the characters who are from different cultures, countries, genders, educations, motivations. He narrates a widely texture, and active plot, bad guys and good guys, extortion, double-crossing, gruesome calling card murders, and a new criminal organization, the Union. This is a quick and entertaining read, an above average Bond one.

Great read and listen

This is the first book in the trilogy involving the Union, an organization very similar to Spectre. I liked this story and the books that followed it, though in my opinion this is the better of the three stories.
This time Bond is trying to recover schematics for Skin 17, a prototype polymer to be used on airplanes.
Give this one a listen or a read.