The main theme of the novel is drugs, which Faulks said came partly from the timeframe of the novel and partly from Fleming not using it as a major theme: "1967, the summer of love ... Drugs were first coming to public notice. The Stones were busted, and there was that famous leader in "The Times". And, you know, what are we talking about now all the time? Drugs. It's still very resonant. And there's little about drug-dealing in Fleming. It's not something he did in any depth." Faulks also wanted to broaden the aspect of the story compared to Fleming: "The book is set during the Cold War and I wanted it to not just be a crime story but to also have a political background. I was also determined that although the book is set in 1967, I wanted the issues that it touches on to still be alive to us today".