Writing in "The Times", Peter Millar thought that "This is vintage Bond, in a very real sense"; he went on to observe that the central figure was "Bond as Fleming abandoned him, shortly before his own death". Millar summarised his critique by saying that the novel was a "ripping yarn, but don't take it seriously". Sam Leith, reviewing the novel for "The Daily Telegraph" thought that Faulks managed to avoid pastiche in his writing of the book, but had some fun, with "crass stuff ... being played, of course, for laughs". Leith noted that aside from the more camp elements to the book—of which he approved—"when throttles down and lets the Bond schtick do its own work he soon hits a comfortable cruising speed. Plot Bristol fashion: violent pre-credit sequence; flirtatious exchange with Moneypenny; apprehension mid-snoop; transportation to secret base; villain confessing plans; thwarting of plans; coitus."