Introducing the James Bond Book Club

Ian Fleming Publications, the home of spy fiction, announces the launch of the James Bond Book Club.

The James Bond Book Club curates the best in spy fiction, with a new book revealed in the first week of each month, starting in December 2025.

From foundation-laying classics to razor-sharp modern thrillers, each pick will be chosen for its connection to the themes, style, or spirit of Ian Fleming’s iconic creation. Some books will have directly influenced Fleming’s writing while others meet the same high standards of tension, sophistication and craft: all of them embody something unmistakably Bond. Designed for the lifelong 007 fan and anyone who enjoys smart, stylish spy fiction, the James Bond Book Club brings a new way to discover standout stories from across the genre, from its defining classics to its boldest contemporary voices. Readers will be able to access exclusive content, including reviews, interviews and extra recommendations, and can join the conversation on the Ian Fleming social channels. 

The James Bond Book Club December Read

The first James Bond Book Club selection is The Lifeline (get this book on Amazon). Published in 1946, the book is written by Phyllis Bottome, the prolific English writer who mentored Ian Fleming, when he studied under her in Kitzbühel, Austria in the 1930s. 

The Lifeline is often discussed as a key influence on Fleming’s own spy fiction, and many critics claim that it directly inspired the character, James Bond.

The Lifeline is set in 1938 where Mark Chalmers, a master at Eton, is recruited by an old friend at the Foreign Office and introduced to his boss ‘B’. Reluctantly he agrees to take on a covert mission for British Intelligence – to parachute into Nazi-occupied Austria and pass on vital information to a British agent. Chalmers has no intention of committing himself beyond this one job but once he reaches his destination, he finds himself sucked into the cause – fighting fascism with the Underground.

Find the full feature on The Lifeline at ianfleming.com, and to celebrate the launch of the Book Club, copies of The Lifeline are being stocked at ianflemingshop.com and available at Amazon and Amazon UK.