Anthony Horowitz writing third Bond continuation novel

New book to be set after The Man With The Golden Gun.

This morning The Bookseller confirmed Anthony Horowitz is working on his third James Bond continuation novel. Today, of course, is also the anniversary of Ian Fleming’s birth in 1908 and often used for such announcements.

The announcement comes a day after the writer mistakenly teased an an imminent announcement on Twitter, quickly deleted, that coincided with Ian Fleming Publications doing the same. Horowitz’s now deleted tweet read:

The 20,000th words of my new novel is ‘balaclava’. More news tomorrow!

A minute later Ian Fleming Publications tweeted this:

That was just about as good a confirmation as you can get. The press release reads as follows:

A third Bond novel by Anthony Horowitz to come in 2022

To mark Ian Fleming’s birthday (born 28 May 1908), Jonathan Cape, Vintage and Ian Fleming Publications are delighted to announce that Anthony Horowitz, the award winning novelist and screenwriter, has been invited to write a third official James Bond novel.

Anthony Horowitz says: “I am very excited to have started my third Bond novel with the continuing support of the Ian Fleming estate. Forever and a Day looked at Bond’s first assignment. Trigger Mortis was mid-career. The new book begins with the death of Scaramanga and Bond’s return from Jamaica to confront an old enemy.”

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd says: “We’re delighted and excited that Anthony is writing his third Bond novel. From the nuggets we’ve seen so far, we are confident it will be another best-selling episode in the adventures of 007.”

Michal Shavit, Publishing Director at Jonathan Cape, says: “We are incredibly excited to be announcing the news on Ian Fleming’s birthday that we have a new James Bond novel by Anthony to look forward to next year. We can’t wait to share more details with readers of the iconic spy’s latest adventure under Anthony’s masterful tenure.”

Anthony’s third Bond novel will be published in May 2022 by Jonathan Cape in the UK, Commonwealth and EU and by Harper Collins US in the United States.

Source: Ian Fleming Publications

Update: Although The Bookseller item doesn’t specify it, a small placeholder cover states “May 2022”. Look out for the book this time next year!

Update: The text has been amended to include the press release from Ian Fleming Publications, which includes the May 2022 publication date.

David Leigh founded The James Bond Dossier in 2002. A fan of 007 since the age of 8, he is also author of The Complete Guide to the Drinks of James Bond. You can order a copy here if you don't own it already.

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