I’m so excited! Charlie Higson, who wrote the fantastic Young Bond books, is writing a full-length James Bond novel for adults! This will be the first time he’s tackled the adult 007, and I can’t wait to see what he does with it.
Penguin Michael Joseph will publish the novel, KING ZERO, in the UK and Commonwealth on September 24, 2026.
Charlie Higson, known for writing five young Bond novels between 2005 and 2008, recently began writing about the adult James Bond. His first adult 007 story, a short novel called ‘On His Majesty’s Secret Service,’ was released in 2023 to coincide with King Charles III’s coronation. The story involves Bond working to prevent a disruption to the coronation events.
The new book, KING ZERO, picks up where the last one left off with more thrilling adventures. The story kicks off with the murder of an agent in Saudi Arabia using a completely new and unknown weapon. This sets off a worldwide race against time to prevent a global disaster. The synopsis promises this novel updates the classic Bond character for modern times, showing a world in transition and introducing a villain as memorable as Goldfinger.
Higson shared that after writing his Young Bond series and a short story based on ‘On His Majesty’s Secret Service,’ he’s thrilled to be writing a full-length James Bond novel for adults. He said typing the iconic phrase, ‘The name’s Bond, James Bond,’ still gives him goosebumps, even after 20 years.
I’m really enjoying writing this new novel. It’s set in the present day and I’m aiming for that popular airport-read quality, like a lot of contemporary thrillers. It draws inspiration from both the literary and film versions of James Bond, and my villain is designed to feel like a classic Bond nemesis, but with a unique and original angle.
Joel Richardson, a publisher, obtained the rights to the novel through Viola Hayden and Ciara Finan at Curtis Brown, who represented Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.
According to Richardson, James Bond is a truly unique character in fiction, and Charlie Higson has done the best job of capturing his essence since Ian Fleming’s death. They were incredibly impressed with Higson’s take on Bond, believing it will appeal to both longtime fans and new readers, and they’re excited to publish what they think will be the most stylish and sophisticated book of the year.
Amanda Douglas, Managing Director at Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, expressed her excitement about partnering with Penguin Michael Joseph to publish “King Zero.” She noted that this collaboration marks another opportunity to work with Charlie Higson, following his successful creation of a James Bond story for the King’s Coronation, and they are thrilled to continue bringing James Bond adventures to fans.
If you’re as excited about books as I am, you absolutely have to check out The TopMob Book Club! They’ve got everything – the newest updates on what we’re reading, fascinating interviews with the authors themselves, chances to ask them questions directly, and thoughtful reviews of past selections. It’s a book lover’s paradise, and I’m so glad I found it!
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Molly Moss writes about the newest happenings in TV, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has also contributed to major news outlets like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.
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2026-04-01 11:34