Deaver Takes on Next Bond Book

Well, this is a surprise. From The New York Times:

The next James Bond book will be written by Jeffery Deaver, the best-selling thriller writer, Simon & Schuster announced on Thursday. The novel, with the working title “Project X,” is expected to be set in the present day and take Bond to at least three “exotic locations around the globe.” It is scheduled for publication in May 2011. Mr. Deaver, the author of “The Bone Collector” and “Garden of Beasts,” said in a statement that he was thrilled to be asked by representatives of the Ian Fleming estate to write the book. “The novel will maintain the persona of James Bond as Fleming created him and the unique tone the author brought to his books, while incorporating my own literary trademarks: detailed research, fast pacing and surprise twists.” The book will be published by Hodder & Stoughton in Britain and Simon & Schuster in the United States.

(Hat tip to The HMSS Weblog.)

READ MORE: “Bond, James Bond, Comes Back for More in New Novel,” by Jennifer Quinn (Associated Press).