Summary- This book opens with a brief explanation of a mission Bond had just been on. He busted up a drug smuggling ring in Mexico. He had to kill a Mexican at the end, and for some reason it bothered him more than usual. As Bond is about to board a plane back to England, by chance he runs into Mr. Du Pont, the man who sat to his right that fateful day long ago in the Casino Royale when he beat Le Chiffre. Mr. Du Pont asks for Bonds help to prove that a man named Goldfinger is cheating him at cards. Bond accepts, wanting a bit of relaxation, and thinking this job will be a snap. Bond does reveal Goldfinger's cheating ways, and that would have been that. Bond goes back to London, but very soon is called into M's office. It turns out that the Bank of England has reason to believe that Goldfinger is smuggling British gold into India. Bond is on the case, and ends up discovering Operation Grand Slam, a grandiose plot of Goldfinger's to rob Fort Knox. : Bond is captured and forced to help Goldfinger, but he manages to slip a message under the seat of an airplane toilet with a note offering 5000 dollars to anyone who can get the note to Felix Leiter. Bond ends up at Fort Knox, not knowing whether or not his note got to Leiter. Just before Goldfinger sets off a small atomic bomb to get into Fort Knox, The army shows up, care of Felix Leiter. The day appears to be saved, but Bond is kidnapped yet again by Goldfinger, who escaped. It turns out that he finances SMERSH, and he is taking Bond to SMERSH to be interrogated. Bond manages, with Pussy Galore's help, to puncture the cabin and kill Goldfinger. My Grade- B- This novel was good, but it wasn't as good as Dr. No. The ending where the dead people of Fort Knox are just faking was ruined a bit since that was what happened in the movie, so I knew what was coming. I liked how Leiter returned to save the day, but this is the first novel where I felt that Fleming could have ended it a bit sooner. The last chapter seemed out of place a little. Best Moment- The best moment is the chapter where James Bond plays Goldfinger at golf. The movie, for probably good reasons, cut the scene very short. (Golf doesn't make for good action movies.) However, in the book, the game essentially sums up the rivalry between Bond and Goldfinger, who are both very even in both their games and their professions. Also Notable- I really like Felix Leiter, so I have to mention the fact that he comes back in this novel, and really saves the day.
