" I don't even know how many times I have read through the Fleming books in order. Every 7 or 8 years since I was in my teens, I believe. It's interesting to me that each time I have done this, I prefer different titles. I don't recall caring for OHMSS a great deal in times past, and in fact, it used to be one of the few that I preferred the movie to the book. This time around, I enjoyed the read more. It's not a great book, by any means; not even great Fleming. However, the character of Bond is fleshed out a little more than in the books which precede it. Other characters are not given their due. For example, Tracy is little more than a prop - which in a Fleming title would not be notable, except for the fact that it is clearly not what the author intended. Yes, the book ends with famous tragedy, but the Tracy character is not given very much of a role. She hurtles from a troubled individual on the brink of suicide to a resourceful, charge-taking woman, to a faithful wife (which would have been a spoiler 50 years ago, but anyone interested enough to read a review of a Fleming work surely knows this story by now), with scant description of how the character changed and grew. (Even this is likely the author's intent. We are to assume that the influence and company of Bond was the curative. It would be a better book if better details were given and, in fact, there is almost no time left in the written chronology of the story for Bond to have even spent much time with her.) One character who was better in the movie (and this is rarely ever the case), is Draco. In the book, he is unintentionally comic.
All of that being said, the book was enjoyable. It is written with a greater maturity on Fleming's part, than most which preceded it. The story is absurd (and the exposition of the criminal plot, cottoned to by a minor character, is even more absurd!), but it is intentionally absurd. Fleming abandoned most hopes of plausibility after the first novel (with the single exception of his best work, From Russia With Love.)
If you enjoy Fleming, it is certainly worth your time. If you believe the movies tell the best story of the Bond character, then you certainly should read any of the books. If you enjoy spy or Cold War fiction, and can suspend disbelief without sacrificing enjoyment - then try one. You won't be much improved by the experience, but you should enjoy it. (While doing so, bear in mind that these books were written in the 50's and 60's by a man not terribly enlightened even for his time. There is a great deal of implied misogyny and a lot of racial stereotypes - and some overt racism - throughout Fleming's work.) "
— Kevin, 1/24/2014