Zaffre clinches three-way auction for Vaseem Khan's expansion of James Bond universe

Zaffre, the flagship commercial fiction imprint of Bonnier Books UK, has won a three-way auction for a new crime series by Vaseem Khan expanding the Ian Fleming literary franchise, centred around the iconic character of "Q" from the James Bond adventures.  

Zaffre said: "This top-secret project has been created in conjunction with Ian Fleming Publications, written by acclaimed crime writer and Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, Vaseem Khan."  

UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) for the two-book deal were acquired by editorial director Kelly Smith from Ciara Finan at Curtis Brown following a three-way bidding war. The first book, Quantum of Menace, will be published autumn 2025. 

Zaffre said: "Filled with wit, humour and verve, Vaseem Khan brings his vibrant and dynamic style to one of Ian Fleming’s most beloved characters. Q Branch—the Secret Service department responsible for weapons and gadgets—was first introduced in Ian Fleming’s groundbreaking Casino Royale and featured throughout the James Bond books. 

"The armourer in Q Branch, Major Boothroyd, first appeared in ‘Dr No’, giving 007 a Walther PPK to replace his Beretta firearm. The character has been a mainstay of the James Bond films and his interactions with the super spy have entered the cultural zeitgeist. Readers and fans of 007 will now get to spend real time with him in the charming milieu of a crime series."

The blurb reads:  "Q is out of MI6 and into a new world of deceit and death. After Q (aka Major Boothroyd) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6’s 00 agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water.  

"His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seem disinterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that Napier’s ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces—can Q decode the truth behind Napier’s death, even as danger closes in?"

Khan said: "I can’t think of anything more exhilarating as a writer than bringing to life such an iconic character, one that I have adored since childhood. I was the kid who watched Bond films just to see what new gadgets Q would come up with for 007. To now recreate Q in a series of contemporary mystery novels, bringing together everything I love about the genre, is the coolest assignment I could hope for. I cannot wait to share my Q with readers. Move over Bond. Q is coming."

Smith said: "I have long admired Vaseem’s work so the opportunity to work with him on any project, let alone one as pitch perfect as this, was one I had to grasp. With his unique wit and flair, cosy crime readers and James Bond fans alike will be unable to resist this series and his imagining of Q."  

Corinne Turner, managing director of Ian Fleming Publications, said: "We at Ian Fleming Publications could not think of a better partner to breathe new life into the beloved character of Q. Vaseem’s mystery novels have enthralled me for many years, and I am thrilled with what he is crafting for Q’s first solo missions. This is a modern and exceedingly clever crime series."