Rating: 
Summary: Possibly Benson's Best
Review: James Bond returns to Japan in Benson's sixth original Bond novel to battle Yoshida, introduced in the previous novel, and his band of terrorists with the help of Tiger Tanaka. The locations are vividly described and very well researched. The means to which the villain carries out his scheme is one of the most original, ending with a bloody finale. Bond fans of both novels and movies should enjoy this.
Rating:
Summary: best of the neo-Bond light tales
Review: On a flight from Tokyo to England, passenger Kyoko McMahon becomes violently ill before dying. At about the same time near Tokyo, Kyoto's parents and her older sister also die. In England, the coroner believes that Kyoko died from a strand of West Nile disease, but only ten times deadlier than the normal strain.James Bond attends the G8 summit in Japan to provide added protection to his country's leadership. He also investigates the deaths of the McMahon family, as the patriarch was a Scottish citizen and the CEO of a powerful pharmaceutical firm. Bond prefers not to return to Japan as he has bad memories though he appreciates the grace and beauty of the women. He soon works with his old friend Tiger Tanaka and agent Reiko Tamura in a race against a doomsday clock. Japanese Mafia Yami Shogun Goro Yoshida plots an end to western domination especially kicking America off his beloved nation's soil through a strand of virus that makes the deaths of the McMahon seem slow and gentle. THE MAN WITH THE RED TATTOO is the best of the neo-Bond light tales. Raymond Benson returns Bond to what makes the character interesting to readers, yet humanizes 007 with his bad memories of Japan. The story line is quite exciting with global implications yet simplistic. The support cast is fun especially the return of Tiger and the villain who seems a lot like Bin Laden, as he wants the American presence off his beloved island nation. Mr. Benson makes a case that he is the heir to Mr. Fleming. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: One Of Benson's Best Works Yet
Review: Raymond Benson creats another exciting adventure. He takes the reader with Bond through his experiences from London to several of the exotic islands of Japan.
Bond is involved in truly investigative work researching the mysterious death of an English pharmaceutical CEO and his Japanese family. During which he discovers a highly advanced laboratory form of the West Nile virus which threatens the alliance of the western world.
Raymond's extensive research takes him to many of the islands of Japan. He shows the region's fascinating culture, history and beautiful locales throughout Bond's experiences during his mission.
In this thrilling novel, Benson continues with the exciting Fleming style of great detail and brisk pace, including a well blend of interesting characters.
...Tattoo is a fantastic read for new and veteran Bond enthusiast!!
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: Raymond Benson seems to get a wide range of reviews from 1 to 5 stars. I've found all his books to be of very high quality. His take on James Bond is JUST RIGHT and feels more like Fleming's Bond than previous authors. "Tattoo" provides a wonderful insight into Japan and has an intriguing plot. Try it and see!
Rating: 
Summary: Bond takes a slow train to the Orient
Review: Raymond Benson usually writes fast-paced novels that are easy to read. This novel is good, but is slow moving and tedious at points. If the reader can get past that, they ensure themselves a good read. If you are Bond fan, you enjoy rich detail, or if you enjoy a good read THE MAN WITH THE RED TATTOO is a must have. James Bond has been given an assignment to babysit the prime minister at a G8 conference in Japan. Meanwhile, he is to investigate the death of an English businessman. This investigation will take Bond on a slow journey all over Japan, and ultimately a good one. Bond fans know that 007 has deep emotional roots in Japan, and can appreciate Benson's choice of Japan as a locale for the novel. The addition of Bond's old friend Tiger Tanaka is also quite welcomed. Benson's writing has a few flaws this go around. It is slow moving and tedious at times. This is a direct contradiction from Benson's usual style. Also, it is obvious that Benson tries to write as an English author would. Sometimes, he fails in that quest with words like "stuff" and "whatever". However, it must be said that you are immersed in Japanese culture as you read and the vilain's motivations are chillingly genuine. That being said, if you enjoy good reads, buy Benson's THE MAN WITH THE RED TATTOO today.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent yarn!
Review: Raymond Benson's James Bond series is excellent, despite what the nay-sayers tell you. He has a handle on the character and I truly feel as if it's Fleming's Bond that he's writing about. "The Man With the Red Tattoo" is a thrilling read with a timely plot (involving West Nile Virus) and some very suspenseful sequences. The "travelogue" aspects of the Bond novels have always been an important part and Benson applies his with aplomb. You'll learn some things about Japan while you read it but it does not detract from the exciting story. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: Raymond Benson's The Man with the Red Tattoo is the latest in his line of books depicting that famous British Secret Service agent. Raymond Benson's novels are innovative and its a shame that the producers of the movies have not turned to his novels as they did to Ian Fleming's. I'm sure that there are a couple of Bond Fans out there like myself that are sick of stolen nukes, and how the movies are progressing. What made the Fleimg novels so great was that they were unique, and pushed the envelope. This Book was extremely enjoyable, and action packed. Benson goes into great detail like Fleming did to create a whole, other world. The only faults I had with this novel were that it was a tad too fast paced, and compared to the other Benson Bond novels was not up to par (Facts of Death, Doubleshot, etc. Maybe because of Austin Powers but i kept thinking of Mini-Me and could not take the character of Kappa seriously. The book would have been better without this character. In this day and age biological warfare is a serious threat and the novel seemed like it was out of the headlines.
Rating: 
Summary: Bland...James Bland
Review: Since the days of Ian Fleming, James Bond has been spying on England's enemies, and shooting those who prove dangerous and elusive. He also, of course, seduces beautiful women (the only ones he seems to encounter) and uses cute gadgets with which he can defeat the villains. All of these elements are included in this entry in the James Bond saga, written by Raymond Benson this time. This time around, Bond is sent to Japan to look over the situation there in preparation for the G8 conference, which the British Prime Minister is scheduled to attend. When Bond arrives in Japan, he finds that an old enemy, Goro Yoshida, is apparently planning a nefarious attack on the G8, and has some diabolical weapons to deploy. The James Bond series has been going along for many years now, and it seems to have lost most of its uniqueness and interest, at least with me. These days, it's silly that he smokes, and stupid that he carries a Walther PPK (everyone else carries a 9mm.). The beautiful women seem like an endless parade, and the villains seem almost by the numbers. In this case, the villain is fun, but Bond himself is sort of silly, two-dimensional, and uninteresting. Frankly, I think this will be the last James Bond novel I read, unless I go back and reread some of the earlier stuff.
Rating:
Summary: A Boring Bond
Review: The idea of taking bond back to Japan was excellent as was the bits of info on Japanese culture. However, the novel was less than thrilling. Bond is written as a physically weak character which is not consistent with his reputation. The sex scenes are boring and the action slow. The 2nd battle with the dwarf was insulting to the reader after their fight in the Casseopia tunnel. Also, where were the gadgets, car chases, etc.? The novel does, in fact, read like a Japanese tourist brochure. Way too much detail! This is not Bond at his best. Mr. Benson, please bring back the Bond we love!
Rating:
Summary: You Only Live Thrice, Mr. Bond
Review: The mini review prehaps says it best "a plot of such monstrous proportions that it could only have been hatched in the mind of a madman."
Not that I'm calling Raymond a madman, mind you! But the villians plot is one of the best ever in a Bond book. The location descriptions I felt at first were a bit padded, but I realized how much they make Japan part of the plot. It IS a different culture that Bond is experiencing and Benson explores that part of it really well. There is a reference to the events
(very, very briefly) of 9/11, and I can't help feeling that was a last minute addition.
There is also reference and people from the Fleming book "You Only Live Twice", Bonds' last foray into Japan. As usual, Raymond has to carefully dance around the time issue - Time has past and characters are older, but Bond is still around 42.
While it's not the best that Benson has written (I still think his last book is better than this one), it's damn close. Buy it, read it.
Now, if only Putnum would do something about the boring US covers!
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