"In true comic-book fashion, the gory chapters detail the horrors that kill almost everyone except Bond who obviously won't die until he wants to.

The anonymous reviewer praised the "fairly inspired" plot gimmick involving hunt for Bond's own head.

"Gardner weaves swift, outrageous coincidences into a preposterous plot that is quite fun to follow as it hops from the Tyrolean Alps to Salzburg to Key West.

"[3] Frank Stilley, in a review for the Associated Press syndicated throughout the United States, said Gardner "lacks nothing" of Ian Fleming's gift for "conveying agaonizing suspense" and that "the yarn is a cinch" to please "James Bond's countless fans".

Benson's only complaint was the lack of a central villain, though he praised the "well-written female characters (Sukie Tempesta and Nannie Norrich)" who accompany Bond.