Book review: Michael Caine’s daft romp through Bond country gives credibility a good satisfying stretch

It’s easy to disparage a famous name entering the world of fiction. Just because someone can sing or present a TV programme doesn’t necessarily mean they have a worthwhile novel inside them, waiting for a global pandemic-shaped break in their schedule to be typed out.

One of the great screen actors, the recently retired Michael Caine, has always been a marvellous interviewee. I’m paraphrasing here but when asked about the abominable 1978 movie The Swarm, ...