Who is smuggling the diamonds? What does it have to do with the English government? Why is Bond given the case? Why does Bond have to learn how to recognize a valuable diamond? How does Bond plan on finding the culprits behind the diamond smuggling ring?

Why is M afraid of the American mobsters? How does the time period of the novel affect this fear? What was going on in Las Vegas around the time the novel was written? Do these events have an impact on the overall tension of the novel? If so, how?

Who is Rufus B. Saye? What is his connection to the smuggling ring? Why does Saye not know the names of valuable diamonds? What is the point in Vallance's man discovering this fact? Does Bond learn something of value in this meeting with Saye? What does Bond learn? Does...