While other websites stakeout the Alps hoping to sneak a spy pic of James Bond’s latest Aston Martin, we here at the Young Bond Dossier have a particular fascination, so today we bring you an exclusive look at the actual manuscript for By Royal Command...captured via spy photo inside the home of Charlie Higson himself!

As you can see, this photo confirms that the book has been printed on white paper, and is nice and thick.

Okay, we haven’t really gone off the deep end. Just having some fun. This photo actually comes from an article in The Guardian about what’s on celebrity bedside tables. But this is a real photo from Charlie’s home and that is indeed the second draft manuscript for By Royal Command beneath a copy of the U.S. edition of Double or Die (and some watches that may or may not be Young Bond related).

Charlie explains:

“I put things down and never move them. My bedside table is full of books I'm waiting to read - the book I'm reading at any one time actually lives on the floor. I foolishly agreed to judge a thriller prize, and I'm halfway through the long-list. Underneath is the second draft of my fifth Young Bond book. I always print it out in case my computer crashes. Nothing on my bedside table is useful except the glass, actually an old Nutella jar.”

Photograph: Anders Gramer