5

Ian Fleming's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is of course a classic, and after seeing the movie many times, I finally read the book. It does not disappoint. Even the ski-chase scenes (difficult to write) are exciting.
But it is the ending that remains etched in one's mind.
What is amazing is how closely the movie version follows the book. Some variation in the escape from the mountain top, but all-in-all the movie does great credit to this "all-too-ready-to-film" text.
It's all been said already: probably the best of the best of Ian Fleming. All the elements of a great thriller spy story are here. We are indebted to him for bringing the so-called spy thriller into the modern era.
It's a 5 and you have to read it to see why. Don't settle for the movie versions