Another story fitting the James Bond formula but with a spy in his early teens. Still, within the limitations of that formula, the story was good enough. The villain is probably the best so far in the series, since, despite the required megalomania and craziness, his motivation is more relatable.

One of the most interesting elements of the series, character-wise, is that Alex is not happy about his role as a secret agent, and he suffers the emotional trauma that one would expect when a teenager gets involved in such violent events. This continues to be explored in this third installment of the series. ( )

I loved Alex Rider as a kid. I must have read the first five books like fifty million times. Since I'm in the middle of a Cherub reread I thought I'd come back to Alex. It's kind of funny reading them now - I don't quite remember them being so depressing. Alex is a lot more jaded than I ever remember him being. It's also warranted but yeah. MI6 and Alan Blunt and Mrs Jones make me so angry. Poor Alex gets screwed way too often. I also remember Alex being a lot more talented than he is. But to my adult eyes, it seems like he's getting by more on luck than pure ability. Still they're great books with lots of action. I probably would only rate it 4 stars these days, but I'm going to stick with my original rating for posterity.


Alex always gets the short end of the stick. I agree with him - I think he was outmaneuvered by M16 - Crawley planned it all. It all happened too neatly. But he gets to meet Sabina so that's cool. Maybe not worth it - but cool nonetheless. It sucks that they're willing to send him into danger but never tell him what he's going to be up against. But Alex has a lucky streak when it comes to missions, danger and bad guys. Hence the shark.
( )

A highly entertaining Young Adult spy thriller with several interesting twists and turns. For young readers who are too old to read children books, but too young to read more action-loaded novels, this series is the perfect choice.

I have especially positive memories about the well-developed antagonist in this story. A lot of political stuff was included without ever sounding boring or overloaded to the ten-year-old me who read (and reread) this book a long time ago. ( )

3.5 out 5 stars ( )

Skeleton Key (2002) (Alex Rider #3) by Anthony Horowitz. This third outing for the boy who would not be a spy has a nifty plot, nuclear weapons, a semi-retired general from Russia, a Cuban island that sort of resembles an old skeleton key (ask your grandfather to explain that item), MI6 and the CIA. Needless to say Alex doesn’t want to get involved but he gets suckered in with the chance to be a Wimbledon ball boy. Of course there is a scheme afoot at courtside and Alex is the only one who can see the obvious.
Like the first two books in the series, this one doesn’t stop the pressure until the end. The CIA gets Alex on loan so he can act the role of the son to two agents. They are supposed to be on vacation but that falls to the wayside. Alex is a soon prisoner to the general, the prison being the vast compound that claims a desolate portion of the key as its own. The only exits are either a deadly drop off the side or through the sole entry/exit which is well guarded. Trapped, Alex must rely on his wits to save himself as well as the entire world.
As per the regulations for writing a teen hero book, the teen must get into trouble and, because adults don’t believe most of the things that the teen will say to them, it is left up to the teen to get out of trouble.
Sounds like every action/adventure book ever written, only difference is the age of our hero. ( )