Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident (Book 2)
Eoin Colfer's bestselling antihero is back inArtemis Fowl: The  Arctic Incident--the superb sequel to the hyper-hypedArtemis Fowl, shortlisted for  the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year.The Arctic Incidentsees the  slightly older, perhaps slightly more mellow arch-criminal Artemis recovered  from his last adventure, richer now that he has his half of a hoard of fairy  gold, and happier since the Clarice Starlingesque superfairy Captain Holly Short  of the LEPrecon returned his mother's ailing mind to full health.But there is still much unfinished business: Artemis Fowl Sr. disappeared when a  daring escapade designed to free his family from their criminal--not to mention  deeply lucrative--past and move the family's assets into legitimate enterprises  went horribly wrong. Held captive by the Mafiya (the Russian organized crime  syndicate) for over two years, he has been declared officially dead, but Artemis  Jr. knows in his heart (yes, he does have one) that his beloved father is still  alive, and he is determined to find him. Meanwhile Captain Short is temporarily  on assignment to Customs and Excise as punishment for letting Fowl separate her  and her People from their gold and is finding her stakeout duties a little dull.  It soon becomes obvious that the pair have need of each other's considerable  skills, and before long they are on track for an adventure that will ultimately  have far-reaching consequences for both of them.If you enjoyed the first book, you won't be disappointed by the second.  Initially the pace is a little slower, and the slightly more mellow Artemis is  certainly a tad unnerving at first (particularly as one of the things that made  him such an unusual character was the fact that there was something distinctly  unlikable about him), but once the sparks between Holly and Artemis begin to  fly, and the adventure that tests their endurance to their emotional, physical,  and intellectual limits begins, the pages just keep on turning.The high-tech hocus pocus, the complex underworld, and the James Bond-style  storyline will keep even the most reluctant reader enthralled. Add to the mix a  fair dollop of humor, the occasional sprinkling of right-on commentary about the  state of the planet, and enough hooks in the story to ensure you will be  clamoring for the next book. This chilling, thrilling adventure is a seriously  cool (in more ways than one!) must-read for anyone age 9 and older.--Susan  Harrison