Death Run
Grade 6–9—This second in a series about twins who assist their British spy dad seems ridiculous on the face of it. However, if readers can get past the first chapter, they will be sucked in and taken on a roller-coaster ride until the somewhat fantastical ending. Jade and Rich Chance are on holiday in Venice when they must tie up the mystery of who has been following them around the city since their father helped a Swiss accountant escape from his mob employers. Back in England, their adventures continue. International crime rings, kidnapping, money laundering, a mysterious crime lord, and a remote Scottish castle all play a part in the nonstop action. The brothers must help their father figure out who the crime boss is and rescue their new math teacher before huge sums of money are lost. Amazingly, the crime syndicate always seems to be one step ahead of them. Some willing suspension of disbelief is necessary, and the protagonists seem a little younger and less gutsy than Alex Rider, but teens who are enjoying Anthony Horowitz's and Ally Carter's books will get a kick out of Jade and Rich as well.—Robin Henry, Griffin Middle School, Frisco, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.