Book 2 in the series. It tells a complete story, but it's better to read the series in order.

The mission here is more interesting and dangerous than in book 1 (where a lot of space was taken by the recruiting and initial training). All in all, an excellent read, very difficult to put down until you are finished. This is a very intense thriller.

I had some reservations about James, the 13-year-old main character. He is a good guy at heart, but sometimes rather amoral. Let's say he is not a good role-model for young readers. He sees nothing wrong with stealing, he drinks, he is not the faithful-to-his-girlfriend type, he sometimes acts like a jerk, he was willing to try some drugs... Sure, most of it was precisely what was needed to succeed in his undercover mission, but he enjoyed it too much. Some of those traits, and the fact that he is so likable, makes him a very successful teen spy, but I think Muchamore got a bit carried away in this book. I would hesitate to recommend this book to parents because of this. However, I am sure young readers will enjoy it all the more because of this. It's refreshing to have a main character who is not a goody-goody, who does many of the wrong things teenagers sometimes do.

I almost took a star away because of this, but when a story is so readable and keeps me glued to the book wanting to find out what happens next... well, I thought that deserves the five stars.

I really appreciate how Muchamore makes things as realistic as possible, and how he doesn't fall into stereotypes: bad guys commit crimes, but they are not monsters, and they can have good qualities too. I also enjoy the epilogue, where we learn the fate of the main characters. That's also done quite well. ( )

I don't like Kerry and I don't understand why James does. The whole will they, won't they is annoying. Ewert seems kind of a nutter at times, but Zara is cool. At times, this book made me very uncomfortable. Nicole is clearly unstable and the whole thing with the old guy actually made me sick. For a young adult book this is very much aimed at older readers - some of the content is just too crude for younger readers. The problem is younger readers are impressionable and this is bad behaviour at its finest. ( )

This is literally an action movie in book form. Secret agent kids, weird violence, world traveling, cults??? Apparently the recipe for success for me and all my weird friends at 14. Fond memories of my friend who owned the series dealing people books out of her locker during passing period like they were drugs. ( )

Tried another. Still not really a fan. Seems a bit unrealistic for me. Maybe I'm just too old. How can it be that easy to get a job as one of the delivery guys. It wouldn't be that easy with a group that successful. They'd be more careful. It did pick up a bit towards the end but overall I think there's much better teen/ya fiction out there. ( )

Tried another. Still not really a fan. Seems a bit unrealistic for me. Maybe I'm just too old. How can it be that easy to get a job as one of the delivery guys. It wouldn't be that easy with a group that successful. They'd be more careful. It did pick up a bit towards the end but overall I think there's much better teen/ya fiction out there. ( )