Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider Adventure: Book 3

Audience: 9 and up

Rating: B-

Synopsis:

The third book in the Alex Rider series is fast-paced and action packed with lots of subplots and adventure. Alex starts by investigating a mysterious break-in at Wimbleton and ends up in the United states, next Cuba, and then in Russia. Along the way he picks up some allies, some enemies, and some enemies who’d like to be allies. Once again, it’s up to our favorite 14-year-old spy to save the world.

Chatter:

(Spoiler Alerts! ) Okay, did I miss something? What happened to the “other Alex” who was on the school roof at the end of Point Blank? I assumed that this book would open with some confusion about which Alex was the real one, but instead, that plot line was never mentioned. I was so baffled that I actually went back and re-read the ending of Point Blank and then double-checked to make sure that Skeleton Key was the next book in the series. I hope this eventually resolved…

My other problem with this book was that it had too many plots and locations. It seemed too rushed; there wasn’t enough time given to each individual plot. When Troy and Carver were killed, it seemed too sudden and unresolved. Why spend so much time developing their characters just to kill them off so quickly? It almost seems like they could reappear in one of the sequels, but since so many people said they were dead, I doubt they will. (Also, if one of them went into the cave and was eaten by the stalactites and stalagmites, why’d the other agent follow?)

Sabina’s a good addition to the cast of characters, I hope she continues to play a part in the series. Alex needs some relationships with people who aren’t trained to kill and carrying weapons or working on plans for world domination. It will be an interesting plot twist if Alex tries to hide his future spy mission, or if he reveals his spy life to her and she is recruited too.

Questions:

What do you think happened to the “other Alex” from Point Blank?

Do you think Alex can continue at his school? What believable excuses can he give for his absences?

Do you think Sabina suspects Alex of really being a spy? Will he tell her the truth?

Keep reading!

-Paige

Buy Skeleton Key from Amazon