Snakehead

A seventh adventure – all within one year – for the indefatigable Alex Rider, MI6 agent extraordinaire. This one begins where Ark Angel left off, with Alex splashing down from space straight into the arms of the Australian Secret Service. There’s a brief recap of previous happenings and Alex is off again, being used by adults in some of the most ruthless ways imaginable – very few of the adults Alex meets have his interests at heart even when their motivation for mankind is honourable. This time Alex is introduced to his previously unknown godfather, Ash. Together they set off into the Thai underworld to infiltrate a ‘snakehead’ engaged in many despicable acts including the trafficking of people. Betrayed by Ash, Alex is left to use his ingenuity in order to survive.

More realistic in its portrayal of aspects of an under-developed country, and thus more political than Horowitz has been so far, this novel has less room for Alex’s emotions, and we have little idea of what to make of Ash by the end. I was left hoping for more insight in the next of the series. A hair-raisingly enjoyable read nonetheless.