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Alex Rider #3
Skeleton Key
Alex Rider is now an IMDb TV/Amazon Original Series!
Alex Rider is an orphan turned teen superspy who's saving the world one mission at a time—from #1 New York Times bestselling author!
Alex Rider has been through a lot for his fourteen years. He's been shot at by international terrorists, chased down a mountainside on a makeshift snowboard, and has stood face-to-face with pure evil. Twice, young Alex has managed to save the world. And twice, he has almost been killed doing it. But now Alex faces something even more dangerous. The desperation of a man who has lost everything he cared his country and his only son. A man who just happens to have a nuclear weapon and a serious grudge against the free world. To see his beloved Russia once again be a dominant power, he will stop at nothing. Unless Alex can stop him first... Uniting forces with America's own CIA for the first time, teen spy Alex Rider battles terror from the sun-baked beaches of Miami all the way to the barren ice fields of northernmost Russia.
From the author of Magpie Murders and Moriarty .
Alex Rider is an orphan turned teen superspy who's saving the world one mission at a time—from #1 New York Times bestselling author!
Alex Rider has been through a lot for his fourteen years. He's been shot at by international terrorists, chased down a mountainside on a makeshift snowboard, and has stood face-to-face with pure evil. Twice, young Alex has managed to save the world. And twice, he has almost been killed doing it. But now Alex faces something even more dangerous. The desperation of a man who has lost everything he cared his country and his only son. A man who just happens to have a nuclear weapon and a serious grudge against the free world. To see his beloved Russia once again be a dominant power, he will stop at nothing. Unless Alex can stop him first... Uniting forces with America's own CIA for the first time, teen spy Alex Rider battles terror from the sun-baked beaches of Miami all the way to the barren ice fields of northernmost Russia.
From the author of Magpie Murders and Moriarty .
327 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2002
1,576 people are currently reading
9,869 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Horowitz
509books19.6kfollowersAnthony Horowitz, OBE is ranked alongside Enid Blyton and Mark A. Cooper as "The most original and best spy-kids authors of the century." (New York Times). Anthony has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recently event drama Collision, among his other television works he has written episodes for Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. Anthony became patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices in 2009.
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
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June 29, 2021
Skeleton Key (Alex Rider, #3), Anthony Horowitz
On the fictional island of Skeleton Key, off the coast of Cuba, three men meet and supply General Alexei Sarov with uranium and attempt to blackmail him into giving them a quarter of a million more dollars or they will go to the American authorities.
Taking this as a threat, General Sarov switches off the runway lights when the plane is about to take off, causing them to fall into crocodile-infested waters.
MI6 Chief of Staff John Crawley approaches Alex at school and offers him tickets to Wimbledon where he goes undercover as a ball boy to investigate a break-in.
While managing to foil the Chinese Triad gang Big Circle's attempt at match-fixing, Alex is targeted by the triad gang.
After a second attempt on his life is made while surfing on vacation with Sabina Pleasure, whom he befriended at Wimbledon, both MI6 and the CIA arrange to send Alex away for his own safety.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز سوم ماه مارس سال 2010میلادی
عنوان: جزیره اسکلتی کتاب سوم از سری آلکس رایدر؛ نویسنده: آنتونی هوروویتس؛ مترجم: شهناز صاعلی؛ مشخصات نشر تهران، ایرانبان، 1387، در296ص، جلد سوم از مجموعه آلکس رایدر، شابک 9789642980024؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 21م
فهرست: «در تاریکی»؛ «محل مسابقه»؛ «خون و توت فرنگیها»؛ «کرایبر»؛ «دو هفته ی آفتابی»؛ «ماموران نه چندان ویژه»؛ «مرگ یک فروشنده»؛ «کنترل پاسپورت»؛ «میدان برادری»؛ «دودکش شیطان»؛ «آسیاب»؛ «خانه ی بردگان»؛ «تپش قلب»؛ «کابوس امنیتی»؛ «پایان جهان»؛ «پس از آلکس»؛
روزی «آلکس» به هنگام بازی فوتبال در مدرسه، با آقای «کراولی» مواجه می‌شود� آقای «کراولی» از «آلکس» می‌خواه� تا به او در یافتن دزدی که در مجتمع مسابقات تنیس «ویمبلدون» حضور دارد، یاری نماید؛ «آلکس» به طمع دیدن مسابقات قهرمانان تنیس جهان، پیشنهاد را می‌پذیرد� وارد شدن «آلکس» در این جریان، او را درگیر یک ماجرای جاسوسی بزرگ می‌کند� «آلکس» در درگیری با دزد یاد شده، او را در زیرزمین مسابقات تنیس از پا درمی‌آورد� با از پا درآمدن دزد، سازمان جاسوسی‌ا� که دزد عضو آن بوده، در صدد کشتن «آلکس» برمی‌آید� و «آلکس» ناچار به ترک «انگلستان» می‌شود� سازمان جاسوسی، با استفاده از این جریان، از «آلکس» می‌خواهد� تا به همراه جاسوسی کهنسال به «جزیرة اسکلتی» بروند، و در آن‌ج� از ماجراهای پس پرده‌ا� سر درآورند، که ژنرال روسی «زارف»، در جزیره ی شخصی، نزدیک «کوبا» برنامه‌ری� آن است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 07/04/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
On the fictional island of Skeleton Key, off the coast of Cuba, three men meet and supply General Alexei Sarov with uranium and attempt to blackmail him into giving them a quarter of a million more dollars or they will go to the American authorities.
Taking this as a threat, General Sarov switches off the runway lights when the plane is about to take off, causing them to fall into crocodile-infested waters.
MI6 Chief of Staff John Crawley approaches Alex at school and offers him tickets to Wimbledon where he goes undercover as a ball boy to investigate a break-in.
While managing to foil the Chinese Triad gang Big Circle's attempt at match-fixing, Alex is targeted by the triad gang.
After a second attempt on his life is made while surfing on vacation with Sabina Pleasure, whom he befriended at Wimbledon, both MI6 and the CIA arrange to send Alex away for his own safety.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز سوم ماه مارس سال 2010میلادی
عنوان: جزیره اسکلتی کتاب سوم از سری آلکس رایدر؛ نویسنده: آنتونی هوروویتس؛ مترجم: شهناز صاعلی؛ مشخصات نشر تهران، ایرانبان، 1387، در296ص، جلد سوم از مجموعه آلکس رایدر، شابک 9789642980024؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 21م
فهرست: «در تاریکی»؛ «محل مسابقه»؛ «خون و توت فرنگیها»؛ «کرایبر»؛ «دو هفته ی آفتابی»؛ «ماموران نه چندان ویژه»؛ «مرگ یک فروشنده»؛ «کنترل پاسپورت»؛ «میدان برادری»؛ «دودکش شیطان»؛ «آسیاب»؛ «خانه ی بردگان»؛ «تپش قلب»؛ «کابوس امنیتی»؛ «پایان جهان»؛ «پس از آلکس»؛
روزی «آلکس» به هنگام بازی فوتبال در مدرسه، با آقای «کراولی» مواجه می‌شود� آقای «کراولی» از «آلکس» می‌خواه� تا به او در یافتن دزدی که در مجتمع مسابقات تنیس «ویمبلدون» حضور دارد، یاری نماید؛ «آلکس» به طمع دیدن مسابقات قهرمانان تنیس جهان، پیشنهاد را می‌پذیرد� وارد شدن «آلکس» در این جریان، او را درگیر یک ماجرای جاسوسی بزرگ می‌کند� «آلکس» در درگیری با دزد یاد شده، او را در زیرزمین مسابقات تنیس از پا درمی‌آورد� با از پا درآمدن دزد، سازمان جاسوسی‌ا� که دزد عضو آن بوده، در صدد کشتن «آلکس» برمی‌آید� و «آلکس» ناچار به ترک «انگلستان» می‌شود� سازمان جاسوسی، با استفاده از این جریان، از «آلکس» می‌خواهد� تا به همراه جاسوسی کهنسال به «جزیرة اسکلتی» بروند، و در آن‌ج� از ماجراهای پس پرده‌ا� سر درآورند، که ژنرال روسی «زارف»، در جزیره ی شخصی، نزدیک «کوبا» برنامه‌ری� آن است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 07/04/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
June 11, 2018
Alex. Is. Awesome. I've probably said it before, but I'll say it again. And probably again. And probably again. (What can I say? He's great!) I am sooooo going to keep reading this series. Absolutely. Definitely. Undoubtedly.
I especially loved the villain in this book. Er, I mean, I hated him. But I loved how he was done. Although I did hate him, I also pitied him. His evident pain - his deep emotions - added a wonderful layer of realism to him.
On another note, the "vacation" setting really fits with this time of year. So that was nice. :D
I just really, really enjoyed this. O_O
I especially loved the villain in this book. Er, I mean, I hated him. But I loved how he was done. Although I did hate him, I also pitied him. His evident pain - his deep emotions - added a wonderful layer of realism to him.
On another note, the "vacation" setting really fits with this time of year. So that was nice. :D
I just really, really enjoyed this. O_O
May 15, 2021
3.5 Silver Stars
with Golden Sparks
every book in Alex Rider series is like an episode of a espionage teenage tv series.
& I love the tensions in the series, it's sudden & shocking, unexpected, but with a familiar sense (you should expect something would go wrong pretty badly!), thrilling. my heart was pounding just like Alex in this one!
the descriptions-premise here were beautiful & the showing the actions felt so real for me, I could felt the fresh water drops, the swimming in the ocean & the fear!
the retorts & sass Alex made, great!
I also had a strange nostalgic feeling, because some parts reminded me of Bobby Pendragon in Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale, book 1:
-
Plot: ★★�(�)/5
Characters: ★★�(�)/5
Writing style: ★★★★/5
Premise: ★★★★/5
general idea: ★★�(�)/5
with Golden Sparks
every book in Alex Rider series is like an episode of a espionage teenage tv series.
& I love the tensions in the series, it's sudden & shocking, unexpected, but with a familiar sense (you should expect something would go wrong pretty badly!), thrilling. my heart was pounding just like Alex in this one!
the descriptions-premise here were beautiful & the showing the actions felt so real for me, I could felt the fresh water drops, the swimming in the ocean & the fear!
the retorts & sass Alex made, great!
I also had a strange nostalgic feeling, because some parts reminded me of Bobby Pendragon in Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale, book 1:
-
Plot: ★★�(�)/5
Characters: ★★�(�)/5
Writing style: ★★★★/5
Premise: ★★★★/5
general idea: ★★�(�)/5
November 29, 2022
Synopsis: After thwarting Herod Sayle's evil plans and attending the bizarre school Point Blanc undercover, Alex Rider is ready to be done with MI6...but, when one of the agency's bigwigs invites him to Wimbledon to check out a possible threat, Alex ends up killing a Chinese gang member in a fight...which means Alex has to leave the country. MI6 sends him on assignment with two members of the CIA, to check out criminal activity in Cuba on a place known as Skeleton Key. As a lifelong resident of England, pretending to be American is tough for Alex...and things get even dicier when his "parents" (the CIA agents) are killed. Will Alex be able to uncover the dastardly plot?
The Good: As usual for this series, this book brought the action and intensity that make novels like this fun. Parts of it read like a movie or a video game. Even though I've read this before, I still found all the twists and turns surprising; then again, my last time with this book was over a decade ago! Better yet, this is where Alex and Sabina first meet; after his mishap with that girl in Point Blanc, he deserved a female companion...and, now, he has one.
The Bad: Since a lot of this takes place on sunny beaches and in or near pools, there's a lot of talk about scantily clad people sunbathing and such. Also, the profanities weren't really necessary.
Content Concerns:
Sex: It's said that a girl gives a guy mouth-to-mouth, referred to as the "kiss of life".
Nudity: Talk of people in tiny swimwear.
Language: About four uses each of the d-word and h-word.
Violence: Action sequences throughout, including at least three where blood is mentioned.
Drugs: Stray references to alcohol.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: implied deaths of characters; creepy villain.
Other: It's mentioned that Alex is attracted to Sabina because of her "rude jokes".
The Good: As usual for this series, this book brought the action and intensity that make novels like this fun. Parts of it read like a movie or a video game. Even though I've read this before, I still found all the twists and turns surprising; then again, my last time with this book was over a decade ago! Better yet, this is where Alex and Sabina first meet; after his mishap with that girl in Point Blanc, he deserved a female companion...and, now, he has one.
The Bad: Since a lot of this takes place on sunny beaches and in or near pools, there's a lot of talk about scantily clad people sunbathing and such. Also, the profanities weren't really necessary.
Content Concerns:
Sex: It's said that a girl gives a guy mouth-to-mouth, referred to as the "kiss of life".
Nudity: Talk of people in tiny swimwear.
Language: About four uses each of the d-word and h-word.
Violence: Action sequences throughout, including at least three where blood is mentioned.
Drugs: Stray references to alcohol.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: implied deaths of characters; creepy villain.
Other: It's mentioned that Alex is attracted to Sabina because of her "rude jokes".
July 7, 2019
This is the third Alex Rider book, following on from “Stormbreaker� and “Point Blanc,� and the two previous books are also available as graphic novels. This book sees Alex rider forced to go into hiding on Skeleton Key, an island near Cuba, where a Russian General called Sarov is hatching a plan to change the history of the world.
I'm am really getting into the series now because this book splits into to adventures although they both flow and are both the same adventure but seem to be in different places. This book is perfect for any 9-15 year old but some grown-ups find they love it too. If you like spy novels, books like Alex Rider, CHERUB and Jason Steed are perfect easy reading novels, full of adventures and excitement.
This novel was the best I've ever read! I could barely put it down! I quite desperately recommend this book to anyone wanting to buy it.
I'm am really getting into the series now because this book splits into to adventures although they both flow and are both the same adventure but seem to be in different places. This book is perfect for any 9-15 year old but some grown-ups find they love it too. If you like spy novels, books like Alex Rider, CHERUB and Jason Steed are perfect easy reading novels, full of adventures and excitement.
This novel was the best I've ever read! I could barely put it down! I quite desperately recommend this book to anyone wanting to buy it.
December 4, 2013
Alex is doing a personal favor for Mr. Crawley when he sets off a chain of events that puts him in Skeleton Key, near Cuba, working for the CIA. The Third book in the Alex Rider series. The best Alex Rider book I Have read so far. I could not believe the ending i was actually confused. Liked it a
lot
.
November 8, 2017
Another book in the series, this book continues the journey of Alex Rider a 14 year old boy who is a spy for MI6 and is about to embark on is third mission.
After reading this book i feel like this one lacked something the other two had and i feel like it was a let down for me and i hope the next book picks up the series again for me. Alex is this time taken to Cuba with to CIA agents to investigate General Sarov an evil man who is trying to get his evil plan that will change the world for the worst.
Plot: Alex is trying to leave the spy world and MI6 so he can lead a normal life as a 14 year old teenager but things don't work out the way he had hoped when he is swept up again by MI6 and the CIA whisked into another mission. The plot in this book was lacking something and i think it was the lack of action that the other two books had and i feel like Alex just wasn't feeling this mission and i could clearly tell. I did enjoy some of the book but a lot of it i didn't enjoy and most of it was when Alex was with General Sarvo because i feel like Alex just let him do whatever and he didn't really fight back like Alex would.
Anthony's writing is really good he can really throw you into the story and you really do feel like that you are with Alex in every sense. His characters are all well thought out and well fleshed out which i really enjoy with every book in this series i read.
Even though this book lacked in that special Alex Rider book with the plot not at the strongest, i hope it does manage to pick itself up in book four.
After reading this book i feel like this one lacked something the other two had and i feel like it was a let down for me and i hope the next book picks up the series again for me. Alex is this time taken to Cuba with to CIA agents to investigate General Sarov an evil man who is trying to get his evil plan that will change the world for the worst.
Plot: Alex is trying to leave the spy world and MI6 so he can lead a normal life as a 14 year old teenager but things don't work out the way he had hoped when he is swept up again by MI6 and the CIA whisked into another mission. The plot in this book was lacking something and i think it was the lack of action that the other two books had and i feel like Alex just wasn't feeling this mission and i could clearly tell. I did enjoy some of the book but a lot of it i didn't enjoy and most of it was when Alex was with General Sarvo because i feel like Alex just let him do whatever and he didn't really fight back like Alex would.
Anthony's writing is really good he can really throw you into the story and you really do feel like that you are with Alex in every sense. His characters are all well thought out and well fleshed out which i really enjoy with every book in this series i read.
Even though this book lacked in that special Alex Rider book with the plot not at the strongest, i hope it does manage to pick itself up in book four.
September 26, 2017
Rating: 3.5*
The Alex Rider series is a fun read although it is a bit far fetched at times (especially the parts where Alex a 14 year old boy manages to escape near death situations while his adult counterparts mostly fall victim to them)! Overall a fun read and quite action packed!
The Alex Rider series is a fun read although it is a bit far fetched at times (especially the parts where Alex a 14 year old boy manages to escape near death situations while his adult counterparts mostly fall victim to them)! Overall a fun read and quite action packed!
February 22, 2009
I'm sorry, but this book was absolutely horrible.
March 22, 2019
The third book in the Alex Rider series doesn’t let up on the gas pedal at all. Alex really has had all he can take with these MI-6 assignments but when offered to be a ball boy at Wimbledon merely in exchange for keeping an eye out for something “unusual�, he takes the bait. That leads to the first part of the escapades in this book. But after he uncovers a drug plot designed to influence illegal gambling and saves the entire tournament, it’s on to the real plot of the story. Here again, Alex just has to play a bit part in exchange for a two week vacation on a small island near Cuba, called Skeleton Key. He is loaned out to the CIA to play the role of a 14-year-old son to two CIA agents. They are supposed to do all the actual spy work. All Alex has to do is pretty much play himself, albeit as an American boy from LA.
Of course it doesn’t work out that way and of course Alex uncovers the real plot. Ultimately it leads to huge consequences, as big as anything James Bond encounters. Readers must certainly suspend their disbelief as Alex gets himself in to trouble time and again only to escape with just seconds to spare. But therein lies the charm of these books. They really are teenage James Bond adventures, complete with dastardly villains, last second escapes, and at least three gadgets that you know will come into play sooner or later. Alex always uses a combination of clever resourcefulness and flat-out luck to save the day.
Wonderful stuff, even for readers that are a bit older than the YA target market.
Of course it doesn’t work out that way and of course Alex uncovers the real plot. Ultimately it leads to huge consequences, as big as anything James Bond encounters. Readers must certainly suspend their disbelief as Alex gets himself in to trouble time and again only to escape with just seconds to spare. But therein lies the charm of these books. They really are teenage James Bond adventures, complete with dastardly villains, last second escapes, and at least three gadgets that you know will come into play sooner or later. Alex always uses a combination of clever resourcefulness and flat-out luck to save the day.
Wonderful stuff, even for readers that are a bit older than the YA target market.
May 4, 2022
Quite good but the ending is a little rough, also bring Sabina back
September 18, 2022
This is one of the best books I have read! It was thrilling, filled with suspense and fun. I could not put the book down for even a minute.
I also like that the story setting changes a lot between the story. I mean, first he's at school, then he's at the Wimbledon tennis games, then he's at America, then he's at Skeleton Key near Cuba, then he goes to Russia for the climax. Brilliant book. Simply awesome.
I also like that the story setting changes a lot between the story. I mean, first he's at school, then he's at the Wimbledon tennis games, then he's at America, then he's at Skeleton Key near Cuba, then he goes to Russia for the climax. Brilliant book. Simply awesome.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2010
This is my seventh Anthony Horowitz book and I noticed a couple of bold moves in the sudden change in his patterns. Some are good, some are craps.
In the first two books of Alex Rider and in all the Gatekeepers books, his main villain always have some kind of physical deformities, creepy appearance and sometimes, even monstrous. I like these books but the villain pattern is getting tiring. Good thing that in Skeleton Key, he introduced us the General Alexeis Sarov, a sixty something years old Russian general but looked "twenty years younger", tall, well built and "radiates power and control". And in contrary to all the past villains who were shown to be motivated only by greed for power or vengeance, Horowitz gave Sarov an emotional depth. Yes, he has devious plans that will "end the world" but his longing will make it hard for you to completely hate him. At the end, his death(oh common, it's not a spoiler. We know that all Alex Rider's enemies gets killed at the end.) will not entirely give you satisfaction but you will also sympathize with his character.
By giving his villain a new dimension, we get to see more of Alex Rider. In this book, we don't only get to see Alex's master skills on being a spy but also it reminded us that he is still just a boy, longing for parents that he never had. This is a major development in Alex's character.
Plot-wise, Point Blank is better. The mystery of what the villain's scheme is harder to decipher in Point Blank. While in Skeleton Key, even if its not stated, we already can guess what is Sarov's plan. But if you will look at the development of the whole storyarc of the series, this book was better. Point Blank is still my favorite but Skeleton Key is this |--| close to it.
On the downside, Horowitz also introduced us a new character, Sabina Pleasure, who possibly will appear more in the future books. There's a huge possibility that Alex will fall in love with her. I don't know what got into Horowitz' head for doing this but come on, this is a spy book!! And in spy fiction, the only room for a female character is a sexual partner or a badass chick sidekick. You cannot have a romantic angle! And what's up with the name? Pleasure? Come on! His market are supposed to be boys, don't try widening it just for the sake of the increase of sales. If a girl doesn't have interest in spy books, she will never have any interest in it even if you introduce a romantic angle to it. If the succeeding books will continue to be sappy and romantic, I'm out! Too bad, I already got until book five.
In the first two books of Alex Rider and in all the Gatekeepers books, his main villain always have some kind of physical deformities, creepy appearance and sometimes, even monstrous. I like these books but the villain pattern is getting tiring. Good thing that in Skeleton Key, he introduced us the General Alexeis Sarov, a sixty something years old Russian general but looked "twenty years younger", tall, well built and "radiates power and control". And in contrary to all the past villains who were shown to be motivated only by greed for power or vengeance, Horowitz gave Sarov an emotional depth. Yes, he has devious plans that will "end the world" but his longing will make it hard for you to completely hate him. At the end, his death(oh common, it's not a spoiler. We know that all Alex Rider's enemies gets killed at the end.) will not entirely give you satisfaction but you will also sympathize with his character.
By giving his villain a new dimension, we get to see more of Alex Rider. In this book, we don't only get to see Alex's master skills on being a spy but also it reminded us that he is still just a boy, longing for parents that he never had. This is a major development in Alex's character.
Plot-wise, Point Blank is better. The mystery of what the villain's scheme is harder to decipher in Point Blank. While in Skeleton Key, even if its not stated, we already can guess what is Sarov's plan. But if you will look at the development of the whole storyarc of the series, this book was better. Point Blank is still my favorite but Skeleton Key is this |--| close to it.
On the downside, Horowitz also introduced us a new character, Sabina Pleasure, who possibly will appear more in the future books. There's a huge possibility that Alex will fall in love with her. I don't know what got into Horowitz' head for doing this but come on, this is a spy book!! And in spy fiction, the only room for a female character is a sexual partner or a badass chick sidekick. You cannot have a romantic angle! And what's up with the name? Pleasure? Come on! His market are supposed to be boys, don't try widening it just for the sake of the increase of sales. If a girl doesn't have interest in spy books, she will never have any interest in it even if you introduce a romantic angle to it. If the succeeding books will continue to be sappy and romantic, I'm out! Too bad, I already got until book five.
July 21, 2015
Rating: 3/5
***Minor spoilers***
I was pretty disappointed with this one. I really enjoyed Point Blank, but this book pretty much paled in comparison to it. Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable enough, but it wasn't everything I was hoping for.
This book begins shortly after Alex recovered from France and has started to go to school again. Alex gets sucked back into his work at M16 when he is asked to become a ballboy at Wimbledon so he can keep a look out for anything suspicious. After some unfortunate events where a "gang" of sorts is after Alex, M16 tells him he must leave the country for a period of time, so Alex accepts a job with the CIA in Skeleton Key, an island near Cuba.
It took a very long time for me to get into this book. The first half was just extremely boring and virtually nothing happened. It took maybe 100 pages or more just for us to even learn about the job in Skeleton Key, or Cayo Esqueleto. It also took a very long time for any action to happen. In Point Blank, we're given a sort of sneak peek as to why the case was brought to the attention of M16. The same happens in Skeleton Key, however we're given way too many answers in the first chapter. We learn about the plan right at the beginning, so the "reveal" meant pretty much nothing, unlike in Point Blank where we learn what's going on at the same time as Alex.
On top of this, the writing also felt pretty bland. You could argue that the book is for middle grade in addition to young adult, but this doesn't mean the writing has to be "dumbed down." This didn't bother me for all of the book, but it was pretty noticeable in some places.
Overall, this was still a good book but in my opinion in was the worst in the series so far. It took far too long for the story to actually start, and too much was given away in the beginning. I enjoyed how the first two books had some sort of air of mystery to them that this one lacked. This isn't one of the best series I've read but it was definitely pretty good, so if you're thinking about trying it, I'd definitely recommend picking up Stormbreaker (the first in the series). This one wasn't too great, but I'll probably pick up Eagle Strike at some point.
***Minor spoilers***
I was pretty disappointed with this one. I really enjoyed Point Blank, but this book pretty much paled in comparison to it. Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable enough, but it wasn't everything I was hoping for.
This book begins shortly after Alex recovered from France and has started to go to school again. Alex gets sucked back into his work at M16 when he is asked to become a ballboy at Wimbledon so he can keep a look out for anything suspicious. After some unfortunate events where a "gang" of sorts is after Alex, M16 tells him he must leave the country for a period of time, so Alex accepts a job with the CIA in Skeleton Key, an island near Cuba.
It took a very long time for me to get into this book. The first half was just extremely boring and virtually nothing happened. It took maybe 100 pages or more just for us to even learn about the job in Skeleton Key, or Cayo Esqueleto. It also took a very long time for any action to happen. In Point Blank, we're given a sort of sneak peek as to why the case was brought to the attention of M16. The same happens in Skeleton Key, however we're given way too many answers in the first chapter. We learn about the plan right at the beginning, so the "reveal" meant pretty much nothing, unlike in Point Blank where we learn what's going on at the same time as Alex.
On top of this, the writing also felt pretty bland. You could argue that the book is for middle grade in addition to young adult, but this doesn't mean the writing has to be "dumbed down." This didn't bother me for all of the book, but it was pretty noticeable in some places.
Overall, this was still a good book but in my opinion in was the worst in the series so far. It took far too long for the story to actually start, and too much was given away in the beginning. I enjoyed how the first two books had some sort of air of mystery to them that this one lacked. This isn't one of the best series I've read but it was definitely pretty good, so if you're thinking about trying it, I'd definitely recommend picking up Stormbreaker (the first in the series). This one wasn't too great, but I'll probably pick up Eagle Strike at some point.
November 7, 2022
Alex Rider isn't just any fourteen-year-old. He's mentally quick, knows self defense and adheres to a strong code of justice. Give him some gadgets and he'd make the perfect spy. After all, who would suspect a kid? And that's why MI6 want him so badly!
The series isn't just made up of individual adventure stories of espionage. The titles start becoming linked a little further into the series. It seems like Alex has a history. And because of it, his future with MI6 seems shaky and will leave the readers guessing.
I enjoyed these!
Ages: 12+
Cleanliness: A typical “good guy vs bad guy� story so morals are straight forward. There are some mild obscenities sprinkled throughout, most of which are used by the villains. If you’re from the UK or Down Under, the b-word is used once or twice in each book, so be aware of that. There’s no romantic relationships (a short one only in book four) and while there is violence (these are spy books after all) it is not too graphic or disturbing - similar to most Marvel movies. If this was a movie, it would probably be rated PG for action sequences and a little language.
Specifically in this title, there is an off hand remark about "keeping your hands on the right balls."
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell !
The series isn't just made up of individual adventure stories of espionage. The titles start becoming linked a little further into the series. It seems like Alex has a history. And because of it, his future with MI6 seems shaky and will leave the readers guessing.
I enjoyed these!
Ages: 12+
Cleanliness: A typical “good guy vs bad guy� story so morals are straight forward. There are some mild obscenities sprinkled throughout, most of which are used by the villains. If you’re from the UK or Down Under, the b-word is used once or twice in each book, so be aware of that. There’s no romantic relationships (a short one only in book four) and while there is violence (these are spy books after all) it is not too graphic or disturbing - similar to most Marvel movies. If this was a movie, it would probably be rated PG for action sequences and a little language.
Specifically in this title, there is an off hand remark about "keeping your hands on the right balls."
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell !
December 4, 2013
Skeleton Key was a phenomenal book, and I couldn’t put it down. I loved everything about it; the action, the suspense and the twists to the plot. The only thing is that I read the series out of order. There was one main action part in the middle, and my favorite is at the end. One of the parts is in the middle, and it is when Alex, Carver, and Troy went Scuba diving for a possible underwater entrance to Sarov’s mansion. Carver and Troy (two Adults who work for the CIA) go down first. After a while, they don’t come back, so Alex goes down to look for them. He later finds out that they were caught in a “cave� that, when it senses motion, it closes its stalactites and stalagmites, killing anything that goes in. While Alex is exploring, he runs into a great white shark. Alex only lives because he is a good swimmer, and can virtually dodge anything, including the shark. He accidently leads it into the cave, and he witnesses what happened to Troy and Carver. The action filled part in the end, is when Alex is on a plane, seconds away from leaving for Russia. The only reason he is going to Russia is because Sarov wants to make Alex his child. Sarov lost his son to war, and wants another one. Alex has gear from Smitty (the gadgets person for MI6), and one of those things is a stun grenade disguised as a Tiger Woods bobble-head. Alex pretends to be stretching his legs, and getting ready for a long flight to Russia. He is really pulling the chord on the stun grenade, drops it, and ran out the door second before it went off. He soon returns to the CIA, explains everything, and is sent home to England.
July 23, 2023
Sehr abgedreht zum Teil, aber wie die Vorgänger sehr unterhaltsam. Merke aber, dass ich weit an der Zielgruppe vorbei bin.
July 4, 2020
I’m really starting to adore the Alex Rider series. I have a huge soft spot for books of my childhood but being a typical child uninterested in the books I had on my shelf, I never got this far into the when I was younger. I’m so glad I’ve picked up this series as an adult and I’ve really been enjoying a bit of teenage spy action drama.
I’ve loved all of the books of Alex Rider so far and have to say they keep getting better and better! A bit of a guilty pleasure for me reading these and I’m glad I have a fair few others to be getting on with. Can’t wait to see what other adventures Alex gets up to !
I’ve loved all of the books of Alex Rider so far and have to say they keep getting better and better! A bit of a guilty pleasure for me reading these and I’m glad I have a fair few others to be getting on with. Can’t wait to see what other adventures Alex gets up to !
March 25, 2022
Overall Rating : B+
"He was a schoolboy and everyone - Blunt, Mrs. Jones, the CIA - had lied and played tricks to get him here."
I've never read a book geared towards middle grade kids have so many references to prostitutes 🤣!! Certainly made it interesting, and it was a lot darker than the first two books as well.
"He was a schoolboy and everyone - Blunt, Mrs. Jones, the CIA - had lied and played tricks to get him here."
I've never read a book geared towards middle grade kids have so many references to prostitutes 🤣!! Certainly made it interesting, and it was a lot darker than the first two books as well.
December 26, 2011
I love the Alex Rider series, and upon reading this book, I was thrilled. It was always action-packed, and this book started to take a slightly darker mood, with more emotions and such. One of the things I love about the series is how REAL it is. In a fantasy book, because it is fantasy, writing realistically is always a big part. In other books with spy kids, they're always thrilled to be a spy and "putting themselves in danger". But Alex Rider is different. In the first two books, I always thought that if I were Alex I'd love doing all the spy work, but in this book, I connected to him more, and what with all the blackmail, I actually started understanding the way he feels- he just wants a normal childhood, with friends and avoiding homework and girls.
The main plot was less impressive this time, although it did have some twists, you figure out the villains' plans way before. I did like that the General has an actual personality and depth, as a character. Horowitz' previous villains didn't really have much of that.
Sabina...well...I'm really not sure what I think of her, to be honest. I like what she represents, and the idea that she's giving Alex a normal life, but as a character, I was disappointed. She's so..stereotypical. Or, just not very interesting. If there's going to be a love interest in these types of action books, I always like it better if the said girl is interesting- perhaps very dangerous, or incredibly smart, or beautiful, or just has a personality that is unique; who is stubborn and hot-headed and teases incessantly.
Overall, though, I loved the book. It took the series to a new level, in terms of emotional development, and I loved the plot and action it provided.
The main plot was less impressive this time, although it did have some twists, you figure out the villains' plans way before. I did like that the General has an actual personality and depth, as a character. Horowitz' previous villains didn't really have much of that.
Sabina...well...I'm really not sure what I think of her, to be honest. I like what she represents, and the idea that she's giving Alex a normal life, but as a character, I was disappointed. She's so..stereotypical. Or, just not very interesting. If there's going to be a love interest in these types of action books, I always like it better if the said girl is interesting- perhaps very dangerous, or incredibly smart, or beautiful, or just has a personality that is unique; who is stubborn and hot-headed and teases incessantly.
Overall, though, I loved the book. It took the series to a new level, in terms of emotional development, and I loved the plot and action it provided.
January 11, 2012
The book "Skeleton Key" is a thrilling exciting novel. From the moment you open he book from the time you close it there is action all around. I ended up reading at separate time, taking a long break in between reading this and i regret it because the ending could have come any faster. Overall I was more than happy about the book and enjoyed every page I turned. I would recommend this book to anyone but mainly guys.
Alex Rider is a 14 year old boy with fair hair and brown eyes, his parents were killed in a "accident" and ever since was raised by his uncle. Alan Blunt is and emotionless man and is the head of the M16. Wolf is a military squad leader who trained with Alex at M16. Chinese gang member was trying to poison players at Wimbledon for reasons you will have to find out!
The book begins with the trade of nuclear weapons but the people selling the arms are killed by alligators in a unexpected way. Soon after alex hears from the M16 that he must go on a new mission but it was almost a dream mission. He was able to be a ball boy at Wimbledon. He is assigned this position because earlier that week a man broke in and broke out, but they couldn't find out who it was or what the stole. So alex became a ball boy. Meanwhile many of the top ranked players weren't performing and lost the tournament and a underdog won the tournament. During the whole time alex is suspicious about a security guard who made unnecessary phone calls. Soon alex finds himself in a intense situation where he finds out that the players are being drugged and the guard tries to kill him! Alex escapes and figures out the reason behind why the man was drugging the players. But there is more to the story read it and you will never regret it.
Alex Rider is a 14 year old boy with fair hair and brown eyes, his parents were killed in a "accident" and ever since was raised by his uncle. Alan Blunt is and emotionless man and is the head of the M16. Wolf is a military squad leader who trained with Alex at M16. Chinese gang member was trying to poison players at Wimbledon for reasons you will have to find out!
The book begins with the trade of nuclear weapons but the people selling the arms are killed by alligators in a unexpected way. Soon after alex hears from the M16 that he must go on a new mission but it was almost a dream mission. He was able to be a ball boy at Wimbledon. He is assigned this position because earlier that week a man broke in and broke out, but they couldn't find out who it was or what the stole. So alex became a ball boy. Meanwhile many of the top ranked players weren't performing and lost the tournament and a underdog won the tournament. During the whole time alex is suspicious about a security guard who made unnecessary phone calls. Soon alex finds himself in a intense situation where he finds out that the players are being drugged and the guard tries to kill him! Alex escapes and figures out the reason behind why the man was drugging the players. But there is more to the story read it and you will never regret it.
March 15, 2014
I decided to read "Skeleton Key" by Anthony Horowitz because lots of my friends had read it and had said it was a great book. I had read the first book in the series before and I thought it was really good. The cover of the book isn't very exciting but the content inside the book definitely is.
My favorite character in the book is Conrad. He is a really strange man with an eye to kill. Years before the book was set, Conrad was trying to sneak a bomb into a highly populated area when the bomb blew up on his body. He was blown into pieces and almost died. Specialist doctors managed to piece him back together. He is a messed up person with features well out of proportion.
My favorite quote in this book is, "you're never too young to die...". This quote is very interesting because it leaves uncertainty to what will happen to Alex Rider (the main character). This could mean that he is going to die or it could mean he will be close to it.
After reading this book I wondered if there really were secret agents in the world. It seems unlikely but it would be interesting if there was. In the book the main evil character tries to set off a nuclear bomb but doesn't succeed. This has made me think about all the horrible people in the world who want to terrorize countries or the whole world. This book was really great and I will definitely read more of the series by Anthony Horowitz.
My favorite character in the book is Conrad. He is a really strange man with an eye to kill. Years before the book was set, Conrad was trying to sneak a bomb into a highly populated area when the bomb blew up on his body. He was blown into pieces and almost died. Specialist doctors managed to piece him back together. He is a messed up person with features well out of proportion.
My favorite quote in this book is, "you're never too young to die...". This quote is very interesting because it leaves uncertainty to what will happen to Alex Rider (the main character). This could mean that he is going to die or it could mean he will be close to it.
After reading this book I wondered if there really were secret agents in the world. It seems unlikely but it would be interesting if there was. In the book the main evil character tries to set off a nuclear bomb but doesn't succeed. This has made me think about all the horrible people in the world who want to terrorize countries or the whole world. This book was really great and I will definitely read more of the series by Anthony Horowitz.
December 27, 2010
Alex Rider has been through a lot in his life. He has been almost electrocuted by a giant jellyfish, been held prisoner twice, and has stood face to face with evil. But none of his prievous experiences will even come close to this one. One day after soccer practice, Crawley, a man who works for MI6, appears, asking Alex to be a ball boy and keep an eye on the Wimbledon tennis tournament and watch for anything supspicious, since there had been a break in. Immediately, he spots a guard who is up to something supscious. After foiling the mans plan to sabatoge the tournament, Alex thinks that he will be able to sit back and relax on his vacation with one of the ball girls from the tournament, Sabina. While on this vacation, though, he is attacked by another man from the same gang that the mysterious guard was from. The two heads of MI6 propose to have him work for the CIA briefly on a mission while they try to let the gang that attacked him know that he is under their wing. With rumors of nuclear bombs, a Russian president making a visit to an old Russian general, Alex plunges headfirst into a mystery that is not what it seems.
May 4, 2016
3.5 For me, I think this one is the weakest in the series, if not simply the least memorable. I don't mind the formulaic plots, or the cliche spy movie stuff ('Before I kill you, I shall tell you my whole plan' etc) because that's the nature of this genre. It's 007 at age 14. But this book is altogether way too similar to the first book. The idealistic bad guy, the scarred sidekick, the plane ride of doom, the whole thing, really.
We do of course meet Sabina, who is fun. And we get to see Alex dealing with the fact that he has never had a real family. That's really the saving grace of this book; we start to see the effects this life is having on Alex, and that MI6 doesn't particularly care.
We do of course meet Sabina, who is fun. And we get to see Alex dealing with the fact that he has never had a real family. That's really the saving grace of this book; we start to see the effects this life is having on Alex, and that MI6 doesn't particularly care.
February 11, 2023
4.7/5
Woahhhh. That book was very, very interesting. There were so many great plot points and such an amazing book to read, all the characters had different personalities and attributes which really made the book quite good. I felt like I just had read two books in one (in a good way).
It dug deeper into Alex’s mental health as well, which gave the emotions I was craving, I am eager to discover more inside his head.
Excited to read the next one in the series.
Side note: Almost seems like it went too fast because there was so much action, but still amazing.
PS: colleeeen 😹😹😹
Woahhhh. That book was very, very interesting. There were so many great plot points and such an amazing book to read, all the characters had different personalities and attributes which really made the book quite good. I felt like I just had read two books in one (in a good way).
It dug deeper into Alex’s mental health as well, which gave the emotions I was craving, I am eager to discover more inside his head.
Excited to read the next one in the series.
Side note: Almost seems like it went too fast because there was so much action, but still amazing.
PS: colleeeen 😹😹😹
April 15, 2010
great book i am reading it right now it has a very interesting story line but it is kind of ridiculous that the spy is fourteen.
December 30, 2024
এলেক্স রাইডারের সিরিজি� টা নিয়� মিক্� অনুভূত� ছিল। ৩য� কিস্তিতে� বাজিমা�!
May 17, 2024
Like eating candy, super light and easy, still fun. Nice to get back in the series after two decades
December 28, 2024
I completely forgot what this book was about and I have no idea how cuz this one’s just as insane and well done as the last one
April 14, 2023
Kali ini Alex Rider bekerja sama dengan ejen CIA untuk memasuki Skeleton Key, sebuah pulau di Cuba. Menyamar sebagai keluarga yang sedang dalam percutiaan, mereka mula meneruskan tugas mereka.
Kelakar dengan CIA dalam naskah ini yang mengutuk British (MI6) mempergunakan kanak-kanak untuk misi mereka tapi akhirnya CIA juga menggunakan khidmat Alex dalam memastikan keberhasilan misi mereka.
Seperti biasa naskah Alex Rider penuh dengan aksi dan lagak ngeri. Tetapi untuk naskah yang ketiga ini, ada elemen emosi yang dimasukkan ke dalam penceritaan. Dan elemen itu sesuai dengan keadaan dan situasi dalam naskah ini.
Kasih seorang bapa kepada anak tiada hadnya. Walaupun Alex bukanlah anak Sarov, tapi bayangan anaknya menempel pada Alex hingga Sarov tidak tergamak membunuhnya.
Setiap orang mempunyai ideologi tersendiri tentang dunia yang sempurna. Tetapi bagaimana ideologi itu dilaksanakan bergantung pada individu tersebut. Ada yang sekadar melantunkan kata-kata. Malah ada juga yang bertindak terus tanpa memikirkan akibat dari perbuatan mereka.
Kelakar dengan CIA dalam naskah ini yang mengutuk British (MI6) mempergunakan kanak-kanak untuk misi mereka tapi akhirnya CIA juga menggunakan khidmat Alex dalam memastikan keberhasilan misi mereka.
Seperti biasa naskah Alex Rider penuh dengan aksi dan lagak ngeri. Tetapi untuk naskah yang ketiga ini, ada elemen emosi yang dimasukkan ke dalam penceritaan. Dan elemen itu sesuai dengan keadaan dan situasi dalam naskah ini.
Kasih seorang bapa kepada anak tiada hadnya. Walaupun Alex bukanlah anak Sarov, tapi bayangan anaknya menempel pada Alex hingga Sarov tidak tergamak membunuhnya.
Setiap orang mempunyai ideologi tersendiri tentang dunia yang sempurna. Tetapi bagaimana ideologi itu dilaksanakan bergantung pada individu tersebut. Ada yang sekadar melantunkan kata-kata. Malah ada juga yang bertindak terus tanpa memikirkan akibat dari perbuatan mereka.
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