Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get your hands on this book and read it!
This is book number 4 in the Ruby Redfort series and we have had to wait an extra two months for this one to be published but it was definitely worth the wait. As usual, the 13 year old girl code cracker, Ruby, finds herself plunged into an adventure at the start of the book. Her loyal friend, Clancy Crew, and butler/Spectrum secret agent Hitch are both involved in helping her to defeat the plans of a number of psychopathic villains. Ruby's millionaire, socialite parents are completely oblivious to the fact that their daughter and butler are working for the Spectrum secret agency. At first Ruby just seems to be investigating a string of unusual thefts but then as the story unfolds she finds herself in a far more dangerous situation.
The story is high octane throughout, with loads of clues and subplots. I think Lauren Child does a fantastic job of weaving all the parts of the story together without ever leaving you confused. There are cracking good codes in the story ( which in this book rely on the Sense of touch to unravel) and I love the way the author gives the reader clues which it is obvious that Ruby Redfort does not know. (My brother told me this is called dramatic irony).
Everything about this book is enjoyable, I even love the cover which looks great on my bookshelf along with the other 3. Once I started it I simply could not put it down until I had finished it. At the end I felt like I had actually been on the mission with Ruby and done all the exciting things that she did. I would say that this book would appeal equally to both girls and boys as Ruby does parkour amongst other dangerous things. In summary it is a BRILLIANT book!
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
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