Reviews

Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz

pipjean14's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

botal93's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

madkatrob's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

ev_larkspur's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

peppermintz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Is it character development if they just become more depressed? Genuinely, Alex deserves the biggest of breaks and better adults (other than Jack) in his life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Murder

joekliverpool's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

ymadeleine's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

3.75

bradenjdowdy's review against another edition

4.0

Unique among the series, in that the antagonist becomes a real character and interacts with the protagonist. Plus, some of my personal favorite action scenes from the series.

Age range: 10-15
May be too violent for younger readers. Especially if they are scared of the ocean.

topdragon's review against another edition

4.0

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.

revraimi's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5