by Anthony Horowitz, 2009, Audiobook narrated by Nathaniel Parker, Listening Library

This book is categorized as a “children’s book”, but it definitely is not that. Horowitz had mentioned his Alex Rider books frequently in his Hawthorne detective novels so I decided to check one out to see if it would be something by 12-year-old grandson would like. I would not recommend it to someone his age: in fact, I would not suggest it for anyone under the age of 15 or so. The book starts out explaining that Alex’s uncle had died in a car accident where he was not wearing his seatbelt. Alex is suspicious of this explanation as his uncle also insisted on wearing seta bels in the car when he was riding with him. It turns out that his uncle was murdered, and Alex is determined to find out how and why he died.

As the plot unfolds, there are numerous events that involve death, torture, and mayhem that seem more suitable for an adult audience. Maybe the book should be in the “Young Adult” category instead of “Children’s Books”, but as an adult novel it is only mediocre. The only thing that makes it more palatable for children might be the lack of obscene language.