Gr 7–10—When Edward Michael (Em for short) loses his professor father unexpectedly and suspiciously, the teen is left reeling. After the funeral, his dad's home office is burglarized yet nothing appears to be missing. Em is whisked off to France by a family friend and his daughter, lovely and intimidating Charlotte, and the teens spot a stranger with a gun stalking them through the streets of Paris. Finally, when Em returns home, he is shocked to learn that his mother has been committed to a psychiatric facility and when he goes to visit her, she slurs a warning in her drugged state: run. Now Em cannot seem to find a safe place to hide from an omniscient group of pursuers. He connects with Victor, an oddly helpful vagrant who turns out to be a government secret service officer. Victor, Charlotte, and Em plot, scheme, and uncover clues left by the deceased professor, which leads them down a path of intrigue complete with international travel, deadly epidemics, and large-scale conspiracies. Brennan serves up a fun read with guy appeal, a Dan Brown-like thriller about Nostradamus, meandering into an international environmental statement, with betrayals and lies so pervasive that it's hard to decipher the actual truth. Recommended for those who love an adventurous tale and are willing to suspend disbelief.—Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ
Irish author Brennan (the Faerie Wars series) might be late to the post–Dan Brown conspiracy thriller craze, but he has no trouble using its tropes to create an enjoyable, exciting read. British teenager Em Goverton gets two major shocks in quick succession: the sudden death of his father and the overheard suggestion that it might have been murder. After a short vacation in France with a childhood friend and her family leads to additional suspicious events, Em returns home to find his mother institutionalized and their house ransacked. Em’s attempt to evade corrupt social services workers takes him to a homeless shelter and a helpful man named Victor; from there, the apparent conspiracy surrounding his father’s work on the history of Nostradamus leads to a familiar amalgam of prophecies, global travel, betrayal, and requisite over-the-top plot twists. Brennan capably juggles these threads and more by focusing on Em’s believably innocent and grounded narrative voice. Realism takes a backseat to action, but it’s unlikely that readers will be complaining. Ages 10–up. Agent: Sophie Hicks, Ed Victor Literary Agency. (Nov.)
Brennan has written a masterpiece thriller of intrigue, suspense, and mystery-a well written novel that readers will not want to put down. Any person who enjoys getting lost within the pages of a book will want to pick up this one. ” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)
“Intrigue complete with international travel, deadly epidemics, and large-scale conspiracies. Brennan serves up a fun read with guy appeal, a Dan Brown-like thriller … Recommended for those who love an adventurous tale.” — School Library Journal
“Conspiracies abound in this tension-filled series starter from a master of many genres …. This well-constructed thriller will appeal to all fans of suspense.” — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for THE DOOMSDAY BOX: “Well populated with interesting characters, this story is nicely paced and told, a solid sequel that indicates there is room for more.” — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for THE DOOMSDAY BOX: “Readers who enjoy their action/adventure laced with weird science and real politics will enjoy this fast-paced, exciting second in the series.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for THE DOOMSDAY BOX: “This book has something for every reader: suspense, history, time travel, adventure, and a little romance and humor.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Brennan has written a masterpiece thriller of intrigue, suspense, and mystery-a well written novel that readers will not want to put down. Any person who enjoys getting lost within the pages of a book will want to pick up this one.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)
Praise for THE DOOMSDAY BOX: “This book has something for every reader: suspense, history, time travel, adventure, and a little romance and humor.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Praise for THE DOOMSDAY BOX: “Readers who enjoy their action/adventure laced with weird science and real politics will enjoy this fast-paced, exciting second in the series.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for THE DOOMSDAY BOX: “Readers who enjoy their action/adventure laced with weird science and real politics will enjoy this fast-paced, exciting second in the series.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Brennan has written a masterpiece thriller of intrigue, suspense, and mystery-a well written novel that readers will not want to put down. Any person who enjoys getting lost within the pages of a book will want to pick up this one.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review)
Conspiracies abound in this tension-filled series starter from a master of many genres, catching two teens up in the secretive Knights of Themis' plot to dominate the world and casting them into a maelstrom of danger. Em (short for Edward Michael) Goverton is being hunted by a man with a gun whom he spotted at the funeral of his father, a noted expert on Nostradamus, and again on a sightseeing jaunt in Paris. Back from France and still being hunted, he meets I Ching devotee Victor, who rescues him and teaches him about both the Knights and his employer, the supersecret agency Section 7, which has tracked the Knights for over 50 years. The ensuing mayhem--tightly narrated, with cliffhangers, red herrings and a deliciously complex wheels-within-wheels conspiracy--is spellbinding. The final chapters and outstanding ending must be read in one sitting. Thoroughly believable, Em is suitably fearful about the chaos but is decisive when tough choices are needed. His friend Charlotte is smart, funny and helpful. This well-constructed thriller will appeal to all fans of suspense. Middle schoolers--male and female--will enjoy this novel and hope en masse the next book comes soon. (Adventure. 11-14)
