Crocodile Tears

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Alex Rider's eighth, adrenaline fueled adventure in the number one bestselling series.

In the eighth book in the number one bestselling Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, Alex meets international do-gooder Desmond McCain. But a simple card game between them rapidly leads to a duel to the death -- one that could result in the destruction of an entire country.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-9-In Anthony Horowitz's latest Alex Rider adventure (Philomel, 2009), the teen spy for the British intelligence agency, M16, must download files from a botanical genetic engineering company that is up to no good. His mission pits him against a crook/political leader turned evangelist/philanthropist who leads First Aid, an organization whose motto is always to be the first to respond to world disasters, even if it means creating them in the first place. Alex discovers that First Aid plans to create a deadly plague in Kenya using genetically engineered wheat. To save millions of lives, he must put a stop to this plan, but first he must escape an encounter with crocodiles. Simon Prebble does an excellent job of narrating this fast-paced, exciting story in his clear British accent, giving each character a unique voice. An excellent selection for reluctant readers, especially boys.-Kathy Miller, Baldwin Junior High School, Baldwin City, KS (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Alex Rider, teenage British secret service agent, returns. This time, a wealthy villain schemes to make millions by creating disasters and then pocketing the money from false relief agencies. Alex discovers the bad guy's plan to cause famine in Africa, but he is able to expose the fake philanthropist, although he is nearly fed to hungry crocs in the process. Horowitz's series remains on top of the growing genre of YA novels that feature intelligence agencies employing teenagers. He knows how to pace a thriller and delivers one exciting scene after another. Alex Rider fans will rejoice.--Morning, Todd Copyright 2010 Booklist