This third installment in the Danny Watts series finds Danny and his friend Elena working undercover for the Crown to unravel the identity of a terrorist who is using the Internet to recruit teen suicide bombers. Although Danny's grandfather, a former secret agent, is helping the teens, his presence is merely tolerated by the agency. Both Danny and Elena struggle with who they are in this novel, and with their feelings about each other. Elena also agonizes over the disappearance of her father, something that the agency knows more about than it lets on. The subject of suicide bombings is certainly timely, but the terrorist's motives in using teenagers are never made clear. No matter, though, as each new message from the terrorist drives the plot forward from crisis to crisis. The text-messaging may seem a bit stilted, but the fast-paced action will engage readers (including those unfamiliar with the series); and like any good thriller, the story leaves its protagonist angry at the unfairness of the world and ready for a good showdown.

British teenage spies Danny and Elena (Payback, Traitor) and Danny's experienced spy grandfather are sucked into another adventure. This time they travel to New York to catch a millionaire villain who's recruiting teen suicide bombers to avenge his son's death in 9/11. Though the premise is more convoluted than in the other books, this adventure is just as suspenseful and action packed. Glos.

This third in the series that includes Traitor (2005) and Payback (2006) emphasizes more intrigue than action, although action fans certainly won't be disappointed. Again, McNab's military-intelligence expertise adds interest to this engrossing caper, as the unlikely spy trio tries to catch a twisted multi-millionaire, enraged by the death of his son in the World Trade Center, who devotes his life to recruiting teen suicide bombers online. Suspense arises from speculation that reluctant teen operative Elena may fall prey to the terrorist mastermind she's trying to catch, as she's again teamed with boyfriend Danny and his veteran-spy grandfather, Fergus. All three face further danger from their ruthless boss, who clearly wants to kill them once they complete their mission. This well-crafted series, featuring plenty of computers and gadgets, continues to emerge as an excellent choice for reluctant readers and for anyone who enjoys suspense. (Fiction. YA)

Gr 7 Up-In this sequel to Traitor (2005) and Payback (2006, both Putnam), teenagers all over the world are strapping on explosives and blowing up important sites. Special Ops in England knows that someone named Black Star is behind the suicide bombings, and the only way to catch him is with a seemingly disaffected youth who wants to join his Angels of Death. Enter Elena and Danny, two initially reluctant teen Ops who are vital to the covert plan. When they travel from London to New York City, the stakes are even higher because suddenly the teens are on their own in a strange city. What a ride! The "spy ops" employed are fascinating, including the complex system of leaving "dead letter box" messages and the complex method of exchanging items, called brush exchanges. Most importantly, the excitement of the story will keep even the most reluctant readers going until the end. However, it helps to be familiar with the previous books as character motivations are not always clear without the backstory.-Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Taking off where Payback (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2006/VOYA February 2007) ends, seventeen-year-old Danny Watts finds himself on a new mission of danger and intrigue. When covert British government agents set out to track down deadly Black Star, a computer whiz who is somehow recruiting teens in various locales to serve as suicide bombers, they know that Danny, his former spy grandfather Fergus Watts, and his sixteen-year-old computer expert friend, Elena Omolodon, are the only ones who can help them. Readers learn early on that Black Star is a furious, deranged father who lost his only son in the World Trade Center attacks, and he is bent on revenge for his untimely loss. He "recruits" Elena to be his next Angel of Death in New York City, and she carefully plays the part so that undercover agents can trap him. After they do so, the agents appear to murder Elena as a threat to national security, but Fergus prevents the same fate for himself and Danny by revealing that he left evidence with friends in England to turn in to the FBI if he failed to return. As with the previous book, this installment is a fast-paced, compelling teen thriller. The characters are convincing, and the challenges that they face in bringing down the bad guys hold interest amidst the unnerving and unsettling reality that the covert Brits also want Fergus and the teens dead. The ending is both satisfying and frustrating, dangling the carrot of yet another to come.-Diane Tuccillo.