To keep things interesting at Eton, 13 yr old James Bond has joined the Danger Society. Against the rules and with a tough joining policy, James relishes the excitement of curfew-breaking acts. One night, he and other members must flee a meeting or be in serious trouble. Across the rooftops and in the dark, James overhears a strange conversation in Latin from below. He also discovers a strange room within the school with the symbol MM on artwork. Keen to get back to his room, he pushes it from his mind.

Mark Goodenough is a member of the Danger Society and soon after James’ scramble to avoid detection on the rooftops, he learns Mark is upset. He has just learnt that his father is dead and his sister is missing somewhere in the Mediterranean. James has to calm Mark down before he does something reckless, and vows if he can do anything to help, he will.

Summer holidays are approaching and his aunt will be away. He decides to join his friends on a tour of a Mediterranean Island called Sardinia. A popular teacher named Mr Haight is taking the tour, wanting to show his students sets of ruins he is fascinated by. It’s decided James will leave the tour half way through to stay with his cousin Victor who lives nearby.

He’s pleased to leave the school tour after a case of sunstroke nearly takes his life. Looking forward to rest, relaxation and many warm sea swims, James settles into Victor’s home full of beautiful art – both collected or painted by Victor’s famous artist house mate. One evening a Count arrives for dinner. He waxes lyrical about himself, his achievements and his wealth, but he is not all he says he is. James’ relaxing holiday is suddenly shredded by the Count’s associates – pirates and smugglers, who also have something to do with Mark Goodenough’s family tragedy. They too have the MM symbol on them.

Once again James is caught up in a terrible plot involving power, corruption and money – made any way possible. New friends are murdered, precious belongings stolen and his life put in danger again and again. He remembers his vow to his friend Mark to help if he can. Scaling walls, swimming through a dam, climbing buildings and avoiding bullets, horses hooves and even swords become the norm for this honorable, brave, rebellious Eton school boy.

A plot that twists and turns and with tons of action to the very last paragraph, this second book in this series has even more than the first. Who is real and who isn’t? Who is a villian and who is on his side? And where is Mark’s sister Amy?

James’ skills at escape, ability to keep calm in a crisis and magnetism with girls, are all developing within this episode. No punches are pulled as bullets fly, swords swish, bombs explode and mosquitoes swarm. Our hero thinks he’s done for more than once but survives on smarts and more good luck than bad. The Danger Society is going to feel a bit boring after this!

Author – Charlie Higson

Age – 10+

Read a review of other books in this series (Click on a Cover)

(2012, Penguin Aust, Spies, Sardinia, Italy, Series, Danger, Thrilling, Action, Pirates, Secrets, Mosquitoes, Gunfire, Art theft, Smuggling, Secret Society, , Crime, Grief, Historical, Wealth, Mystery, Count)