S.T.E.A.L.T.H.: Access Denied: Book 1 Paperback – 7 April 2022

My ‘just turned 12’ son loved this book. He’s not one for reading - or reading out loud, but there some real laugh out loud moments which he relayed to me.If it’s get him reading (which it has) then job done.

The best way to summarise this book is Thunderbirds meets Transformers.S.T.E.A.L.T.H Access denied is a story that really encapsulates the excitement and fun of Alex Rider, without the necessarily overly elaborate plots of a boy-spy/secret agent. Instead, the story begins as Arun skips school with his friends Donna and Sam, with the trio coming face to face with a mysterious stranger within the first few paragraphs.This sets us up for what is a roaringly fast paced action thriller, sort of like the drama “24”, with a race against time to save Arun’s father and to save the world from imminent danger.The banter between the three main characters is strong, as is their general dynamics. Each of them have their own personality, while offering something specific to the table – be that Arun puzzle solving, Donna quick thinking, or Sam’s technical knowledge. The group works well and I think most readers will find their favourite among them in a sort of Percy Jackson or HP, middle grade trio protagonist groups way.The core plot is involved, exciting, and it really keeps up at pacy beat – never allowing for the book to drag, but then never being too skinny on the details or the description. Together with the blend of narrative, mainly from Arun’s POV, but with small interludes from alternative POVs, you get a full sense of the chaos unfolding before them.The final third of the book reveals what is the premise moving into the future books in the series, with the arrival of MANDROID, and what this means for Arun and his friends. In a sense this is very much a prequel book, laying down the valuable groundwork for even bigger and better books to come, but that doesn’t make it any less special! A great read.

Pure adrenaline. Hi-tech, full throttle adrenaline. Alex Rider meets 24 with some Transformers thrown in. Witty & engaging cast, great use of tech and clever timed chapters. Edge of the seats and then some, and a great set up for a series.

This is a fast-paced action adventure in which three children find themselves saving the world from rogue government agents while the adult officials bumble about.Arun Lal's father has disappeared. Unbeknown to him, his father has been working on a top secret project designed to help people in very difficult environments. Together with his tech-savvy friend, Sam, and fearless Donna, it falls to the trio to track down the kidnappers and rescue Professor Lal before the project can be used as a devastating weapon.The action happens in the space of 24 hours, set out in short time frames, making it hard to put down. If I have one criticism, it is the opening of the book really does throw you into the deep end. It made me feel a bit disorientated, as if I had missed some part of the story. Hence only 4 stars.That said, I will definitely be buying this for our library and looking out for the sequels which the ending clearly promises.

Loved this book, the first in a thrilling new action adventure series. The pace is heart-pounding and the story is packed with peril and intrigue. And hello, a main character called Arun Lal! (Where were these books when I was growing up???)

STEALTH is a fun adventure thriller perfect for fans of the Cherub series. The unlikely trio of school children use their cunning to try and locate Arun's dad. Villains, police chases, the army, secrets and lies all play a part in this fun read, sure to appeal to the younger YA/Tween audience. Jason Rohan has created the first in what I imagine is likely to be a popular well-written series.