Since the end of the Alex Rider series and Young Bond, I've been looking for a similar YA thriller series which will leave me with sweaty palms and a racing heart. I think I've finally found it in the shape of the superb Boy Nobody books by Allen Zadoff. If you're a thriller fan, who enjoys tense, nail-biting reads which are fast-paced and incredibly exciting then you definitely need to get your hands on these books which are described as Jason Bourne meets James Bond. 'The Mission' is the second instalment in the series about a nameless teenage assassin who works for The Program; an organisation which is shaded in mystery. As it's secrets gradually begin to be revealed, Boy Nobody, starts to question everything he thought was true. I like the fact that you are never really sure whether his missions are ultimately good or bad, but having been used to following orders for so long, he is almost afraid to discover the truth about the people who command him. This time around, our assassin has a new target but is left out in the cold when communication with his superiors is cut off. Working alone and without back-up, he has to decide how to act, when some surprising revelations come to light. I was glued to each chapter, as the story gets more and more tense and exciting and I wasn't sure who was going to be left standing at the end. This is a real edge of your seat read. You never know what is going to come next and Allen Zadoff certainly isn't afraid to pull any punches. If a character is superfluous to the plot or has served their purpose then they have to go. This keeps the reader in a state of anticipation as you don't want to get too attached to anyone. This series has it all. Action and excitement, plus a great over-arching plot and a protagonist who you want to believe in, even when you question his actions. The only thing I'm disappointed in is that after finally having stumbled across such a fantastic YA thriller series, there is only one more book in the trilogy still to come. 'The Traitor' is the concluding instalment and is due to hit shelves in June 2015. Once again we join the nameless assassin on an assignment to end a threat to the nation. This time, though, he's left hanging by those he trusts the most. They're not sure he's reliable any more, and he doesn't know if he should blindly follow every directive he's given. Zadoff has a talent for writing fast-paced thrillers that delve into politics, activism, and social order. The most remarkable aspect of this talent lies in creating these awesome stories for the teen set. I am the Mission is full of action and the reader is taken through every aspect of the adventure by someone who knows what it is to be a modern teen- even if he's partly faking it. Daniel (at least, that's his name for this book) is an excellent narrator and protagonist, voicing doubts and concerns about the program and its leaders. He is always keeping himself apart, yet finding himself pulled further into the intrigue. I am really looking forward to the next installment of the Unknown Assassin. I'm not sure how Zadoff could possibly make it better than this book, but I do know that I don't want to miss it.
What do You think about The Lost Mission (2014)?
Move over James Bond. Although there are a few unbelievable scenes...an excellent page turner.
—Theoriginalern
A worthy successor to Boy Nobody - I especially liked Zach's interactions with Howard.
—angel
If it gets a little dry, keep going. This book pays off with the twisty plot.
—xzndrflynn
