Review: The Killing by Robert Muchamore

Title: The Killing

Author: Robert Muchamore

Series: Cherub #4

Publisher: Hodder

Publication date: 13 Oct 2005

Format: Paperback | 336 pages

Genre: YA

Goodreads

Leon is a small-time crook who's ridden his luck for three decades. When he starts splashing big money around, the cops are desperate to know where it came from.

They call in CHERUB, a secret organisation with one essential advantage: even experienced criminals never suspect that children are spying on them.

James'  latest mission looks routine: make friends with Leon's kids, infiltrate his home, dig up some leads.

But the plot James begins to unravel isn't what anyone expected. And the only person who might know the truth is a reclusive eighteen-year-old boy.

There's just one problem.

The boy fell to his death thirteen months earlier.

My thoughts:

 Although it wasn't my favourite book of the series so far, The Killing really doesn't disappoint in the level of action and suspense involved.

 

I loved how Lauren, James' sister, and Kerry were involved a little more than in the previous books. I liked the way they worked together with James and Dave as a team with absolute focus on the mission at times, and then at the drop of a hat they were back to being kids again having a popcorn fight in a hotel. Muchamore almost lets you forget that these missions rely on children to do the heavy stuff and then he snaps it all back into perspective with a little comment or in this case, the throwing around of popcorn.

 

The plot was pretty simple for a time and there seemed to be a focus more on character development and relationships up until a certain point when the goal of the mission changed a little. It meant the read wasn't as thrilling as some of the previous books, but it certainly picked up about halfway through the read. I have to say the way the mission came to an end was pretty hilarious. It reminded me of a big elaborate prank just with criminals going to prison as a consequence. It made me laugh a little at times since it seemed James was enjoying himself a little too much.

 

Overall though, I enjoyed this one. I really recommend this series if you haven't read it already. They're very quick reads that pretty much have everything to offer.

 

My rating: 7/10

 

Robert Muchamore:

 

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Cherub:

 

1. The Recruit
2. Class A
3. Maximum Security
4. The Killing
5. Divine Madness
6. Man vs. Beast
7. The Fall
8. Mad Dogs
9. The Sleepwalker
10. Dark Sun
11. The General
12. Brigands M.C
13. Shadow Wave