August 18, 2012
Richard Newsome’s ‘Billionaire’ series continues at the same frenetic pace that worked so well in previous books. In The Crystal Code, the world’s youngest billionaire, Gerald Wilkins, and his friends Sam and Ruby Valentine, Felicity, Alisha and Ox, begin their Christmas holidays by flying to Gerald’s private ski resort. But as Christmas Eve approaches, the resort is thrown into mayhem as kidnappers make off with Alisha, Ox and Ruby. It takes all of Gerald, Felicity and Sam’s detective skills to find out how and why their friends were taken, and most importantly, where—and when they do it’s quite a shock. In the mad rush to save their friends, Gerald and co also find out more than they care to about the famous astronomer and chemist Tycho Brahe. Newsome has delivered yet another thrilling instalment, and I am immensely glad he decided not to stop at a trilogy. The Crystal Code cranks up the series to a new level of excitement for children aged nine to 12.
Anne Copeland is the education accounts manager for Dymocks, Collins St in Melbourne