Day of Vengeance
Jack Christie is a boy cornered in time-travelling conflict. His father, along with a team of top-secret scientists, has created the Taurus time machine, hidden beneath Jack’s school. However, their attempts to alter history have split the team into two warring factions, with Jack and his friend Angus caught in the crossfire.
In this, the third book of the Jack Christie Adventures series, Jack and Angus try to avert present-day disaster by travelling back to 1940, crash-landing in occupied France. Embroiled in a plot to assassinate Hitler, the boys uncover a more sinister threat – plans for a nuclear weapon in enemy hands. The meddling of time-travelling scientists has put thousands of lives at risk. Jack and Angus might just save them, if they can save themselves from the Nazis.
Although the opening chapters are heavy on background information, once the action hits 1940, the story rockets along. It’s packed full of gun fights and skin-of-your-teeth escapes. There’s also plenty of historical detail, such as spitfire combat, to keep enthusiasts happy. The characters of Jack and Angus get swamped by the plot at times, but towards the end Jack emerges as a more distinct protagonist. His father’s unresolved issues, with the scientists and with his family, give Jack’s character plenty of scope for further adventures. Readers who love fast-paced action will be coming back for more. For ages 10-14.
