The French Code

Spy Force #9

by Deborah Abela

Could a visit to the world’s most famous museum result in Max’s most dangerous mission yet? When a leading archeologist disappears from the Louvre, the world's most famous museum, Spyforce agents Max, Linden and Toby are sent to France to mind his spoilt daughter. But Monsieur Marceau has left an encrypted message for his daughter, and the police aren't the only people interested in what Veronique knows. Who has kidnapped Marceau, and why? The three superspies soon discover that the answer involves mysterious codes, secret graveyard meetings, underground torture chambers in medieval castles, and the wonders of ancient Egypt. Will Max crack the puzzle before it's too late?

Genres: Childrens

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Deb knew she wanted to be a writer when she was 7 years old. Her first story was about a man made out of cheese. It wasn’t very good. She’s had much more practice writing since then and strangely enough her first writing job was for a kids’ show on channel Ten called “Cheez TV”. After 7 years of writing scripts about everything from llamas to bungy jumping and how to go to the toilet in outer space, Deb wrote her first novel - Max Remy Superspy Part 1: In Search of the Time and Space Machine.

It’s about a feisty girl called Max and her best friend Linden who travel the world as secret agents fighting bad guys. It’s an action packed series based on loads of adventures Deb had, just after she left school. She’s slept beside alligators, been harassed by monkeys (and who hasn’t) was almost
traded for a camel and was thrown in jail at gunpoint, twice.
Deb still claims her innocence to this day.

Together with sport icon Johnny Warren, Deb also created
the Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) series. It’s about a
young boy called Jasper and his best friend Lil, who love
their soccer and dream of being soccer legends, just like
Johnny. Deb lives in Sydney with her partner Todd, who
is almost as cute as Linden.

Reviews

[Mella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have read this series a million times as a kid. I was even lucky enough to meet the author and have my books signed. I love Max. She's such a perfect example of the awkwardness of growing up and trying to be yourself and not knowing who that is and making friends and falling in love and all the happiness and fear and anger and insecurity of being a tween. Max is totally relatable and very likeable - even if she can be grumpy and standoffish and mean. In fact I liked her more because of it. She was experiencing all the crazy emotions I was - and she was a spy. Alex Rider was cool and all and the Cherub kids were awesome but they had nothing on Max.

I loved her friendship with Linden ( - he was so nice and you can see why she develops a crush on him - but I adored her relationship with Toby) and Toby and the relationship she builds with her aunt and uncle. Spyforce is everything you want a secret spy agency to be with weird and wonderful gadgets and fun and crazy missions.

Yes, for an adult it can be simplistic - but as a kid it's everything you want to read - funny and entertaining. Fantastic series. Solid 4-5 stars overall.

Frankly I want the author to revisit Max - as a young adult/older teen. I would love to read about an older Max and Linden and Toby and see what trouble they get into as high school emotions take over. Please Deborah Abela?