What do you think?
Rate this book
Villain
Gaming fanatic Jay receives a strange phone call on a school trip to Titanium Tower. The voice on the other end calls himself Z. And he has trapped Jay’s classmates in the elevator at the very top of the skyscraper.
Jay finds himself with no choice but to try and solve Z’s deadly riddles. Not only that, he has the worst person possible helping him: Hudson Hamm, the school’s star athlete and resident tough guy.
Soon Jay and Hudson are on a high-stakes scavenger hunt around the city. Can they team up to beat Z at his own game? If not, their classmates and family members will pay with their lives.
Jay finds himself with no choice but to try and solve Z’s deadly riddles. Not only that, he has the worst person possible helping him: Hudson Hamm, the school’s star athlete and resident tough guy.
Soon Jay and Hudson are on a high-stakes scavenger hunt around the city. Can they team up to beat Z at his own game? If not, their classmates and family members will pay with their lives.
240 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 12, 2025
This reminded me so much of the television show The Unlisted. The pace, the action, the drama and the young leads having to take charge.
I needed a quiet lay down and cup of tea after finishing this book.
Each chapter was like a new round in a boxing ring, and honestly, I couldn’t always read straight on.
This would make a sensational television series.
Recommended reader: 10+ years old
I needed a quiet lay down and cup of tea after finishing this book.
Each chapter was like a new round in a boxing ring, and honestly, I couldn’t always read straight on.
This would make a sensational television series.
Recommended reader: 10+ years old
September 26, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
Was WAYYYY too YA—or whatever is under that—which is normally fine but this was for like… a YOUNG audience. I didn’t realise that, my bad. But it was totally bingeable. ALSO it’s set in my state so I found that weird.
Was WAYYYY too YA—or whatever is under that—which is normally fine but this was for like… a YOUNG audience. I didn’t realise that, my bad. But it was totally bingeable. ALSO it’s set in my state so I found that weird.
January 22, 2026
An action packed adventure with a fast-paced plot, relatable characters and a slightly terrifying premise. Looking forward to sharing this with students.
February 13, 2026
“…if you ever want to see your friends again, you two should listen very carefully.”
MGM Review #49 - Villain - @adrianbeckbooks - @scholastic_au
Terminator 2: Judgement Day is one of my favourite movies, so this book was alway going to be right up my alley and it did not disappoint.
Tech nerd Jay is expecting a normal day when he heads off on a school excursion to the Titanium Tower. But when he suddenly becomes sick and is separated from his best friend Leni, things start to get a little weird. Not only is he stuck on the 90th floor with the school jock, Hudson, but he also receives a strange call from someone called Z, claiming he has trapped their classmates in the lift. Almost immediately, Jay and Hudson are thrust into action, trying to solve riddle after riddle to save their friends and classmates. Will this unlikely pair manage to unravel Z’s evil plans or will the riddles be too much for them to handle and leave the lives of their classmates in ultimate danger?
If someone asked for a book that would hook in boys that were reluctant readers, ‘Villian’ pretty much has it all to achieve this.
It’s fast paced and action packed with cop chases, animal attacks and daring bike rides through moving trams. It’s gripping and tense with agonising decisions, clues to solve and big twists. But it’s also relatable with complex characters, cool gadgets and futuristic technology. There’s really not much more you could ask for. Adrian has crafted a book that you won’t want to put down as you quickly flick through the pages and find yourself cheering for Jay and Hudson. By the time you are finished, it will feel like a full workout after the constant holding of your breath and increased heart rate.
Bravo Adrian, although I was a little freaked out by the ever present threat of AI and ‘the machines’, I can’t wait to start book 2 now!
MGM Review #49 - Villain - @adrianbeckbooks - @scholastic_au
Terminator 2: Judgement Day is one of my favourite movies, so this book was alway going to be right up my alley and it did not disappoint.
Tech nerd Jay is expecting a normal day when he heads off on a school excursion to the Titanium Tower. But when he suddenly becomes sick and is separated from his best friend Leni, things start to get a little weird. Not only is he stuck on the 90th floor with the school jock, Hudson, but he also receives a strange call from someone called Z, claiming he has trapped their classmates in the lift. Almost immediately, Jay and Hudson are thrust into action, trying to solve riddle after riddle to save their friends and classmates. Will this unlikely pair manage to unravel Z’s evil plans or will the riddles be too much for them to handle and leave the lives of their classmates in ultimate danger?
If someone asked for a book that would hook in boys that were reluctant readers, ‘Villian’ pretty much has it all to achieve this.
It’s fast paced and action packed with cop chases, animal attacks and daring bike rides through moving trams. It’s gripping and tense with agonising decisions, clues to solve and big twists. But it’s also relatable with complex characters, cool gadgets and futuristic technology. There’s really not much more you could ask for. Adrian has crafted a book that you won’t want to put down as you quickly flick through the pages and find yourself cheering for Jay and Hudson. By the time you are finished, it will feel like a full workout after the constant holding of your breath and increased heart rate.
Bravo Adrian, although I was a little freaked out by the ever present threat of AI and ‘the machines’, I can’t wait to start book 2 now!
May 27, 2025
This new middle grade fiction book from Adrian Beck is packed full of action, adventure, and it is so much fun.
It is also full of observations about fake news, how we live in a world where we are under almost constant surveillance, and how much can be learnt about us from our online presence.
I can see this book being a big hit with upper primary school, lower secondary school readers who love their books to be fast paced and utterly gripping until the very last page.
Can't wait for Book 2.
Thanks to the Publisher for the review copy of this book.
It is also full of observations about fake news, how we live in a world where we are under almost constant surveillance, and how much can be learnt about us from our online presence.
I can see this book being a big hit with upper primary school, lower secondary school readers who love their books to be fast paced and utterly gripping until the very last page.
Can't wait for Book 2.
Thanks to the Publisher for the review copy of this book.
July 6, 2025
A great light sci-fi thriller! Kept the pages turning with all the cliffhangers. Made me super aware of how much technology I use. Block off a few hours to read this book in one sitting because you’ll be pulled in and “I’ll just read one more chapter” from the first chapter. Beware of the cliffy ending!
May 16, 2025
VILLAIN by Adrian Beck is a fast paced, action packed Middle Grade novel. The main action of the novel takes place all during one day and the pages flew by!
The last thing avid gamer Jay wants is to go on a school excursion to Titanium Tower. But what starts as a standard boring day soon turns into an absolute action packed thrill ride that he will never forget.
Jay and his school nemesis, Hudson, must answer a series of riddles if they want to save their classmates from the mysterious Z. What seems like a game soon turns very real and they boys must race against the clock to save their friends.
This is an exciting Middle Grade that I would recommend for upper primary school aged readers. I can’t wait for book two!
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Scholastic Australia for the gifted review
The last thing avid gamer Jay wants is to go on a school excursion to Titanium Tower. But what starts as a standard boring day soon turns into an absolute action packed thrill ride that he will never forget.
Jay and his school nemesis, Hudson, must answer a series of riddles if they want to save their classmates from the mysterious Z. What seems like a game soon turns very real and they boys must race against the clock to save their friends.
This is an exciting Middle Grade that I would recommend for upper primary school aged readers. I can’t wait for book two!
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Scholastic Australia for the gifted review
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews