I probably shouldn't be giving this 3 stars, as it's really not great. But, Goodread's ratings are supposed to be based on enjoyment, and I have to be honest: I do enjoy them, despite their faults.
These faults are many. There were a couple of instances of bad editing, that hadn't picked up mistakes (such as a "he" that didn't seem to refer to anyone specifically), but mostly what I'm referring to is the writing. It's obviously not truly awful - there's enough people rating these highly that obviously the books are enjoyable to their target audience, and to me too, as I mentioned. But I don't think that it's good writing. It doesn't feel remotely historically accurate, for one, and if I'm honest seems juvenile. I'm sure "your mums are all slags" is entertaining to some readers, and maybe I would've laughed when I was in year 7 (when I first started reading the CHERUB books), but I actually don't think so. It just feels...bad. Not low-effort: I'm pretty sure the author does try to make the books attractive to teenage readers, I just think that sometimes he tries too hard, and doesn't give his audience enough credit. But then again, he's written three series of successful novels, so what do I know. He's probably right.
In terms of the story: it's pretty much what you expect from this series. Another mission, some new resistance recruited to help our agents, lots of murder and mahem perpetrated by children, and a bit of snogging thrown in. I can't believe I read "snog" so much in a book, if I'm honest. But if it works, who am I to complain, right?
I've said it before about this series, and I'll say it again: it's unbelievable. I know the premise is anyway, but I still found this to be faintly ridiculous. Sniper training for teenagers that makes them experts in a week? Come on. From what I remember of the CHERUB books, the timescales were at least somewhat believable, but this is a bit of a joke.
Despite my heavy criticism, as I said, I did enjoy it. I don't believe in guilty pleasures - anything you enjoy, you shouldn't be guilty about - but I can't say I'm glad I'm reading these books, as I am when I read something really great. It's the equivalent of watching trash TV, I guess: fun, but really not doing anything positive for you.
I'm still going to read the next one though.