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Noughts and Crosses #4
Double Cross
Tobey wants a better life - for him and his girlfriend Callie Rose. He wants nothing to do with the gangs that rule the world he lives in. But when he's offered the chance to earn some money just for making a few 'deliveries', just this once, would it hurt to say 'yes'?
The captivating conclusion/companion Novel of the Noughts and Crosses series.
The captivating conclusion/companion Novel of the Noughts and Crosses series.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2008
267 people are currently reading
10098 people want to read
About the author
Malorie Blackman
156 books4,514 followersAn award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.
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British Council: Contemporary Authors
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More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 565 reviews
September 9, 2016
I enjoyed this book but I think the series should have ended on the last book as this one seemed pretty unnecessary and didn't add much to the overall series.Double Cross was definitely good but it was my least favourite out of the series as it follows a pretty irrelevant character,Callie's best friend,Tobey.
I did enjoy the story but I feel it would have been better as a stand alone and not associated with the series.The book was still fantastic as Malorie creates an amazing story again while still providing character depth and generating interest for their well being.However,I would have loved to see more Sephy,Meggie and Callie.
Great book but personally I thought it was pretty irrelevant to the series.I would definitely still recommend it though.
I did enjoy the story but I feel it would have been better as a stand alone and not associated with the series.The book was still fantastic as Malorie creates an amazing story again while still providing character depth and generating interest for their well being.However,I would have loved to see more Sephy,Meggie and Callie.
Great book but personally I thought it was pretty irrelevant to the series.I would definitely still recommend it though.
June 6, 2021
Just like the other books in this series it’s easy to read and I flew through it. Something about this story line just keeps me reading.
However I don’t think it adds anything significant to the overall story as a result it feels quite removed from the original book in the series.
However I don’t think it adds anything significant to the overall story as a result it feels quite removed from the original book in the series.
August 28, 2017
Set in a dystopian 21st century near future British society – the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ award winning series of novels (initially a trilogy, subsequently extended to a quadrilogy) opens following a period of alternative history, a post slavery period where the white population (Noughts) have been enslaved by the ruling black elite. Now post emancipation, it is the non-black population who are distinctly disadvantaged and impoverished in this alternative future society which is ruled and controlled by the dominating blacks (Crosses).
The ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series provides us with an explicit flip and twist on both the history and current political and cultural demographic of British society – where racial politics is turned on its head and power structures are completely reversed.
The fundamental premise underlying this series is a vitally important one – what Malorie Blackman seems to have set out to do, is to robustly challenge (what may be many) readers’ current perceptions, presumptions, assumptions and views on race and (British) society. An attempt to provoke thought and to revisit the absurdities of a society(ies) run along lines on racial disadvantagement and the domination of one ethnic group or groups in society by another controlling ethnic (almost always white) group. The books successfully challenge and encourage particularly the non-black reader to reconsider and think again about being part of and party to, a racially privileged white society – and by extension, to consider the real life alternative in the light of the fictional world that is portrayed here in the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series. Moreover – to consider the possibility of a third way – a society run entirely along non-racially defined power structures.
This is an original, intelligent, perceptive and though-provoking series of books – and whilst squarely aimed at the Young Adult market, it clearly transcends the restrictive boundaries of that genre.
The first installment ‘Noughts & Crosses’ is the strongest of the series, closely followed by the second and third parts of the original trilogy namely ‘Knife Edge’ and ‘Checkmate’. Whilst ‘Double Cross’ is well-written and ostensibly does add value to the series, it does feel ultimately a little superfluous and does not provide the same impact as the preceding three novels.
Moreover, apart from being politically and culturally astute, what makes the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series of books so successful is not merely the originality and the ever-present / underlying theme of racial politics, but the fact that Blackman has created great characters who inhabit great page-turning stories which are both compelling and engaging.
These are increasingly important books to be read by all – particularly in view of the current political climate and the ever more disturbing rise in the so-called ‘alt right’ / white supremacist groups in certain parts of the world.
It is very encouraging that Blackman's series of books has been so successful and is widely read and made available in UK schools – as it quite rightly should continue to be.
Throughout the course of the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series of novels, Malorie Blackman successfully shines a light on the absurdities of racial domination and subjugation of one group by another and the fundamental racist agenda (implicit and explicit, covert and overt – at both personal and societal levels) that underpins and perpetuates this ridiculous cultural dialectic.
In the words of Nelson Mandela (as recently quoted by Barack Obama):
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion…”
The ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series provides us with an explicit flip and twist on both the history and current political and cultural demographic of British society – where racial politics is turned on its head and power structures are completely reversed.
The fundamental premise underlying this series is a vitally important one – what Malorie Blackman seems to have set out to do, is to robustly challenge (what may be many) readers’ current perceptions, presumptions, assumptions and views on race and (British) society. An attempt to provoke thought and to revisit the absurdities of a society(ies) run along lines on racial disadvantagement and the domination of one ethnic group or groups in society by another controlling ethnic (almost always white) group. The books successfully challenge and encourage particularly the non-black reader to reconsider and think again about being part of and party to, a racially privileged white society – and by extension, to consider the real life alternative in the light of the fictional world that is portrayed here in the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series. Moreover – to consider the possibility of a third way – a society run entirely along non-racially defined power structures.
This is an original, intelligent, perceptive and though-provoking series of books – and whilst squarely aimed at the Young Adult market, it clearly transcends the restrictive boundaries of that genre.
The first installment ‘Noughts & Crosses’ is the strongest of the series, closely followed by the second and third parts of the original trilogy namely ‘Knife Edge’ and ‘Checkmate’. Whilst ‘Double Cross’ is well-written and ostensibly does add value to the series, it does feel ultimately a little superfluous and does not provide the same impact as the preceding three novels.
Moreover, apart from being politically and culturally astute, what makes the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series of books so successful is not merely the originality and the ever-present / underlying theme of racial politics, but the fact that Blackman has created great characters who inhabit great page-turning stories which are both compelling and engaging.
These are increasingly important books to be read by all – particularly in view of the current political climate and the ever more disturbing rise in the so-called ‘alt right’ / white supremacist groups in certain parts of the world.
It is very encouraging that Blackman's series of books has been so successful and is widely read and made available in UK schools – as it quite rightly should continue to be.
Throughout the course of the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series of novels, Malorie Blackman successfully shines a light on the absurdities of racial domination and subjugation of one group by another and the fundamental racist agenda (implicit and explicit, covert and overt – at both personal and societal levels) that underpins and perpetuates this ridiculous cultural dialectic.
In the words of Nelson Mandela (as recently quoted by Barack Obama):
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion…”
July 11, 2017
This is the best series I have ever read.
I cried ok I CRIED WHEN I FINISHED IT.
I loved all the characters, especially Callum and Tobey.
So glad I marathoned it and I would recommend it to anyone.
It's so gripping, hard-hitting, action packed and I became obsessed.
Bye bye noughts and crosses :( <3
I cried ok I CRIED WHEN I FINISHED IT.
I loved all the characters, especially Callum and Tobey.
So glad I marathoned it and I would recommend it to anyone.
It's so gripping, hard-hitting, action packed and I became obsessed.
Bye bye noughts and crosses :( <3
July 10, 2016
2.5
This book took me the longest time to read and I stuck it out because I absolutely devoured the first three books in this quartet but as it seemed to me while I was reading this, it really was a waste of my time.
This book follows a character who is completely irrelevant in the rest of the books and his story was very uninteresting and didn't leave me with anything.
I hear this book was an afterthought anyway and this series was originally going to be the first three books which is how I choose to view them having read this. I 100% recommend checking out this series which starts with the first book, Noughts and Crosses, and if you end up enjoying them enough to reach this book in the series, I'd recommend stopping there and giving this book a miss. I'll definitely be giving this book a miss whenever I decide to give the series a re-read.
Also if you're reading this review after having already read the previous three books in this series and you want to read this as it seems a few things from there may be resolved in this one, they aren't. That book (Checkmate) wraps up the story that began in Noughts and Crosses and this books is just another random character's story.
This book took me the longest time to read and I stuck it out because I absolutely devoured the first three books in this quartet but as it seemed to me while I was reading this, it really was a waste of my time.
This book follows a character who is completely irrelevant in the rest of the books and his story was very uninteresting and didn't leave me with anything.
I hear this book was an afterthought anyway and this series was originally going to be the first three books which is how I choose to view them having read this. I 100% recommend checking out this series which starts with the first book, Noughts and Crosses, and if you end up enjoying them enough to reach this book in the series, I'd recommend stopping there and giving this book a miss. I'll definitely be giving this book a miss whenever I decide to give the series a re-read.
Also if you're reading this review after having already read the previous three books in this series and you want to read this as it seems a few things from there may be resolved in this one, they aren't. That book (Checkmate) wraps up the story that began in Noughts and Crosses and this books is just another random character's story.
January 2, 2018
Toby is in love with his best friend, Callie. Which is more than enough to deal with for your average hot-blooded teenage guy. But in Meadowbrook, there’s a lot more in the picture. Like the racial turf war being fought by the two kingpins who are busy holding everyone down. And the corrupt cops who no one can trust, especially when you’re a nought like Toby. And like Dan, Toby’s childhood friend who asks for help delivering a package. An assignment Toby knows he shouldn’t accept.
What he has no clue about is the reason why.
Double Cross is the fourth, and to my knowledge, the final book in Malorie Blackman’s hard-hitting Noughts and Crosses series. Toby is an unlikely, gutsy, and intriguing hero. And it’s a genuine pleasure to watch him tackle one of Blackman’s despicable villains. Noughts and Crosses is a powerful quartet, one I recommend to fans of mature YA.
Note: I wound up ordering this book through an international bookseller via Amazon. The first three novels in the series are easy to obtain the U.S., but for some reason this one seems to be a harder find. It is directly related to the prior books and is definitely worth a little extra effort to track down.
What he has no clue about is the reason why.
Double Cross is the fourth, and to my knowledge, the final book in Malorie Blackman’s hard-hitting Noughts and Crosses series. Toby is an unlikely, gutsy, and intriguing hero. And it’s a genuine pleasure to watch him tackle one of Blackman’s despicable villains. Noughts and Crosses is a powerful quartet, one I recommend to fans of mature YA.
Note: I wound up ordering this book through an international bookseller via Amazon. The first three novels in the series are easy to obtain the U.S., but for some reason this one seems to be a harder find. It is directly related to the prior books and is definitely worth a little extra effort to track down.
May 4, 2019
Thoughts to come
June 20, 2012
Not really sure what I expected from this book. Tobey was a great character in all except his weakness for Callie, who was as annoying as ever. She suffers from a horrible disease which has symptoms of bitchiness, moodiness and erratic behavior. Diagnosis: insecurity.
Sephy was also annoying; you would think that she wouldn't be so quick to judge and separate Callie and Tobias after her own experiences with Callie. Speaking of which, did anyone else see the parallels? Or was that supposed to be a cutesy angle: best friends in love with each other, who go straight from kissing to doing the down and dirty. Ah, all those raging hormones.
Double Cross didn't focus as much on the Noughts and Crosses, but instead on the underworld. Tobey's manipulative and intelligent plans were interesting to watch unfold. Blackman has a habit it seems of killing the best characters, like Cara from Knife Edge and Rebecca. A good ending always finishes with sacrifices, and to be absolutely honest I think I would have preferred it if the lamb was Callie and not Rebecca.
Sephy was also annoying; you would think that she wouldn't be so quick to judge and separate Callie and Tobias after her own experiences with Callie. Speaking of which, did anyone else see the parallels? Or was that supposed to be a cutesy angle: best friends in love with each other, who go straight from kissing to doing the down and dirty. Ah, all those raging hormones.
Double Cross didn't focus as much on the Noughts and Crosses, but instead on the underworld. Tobey's manipulative and intelligent plans were interesting to watch unfold. Blackman has a habit it seems of killing the best characters, like Cara from Knife Edge and Rebecca. A good ending always finishes with sacrifices, and to be absolutely honest I think I would have preferred it if the lamb was Callie and not Rebecca.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2016
Ok so SPOILERS obviously...
Avert eyes now!!!
I miss him ... that's all I really have to say, (you know who I mean or maybe you don't) and every time his name was mentioned it was like the wound was opened again. So I think his death at the end of the last book was perfect, devastating but perfect for the character and clearly the end he was always running towards. But in the early stages of 'Double Cross' I began to have a small feeling of doubt, could he have survived, somehow I couldn't completely put it past him. Of course I was wrong and the original ending still stands, but it was a reminder of how empty the series was for me. Don't get me wrong this series is amazing and Malorie Blackman is/ was without a doubt one of my all time favourite authors. I hint at the was only because I first read her books, including the first three in this series when I was teenager (way way back) but I can't seem to get back into them as an adult. Not that I consider this be a negative on the part of the writing, in fact I think it should be considered an accomplishment that she writes exactly for a young adult audience. Not that her writing is inaccessible to adults, just for me it was harder to go back to the point where I left off in this continuing story.
As you may have guessed my favourite character, actually one of my all time favourite characters from fiction was Jude McGregor (not Robert Powers, that was a terrible pseudonym Jude) who took his final bow, grudgingly, at the end of Checkmate. I love characters who refuse to fit into neat boxes, who challenge the reader throughout their interactions. I could write a whole thesis on why he's such a compelling character but for I'll say he is my one true terrorist love, I should seek therapy.
But back to this book, in all seriousness it probably is a lot better than the rating I've given it, and as part of an overall series it is worthwhile piece of the narrative. But... I just didn't care as much. It's not that I dislike Callie-Rose and Tobey, but I definitely don't have the connection with them that I did with Jude, Callum and Sephy. I was also disappointed that Sephy was in this novel so infrequently as I enjoyed her character much more as she aged. I was glad this was mainly narrated by Tobey, since the last novel featured so much Callie-Rose and it was a nice contrast.
The plot wasn't bad, there are so many different sociological aspects that could be examined in the context of this series, but it was quite disjointed compared to the clear lineal structure between the first three novels.
On the whole I'm glad I read it, and it wasn't a bad experience, more of a passive one as I relived previous times.
On a final note I am in no way romantically interested in real life terrorists, just fictional ones.
Avert eyes now!!!
I miss him ... that's all I really have to say, (you know who I mean or maybe you don't) and every time his name was mentioned it was like the wound was opened again. So I think his death at the end of the last book was perfect, devastating but perfect for the character and clearly the end he was always running towards. But in the early stages of 'Double Cross' I began to have a small feeling of doubt, could he have survived, somehow I couldn't completely put it past him. Of course I was wrong and the original ending still stands, but it was a reminder of how empty the series was for me. Don't get me wrong this series is amazing and Malorie Blackman is/ was without a doubt one of my all time favourite authors. I hint at the was only because I first read her books, including the first three in this series when I was teenager (way way back) but I can't seem to get back into them as an adult. Not that I consider this be a negative on the part of the writing, in fact I think it should be considered an accomplishment that she writes exactly for a young adult audience. Not that her writing is inaccessible to adults, just for me it was harder to go back to the point where I left off in this continuing story.
As you may have guessed my favourite character, actually one of my all time favourite characters from fiction was Jude McGregor (not Robert Powers, that was a terrible pseudonym Jude) who took his final bow, grudgingly, at the end of Checkmate. I love characters who refuse to fit into neat boxes, who challenge the reader throughout their interactions. I could write a whole thesis on why he's such a compelling character but for I'll say he is my one true terrorist love, I should seek therapy.
But back to this book, in all seriousness it probably is a lot better than the rating I've given it, and as part of an overall series it is worthwhile piece of the narrative. But... I just didn't care as much. It's not that I dislike Callie-Rose and Tobey, but I definitely don't have the connection with them that I did with Jude, Callum and Sephy. I was also disappointed that Sephy was in this novel so infrequently as I enjoyed her character much more as she aged. I was glad this was mainly narrated by Tobey, since the last novel featured so much Callie-Rose and it was a nice contrast.
The plot wasn't bad, there are so many different sociological aspects that could be examined in the context of this series, but it was quite disjointed compared to the clear lineal structure between the first three novels.
On the whole I'm glad I read it, and it wasn't a bad experience, more of a passive one as I relived previous times.
On a final note I am in no way romantically interested in real life terrorists, just fictional ones.
May 14, 2009
When I heard about this book coming out I went crazy. I looked everywhere for spoilers (something I am telling you NEVER DO), and all I found out was that it was going to involve drugs and gangs. I waited months for it to come out, and read it in two days (which involved my English teacher threatening to convincate it because I stayed up to midnight reading XD). And it didn't disappoint. It was as fantastic as all the rest.
In many ways it was more like Noughts and Crosses than Checkmate and KnifeEdge were. Those two did show the seperation of noughts and Crosses obviously but there was more of a focus on other things, while this one in some ways went back to the black/white divide as Tobey and Callie get in the way of a nought and Cross gang.
When I got this book and read in the bit of info about the book in the dust cover and I read 'Callie Rose and her boyfriend Tobey' I almost screamed. Callie and Tobey throughout Checkmate were so obviously perfect for each other, and they actually got together...but obviously it wasn't without it's complications.
I think I've wrote a review for a Noughts and Crosses book without putting any real spoilers in it :P
In many ways it was more like Noughts and Crosses than Checkmate and KnifeEdge were. Those two did show the seperation of noughts and Crosses obviously but there was more of a focus on other things, while this one in some ways went back to the black/white divide as Tobey and Callie get in the way of a nought and Cross gang.
When I got this book and read in the bit of info about the book in the dust cover and I read 'Callie Rose and her boyfriend Tobey' I almost screamed. Callie and Tobey throughout Checkmate were so obviously perfect for each other, and they actually got together...but obviously it wasn't without it's complications.
I think I've wrote a review for a Noughts and Crosses book without putting any real spoilers in it :P
June 3, 2011
I still found this book gripping but feel it lacked the whole theme running through the other books. It didn't have the same focus on noughts and crosses and the fight for equality as the others did. It barely mentioned it in some cases.
Still thrilling but I don't feel like it should have ended the way that it did.
Still thrilling but I don't feel like it should have ended the way that it did.
July 18, 2017
Not as exciting as the original trilogy but it's still a great fast-paced action book.
November 11, 2020
Last in the dystopian series set in an alternative Britain in which a 360 degree turnaround focuses light from a different angle on racism, with the setting an alternative history in which Crosses, black people, have always been the dominant civilising force, with white people as former slaves only emancipated fifty years before the timeline of the story. Noughts, as they are known, face the sort of racism that in real life is directed against black people, including the abusive term 'blanker', and massive discrimination in education, employment and all other important areas of life.
In this final volume, the focus is on Tobey, the best friend and would-be boyfriend of Callie Rose. Most of the story is from his viewpoint, due to the circumstances which beset Callie, so it returns to the original structure of alternating viewpoints for much of it then a big chunk in the middle by Tobey. I found it made for a tighter story in some ways. However, the racial angle, so key to the earlier books, isn't so much of a main issue this time. Instead, the story focuses on the two rival crime gangs which rule the area where the two young people live, and how they impact on their lives and on the community. Tobey becomes pulled into criminal activity, despite knowing it is against his best interests, drawn by his long-term friendship with Dan who has become a "delivery boy" for one of the criminals, and who tempts Tobey to help him and to share the payment.
Callie Rose is dealing with her guilt over the death of her grandmother, Jasmine, her mother Sephy's mother, blown up by the bomb which Callie had been persuaded to make by her terrorist uncle in book 3 of the series. She also fears that he escaped the blast given that the person killed with Jasmine is finally identified as someone she has never heard of and she blames herself for killing an innocent man. And when something happens to her, Tobey goes all out to get revenge and nullify the threats hanging over her and his family. Despite the eventual happy ending, there is still the unintended consequence that .
One good aspect is that Callie Rose is nowhere near as irritating as in the previous book. The story is also quite a page turner with tension rising as Tobey becomes more and more enveloped in danger from all sides and it is unclear how he can ever prevail. The fate of one 'good' character was also quite a shock. I did however find the resolution of that plot line rather unbelievable given the sudden conscience it required one character to develop, and perhaps the actual ending is a bit too perfect. But on the whole, a solid 4-star read.
In this final volume, the focus is on Tobey, the best friend and would-be boyfriend of Callie Rose. Most of the story is from his viewpoint, due to the circumstances which beset Callie, so it returns to the original structure of alternating viewpoints for much of it then a big chunk in the middle by Tobey. I found it made for a tighter story in some ways. However, the racial angle, so key to the earlier books, isn't so much of a main issue this time. Instead, the story focuses on the two rival crime gangs which rule the area where the two young people live, and how they impact on their lives and on the community. Tobey becomes pulled into criminal activity, despite knowing it is against his best interests, drawn by his long-term friendship with Dan who has become a "delivery boy" for one of the criminals, and who tempts Tobey to help him and to share the payment.
Callie Rose is dealing with her guilt over the death of her grandmother, Jasmine, her mother Sephy's mother, blown up by the bomb which Callie had been persuaded to make by her terrorist uncle in book 3 of the series. She also fears that he escaped the blast given that the person killed with Jasmine is finally identified as someone she has never heard of and she blames herself for killing an innocent man. And when something happens to her, Tobey goes all out to get revenge and nullify the threats hanging over her and his family. Despite the eventual happy ending, there is still the unintended consequence that .
One good aspect is that Callie Rose is nowhere near as irritating as in the previous book. The story is also quite a page turner with tension rising as Tobey becomes more and more enveloped in danger from all sides and it is unclear how he can ever prevail. The fate of one 'good' character was also quite a shock. I did however find the resolution of that plot line rather unbelievable given the sudden conscience it required one character to develop, and perhaps the actual ending is a bit too perfect. But on the whole, a solid 4-star read.
September 18, 2020
I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this fourth book in the Noughts + Crosses series as it’s not focused on the main families but on a friend of Callie’s. However I thoroughly enjoyed it and was kept gripped and entertained throughout, just as I was with the other books in the series.
A story of love, friendship, sacrifice, revenge, criminal acts, danger and the discovery of what it’s possible to do when someone you love is hurt. The characters are completely human and inhuman at times. It’s a thrilling, gripping tale with love at its heart. A wonderful read and great end to this series.
A story of love, friendship, sacrifice, revenge, criminal acts, danger and the discovery of what it’s possible to do when someone you love is hurt. The characters are completely human and inhuman at times. It’s a thrilling, gripping tale with love at its heart. A wonderful read and great end to this series.
March 29, 2024
I always fly through these books as they’re so easy to read, but I do agree with some of the other reviews - this would have served better as a standalone book since it is quite removed from the main storyline & characters.
October 25, 2020
I’m just struggling to see how we went from Noughts and Crosses to this book - they kind of feel like three very separate books connected loosely by the original world. It’s so disjointed and jumpy and the actual full outline for the series makes next to no sense. It’s such a shame because the original premise so was stellar, I think as a standalone Noughts and Crosses with a bit more work could’ve been amazing.
This book was better than Checkmate, don’t get me wrong, but it was still so far from realistic it killed me. I know it’s a dystopian world but the whole point of it was to border on realism, the events that take place here are so unrealistic. To give it credit, it did keep me entertained and the pacing was good and there were some scenes where I was kept in genuine suspense, but overall just poor. Things thrown in for the shock factor, a happy ending where there shouldn’t have been one, characters doing things that I just couldn’t fathom their motive for. Just a mess really. And for such a chaotic world and storyline, I hate that it keeps having a happily ever after.
It tales on tough topics like knife crime, drug addiction etc. which I think is important but the execution was terrible. Mild spoiler here but the drug addiction plotline was so poorly done and barely touched on, I didn’t feel any emotion at all it felt so shallow. I also don’t believe a teenage boy could’ve outsmarted several gangs but okay cool I guess he did.
The characters had no distinct personalities at all, Sephy and Meggie in particular just turned indistinguishable, Callie is just Sephy 2.0 and Tobey is just another Callum. It’s so disappointing and completely severs any connection I could’ve had with them. The way they talked to each other was bizarre still, for example Callies grandmother referring to Callies uncle as ‘my son’ instead of ‘your uncle’ and everyone constantly calling either other by their full name? Just felt so off to me.
Sorry for the negativity, I’m just ultimately so let down by this series. It’s mediocre where I was expecting mindblowing from the premise. I’m so sad it veered off the original direction it was going in and rushed to a haphazard conclusion.
This book was better than Checkmate, don’t get me wrong, but it was still so far from realistic it killed me. I know it’s a dystopian world but the whole point of it was to border on realism, the events that take place here are so unrealistic. To give it credit, it did keep me entertained and the pacing was good and there were some scenes where I was kept in genuine suspense, but overall just poor. Things thrown in for the shock factor, a happy ending where there shouldn’t have been one, characters doing things that I just couldn’t fathom their motive for. Just a mess really. And for such a chaotic world and storyline, I hate that it keeps having a happily ever after.
It tales on tough topics like knife crime, drug addiction etc. which I think is important but the execution was terrible. Mild spoiler here but the drug addiction plotline was so poorly done and barely touched on, I didn’t feel any emotion at all it felt so shallow. I also don’t believe a teenage boy could’ve outsmarted several gangs but okay cool I guess he did.
The characters had no distinct personalities at all, Sephy and Meggie in particular just turned indistinguishable, Callie is just Sephy 2.0 and Tobey is just another Callum. It’s so disappointing and completely severs any connection I could’ve had with them. The way they talked to each other was bizarre still, for example Callies grandmother referring to Callies uncle as ‘my son’ instead of ‘your uncle’ and everyone constantly calling either other by their full name? Just felt so off to me.
Sorry for the negativity, I’m just ultimately so let down by this series. It’s mediocre where I was expecting mindblowing from the premise. I’m so sad it veered off the original direction it was going in and rushed to a haphazard conclusion.
May 6, 2021
Book 133 of 2021
Not my fave of the series, maybe bc there was no sephy POV. Callie rose isn't my favorite, but I might have liked it a bit more if we got more from her in this book. It was mostly Tobey.
Rtc.
Not my fave of the series, maybe bc there was no sephy POV. Callie rose isn't my favorite, but I might have liked it a bit more if we got more from her in this book. It was mostly Tobey.
Rtc.
August 13, 2025
4.5 - This might be my favourite one yet. I just love this series! The writing style, the characters, the plot, all the emotions it puts you through but most specifically how real it is. I will definitely be reading the next. Malorie Blackman is a true hero in my eyes.
June 3, 2022
Safe to say that this series is killing me, and the worst thing about it is that I still can’t stop reading
June 14, 2015
This is the fourth installment in the Noughts & Crosses series which focuses mainly on Tobey and his relationship with Callie and how he gets mixed up with the wrong people without really wanting to. There is no Liberation Militia in this book, only two rival gangs with Tobey in the middle. It shows how money, or the lack of it, can be the motivation for good kids to do bad things.
Most of it is written through the eyes of Tobey and although we do get to hear Callie Rose at the very beginning and then at the end, it is brief. Sadly, we never hear from Sephy, which was a great disappointment. She was the original character and it would have been nice to find out how her life was turning out and if she was happy. I liked Tobey's character, but I didn't care about him as much as I had Sephy and Callum. There is also no alternating voices with each chapter, which I thought was a shame as the format had worked so well in the previous books.
The story, however, is still good and I really enjoyed reading it. I didn't get bored and the momentum was steady, but it didn't have any kind of impact on me either. To me there were no powerful scenes that touched me or shocked me, and as the other three books contained these points I suppose I was expecting it.
Verdict:
I think this book would have been better as a stand alone with fresh new voices. I didn't like that I never heard from Sephy again and Callie Rose was only voiced at the beginning and end. I didn't really feel as though this story was connected with the three books before it and I felt some what disconnected. I was sad that the trilogy didn't end with Checkmate.
This is still a very well written story and after reading all the Noughts & Crosses books, Malorie Blackman is a writer I will remember and would have no hesitation recommending to young adults and adults alike.
Most of it is written through the eyes of Tobey and although we do get to hear Callie Rose at the very beginning and then at the end, it is brief. Sadly, we never hear from Sephy, which was a great disappointment. She was the original character and it would have been nice to find out how her life was turning out and if she was happy. I liked Tobey's character, but I didn't care about him as much as I had Sephy and Callum. There is also no alternating voices with each chapter, which I thought was a shame as the format had worked so well in the previous books.
The story, however, is still good and I really enjoyed reading it. I didn't get bored and the momentum was steady, but it didn't have any kind of impact on me either. To me there were no powerful scenes that touched me or shocked me, and as the other three books contained these points I suppose I was expecting it.
Verdict:
I think this book would have been better as a stand alone with fresh new voices. I didn't like that I never heard from Sephy again and Callie Rose was only voiced at the beginning and end. I didn't really feel as though this story was connected with the three books before it and I felt some what disconnected. I was sad that the trilogy didn't end with Checkmate.
This is still a very well written story and after reading all the Noughts & Crosses books, Malorie Blackman is a writer I will remember and would have no hesitation recommending to young adults and adults alike.
March 13, 2015
This book finalises the Noughts and Crosses series. I think many people don’t realise that this book does have four instalments and that’s because Checkmate seemingly wraps up the story. I don’t think it’s an essential read to ‘finish’ the Noughts and Crosses series, but I think it is an excellent addition to a very well written series.
You won’t come across Callum and Sephy’s relationship in this story. Sephy is included, of course, but Double Cross follows Tobey and Callie Rose. Tobey dives into the world of crime to attempt to make a better future for himself and Callie Rose. Tobey starts off dead against the gang culture, but he realises with some work, he could get some money in order to achieve a better life style.
I don’t want to say much about the story, as it is the end of a series, which I really do not want to spoil. I will say that this book is particularly action packed with some interesting events which add to the very dramatic story. Double Cross moves at a good pace and kept me turning the pages!
You won’t come across Callum and Sephy’s relationship in this story. Sephy is included, of course, but Double Cross follows Tobey and Callie Rose. Tobey dives into the world of crime to attempt to make a better future for himself and Callie Rose. Tobey starts off dead against the gang culture, but he realises with some work, he could get some money in order to achieve a better life style.
I don’t want to say much about the story, as it is the end of a series, which I really do not want to spoil. I will say that this book is particularly action packed with some interesting events which add to the very dramatic story. Double Cross moves at a good pace and kept me turning the pages!
May 18, 2020
Everyone needs to read this series that is all I have to say ❤️
February 12, 2022
i did not like this book as much as the others. besides that is was a good book. the ending was predicted by the first few pages tho but it put a closure to many burning questions.
July 9, 2025
I just love these books, always hooked from first page!
March 26, 2013
If this had been a stand alone novel I'd have given it four stars. I'm taking away a star because it's an unnecessary part of the series. Full review in the next few days.
FULL REVIEW
To read my pre read thoughts and reasons for rating please visit my blog From the Shadows I Review
Well, this is a hard one to review. Partly because I feel that this book is good and partly because I feel that being part of the ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series ruins it. I mean ruins because it didn’t have to be, this book could have stood up by itself and been counted. It didn’t need to be tagged on to a series, it’s so relevant to the youth of today and it hits hard. Putting it in an alternative reality is like taking something that’s meant to cause damage and wrapping it in bubble wrap. It needed to feel like it happens in our society for the simple reason that IT DOES. The premise is good, I mean once I’d got into the story I adored what was happening. It wasn’t a slow burner and once Tobey was drawn into the gangs I was hooked! The writing is perfect, it paints the scenes so well without adding words that don’t need to be there. I genuinely liked the story. One of Malorie’s best ideas! (That I’ve read anyway!)
Tobey – Tobey is Callie-Rose’s childhood friend. He’s also our MC. This is the first time we’ve had his POV and at first I thought that he was more than a bit of a jerk. As much as he wants us to think that his actions are purely driven by events that happen to those around him, it’s a very selfish reason that means events snowball out of control in the first place. However I like that he tried to rectify his mistakes and that on the inside he was alright. Did I like him? I’m not entirely sure, I’m edging towards no to be honest. He did too little too late for me. He was incredibly realistic though, just the sort of person you can see getting caught up in the events of ‘Double Cross’.
Dan – He’s not the biggest character in the story but he is one of the most significant. He’s a total tool. I felt that not even his redemption part was enough for me. He just didn’t seem sincere. I felt like he might’ve had his own reasons for doing what he did. But we’ll never know (hopefully. I don’t want to! I want to imagine. This is not a plea for a book 5.) He’s a shady guy, if I met him I’d cross the road. Or knee him where it hurts if he tried anything... and I think he would.
Rebecca – I think she’s quite a random character to want to mention but she was actually one of the most likeable in the book in my opinion. She was the only character that didn’t feel like she had a dark secret or hidden intentions and I liked that. She didn’t deserve to be in the situation she was in. I wanted more for her. Why did you do that Malorie?
Overall, I liked this a lot. I loved the plot, the characters fitted the gritty reality of the story. The writing was what I’ve come to expect off Malorie, and more. As a standalone novel I’d hail this as one of Malorie’s best. However it isn’t a standalone novel. It’s a part of the ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series and I’m marking it down for that. Purely because it doesn’t feel like it belongs, it doesn’t feel like it’s meant to be in that world. It feels like it’s meant to be in ours. A few mentions of the L.M. and keeping the characters doesn’t make a book feel like it belongs. I can get why it was a good idea to market this as part of the series but for me it doesn’t work like that and that makes me sad.
FULL REVIEW
To read my pre read thoughts and reasons for rating please visit my blog From the Shadows I Review
Well, this is a hard one to review. Partly because I feel that this book is good and partly because I feel that being part of the ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series ruins it. I mean ruins because it didn’t have to be, this book could have stood up by itself and been counted. It didn’t need to be tagged on to a series, it’s so relevant to the youth of today and it hits hard. Putting it in an alternative reality is like taking something that’s meant to cause damage and wrapping it in bubble wrap. It needed to feel like it happens in our society for the simple reason that IT DOES. The premise is good, I mean once I’d got into the story I adored what was happening. It wasn’t a slow burner and once Tobey was drawn into the gangs I was hooked! The writing is perfect, it paints the scenes so well without adding words that don’t need to be there. I genuinely liked the story. One of Malorie’s best ideas! (That I’ve read anyway!)
Tobey – Tobey is Callie-Rose’s childhood friend. He’s also our MC. This is the first time we’ve had his POV and at first I thought that he was more than a bit of a jerk. As much as he wants us to think that his actions are purely driven by events that happen to those around him, it’s a very selfish reason that means events snowball out of control in the first place. However I like that he tried to rectify his mistakes and that on the inside he was alright. Did I like him? I’m not entirely sure, I’m edging towards no to be honest. He did too little too late for me. He was incredibly realistic though, just the sort of person you can see getting caught up in the events of ‘Double Cross’.
Dan – He’s not the biggest character in the story but he is one of the most significant. He’s a total tool. I felt that not even his redemption part was enough for me. He just didn’t seem sincere. I felt like he might’ve had his own reasons for doing what he did. But we’ll never know (hopefully. I don’t want to! I want to imagine. This is not a plea for a book 5.) He’s a shady guy, if I met him I’d cross the road. Or knee him where it hurts if he tried anything... and I think he would.
Rebecca – I think she’s quite a random character to want to mention but she was actually one of the most likeable in the book in my opinion. She was the only character that didn’t feel like she had a dark secret or hidden intentions and I liked that. She didn’t deserve to be in the situation she was in. I wanted more for her. Why did you do that Malorie?
Overall, I liked this a lot. I loved the plot, the characters fitted the gritty reality of the story. The writing was what I’ve come to expect off Malorie, and more. As a standalone novel I’d hail this as one of Malorie’s best. However it isn’t a standalone novel. It’s a part of the ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series and I’m marking it down for that. Purely because it doesn’t feel like it belongs, it doesn’t feel like it’s meant to be in that world. It feels like it’s meant to be in ours. A few mentions of the L.M. and keeping the characters doesn’t make a book feel like it belongs. I can get why it was a good idea to market this as part of the series but for me it doesn’t work like that and that makes me sad.
December 13, 2017
This is the worst yet! Completely off topic, it hasn't got to do with anything!!! it now drones on a bit, clever boy but boring almost definitely. This book is like an over dose of sleeping beauty. The main character is sleeping the whole entire book and the prince is left to save her, only the fairies have left him locked up for a couple of years, leaving him to sit there doing nothing.
September 4, 2017
This review assumes that you have read all the previous books in the series, and thus will contain spoilers with regard to those stories.
This fourth book in the slightly misnamed trilogy picks up shortly after the explosion that ended Checkmate, and Callie Rose is working through the trauma and guilt based on that. Unfortunately, I didn't find that to be quite enough to hang the novel on, and my attention drifted between annoyance at the stupid choices one of the characters made, and impatience with the pace of the resolution.
The problem I think I had, which colored my reading of Double Cross, is that the third book in what was supposed to be a trilogy ended with threads woven in and it was a nice, natural close to a satisfying story. Here, the story was extended beyond its natural lifespan and it felt somewhat forced.
It didn't help my reading that Jasmine isn't present in this book at all (and of course I knew she wouldn't be based on what happened in the previous one) and Meggie is barely mentioned. Most of the story is concentrated on Tobey and his poor judgment, which often made me want to climb into the pages just to smack him. Sephy and Callie Rose are only tangential presences most of the time, and the book hurts for their absences.
So, I've read the whole series and, for the most part, I loved it (I certainly loved the first three books). I don't regret reading Double Cross, but at the same time, I'm not sure that, if I'd never managed to find a copy, I would have been completely missing out. As a completist, I'm satisfied; as a fan of the series, I'm slightly disappointed.
This fourth book in the slightly misnamed trilogy picks up shortly after the explosion that ended Checkmate, and Callie Rose is working through the trauma and guilt based on that. Unfortunately, I didn't find that to be quite enough to hang the novel on, and my attention drifted between annoyance at the stupid choices one of the characters made, and impatience with the pace of the resolution.
The problem I think I had, which colored my reading of Double Cross, is that the third book in what was supposed to be a trilogy ended with threads woven in and it was a nice, natural close to a satisfying story. Here, the story was extended beyond its natural lifespan and it felt somewhat forced.
It didn't help my reading that Jasmine isn't present in this book at all (and of course I knew she wouldn't be based on what happened in the previous one) and Meggie is barely mentioned. Most of the story is concentrated on Tobey and his poor judgment, which often made me want to climb into the pages just to smack him. Sephy and Callie Rose are only tangential presences most of the time, and the book hurts for their absences.
So, I've read the whole series and, for the most part, I loved it (I certainly loved the first three books). I don't regret reading Double Cross, but at the same time, I'm not sure that, if I'd never managed to find a copy, I would have been completely missing out. As a completist, I'm satisfied; as a fan of the series, I'm slightly disappointed.
May 8, 2016
A very good book. I wasn't too sure whether I actually liked this book because up until 3/4 of the way through, the events were dramatic but you didn't necessarily need to read the book. I was mostly confused as to why I needed to read this as the ending for Checkmate left everything on good terms however, I now regret thinkin this and I am very glad that I have read it. I stood corrected at the end as the ending was imperfectly perfect with a dramatic ending which could well lead into another book, whether it be Callie, Tobey, or as I think could possible happen, Dan. It did take me a long while to read as up until 3/4 of the way through, I wasn't really feeling the urge to read it, and it then ended up bottling into a very long time. This book isn't perfect and you do need to read the books before it, however, if you like the Noughts and Crosses series, then you should be pleasantly glad to read it as it adds more to the whole saga. Callie has a large part in this book but from around 1/2 to 3/4 of the way through, it is all focused on Tobey, which is explained, but this can be annoying at some points. Callie is a lot more likeable in this book than she is in Checkmate which is good however, towards the end you start to hate Tobey, which changes the roles a bit. I do recommend this book but I would say it has room for improvement.
October 13, 2013
A magnificent finale! I thought that Double Cross will be quite like Noughts & Crosses, & Tobey & Callie's story will be like Callum & Sephy's, but it wasn't. It has it's own twist to it, and best of all it didn't end in despair. Tobey & Callie's love story was successful, it didn't end in a tragic note like how Callum & Sephy's did, and I salute Malorie Blackman for that. Readers were very unhappy with the tragic events that had happened in the first 3 books, then Callie getting shot broke the readers hearts even more. It was nice to see that Tobey loved Callie so much that he could do anything for her... Anything. And the scene before Callie gets shot was so utterly great that I have no words for it. Tobey reminds me too much of Callum. Loved it. I give it a full 5 stars for the happy ending at the end, making all our tears throughout the series change into smiles.
June 5, 2017
Double Cross is the final book in the Naughts and Crosses series and it is an amazing way to end it. The book is based on Toby who is friends with Callie and how revenge can make a person do things that they would never do otherwise. After Callie gets shot in the crossfire of two big gangs in their neighborhood Toby takes it upon himself to revenge her and try to take them down from the inside out.
This is such a good ending to the series as you see it from how everyone else is feeling about black and white people who are normal everyday people and don't have any money. Finding Toby as basically a new character and the battle within himself throughout this book drew me in and made me not want to stop reading once I had started.
I would highly recommend this book and the Naughts and Crosses series to all!!
This is such a good ending to the series as you see it from how everyone else is feeling about black and white people who are normal everyday people and don't have any money. Finding Toby as basically a new character and the battle within himself throughout this book drew me in and made me not want to stop reading once I had started.
I would highly recommend this book and the Naughts and Crosses series to all!!
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