Deep End

Special Agents #1

by Sam Hutton

New cutting-edge, fast-paced crime series that puts young people at the heart of the action. Strong characters, believable dialogue, authentic locations and compelling plots delivering maximum excitement for the young adult market.


SPECIAL AGENTS is a thrilling new crime series that is contemporary, exciting and really delivers. Featuring three teenage whizz-kids working for the notorious flying squad: Police Investigation Command. Deep End is the first in the series.
1. DEEP END
Your life can change in a second. Maddie Cooper's did. She and her parents were gunned down in the street by an unknown assailant. Maddie's mother was killed and her Scotland Yard Inspector father was left in a wheelchair. Maddie was injured in the fall, her career as a dancer finished almost before it had begun. Searching for a new role in life, Maddie signs up as a trainee in her father's notorious flying squad: Police Investigation Command. PIC has a roving brief to combat crime in London and Maddie, quick-witted, intelligent and intuitive, is well-equipped to cope with the demands of her new job. She teams up with Alex Cox, an ace undercover man who can slip in and out of accents as easily as he does disguises, and Danny Bell, an electronics whizzkid with a razor-sharp mind. These three talented teenagers have the ability, courage and technical know-how to fight crime, wherever it rears its ugly head on the streets of London. Their first assignment together sees the three solving a diamond heist and putting the gun-man who murdered Maddie's mother behind bars for the rest of his life.

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Crime

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2003

About the author

This is a penname of Allan Frewin Jones.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay read. Didn't really keep me on my toes, but there were a few unexpected twists here and there. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to read the next book... Probably not. It didn't have as much as action as I would have liked but again, it was okay.

Overall:

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book because it was a combination of adventure and mystery !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chaz Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book has a quick plot with likeable characters and is different to other books for teens in the genre. So why is it only three stars?

Two huge reasons:

1) There is barely any character background and no development. I love Maddie and how well she managed to move on and how she's resilient. I really like Alex and how he rides a motorcycle and is basically the action guy. I like Danny and how he's the tech whiz kid but has a secret past. However they're such stereotypical characters and none of them get development! Maybe there wasn't space for it because it is a short book and to add more character work would slow the plot but it's the first book in a series and I want to know that I can root for the characters in the future, not be left unattached.

2) How absolutely ridiculous and illogical the plot managed to be. Yes it's fast and took a couple unexpected turns but seriously. 2 TRAINEE police agents and a recently injured girl ON WORK EXPERIENCE were left ALONE in charge of checking in coming flights for dangerous characters. Not only that but when they found one they didn't think, great let's report this to someone superior who knows what they're doing, oh no. They think let's catch the bad guys ourselves. They pose as two people and completely unarmed put themselves in a hugely dangerous situation. Danny, when his friends were flown off in a helicopter didn't think "now I will get someone who knows what they're doing to rescue them" ugh no. He stages a rescue mission of his own. Maddie and Alex meanwhile stumble around in their deception like school children in a key stage 1 nativity. The rescue mission, when it finally comes, is so poorly thought out and results in Maddie being kidnapped, for a second time! Just why? The book ends with Alex clinging to the bottom of a helicopter for 20 mins (yeh, real likely) and then Maddie crashing that into a river bank but being completely unharmed. To top it all off, their boss, instead of putting the trainees on probation and telling them off, while sending Maddie (who just happens to be his daughter) home out of danger he congratulates them all and offers Maddie a job. SHE IS 16 AND HAS JUST PASSED HERSELF OFF AS A 20 YEAR OLD WOMAN, BROKEN SO MANY RULES, PUT HERSELF IN A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF DANGER AND BEEN IN A HELICOPTER CRASH AFTER BEING KIDNAPPED TWICE. As her father you decide to OFFER HER A JOB? I just don't get it.

This book is brilliant if you want something quick and snappy to read with lots of action that doesn't require too much emotional investment. I did enjoy it, but if you get frustrated by poor character building and incredibly illogical plots then don't read this book.

[Gail Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Deep End 1st part of Special Agents series by Sam Hutton. This series has been out some time and this is my second read. I probably won’t review each book and my just sum up when I’m finished. The series is based around three teenagers, Maddie aged 15, Danny and Alex aged 18. They are on a special task force run by Maddie’s dad and each are trainees. Maddie’s family is gunned down as a revenge attack by a convicted felon. Maddie’s mum is killed, her father is confined to a wheelchair and Maddie’s hope of being a ballet dancer is over. She recovers but the pain and stiffness does not allow the grace needed to pursue her dream. Instead she reverts to her child hood dream of being a police officer with her father. In this book the three eager agents set out to trap small time drug smugglers coming into the country, however, the situation is far more than they expected and they are soon out of their depth with no backup.

This is a solid read and the character’s inexperience shows but also their determination to succeed. This isn’t as exciting of books like the Cherub series but it is written for a slightly older reader and still an entertaining read. I enjoyed it and if you like police stories then you probably will too whether adult or teenager.

[Teodora Leon · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I appreciate a special task force and the idea of fighting crime on the streets of London, I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy the story. It is a real shame to avoid adding depth to the series just to jump straight into the action, especially given the fact that the beginning was promising potential close-ups into the characters’ lives and intentions. Surely, we should not neglect that the young adult market seeks out to offer readable stories for teenagers who are in the same hurry as our set of characters. Therefore, can you be convinced to keep on reading the Special Agents series after experiencing "Deep End"? It depends.

Here you have the complete review of the book: http://teodoraleon.blogspot.com/2018/...

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accidentally ended up reading books that were further along in this series instead of starting from the beginning. So for me, this book was actually useful as it gave me some of the background for the characters and the main storyline that is continued throughout the series. However, as a book one it was actually rather mediocre and if I had started from the beginning I may well not have continued with the series. The other books are much better than this one and did enjoy them. Not bad 3 stars.

[Gina G · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in a really good series of books for teens a lot more action than just the typical teen romance books :)

[Nilyssa]

interesting