X Marks the Spy

Christopher Cool: Teen Agent #1

by Jack Lancer

In the thrilling city of Paris, TEEN's crack espionage agent Chris Cool undertakes a baffling and dangerous mission: to ferret out a revolutionary new secret weapon which could change the balance of power in the cold war. His contact is an unknown spy identified only by a cunningly concealed X mark. When three men turn up with X marks, Chris is faced with the grim challenge of correctly identifying the right contact.

Chris and his Apache fellow agent, Geronimo Johnson, follow a clue that leads to the Riviera resort town of St. Tropez and discover that they themselves have become the quarry in a blood-chilling game of hide-and-seek with the deadly agents of TOAD.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Juvenile

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

House pseudonym of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, used by at least author James Lawrence, best known for his work on the Tom Swift Jr. series.

Reviews

[Kathryn]

Such a cool concept but I just couldn't get past how un-PC it is. So uncomfortable I quit reading!

[Lydia E Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only grabbed this book because it was looked trippy and I needed an extra book to get a deal at the thrift shop. Teen spies? An Apache roommate named Geronimo Johnson? I figured I'd at least get a good laugh out of it.

It was less racist than I expected. Don't get me wrong, there was a decent amount of period typical racism, but not nearly as bad as I was expecting. And some of the ridiculous stuff ended up feeling (to me at least, although I don't think was the intention) like it was just Geronimo being a little sh*t.

Amusing story. Silly, but with lots of spy gadgets that I bet someone who is younger or more interested in spy novels than I would like.

[Maris McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I collect these series like Hardy Boys, Rick Brant, etc. and Christopher Cool is one of my favorites. Granted, reading it as an adult I'm noticing that some of the writing could be more polished, but the plots hold up well. A very enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Cool, where have you been all my life? I am serious. This series was published by the masterminds who brought us Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys- the books looked the same, with the brightly colored spines and linen covers. As a kid, secret agents were my thing. I had a secret agent club in elementary school and I named my first born son after Maxwell Smart.

This book is pure trippy 60s. Christopher Cool is the tall blond American answer to James Bond. His partner, Geronimo Johnson is a pureblood Apache warrior. The swoon worthy pair are roommates at an Ivy League college and are TEEN agents, the youngest branch of the CIA. Chris is not just blond and suave, he is a master at getting out of sticky situations and totally cool under fire. Geronimo is just as stoic and intense. The pair are perfect together and enjoy a friendly rapport throughout the book which showcases their witty and sarcastic sense of humor.

In book 1, they also meet redheaded Spice Carter, a female teen agent as wily as they, but sexy and feminine to boot.

The story is fast paced, full of technology, hot cars, dastardly villians and excitement. Every note is spot on perfect. I felt like I was transported back to 1967 in all it's glory. If I would have had these books as a kid, they would have been my very favorites. As an adult, I am still wildly in thrall. This is just great all American fun. I can't wait to read the rest. I have the first five and will be looking for book six so that I can complete my set. I can't wait to share these with my son. :)

[Joelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping this would be a fun detective like book similar to the rover boys, Nancy drew, trixie beldon etc. i expected it to be light, a bit predictable and corny but boy! This was painfully cheesy! 😆 Every other page the characters had a new pen, piece of chewing gum or tie that was also somehow conveniently a gas mask, numbing dart, bomb, or CO2 boosted rocket shoes, it was so unbelievably convenient and corny that I read it to the end, but I wont bother collecting the series as I typically do.

[Stephen Fodor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly enjoyable, kind of like a American Junior James Bond. Based in the 60s when it was written.
All in all entertaining.

[DiJaDi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a lot like "Hardy Boys," except more James Bond-ish. I liked it when I read it. But I was also eleven at the time.

[Jason Mock · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's "The Hardy Boys"-meets-"James Bond" in this
fun period piece from 1967.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably would be silly now but as a boy I really liked the idea of a teen being a spy.