In an international cooperative project, James Adams is inserted into an Arizona jail for underage offenders who’ve been sentenced as adults. His mission is to break out the jail, along with Curtis Oxford, the son of one of America’s most wanted, and secretive, criminals. The mission is high risk – the jail itself is predominantly run by the inmates, with factions and weapons rife, and none of the armed staff will know that James is an agent. Part of the plan’s design is to broadcast that a staff member died during the jail break, and none of the police will know that James isn’t a cop killer.
Once again, Muchamore has created a gripping, compelling and textured novel. The jail scenes are chilling, the sense of danger palpable, and the pace relentless. At the same time the character development progresses, layering not only our understanding of James but of his target, too.
Though not as graphic as its predecessor, Maximum Security would also be distressing for younger readers, predominantly because of the violent lawlessness and injury in the jail scenes and during the escape.
This review is brief only because it's the third Muchamore review I've written in a row, and it's getting hard to think of new and inteesting ways of saying I think this is a killer series. Fortunately there'll be a bit of a break because my CHERUB-series supplier doesn't have book four and so I'm on the library waiting list (eigheenth and waiting), so the next review should be invigorated! - Alex
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