“Web of Spies” by Tim Ayliffe is the first in a new series called S.I.G.M.A. and is a fast-paced, action-packed triller that kept me on the edge of my seat from the first word through to the last page. Set in suburban Sydney, it features Oliver Speed, your average everyday teen, and his friends Ella and George, who have to try to solve the mysterious murder of a U.S. diplomat who is somehow linked to Oli’s long-lost father. I love how Ayliffe uses Ollie’s cross-country race to hook readers into the action from the get-go while not being so generic as to do a flashback sort of thing.
One of the key themes in this book is that we shouldn’t chose too quickly. The novel unravels the difficulty Ollie faces when choosing who to trust and believe because literally anyone could be working against him.
This is a great book for younger teens as the language is easy to follow, and nothing is too far-fetched, making the novel relatable. Ollie is your average kid who gets thrown a problem and by the end he’s more mature and self-aware because of it.