Mad Dogs - Robert Muchamore - Reviewed by Alex Rothnie

Mad Dogs is the eighth book in the Cherub series, by Robert Muchamore. “It’s punchy, exciting and what’s more you’ll completely whish it was true” says the Sunday Times. It is another espionage book but unlike others it keeps you guessing and wanting more from the first page to the last. Muchamore is an author that uses very creative and detailed language as he describes every single detail of the environment. He relates to the issues that are troubling our world today like global warming and terrorism. He explores problems facing our youth like friends, girls and boys, parties and alcohol.
Cherub is a secret espionage organisation that is run by adults but its operatives are kids and teens that have been orphaned in the assumption that everybody trusts kids. They undergo a gruelling training regime until they are permitted to go on missions. It’s H.Q is based in London but they are sent all over the world as the missions are set in countries such as Australia for a mind controlling operation, Russia for a terrorists operation and America for a prison break.
In Mad Dogs the debris from the last book is gradually clearing and the main character James Adams and his mate Bruce Norris were asked to go on a mission that was just put under threat when one of the girls that was working on it earlier was stabbed. There job is to infiltrate the mob called Mad Dogs, gain the trust of Sasha, the leader of the mob, gather enough evidence to convict him and try to stop a gang war between the Runts and the Slasher Boys which the Mad Dogs set up. The boys are introduced into the world of organised crime. They learn its trade and its twists! But at home, James’ sister is on her own assignment with her own difficulties.
Out of all the Cherub books I have read before, Mad Dogs has definitely been my favourite. It has been the most dramatic and suspenseful. It is a book that you think that appears predictable and then something completely unexpected happens. That is what I love about it – your mind begins to write the story but then the plot takes an unforseen twist. No other book is quite like it.
What can I say about Mad Dogs, you’ll never guess what is going to happen, you’ll never be bored and you’ll never get tired of kids being kids. I love the book with all my heart it is a great read for anybody teens through to adults. 10 out of 10!