I was a little worried when I first saw that Roland Smith was to be the author of Shatterproof, book 4 in The 39 Clues: Cahills vs Vespers series.

For those of you who don’t know, The 39 Clues is a multi-author series in which two kids, Amy (14) and Dan (11), learn they are members of the most powerful family in human history. The source of their families power is scattered throughout the world in the form of 39 special clues. If they fall into the wrong hands, the price could be the world itself.

After fighting against their vicious relatives for the clues in the first series, in Cahills vs Vespers Amy and Dan face off against the Vespers, a rival family that wants to steal the clues, and also Amy’s mysterious ring she got from her grandmother. The Vespers have kidnapped many Cahills, and are holding them to force Amy and Dan to do their bidding.

Click here to learn more about The 39 Clues

I was worried when I got Shatterproof because I tried to read Peak by Roland Smith, but I just couldn’t. Smith didn’t seem like too good of an author. I’m glad this book was a pleasant surprise.

Summary

Amy and Dan have now fully teamed up with Atticus and Jake and are traveling to Germany. Vesper 1 tells them they need to steal a jewel, and sends fake police officers to put a fake diamond into Amy’s bag. Vesper 1 tells them they need to switch this with the one at the Pergamon museum.

Meanwhile a team of Erasmus, Jonah, and Hamilton are tracking the movements of Luna Amato, Vesper 5. In the last book the Cahills learned that McIntryre was murdered, and Erasmus believes Amato might have answers. Although they are able to kill Amato, the Cahills suffer yet another tragic death.

Things are also still getting harder for Amy and Dan because Interpol is on them, especially one Milos Vanek. They are able to sneak into the museum and switch the diamonds, but not without being spotted. They are able to get away, but Amy loses the valuable ring she has been told to protect. Luckily, Vanek is able to give it to her in exchange for information about Amato, who also works for Interpol.

Of course, Vesper 1 isn’t about to let Amy and Dan off that easy. He wants them to find the “apology for my great transgression,” and doesn’t give them a whole lot of time to do it. Despite the stress, the book continues developing the idea of a romance between Jake and Amy, and Amy even ends up kissing him. This is despite the fact that Evan is already Amy’s boyfriend.

Amy, Dan, Atticus, and Jake are hot on the heels of finding the Apology, but two old friends named Casper and Cheyenne seem to be getting in their way. Meanwhile, the hostages are planning an escape plan. But things aren’t looking too good for young Phoenix Wizard. Will another hostage die?

Review

Although I wasn’t expecting this book to be super good, it actually was. It was very well written in the same style that we have gotten accustomed to throughout the series of The 39 Clues. It continues to develop the new characters of Atticus and Jake, and keeps the story exciting; not an easy thing to do towards the end of the second arc of a series.

I don’t really think all this romance stuff has a place in The 39 Clues, but a lot of people apparently like it judging by the incessant talk about it on message boards.

I do think there is getting to be a little too much action in the books with some many deaths close together. It used to really mean something when a character died earlier in the series, but now it’s almost routine.

I’m really impressed with the Cahills vs Vespers series and this is a great book to keep it moving. It definitely pushes you forward and keeps you guessing on the most fundamental questions of all: What do the Vespers want? Will Amy and Dan be able to stop them? Who is Vesper 1?

I’d recommend this book for sure. If you haven’t already read the earlier books in the Cahills vs Vespers saga, however, I’d recommend starting with the first book. Otherwise, dive right in! This book is a winner.

Get Cahills vs Vespers Book 4: Shatterproof by Roland Smith