Point Blanc
Second edition cover
|
|
| Author | Anthony Horowitz |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Alex Rider series |
| Genre | Adventure, spy thriller, thriller |
| Publisher | Walker Books (UK) |
|
Publication date
|
4 September 2001 U.K April 15, 2002 N.A |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 288 pp (first edition, paperback) |
| ISBN | (first edition paperback) |
| OCLC | 47149349 |
| LC Class | PZ7.H7875 Po 2001 |
| Preceded by | Stormbreaker |
| Followed by | Skeleton Key |
Point Blanc is the second book in the Alex Rider series, written by British author Anthony Horowitz. The book was released in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2001 and in North America on April 15, 2002, under the alternate title Point Blank.
In 2003, the novel was listed on the BBC's survey The Big Read. In 2007, it was adapted into a graphic novel, written by Antony Johnston, and illustrated by Kanako Damerum and Yuzuru Takasaki.
The book opens with the death of American billionaire Michael J. Roscoe in New York City, arranged by a reputable contract killer known only as The Gentleman. In London, Alex Rider ends up in trouble with the police for causing a large amount of damage to a new police headquarters by exposing a school drug dealer. In exchange for any potential charges being dropped, Alex is assigned by MI6 to investigate the mysterious deaths of Roscoe and another billionaire General Viktor Ivanov on the Black Sea. The only apparent connection between the two men is that they both had a son attending Point Blanc, an academy in the French Alps run by a South African scientist, Dr. Hugo Grief. Alan Blunt, who was contacted by a distressed Roscoe before his death, is suspicious, and so sends Alex to investigate.
Alex's cover is that of the son of a supermarket magnate, Sir David Friend, and he spends a week as a member of Friend's family in order to build his cover. However, during his stay with the family, he receives a hard time from David's daughter Fiona. Alex even finds himself shot at by Fiona's rich friends when they go out shooting, only for Fiona to claim that it was "just a bit of fun", although Alex gains a small victory by ambushing and frightening one of Fiona's friends before throwing away his gun. The next day, when Alex and Fiona are out horse riding, Fiona falls off her horse in the middle of a railway tunnel. Alex goes back in on his horse and just manages to retrieve Fiona and jump off a bridge into a river before they are run over by a high speed train. Fiona then half-heartedly apologises for her harsh behaviour.
...
Wikipedia