Skeleton Key (novel)
Second edition cover
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| Author | Anthony Horowitz |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Alex Rider series |
| Genre | Adventure, Spy novel, Mystery |
| Publisher | Walker Books (UK) |
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Publication date
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8 July 2002 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 324 pp (first edition, paperback) |
| ISBN | (first edition, paperback) |
| OCLC | 54953320 |
| LC Class | PZ7.H7875 Sk 2004 |
| Preceded by | Point Blanc |
| Followed by | Eagle Strike |
Skeleton Key is the third book in the Alex Rider series written by British author Anthony Horowitz. The book was released in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2002, and in the United States on April 28, 2003.
The book, Skeleton Key, opens with, Marc, Carlo and an unnamed pilot, flying to meet with General Alexei Sarov in Cayo Esqueleto (Spanish for "Skeleton Key"), a fictional island just off of Cuba to exchange a kilogram of uranium for money the general has promised them. Due to a supply problem, the price had risen by $500,000. Sarov pays the men the agreed upon price, and agrees to have the rest wired to the Salesman, whom he purchased the uranium from. The two warn him they will call the American Intelligence if the extra money isn't received in three days. Taking this as a threat, Sarov turns the runway lights off when the two go to leave, then turns a set of lights that lead into the mangroves on, which leads the plane into swamp, trapping it. Sarov watches with pleasure as the two men and the pilot are devoured by the inhabiting crocodiles. He then loads the uranium in the Jeep he comes in and leaves.
Meanwhile, it is revealed Alex had survived the fight with Dr. Grief's clone and is visited by John Crawley at school. Crawley offers him tickets to Wimbledon, but Alex learns he must go undercover as a ball boy following suspicion of a break in. There, he befriends a ball girl called Sabina Pleasure. Alex notices a suspicious looking Chinese guard and decides to investigate, but the guard lures him and attempts to kill him. Alex knocks out the man and learns that he was a member of the Chinese Triad gang "Big Circle" and was attempting match fixing. Alex is targeted by the triad gang as another member makes an attempt on his life while surfing on vacation with Sabina in Cornwall; he comes close to drowning but Sabina manages to save his life, as she is an excellent swimmer and knows CPR. For his safety, both MI6 and the CIA arrange to send him with CIA agents Tom Turner (renamed "Glen Carver" in the US version of Skeleton Key) and Belinda Troy to Skeleton Key to investigate General Sarov. The two CIA agents would pass off as his parents. The CIA is concerned about the actions of Sarov since he intends to meet the Russian president, Boris Kiriyenko.
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