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In the mid-1960s, James and Dakota, two U.S. secret agents in their late teens, learn of a potentially catastrophic theft of nuclear codes. They have a very short window to retrieve the codes before the power shift in the Cold War could be devastating for America. Chasing down a lead, the pair find a dying man who has turned the search into a giant globe-trotting game full of cryptic clues. It isn't long until their intelligence suggests Russian codes were also stolen. As the pair race to be first to uncover the nuclear secrets, they'll cross paths with Chinese and Russian agents, a local mob, and an independent money launderer. As secrets of their pasts are revealed, the two must strike an uneasy alliance with a rival group, where they learn emotional ties may be the deadliest of all flaws.
The author's young adult spy novel checks all the boxes for an engaging read for its target audience. The writing is swift, the worldbuilding creates distinct places without being overwhelming, and the adherence to the expectations of two dashing teenage spies is spot on. Readers and parents familiar with the writer's previous title with these characters will know they are getting a clean, age-appropriate title without the grit, language, and moral uncertainty of adult works. Much of the plot, antagonists, and even the protagonists' character traits feel as if they belong in the James Bond franchise. Still, the majority of this book's intended audience will not care. Fans of the earlier book will love this one just as much, and, as the books are stand-alone adventures, readers of the genre, especially teenage boys, will get a lot of entertainment from this Cold War adventure.