just has to be the centre of attention, wearing the latest fashionâand spyingâaccessories. At home sheâs got her telly wired up with a Playstation 3, a Wii, and the very latest omni-processing decryptortron. Unfortunately Alfie isnât terribly impressed by all this, so he and Chloe havenât really hit it off.
Alice
Aliceâs dad is a double agent (but itâs a bit unclear which side heâs actually on). You never know where you are with Aliceâshe says one thing then does another. Her moods are volatile and sheâs got a temper like a tank-buster missile when it goes off.
Beth
Beth is a swot and a techie. Her dad is a super-boffin who runs the Governmentâs Inventing Taskforce (GIT). Sheâs inherited his absented-minded braininess. Sheâs not so hot on the practical side of things thoughâshe can design a robot to tie your shoelaces, but sheâs always tripping over her own feet. She comes to school on her rocket-powered rollerblades.
A Passion for Excellence
Miss Jones
Miss Jones is responsible for teaching Class 3D the ordinary everyday subjects like Maths and English and History. Sheâs newly-qualified, quiet and unassuming. Like Miss Jones, all the subject teachers at Thunder Raker Manor are fully qualified and at the very peak of their profession. Many of them are former agents and spies, so together they bring a wealth of experience to the school.
Mr Cryption
Mr Cryptionâteaches Codes. Heâs tall and thin and no one understands anything he says.
Miss Fortune
Miss Fortune teaches Assassination. Her classes always seem to be a few pupils shortâthey get sent on errands or asked to help fetch something, and never come backâ¦Note, though, that Class 3D is too young for Assassination, which is only taught in the Sixth Form.
Sir Westerley Compass
Sir Westerly Compass is in charge of Tracking Skills. Heâs always late for class, and his lessons are often moved at short notice.
The Major
The Majorâthatâs all heâs ever calledâis in charge of Sabotage Training. He has an enormous moustache and heâs rather accident prone. Everything he touches breaksâeven the plate he gets his school dinner onâ¦
Mrs Nuffink
Mrs Nuffink teaches Surveillance. Donât mess around in her classâsheâs got eyes in the back of her head. No, really.
Mr Trick
Camouflage is supposed to be taught by Mr Trick. But no one can find him.
Reverend âBongoâ Smithers
The Chaplain is Reverend âBongoâ Smithers, a former fighter pilot more interested in war stories than Bible stories. He also teaches PE. Ruthlessly.
Peace of Mind
So whatever your parental requirements or security clearance, you can rest assured that Thunder Raker Manor will provide a first class education for your child in every respect. We canât tell you how much the children enjoy being here. No, reallyâwe canât. Itâs an official secret.
Chapter 1
Alfieâs dad had a very ordinary name. Loads and loads of people had exactly the same name. In fact, one of those people who had the same very ordinary name was the Prime Minister.
And that was how the misunderstanding happened.
When Alfieâs dad got a new job and the whole family moved house, Alfieâs parents wanted him to go to the very best school inthe area, a school where he would be happy and would learn lots.
One morning, while Alfie was eating his cornflakes and his mum was making toast, Alfieâs dad came home from work. This was not as strange as it might sound, because Alfieâs dad was a postman so he started work very early and finished when Alfie and his mum were just starting their day.
Alfieâs dad dropped his postmanâs cap on the table beside Alfieâs cornflakes and declared, âIâve found it.â
âYour cap?â Alfie asked. âI didnât know youâd lost it.â
âNo,â said Dad. âI
Philip Kerr
C.M. Boers
Constance Barker
Mary Renault
Norah Wilson
Robin D. Owens
Lacey Roberts
Benjamin Lebert
Don Bruns
Kim Harrison