Book Review – The Phoenix Files by Chris Morphew
New Action Series for Older Readers by Australian Author
Jun 1, 2009
The Phoenix Files: Arrival (Hardie Grant Egmont, 2009) is a first venture into the genre of youth fiction by Australian children’s author Chris Morphew. The first of six books, Arrival sets the scene for a thrilling mystery adventure set in the Australian outback and targets readers aged 10 - 15.
The Phoenix Files: Arrival
When Luke Hunter arrives in the newly constructed town of Phoenix, he gets an uneasy feeling about the town. Built by the Shackleton Co-operative to accommodate employees and their families, the town seems just a little bit too perfect to Luke, who has been forced to move to Phoenix with his mother after his parents divorce, leaving his father behind in Sydney.
On the first day of school, 15-year-old Luke meets Peter and Jordan and the three are quickly drawn together by a series of unexpected and unsettling events. As they work together to find out who is leaving them cryptic messages, the uncover secrets about the purpose of the town that someone is trying very hard to keep hidden.
On the day Luke arrives in Phoenix a countdown begins. One hundred days until the entire human race will be destroyed. Only the residents of Phoenix will be saved unless Luke and his friends can find out who is behind the plot and stop them.
Suspense and Intrigue for Young Readers
While the countdown to the end of the world storyline may seem familiar, Morphew maintains a thrilling sense of expectation and suspense throughout Arrival from beginning to end as he follows the first 12 days in the countdown. The story moves at a quick but not rushed pace, drawing readers in and keeping them hooked as they attempt to piece together what is happening to Luke and his friends.
The intrigue of the central storyline and thriller plot are balanced with teen friendship and family issues for the three central characters that establish a sense of normality in the disquieting setting of the too perfect town of Phoenix.
Australian Author Chris Morphew
Born in Sydney in 1985, Chris Morphew is a long-term and enthusiastic science fiction fan and has worked as a primary school teacher in addition to writing fiction for young readers.
A Thrilling New Suspense Series
Aimed at the tween and teen market, The Phoenix Files series may also appeal to adults looking for something easy and interesting to read. Arrival establishes that authority figures in Phoenix are not to be trusted and readers will be eagerly awaiting the continuation of the story in The Phoenix Files #2: Contact, which will be available in February 2010.
The Phoenix Files: Arrival is a well-written thriller sure to intrigue readers and keep them turning pages then waiting impatiently for the next instalment. Morphew has demonstrated that his writing skills are not restricted to stories for children and The Phoenix Files series looks certain to earn the attention of a new generation of readers for this talented writer.
The Phoenix Files: Arrival (ISBN: 978-1-92150-239-2, 291 pages)
