Despite her plain, peasant like appearance, Colonel Irina Sedova is a ruthless killer used to giving orders at the highest level within the Soviet machine. “‘And who’s the woman?’ asked James. ‘Is she one of them?’ ‘She’s running the whole…

The little sister of Red Kelly, James’s friend from his adventures at Loch SilverFin, Kelly Kelly is tough and wily, commanding respect of her fellow street-urchins as leader of the Monstrous Regiment. “In the centre was the ringleader. A girl…

Sir John Charnage is a wealthy friend of Alexis Fairburn’s from his days as an undergraduate at Cambridge University. Heavily involved in the underworld of illegal gambling, his debonair exterior disguises his more sinister motives. “‘Bravo,’ said Charnage, raising an…

Alexis Fairburn is the beak who runs the Crossword Society so beloved of James’s messmate Pritpal. Brilliant but absent minded and eccentric, the sudden announcement of his departure from Eton causes little surprise or concern to his fellow tutors, but…

Slightly older than James, Perry Mandeville is the risk-taking and reckless, but loyal head of the Danger Society, the secret club at Eton for James and his daredevil friends. “Outside on Keate’s Lane Perry ambled over. He was a big,…

After a gruelling series of events in Sardinia over the summer holidays, James has returned to the monotony of school life at Eton. However, the mysterious disappearance of a school master soon presents the opportunity for adventure and excitement he…

JJ is the younger brother of Precious Stone. He’s had a very easy life, which is suddenly ripped apart by the natural force of the hurricane and the brutality of Mrs Glass’s gang. ‘A boy of about seven, wearing a…

When James meets Precious Stone she is everything he hates: spoilt, rude and selfish. They are soon thrown together and as Precious struggles to survive, she discovers strengths she never knew she had. ‘Presently James spotted the owner of the…

Tough, enigmatic and absolutely ruthless, Mrs Glass takes no prisoners. She runs her unruly gang of misfits with an iron hand and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. ‘She stood over them for a moment then dropped…

Jack Stone is the embodiment of an American hero, or so it seems… ‘James looked up to see Mr Stone coming down the stairs. He was wearing a leather flying jacket and high boots. With his thin moustache and swept-back…