Python: The New Recruit

By Author / Illustrator

S.J. Wills

Genre

Suspense & Thrillers

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Simon & Schuster

ISBN

9781398550001

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-07-2026

Synopsis

His past is criminal. His future's classified. A gripping and action-packed spy adventure, for fans of and Alex Rider and Young Bond.

Son of a notorious crime boss, 15-year-old Zac Thorne broke the sacred rule: never snitch. Now his family wants him dead, his identity is wiped clean, and he's buried deep in protective custody. That is until Python, a top-secret government agency, gives him a way out.

Zac is not wild about working for the law, but it could be his only route home. When his first op goes spectacularly sideways, Zac and his fellow agents find themselves battling to survive in a mobster-infested death trap. Zac must confront the truth - about his enemies, his allies, and himself - if any of them are to see out the night.

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Reviews

Sam

Python, The New Recruit is addictive, fast paced and exhilarating. Jam packed with plot twists, hidden identities, secrets and lies, this all-action, young spy thriller is exactly what every fan of the brilliant Bite Risk series would expect of a book by children's author SJ Wills.

Zac Thorne is a naïve, young teenager who is desperate to get the approval of his mobster dad. However, clearly built of different stuff, Zac doesn't have the same cold heart as his dad and they both quickly realise that he won't make it as part of Joey Thorne's corp. When Zac overhears his aunt's plan to 'end a life', he takes no time in calling the police and reporting her, breaking the sacred mob rule: never snitch. His family now want him dead!

Zac is taken into protective custody, his identity wiped and his every move is now monitored by a covert protection officer from the National Crime Agency. Bored with having to live such a closely monitored life, Zac reluctantly agrees to become part of Python, a top-secret government agency, in the hope that this will eventually lead him back home.

Python is a group of teenagers lead by an NCA officer called Danny; each member has their own unique skillset and unbeknown to Zac, all have a reason to want his dad behind bars. When their first op goes spectacularly wrong, they will need to trust one another and work together to survive.

This is an absolute 'blast' of a book, an all-action page turner that would no doubt be a very popular choice in any upper Key Stage 2 classroom. I would certainly recommend it as a class read if you were looking for something that will inspire reluctant readers and that doesn't necessarily need to link to a humanities topic. The Python team need to make split second decisions that will not only make for great 'What's next?' questions but will also provide some points for discussion: Why is Zac's identity changed? How would you feel if you suddenly had to leave everything behind? Why would a notorious mobster boss be known as 'The Manicurist'? Why do you think the author repeatedly refers to the poor appearance of the new Kewford Centre? Likewise, if you are looking for something to read in the last few weeks of the summer holidays, then this is it. A high-stakes thriller you won't want to put down!

256 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher