Alex thought that his uncle, Ian Rider, was a nondescript bank manager – how wrong could he be! In fact, his uncle was a top spy and has been murdered by Yassen Gregorovich, one of the most dangerous assassins in the world. Recruited by the Special Operations Division of MI6, the schoolboy realises that by encouraging his hobbies, his uncle has thoroughly prepared him for a career in espionage. Linguist, scuba diver, mountaineer, crack shot and martial arts expert, Alex has all the attributes to make the perfect teenage superspy. Armed with these and his own set of special gadgets, he embarks on his first mission.