Operation Trinity by Clifford Riley

39 Clues. Cahill files 1. New York, Scholastic, 2012.ISBN 9780545431439.
Recommended for readers 8+, who will appreciate the link between the online world and books.
The Cahill Files are an offshoot from the 39 Clues series which feature the Cahill and Vesper families and have been very popular with many 8+ readers. This book stands alone and does not rely on information gained from reading the previous books.
The Cahill files trace the secrets of this most powerful family over the past 500 years. Operation Trinity tells the story of a famous art work the Van Eyck Altarpiece from the first attack on it in Ghent in 1566, through its rescue from the Nazis in 1945 to a modern attempt to steal it in 2008.
The three eras introduce members of the family charged with protecting the art work and give the modern members of the family Ian and Natalie Kabra their first solo mission. The appearance of Grace Cahill to help resolve this attack on the altarpiece links the middle episode in which she features as the heroine.
The different historical eras and locations add interest to the narrative and develop the story of the quest for power between the Cahills and Vespers over the centuries. They also introduce readers to historical events, the beginning of the Dutch revolt which led to the formation of the Dutch Republic and the collection of art pieces by the Nazis during World War 2.
With its link to the internet not only will readers new to the series be able to access the website and catch up with the original storylines, but fans will be able to continue their interaction with the books as well as the games and online forums.
Sue Keane