An Aussie Alex Rider-style spy novel, filled with twists and turns that are sure to keep readers entertained.
Feature image credit: Simon & Schuster
Tim Ayliffe is best known for his five-book John Bailey series and, most recently, his standalone novel, Dark Desert Road, all of which have a truly Australian feel. He has now taken his espionage novel style and created the world of S.I.G.M.A. and the tween protagonist, Ollie Speed.
Oliver ‘Ollie’ Speed is an ordinary 14-year-old boy – well, almost. He goes to school, has a few close friends and is training for an upcoming race that he is determined to win. What makes Ollie different from other boys his age is the chain of events sparked by the discovery of a dead body, while out running in Sydney’s Centennial Park. The body belongs to a man who was a friend of his father’s – the father who vanished, mysteriously, 10 months earlier.
Along with his best friends, George and Ella, Ollie begins to dig into his father’s past, discovering that he may not be a simple Australian Government employee, as Ollie was led to believe. He may, in fact, have been a spy. With George having captured potentially incriminating footage of Ella’s NSW police officer aunt, seemingly in league with a shady, cigarette smoking man – a man who Ollie keeps spotting watching his every move – the friends begin to wonder who they can trust, outside of each other. As they uncover more details, they become caught in a complex web of lies, betrayal and corruption, both local and international.
As each is impacted by the events unfolding from the discovery of the body in the park, the other two rally around them, ready to assist. They dive headfirst into danger, determined to find the truth about the dead man in the park and his connection to Ollie’s father’s disappearance. Who can you trust, when everyone seems to be hiding the truth from you?
Web of Spies marks the beginning of a new series, subtitled S.I.G.M.A. – an acronym revealed towards the end of the book. It’s aimed at young readers, but suitable for anyone who enjoy a fast-paced spy tale. The story is silky smooth, moving through the scenes at a steady pace, with relentless tension brought on by the hidden and direct threats. The pace is balanced perfectly between building suspense and all-out action, with twists and turns that flow like a winding river.
Ayliffe has created an stylistic, undiluted spy novel aimed at young readers, and one that is a genuinely Australian spy thriller. The chapters are paced and pacey, with hooks between scenes that leave you wanting to read more. This combined with the climax of the book will certainly have readers ready for 2027’s release of book two.
Reviewed by Glen Christie
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Simon & Schuster
Released: September 2026
RRP: $16.99
