Fourteen-year-old secret agent Alex Rider is on holiday in southern France with his friend Sabina and her parents. Everything seems perfect, until ruthless assassin Yassen Gregorovich arrives. Shortly after, Sabina's father is nearly killed in a devastating explosion. It turns out Sabina's father was writing a story about legendary pop star and humanitarian Sir Damian Cray. Cray has donated millions to charity, is a vegetarian, and insists his concert tickets be printed on recycled paper. A living saint in the eyes of the adoring public, he claims to want to save the world. But Alex believes he knows the real truth—it's the world that needs saving from Cray.