Countdown

The 39 Clues: Unstoppable #3

by Natalie Standiford

The clock has finally run out for the Cahills. As the leaders of the world’s most powerful family, Dan and Amy have been in the crosshairs for too long. It was only a matter of time until luck failed them.

Media tycoon and presidential candidate J. Rutherford Pierce has set his sights on destroying the siblings. And after numerous close calls, it looks like he’s about to get his wish.

Now Dan is hopelessly trapped and nothing can save him. Nothing except unleashing an evil the Cahills have spent centuries trying to hide.

The Cahills have always had a secret weapon, but it comes at a great cost. With everything to lose, Amy has to ask herself the question that haunts her nightmares:

Just how far is she willing to go to save her little brother?

Genres: Adventure, Middle Grade, Mystery, Fiction, Young Adult, Audiobook, Childrens

190 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 2014

About the author

Natalie Standiford, author of "Astrid Sees All," "How to Say Goodbye in Robot," "Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters," "The Secret Tree," "Switched at Birthday," "The Boy on the Bridge," and "The Only Girl in School," has written picture books, nonfiction, chapter books, teen novels, an entry in the 39 Clues series, and even horror novels for young adults. Standiford also plays bass in the rock band Tiger Beat, with fellow YA authors Libba Bray, Daniel Ehrenhaft, and Barnabas Miller.
Find out more at her web site, www.nataliestandiford.com.

Reviews

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy no!

In the moment when Dan's life is literally hanging by a thread, Amy makes the only decision she can, to save him. But in the process, she condemns her own life. Unless they can assemble the antidote in less than a week.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review based on ARC. Warning LOTS of spoilers



First things first, I'll give a short summary of the book. Countdown is the 3rd installment in the unstoppable story arc. It picks up right where we left off with Amy, Dan and Co. On the way to Guatemala to retrieve the riven crystal. Over the course of the book, dan almost dies, Amy drinks the serum to save him and now it's a race against the clock to retrieve all the elements for the antidote. Unfortunately this proves to be tough as Dan loses Olivia's book and it ends up in the hands of (guess who) none other than Pierce. He figures out they're trying to find the antidote and sets a trap for both dan and Amy. By the end of the book, they've found the riven crystal but pierce has both dan and the book. Oh and did I mention that Amy has only four days left to live? All that action and drama yet this book left me feeling quite unimpressed for a 39 clues book. I've never been left feeling so indifferent after finishing a 39 clues book since the first series.

Some major problems I had:
If you read the book and my summary, you'd notice that I'd effectively mentioned what happened at the beginning and at the end. The high intensity beginning and ending were unfortunately not sustained throughout the rather laborious middle bit.
First, there were too many Nellie chapters. Don't get me wrong, I love Nellie as much as the next person, but they neither felt like character development chapters nor plot heavy chapters. They were basically fillers and I found my interest wandering (something that's never happened to me for any of the Cahills vs Vespers or previous unstoppable books). The chapter when Nellie figures out that the Callendar institute is testing the serum on its patients was obvious given the hints in the last book so the reveal was unsurprising and unnecessarily drawn out.
Second, Pony felt a bit OOC for me in this book. I understand that his character development was crucial for us to really empathize with him and make the ending that much more tragic, but his dialogue felt clunky and quite out of place as well.
Third, Amy went wacko at the end of the last book and while some people didn't like it, there should be some continuity if this is a series. The relationship between Amy and the other characters sort of magically resolved itself even before she took the serum and it wasn't really clear how or why.
Fourth, (Amian shippers please don't hate me) Natalie stradiford had given me hope for Amy and jake. They're still obviously crazy about each other so I wish they'd resolve it already and cut the angst. I'm sick and tired of all the brooding.
Fifth, sticking with the theme of the sluggish middle sections, the book had a bunch of random scenes like the ones with the park rangers, the super spy/ colleague saboteur Nellie scenes and the one too many Pierce-thinks-he's-losing-it scenes. If stradiford had axed those chapters and focused on more action or character development scenes (eg. For Amy, April May or even Ian+co) the plot would have maintained its initial, fast paced rhythm.
The lack of an intricate, historical cypher to crack also left me feeling a bit lost. I've become used to the Dan Brown-eque puzzles, riddles and codes the kids have to break to lead them to the ingredients they need. By comparison, the whole riven crystal pok a tok hidden map seemed both lame and badly explained. The whole interactive element of the puzzle solving was lost so Atticus miraculously cracks the cypher on his own and the reader just has to go along with it. Big disappointment for me as one of the main reasons I love the series so much is that it's styled in the vein of a dan brown novel for a younger audience.

The good stuff:
Amy drinking the serum was entirely expected given the books blurb and the buildup from previous books but I didn't expect her to drink it so early on in the book. Her hallucination scenes are terrifying and gripping; I feel like I'm reading a Darren arronofsky script. The passing of authority from Amy to Dan felt quite momentous and touching. Jake aptly sums dan up when he says "you're more like your sister than you think".
The revelation of Debi Ann as a starling was a lovely unexpected twist. In fact, all the galt/cara chapters were fantastic as well. Caras increasing fear of her father is portrayed fantastically and it also makes me wonder if she will be a key element in ensuring Pierces demise in the final installment of the series.
Third, it's suggested that pierce once loved hope Cahill. Stradiford just plants the idea by introducing 2 sentences in Debi Ann's interior monologue. Subtly and beautifully done.
Finally, the last chapter really increased the stakes. Pierce has the book and is now more formidable than ever. Dan has been kidnapped. And Ponys death, while tragic, was just that extra push that the book needed to up the ante again. It was shocking, fast and completely unexpected (at least I didn't expect it all). While I'm sad to see him go, killing him off was exactly what the book needed- something intense, unexpected and tragic. In my eyes, it really saved the book from being one of the most mediocre 39 clues book I'd read in a while.

So excited for Flashpoint I can't sit still. I can't believe that it's going to be the last 39 clues book ever! I've become way too attached to the series :'(

[Christian Schultheiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m starting to think that the authors like to give us one or two toned down issues before hitting us with the real tragic and intense side of it all in an epic continuation novel such as this one. My notes and concerns from the previous book we’re completely answered and if anything I would almost dare to say this is the most tragic and heartbreaking story the Cahill kids have had the misfortune of embarking upon thus far. I mean at some points I was questioning if this really should be considered a YA novel. 4.5/5

[Lady Flo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It gets worse. The only interesting person in book, Pony, Is dead! Why all stranger who try to help Cahills die? Boooooriiiiiiiingggg

[Arden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like always, I was totally annoyed by Jake. He still keeps his whole, "You aren't the boss of me," attitude with Amy, which is totally un-called for. My only hope is that he either develops away from that, or doesn't end up dating Amy in the end. But... he has kept that charade up for almost ten books, so I doubt it.
And of course this book was heart-breaking. Amy taking the serum to save her little brother was very emotional for me, and it showed that after all they've been through, even after Dan basically quitting the family, she would still trade her life for his, which sums up what being a big sister is about. I just wish that Jake had been more... understanding. He's an older brother, you would think he would know why she had to do what she did. Here is an example of a scene where Amy is experiencing serious negative side-effects to the serum, the same side-effects that are going to kill her in six days:

"Shake it off, Amy," Jake said with the same mix of fear and irritation that had colored everything he'd directed toward her since she took the serum, as if all she had to do to stop dying was "put her mind to it."

-- Page 111

My favorite part about this book is that Nellie had many chapters, and they brought our boys back into the field! That's right, after two books of phone-calls only, Jonah, Hamilton, and Ian are back with Amy and Dan, in a risky plan to retrieve shocked quartz. This is at the climax of the book, so unfortunately the boys are out of action for the majority of the time, but it's the thought that counts. Of course, there is that rivalry between Jake and Ian that I'm thoroughly tired of. At this point, Jake seems to hate Amy AND any sort of contact between Ian and Amy.

[Amy to Dan] "All right. Call Ian."
At the mention of the name Ian, Jake flinched.

--Page 139

There is also a scene when the boys arrive that I thought was very sad, and I wish it had been from Amy's POV so that we could know what she was thinking. Instead, it's from Dan's POV and ends up being one line.

He [Ian] enveloped Amy in a bear hug and held her a second longer than usual, but he couldn't quite meet her eye, as if he didn't know what to say to her.

--Page 150

I wish the authors would make the relationships between Amy, Dan, and the boys more believable. They almost make them sound like strangers at this point, instead of friends/family that have known each other for two+ years. It definitely seems like Ian especially would be able to understand Amy and definitely look her in the eye. Jonah and Hamilton also seem very awkward around her, which is odd considering how well they know her.

I feel like often times the boys are ignored/not called for help when it would be obvious to do so, just because the authors want Jake and Atticus to solve all the problems. There are those sweet scenes where Amy would call the boys for help and immediately brighten up when she hears their voices, which is what I've basically lived for up to this point. You can tell that they are Amy's closest friends, and that they truly love her.

Overall, the book was okay. The character development just hasn't lived up to my expectations. And, as I have wished since third grade, Ian and Amy have not gotten together yet. Disappointing, considering I am now in high school.

[Сибин Майналовски · Rating 3 out of 5]

Финал отвратительный. Понятно, что надо вызвать интерес к следующей книге, но... всё же это несерьёзно.

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally think that COUNTDOWN is better than Nowhere to Run and Breakaway. Miss Standiford has a different approach in writing. I kinda gave up on the series after reading Breakaway. It was good, really. But it wasn't as good as Maze of Bones and One False Note. I hope Flashpoint will be as or more exciting than Countdown. I wish to see more Amy-Jake moments and you know, more of Dan's jokes.

AND P.S.
I gave 4 stars when I first read it, but when I reread it, I enjoyed the book more. I have this kind of sickness in which I don't mind reading, just finding out what happens in the end. Ha.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

This arc of the 39 Clues series is progressively getting darker. I am honestly not sure if I am liking it. I understand why this is the direction the authors are trying to take the series, but I feel like it is losing sight of the original innocence and fun that comprised the essence of 39 Clues even within all the danger.

Or it could just be me being silly, but whatever. Can't wait for the next book.

[Bhavya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not-so-dear-author,
Why? Seriously, why? Why would you do this? How could you do this? Didn't you know it would hurt, so much!?

Yours Sincerely,
Reader-in-tears

[Estela Corrêa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tadinha da Amy, a bichinha não tem um segundo de paz nessa vida. Finalmente notaram que a vida do Fiske corre perigo, alguém tira ele daquele lugar!!! Eu não aguento mais esse vilão, ainda bem que são só 4 livros dessa vez. Eu sinto falta de mais participação dos outros personagens, mesmo com esse monte de ponto de vista, tá meio repetitivo e parece que nada sai do lugar porque toda hora são os mesmos obstáculos e dificuldades pra eles.

[Briar 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not bad it’s just the same book over and over. I like the little changes in details and some info shared but I wish they’d mix it up a bit. I realize I’m not the target age group but even if I was I know I’d be bored at this point. I still want to see what happens.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was alright. It started to get kinda boring near the end but overall it was good

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trump-Pierce comparisons are eerily prescient.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I said Amy was annoying in the last book, but that doesn't mean I want her to die!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally I like these books because they have a bit of history as well as some adventure. However, they are getting a bit annoying. Amy's actions are so ridiculous that she has become a very annoying character. I also don't like a "good" leader being presented as someone who makes the decisions for the people that work for them. What I mean is her insistence on not allowing Jake and Atticus to decide for themselves if they want to risk their lives for the antidote. She needs to provide them the information and let them make their own decision as to their involvement. She shouldn't try to control them out of fear.

Most of the time the book is fun for all ages but other times it reads too much like a little kids book. One point where this shows up is with Nellie in her disguise as an organic chemist expert. The interaction between her and the suspicious co-worker is implasible. She gets the guy fired because of gnomes and the company responds with an instant promotion to VP. WTF? Its like saying, "you passed your driver's test, congratulations, you're now President of the United States".

the authors have done a good job of making both Dan and Amy protaganists you don't really like anymore. The most interesting characters are Pony and Atticus. The rest of the Cahills are underused.

[Daniel Lauron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good sequel to the previous book. Overall the plot and events of the book were well written and assembled, but there were a few things I particularly liked. First, the situation is very similar to other books in the series as they are trying to find an artifact and are hunted by a group of soldiers. Secondly, the ending was both sad and was too soon of an ending. That doesn't mean the book was bad; I still gave it four stars. I really liked some of the newer characters' role and the tense feeling I got that caused me to continue reading chapter after chapter. The rest of the series wouldn't make sense without it. Even though the ending was (in my opinion) distasteful, it was very dramatic and again forced me to read on. There was one scene that made me gasp, which I will not go into detail in to prevent spoilers. It alone made the book stand out compared to the previous books, because it was completely unexpected and sudden. There were several other scenes that made the book a big success, some of which haven't been used in the series. So, overall, this was a riveting and well written sequel to the rest of the series. This concludes my review on "Countdown". I hope you enjoy the book, and I do suggest reading the entire 39 Clues series.

[Wendy Kuzma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the previous book in this series.

[Kique VT · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books in the series that I read in one day. It’s also one of the most boring and predictable books. Here’s my take on this messy book:

-If you are giving me emo brooding Amy, lean into it. Don’t just give me passive-aggressive Amy and then end it in a nice bow.
-The serum is also suppose to make you super smart and charismatic yet all I see this serum do is turn you into a barbarian. Why wasn’t she able to assess that they might take her brother and pony? How could she not see how that panned out???
-The whole Pony dying was almost inevitable at this point. The series hates non-Cahills surviving the books. The only reason I think Nellie has survived this long is because she is now a damsel in distress in almost every storyline even when she appears to be on top of her shit.
-Following the last statement: Nellie’s chapters were good but they needed more oomf to it. Yes she is not a chemist but she is smart enough to look the part. Also why waste so many chapters on her trying to save Sammy only to become (yet again) the damsel in distress?
-We already knew the hospital Fiske was in was a front. Or did she not recall her taking that key card from the exact same building?
-Them willingly going to a trap is almost ironic. They spent two years being paranoid (they even admitted it multiple times in this book) only to split the party and “hopefully” not fall for a trap.
-them finding out that she is a Sterling should have given us at least one or two Ekat chapters. The books meander and pander too much on the emotional turmoil that is the Cahills without really letting it settle and let it play out. There’s always a very predictable chase scene or an accident waiting to avoid. I like it when there were more kids involved and actually doing things.
-they nerfed Ian so hard he barely functions as a Lucian.
-speaking of trained kids, why is it that Amy and Dan spent years honing their skills (both mental and physical) and yet they continue falling for the same bait. They already know that the paparazzi is Pierce’s weakness why not use it more instead of hiding from them??

I think ultimately having different authors for each book spoils whatever emotional development and growth arc each main character had previously for the sake of the plot. It’s not fair to Amy or Dan and it’s certainly not fair to the readers.

Cannot wait to see how they deux ex-machina out of this mess like in the last arc.

[San To · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the previous book, surprisingly readable for one of the non-main authors. I bet it must have been difficult to pull of, unless the author had been following along the whole time.

Maybe the editors had a new approach after the 2nd half of cahills vs vespers.

SPOILER PART OF THE REVIEW



I think Nellie's arc was my favorite.

I'm starting to get pretty board of Jake.

I don't think Pony's death was spectacle rather than story telling. There was no reinforcement of any themes. Just raising the stakes. The purpose seemed to put the series in a darker, edgier mood, convey helplessness. This probably appeals to demographics who were probably in their mid teens by the time this was released, when the hunger games was huge for that demographic.

For me it's just a pure downer. I'm not against character deaths at all, they can be very good story telling, the 39 clues had this with Irina Spasky. Her death was a downer, but it was also good storytelling. Same with the resort guy. Alistar Oh, Natalie Kabra, Evan Tolliver, it all just seemed like a meat grinder for darker atmosphere in an attempt to appeal to mid-teens who were into things like the Hunger Games at the time. But the Hunger Games was written top to bottom and thematically for deaths like that. The 39 clues were born from a very different place.




post the original arc, I think whatever they had planned out would have worked with the brilliance of the original authors, but with people who may not have even read the previous installments, it just seems ultimately like a hallow downer experience.

I am looking forward to the next two books, which were written by the original authors.

[Chalinviri · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖Cuenta Regresiva📖

Ok, lo más esperado y también... Ay perdón, se un par de libros para acá, de repente esta historia se convirtió en un Fanfic...mucho drama.

Pues siguen buscando los ingredientes, aunque por momentos parecen estar dando de vueltas en círculos

Es como si el libro anterior continuará en estas páginas, Amy super estresada, Dan loco por la tendencia suicida de Amy, pero un riesgo en Guatemala donde casi Dan se nos va, Amy hace uso de su último recurso y no solo rescata a Dan, sino que pone un contador sobre su cabeza y ahora el tiempo es apremiante ya que Amy esta a punto de morir.

Más discusiones, planes y pleitos internos y ahora sumamos la preocupación por Amy, la chica no puede manejar todo este desastre, así que le pasa a Dan la corona de caza de familia... Y eso hace que Dan se trepe por las paredes.

Entonces el. Libro termina con Dan secuestrado, Amy con tiempo de vida límite y un futuro incierto (como toda esta Saga)

Siendo muy sincera, estos libros se pudieron haber resumido y quizá toda esta veintena de libros se pudo haber convertido en como 6 libros para toda la serie.

Enfocándome en este libro...pues es más de lo mismo, quizá lo que cambia es que por fin veo el cariño de Amy y Dan (Aunque se me hizo muy forzado esta demostración) y siempre lo anotó en mis libros, el otro de respaldo Cahill es mi favorito: jona el cariñoso, Hamilton el tierno e Ian... siendo Ian.

Vamos por el último libro de imparable para finalizar esta Saga.

[Kryssy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5**

Only thing i’ve very confused about is that when Isabel took the serum, she dies quickly after. Am i forgetting her being injured or something? Or was it because she used to much power in a little bit of time??

- Lots of clues from a singular recipe in olivia’s journal
- Pilot of their plan jumped. Amy has to take control
- Pierce’s wife was a starling. A cahill!
- coordinate dots related to a game to help find the crystal in the jungle
- Nellie finds a secret lab where sammy is making a formula
- Amy is trying to save dan but not strong enough. Amy remembers the serum… and takes it
- Lost olivia’s book
- Cara competes for her fathers attention
- Amy asks dan to take over as head of family
- Fisk is going crazy. Thinks nellie is grace and warns her of a portal
- Pony died. I still don’t know who he was

I had to listen to the last 30% twice and I still don’t think anything major happened. They are still looking for the antidote ingredients but this time it is to save Amy. So we get a sense of urgency, but it just isn’t written that way

- exclusive: jonah, ian, and pony are on a plane and are being listened to via tapped phone

[Tasnia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the better Unstoppable books so far, however I still find it incomparable to the first series. Standiford did touch more on the feelings between Amy and Dan and Jake, and the tension between Jake and Ian, but like a lot of the book, everything is just straightforward. I understand that the rest of the team are fearful for Amy's death, but following Amy's unreasonable orders with little question...it doesn't seem right. The whole book - and the past few books - are all centered around Amy and her Cahill leadership. That's it. Even with Dan taking the wheel now, I expected something, anything, to be a little different, but he's a carbon copy of the Amy he hated. I miss the old books where Ian and Ham and Jonah had more to say than "Yes, Amy." Although, I'm really happy that Nellie is more involved in the books now, although how she's managed to stay at Trilon Labs that long without knowing basic biochem is beyond me.

[Lara Vehar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential but it was squandered- we get the added drama when Amy drinks the undiluded serum and that adds the countdown to the end of her life making the mission to get that antidote that much more urgent, Nellie has some very interesting chapters but they are short and slapped in between so they get overshadowed by the other chapters and the one interesting person that had a lot of potential - Pony who just got in contact with April May and who seemed to be going somewhere... died a gruesome death like many side characters introduced in these books seem to do. But at least the characters acknowledged his death this time and they mention him much more often than they mention Evan who was much more important and bigger character and is never mentioned again at this point of the books. And I still wasn't a huge fan of the whole relationship drama between Jake and Amy.

[Somnath Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a dip in quality from the previous reads in the series.

It reads mostly like filler content with our heroes dilly dallying about for the most part right up until the final chapters of the book. Even the action sequences are full of text that aims to drag things out instead of providing some study of a conclusion while the chapters alternate between Amy and Dan and Nellie.

It finally does pick up pace towards the end, but by then, the book just ends and there's not a whole lot of information about how things miraculously fall into place.

It also seems to heavily feature Amy for the most part quite like the previous two reads and the inconsistencies in the characters reaches an all time high.

Not really much of an important read. You'll catch the gist of it all when you read the racapitulation in the next book anyway.

[Yukiraking · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd been avoiding this book, since I haven't been enjoying Amy's character arc, but I borrowed the audiobook from the library, and it's due tomorrow so....I couldn't avoid it any longer.

And it turns out I didn't need to avoid it, because it's my favourite in this series so far! I love the way Amy is in this one. There's something reminiscent about the first 39 CLUES series.

The stakes are high, like I like them, and there's a chance that they'll be the highest they've ever been in the next installment. I love seeing the Cahill (and friends) family connecting and working together, and while I still miss some of them, I was glad that there's been some sort of step in the right direction for a couple of them maybe? I don't know, but my fingers are crossed!

[Fatima Sarder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not really sure how this went from a fast paced action-adventure series to a book about a dictatorial teenager who spends most of her waking moments arguing with everybody who cares for her.

Lots of hand holding in the book. Descriptions are repeated and this makes them flat and uninteresting. The best thing about the book is when Dan is forced to take over and he calls in the other Cahills. I miss the rest of the family; Atticus and Jake are cool but imagine how fast the problems would be solved if Amy didn't strong-arm the rest of the family aside and try (and fail) to do everything on her own.

At least they got the riven crystal through hard work and not as some cop-out gift at the end.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very intense read! The clock is literally ticking on how much longer Amy has to live and the gang is rushing to finish collecting the ingredients for the antidote to the serum so they can save Amy's life and stop Pierce from becoming President before it is too late!

I really enjoy reading the books in this series because there is guaranteed to be a lot of thought put into the story and well put together plot twists to entertain the readers.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easiest way is to do a whole series review I think. I loved this quartet! J. Rutherford Pierce was an awesomely evil villain... but would he really be a worse president than Donald Trump? ;) I was floored when April May turned out to be Cara, and again when Cara turned out to be the girl who hoodwinked Ian in Ireland! OMG I was devastated when Pony died though, unfair :( That was harsh. Loved the settings and the hunts for the serum antidote ingredients so, so much.

[Janvi :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am way too shook to think straight of this one......I mean as an occasionally optimistic soul this book has wonder me deeply cause I cannot think of any way in which this is ending well with none dying..... I mean everything is so hopeless I don't see how one book can resolve all that without killing everyone off and I am scared to read the last one now.....and the ending.....HE'S DEAD ! SHE'S DYING ! THEY ARE HOSTAGES AND PROBABLY GOING TO DIE TOO !! How ??! HOW ?!

[Katlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I was not expecting Pony to die. I had read spoilers, but it was so long ago that for some reason I actually thought it was Sammy. I'm sad now. I rather liked Pony. And Amy is dying. She has like four days to live! Of course they will save her. They have to, right? Dan's been kidnapped. This is one of the craziest cliffhangers yet! 4/5