4/5 StarsTitle: The Naturals
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: November 5, 2013
Goodreads ♥ Amazon
Review:
I think I’m on a weird kick because the last few books I’ve finished have reminded me a lot of different TV shows. First it was Tandem and Fringe and now it is The Naturals and Criminal Minds. Luckily, this comparison was a good one and I ended up really enjoying The Naturals.
Cassie’s Mom was a ‘psychic’ who was murdered when Cassie was a kid. Following her mom’s death Cassie was sent to live with her paternal grandparents in lieu of her father who is in the military traveling. Cassie is a natural profiler and early in the novel she gets recruited to an FBI program called The Naturals.
In the program there are 4 other teens each with their own unique talents and personalities. Lia is a natural lie detector and lie teller, Sloane is a numbers and statistics whiz, Michael who can read emotions, and Dean who is a profiler like Cassie. I enjoyed the give and take, between Cassie and each of these characters. I saw a lot of growth from Cassie as she gets to know each of them.
The biggest qualm I had with this novel was the shoddily executed, ever cliché, love triangle between Cassie, Michael, and Dean. Michael is outgoing, and hits on Cassie right from the start. Then there is Dean who plays the brooding ‘I’m not interested because I have had a troubled past’ bad boy. There was enough going on in this novel that this clichéd loved triangle was rather unnecessary.
My favorite thing was definitely the mystery surrounding Cassie’s mother and the string of serial murders that are occurring around the group. This portion of the story was very criminal-minds-esque, and it made the last half of the book fly by. I didn’t want to stop reading until I had figured out who the killer was and I wasn’t really sure who it might be right up until the end. I will say the crime solving was a bit rudimentary but this fact didn’t take away from the story or mystery.
Overall, The Naturals was a quick and addictive read. It had that old timey dime store novel feel mixed with the TV show criminal minds. It was a combination that had me rapidly turning pages, and loving every second of it.
Thank you Disney-Hyperion and Netgalley for providing an advanced reader’s copy of this novel for review.
I was looking forward to this book but the love triangle is just something I can't tolerate no matter how well done. Sigh. Skipping this one, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Emily!
I really, really liked this book! I didn't mind the love triangle, but I'm interested to see where it goes in the second book. And gosh, that last half--I did NOT want to put the book down until I finished! I kept second guessing myself and was right then wrong and back and forth. Great review!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed this one! I really like the writing style of Jennifer. So eager to get my hands on this book. It sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteDon't like triangles; good to know
ReplyDeleteI love Criminal Minds! It would totally make a great premise for a book series, although I could do without the love triangle. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this, I've seen a lot of positive reviews. It's so great that the mystery part kept you guessing right up until the end. When it comes to love triangles, if I didn't read a book because it had a love triangle in it, I probably wouldn't be reading that many books these days! :) So that doesn't bother me, I almost expect it. Great review! ~Pam
ReplyDeleteThat love-triangle sounds disappointing. I'm kind of tired of love-triangles, but done well, they can be interesting. Criminal mind stuff sounds right up my alley, though. ;) I can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDelete(Stopping by from YA Romantics review link up!)
This reminded me of criminal minds too! Glad you enjoyed it :)
ReplyDelete