Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct
(The Naturals #2)
Jennifer Lynn Barnes

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1423168324
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of publication: November 4, 2014
Age: Grades 8 and up
Genre: Mystery

Themes: serial killers, criminal profiling, FBI, psychology, copycat killer, torture

Cassie and the rest of the Naturals—teens with innate criminal-profiling abilities working for the FBI—should just be working on cold cases. But there's a new case: the FBI is facing a brutal murderer mimicking the work of Dean's incarcerated father, Daniel Redding. Even though Dean wants nothing to do with the man, there seems no other way to solve the case than to interrogate the former serial killer. The team must work past Redding's mind games and enigmatic Q&As to discover the identity of his "student"—before he strikes again.

Riveting, suspenseful, unpredictable. It's all there. Some may complain that the whole basis of the story (teens working for the FBI) is unbelievable. But honestly, that doesn't matter. What matters is the amazing ability Barnes has to tell a story about a psychotic serial killers. She can put you in their heads—give their perspective—with expert ability (she does have a PhD in Psychology). And it's totally terrifying. Even if it is teens doing the profiling in this story, the process of solving the case is in no way toned down. This book will keep you on your toes until the very end. Highly recommended.

And just so you know: even though it is about teens and written for teens, it is still a very brutal serial killer who kills in rather graphic ways. So no sex or language, but you want to keep that in mind.

Read my review for Book 1.

Pre-order now on Amazon!
...or wait on the hold's list at your library

(Digital ARC provided through NetGalley)

The Naturals

The Naturals
(The Naturals #1)
Jennifer Lynn Barnes

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9781423168232
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of publication: November 5, 2014
Age: Grades 7 and up
Genre: Mystery

Themes: serial killers, FBI, criminal psychology, murder, identity

Cassie is pretty good at reading people, piecing together tiny details to create a picture of their lives. It turns out, however, that this skill has led the FBI to peg her as a Natural. Naturals are teenagers with skills in criminal psychology, unpolluted by formal education. Cassie finds herself recruited as a Profiler and is starts working with a group of other teens to solve cold cases. What she doesn't realize is that the FBI's current case will test all of her skills as a serial killer makes her the next target.

First of all, I already really enjoyed watching murder/detective shows, Criminal Minds and Lie To Me being some of my favorites. So this book, which is kind of like one giant Criminal Minds episode, was already a winner in my mind. Barnes NAILED it: super suspenseful, unpredictable, and she has the creepy ability to get you inside the psycho serial killer's head (she DOES have a PhD in psychology...). Of course, there's no way the FBI would actually hire teenagers. But hey, the rest of it is believable. The story wrapped up nicely while still leaving you wanting more. There are more mysteries left unsolved, after all. Recommended for sure.

It is all about teens, for teens, but it is nothing-held-back gruesome serial killer. So while no bad language or sex, you may want to take that into consideration

Find it at your library or on Amazon