The Naturals review

The Naturals
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
November 7th 2013

Cassie Hobbes is not like most teenagers. Most teenagers don’t lose their mother in a bloody, unsolved kidnapping. Most teenagers can’t tell who you are, where you’re from and how you’re likely to behave within moments of meeting you. And most teenagers don’t get chosen to join The Naturals.

Identified by the FBI as uniquely gifted, Cassie is recruited to an elite school where a small number of teens are trained to hone their exceptional abilites.For Cassie, trying to make friends with the girls, and to figure out the two very different, very hot boys, is challenging enough. But when a serial killer begins recreating the details of her mother’s horrific crime scene, she realises just how dangerous life in The Naturals could be...

I really enjoyed The Naturals. It was like reading a YA version of Criminal Minds, and I love Criminal Minds, so, there's really no way to go wrong there. Plus it was a nice sort of twist to have on the typical thriller, and I'm really looking forward to seeing where the series will go. It kind of reminds me of The Body Finder, only these people have talents that are real and can actually be explained, I guess? Yeah.

I really liked Cassie, and I thought that the way the plot was heavily involved with her mum's murder and her past was great. Usually, I don't expect things to get personal until the second or third book, so it really raised the stakes a lot. I am curious as to how much worse the next few books are going to get though (like, how much worse the situations will get). It will be interesting, that's for sure. I also thought Cassie was really great, and and I liked the fact that even though she kind of was a loner before she joined the naturals, because of her ability and because of her past, she still really loved her family and found her place among the naturals. I like it when people find their place. It's nice.

I also thought that the whole idea behind the book - of the FBI having a bunch of teenagers who already have the skills that it takes FBI agents years to learn and who are training them up. It's unrealistic, for sure, but that's not really important. It's also a lot of fun, and the fact that Cassie is a profiler is what makes it so Criminal Minds (seriously, I LOVE Criminal Minds). I think that it was actually pulled off pretty well as well,  and it kind of felt like a little mish mash between the Body Finder and the Gallagher Girls only not like that at all. But a bunch of weirdly talented teenagers living in a house together + MURDER is always going to be a fun combination (IN BOOKS.)

I thought the plot was really good too. I could not put the book down. I literally read it in one sitting, which rarely ever happens with me. And it kept me guessing right up until the final revelation, too, plus I think that the way it all worked out was surprising and not too far fetched, which is always a concern with thrillers and stuff. You know the type where it turns out the killer was that one guy which there was never any clues about or anything and you're just like REALLY? REALLY?! I hate that so much. Plus I really liked all the other guys who lived with Cassie and I'm looking forward to finding out more about them. And luckily I didn't think the love triangle was too annoying, so!

The Naturals was a fun, thrilling read and the first book in what I am sure will be a great series, and I am really looking forward to seeing where the series will go next.