The Naturals #3 All In

Presenting The Naturals #3 All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Here is the summary of the book:

Three casinos. Three bodies. Three days.

After a string of brutal murders in Las Vegas, Cassie Hobbes and the Naturals are called in to investigate. But even with the team's unique profiling talents, these murders seem baffling: unlike many serial killers, this one uses different methods every time. All of the victims were killed in public, yet the killer does not show up on any tape. And each victim has a string of numbers tattooed on their wrist. Hidden in the numbers is a code—and the closer the Naturals come to unraveling the mystery, the more perilous the case becomes.

Meanwhile, Cassie is dealing with an equally dangerous and much more painful mystery. For the first time in years, there's been a break in her mother's case. As personal issues and tensions between the team mount, Cassie and the Naturals will be faced with impossible odds—and impossible choices.

REVIEW == (There may be spoilers)

Just when you think you know everything in the crime drama genre, something comes along and surprises you big time. Truly brilliant. All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the third book in the Naturals series and by GOD the first 2 books sound like test runs for the big round .... aka this third one.

Barnes does a good job of keeping the mysteries tight and bound only letting them out slowly as the plot necessitates, resulting in us turning the pages to get to the results. Because the mystery and te reveals are a prospect too tantalizing to be left alone by themselves. Not only that the prospects are too high. This time it is not only about catching the killer because there is an evil cult of murderers running in the background. Pulling the strings.

Cassie, Michael, Dean, Lia and Sloanne have come a long way from who and how they were in the first book. The apparent character development throughout the series is definitely its highlight. From Cold cases to active cases and getting to know each other and forming relationships. The 5 are a close knit family now. Individually they each are outcasts in their spheres with a closet full of secrets and skeletons but together .... Wow they are a well fit family unit. If one of them are in trouble the others race to help.

'All In' like the first two books share some space to look at the background of the main characters. It is a theme followed from the first book and this time it is Sloanne's turn. The psycho killer is a continued creeping presence as we readers advance through the pages. Exerting their presence to all alike. And then the surprise reveal of the cult of methodical murderers and how Cassie's mother's murder and Judd's own past connects to them lot.

It is a phenomenal series where every subsequent book improves on its predecessors. It also tells of the author's caliber as they strive hard to make it so. 'The Naturals', 'Killer Instinct' and now 'All In' are perfect examples of solid literature. Very well done Jennifer Lynn Barnes .... MY GOD! That reveal was unexpected. I'm eager for the next one now!!

"Jaw-dropping, breathless and a wholesome experience"

Genre :      Young Adult, Criminal Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: 3rd November, 2015

My Copy: bought (ebook)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books in the series (review links):
                #1 The Naturals 
                #2 Killer Instinct

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Naturals #2 Killer Instinct

Presenting The Naturals #2 Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Here is the summary of the book:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Hobbes has a gift for profiling people. Her talent has landed her a spot in an elite FBI program for teens with innate crime-solving abilities, and into some harrowing situations. After barely escaping a confrontation with an unbalanced killer obsessed with her mother’s murder, Cassie hopes she and the rest of the team can stick to solving cold cases from a distance.

But when victims of a brutal new serial killer start turning up, the Naturals are pulled into an active case that strikes too close to home: the killer is a perfect copycat of Dean’s incarcerated father—a man he’d do anything to forget. Forced deeper into a murderer’s psyche than ever before, will the Naturals be able to outsmart the enigmatic killer’s brutal mind games before this copycat twists them into his web for good?

With her trademark wit, brilliant plotting, and twists that no one will see coming, Jennifer Lynn Barnes will keep readers on the edge of their seats (and looking over their shoulders) as they race through the pages of this thrilling novel.

Intriguingly mysterious, serial murders and the trill of the chase. Killer Instinct is the sequel to 'The Naturals' and it does not disappoint. Cassie, Lia, Sloanne, Michael and Dean are back and this time they are interfering in an active murder case. Add in a fast-paced plot, darkest of the dark secrets, the proverbial skeletons in the closet and sweet sweet romance and what you get is a sequel that more than most outdoes the first book.

The apparent character development is the most striking. We saw and loved them in book 1 and the same can be said for book 2 as well. We appreciate Cassie's loyalty. Her drive to put perps behind bars. She is a profiler and 'Killer Instinct' sees her getting more comfortable with her abilities. We see what lies under the all the numbers in Sloanne's head. Why Lia is loyal to Dean and who Michael really is under that easy smile. He cares in his own way.

Dean on the other hand saw the most development of them all. As his serial killer father continues to haunt him from behind bars. We see what makes him so closed off and hearts go out to his plight.But this case forces him to open up and deal with the situation head on, and we appreciate him more for that. Of course, romance plays a big part in this. It is surely moving forward but thankfully without exerting too much pressure on the plot.

Daniel Redding also serves a mention. There is nothing about him that is good. He is as horrible as they come. Even more so. And delights in mind games & manipulations. He may be behind bars but he knows what strings to pull and make a person tick. Agent Sterling, at first came across as a stuck-up snob. But throughout the ordeal and dealing with the 5 loosened her and we came to see her as who she truly was, what her past with Dean entailed and appreciated her more.

A fast paced plot. Marvelous writing. A murder mystery that will keep you guessing till the very end bringing you the very edge of your seats. There is not one moment here that would bore you. Great work Jennifer Lynn Barnes. If you love a good YA mystery thriller then this is for you. Highly recommended.

"Intriguingly mysterious & riveting and the Naturals are more than up for the task"

Genre :      Young Adult, Criminal Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: 4th November, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books in the series (review links):
                #1 The Naturals 

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Naturals

HAPPY RELEASE DAY! Once in a while you get to see intelligent thrillers like this. Forgive me the review might sound disjointed, i'm still heart-broken with Allegiant and on top of that writing the review for an amazing book like this is hard enough as it is..... Presenting The naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Here is the summary of the book:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

Honestly the only other book of Jennifer Lynn Barnes I had read was 'Every Other Day' and I didn't like it that much..... But this is definitely an amazing read. An intelligent, descriptive YA thriller and I know it just released 'today' but i'm already scrambling for the sequel.

Cassie Hobbes was the perfect protagonist. She is far from perfect, naive yes but she knows at first glance who she can trust and who she can't/ Her ability of 'natural' profiler. Now that is an interesting ability, just looking at the person she can dictate their life history. Made me remember Sherlock Holmes a lot..... It was impressive enough but I daresay regular people may find it insulting if their personnel history is being recited by a stranger.

Then there were the other inmates of the house. Michael, Dean, Lia and Sloanne. All of them have their own 'natural' abilities. Michael can read emotions, Lia is a lie detector, Dean is a profiler like Cassie and Sloanne is a walking encyclopedia..... Just saying, living in a house with them, things can definitely never be boring.

And then there were two. The two love interests. Michael is the sarcastic emotions reader and he knows how best to use his abilities to the full. Dean, the broody who keeps her at arms length. But it were the interactions that mattered. The interactions of Cassie, Michael and Dean totally made the highlight of the book. It is a love triangle, i know and i hate their kind but here they played a very subtle role and the main focus was the murder mystery..... so yes the build-up was very well set.

The naturals was definitely a well written book. the crime, the cold cases, the human emotions, and the mystery of the homicides and coupled together with great characters, each in their messed up way bringing something new to this book. It takes great skill to write a criminal mystery like this and put in enough detail to make it seem real. Kudos Jennifer Lynn Barnes..... And i'll repeat i'm totally eager for the sequel.

"Incredibly magnificent and an intelligently descriptive YA mystery/thriller"

Genre :      Young Adult, Criminal Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: 5th November, 2013

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Every Other Day

Presenting Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Here is the summary of the book:

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human. And then every day in between . . . She's something else entirely. Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism. When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by
one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends.

This is one of those books that are also good as well as bad. Every Other Day is a paranormal-alternate universe-ish standalone novel. Kali D'Angelo, a loner but a bad-ass. She lives in a world where hellhounds and the other creatures of the paranormal world once thought to be a myth or extinct are alive and declared endangered by the government. But Kali's hunter instincts or her other half doesn't agree and in the in between time every day she changes into this being who lusts for the kill and the thrill of the blood. But now she is in danger and may have to change her views about the world to survive this ordeal.

Every other Day is a standalone book, every page spewing non-stop killer action, and the mysteries of the past but a fat load of info dump too. Yes, that's just about it. The only problem I had with this book was the huge info dump. This is one that should have been made as a series and the info dumped on us layered out bit by bit over the duration of the book. Also while the course of the book transitions well over the chapters and Kali is a perfect protagonist, I had a little trouble getting into the book. But maybe you all will feel differently when you read it.

"A modern Buffy - a badass hunter"

Genre :       Young Adult,Paranormal


Publisher: EgmontUSA


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)