The Naturals ((The Naturals #1)) Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
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. Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms close. 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. Think The Mentalist meets Pretty Little Liars-Jennifer Lynn Barnes's The Naturals is a gripping psychological thriller with killer appeal, a to-die-for romance, and the bones of a gritty and compelling new series. Praise for The Naturals "The Naturals is Criminal Minds for the YA world, and I loved every page." -New York Times best-selling author Ally Carter* "[A] tightly paced suspense novel that will keep readers up until the wee hours to finish." -VOYA (starred review)"This savvy thriller grabs readers right away." -Kirkus Reviews"It's a stay-up-late-to-finish kind of book, and it doesn't disappoint." -Publishers Weekly"In this high-adrenaline series opener...even a psychic won't anticipate all the twists and turns." -Booklist
Lexile Measure: 690 (What's this?)
Series: The Naturals
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion; Reprint edition (October 7, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423168313
ISBN-13: 978-1423168317
Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (183 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #34,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #35 in Books > Teens > Mysteries & Thrillers > Law & Crime #71 in Books > Teens > Mysteries & Thrillers > Romantic #79 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Mystery & Thriller
Grade Level: 9 and up
I was very interested by the blurb of this book but I wasn't sure I wanted to read this because the author's Raised by Wolves was a book that I hadn't managed to finish . After reading this book , I'm seriously considering giving that series another shot (I had read like four chapters I think) . The Naturals was such an interesting book that I'm dying to get my hands on the sequel!The Naturals is a mix of sci-fi, paranormal,mystery and crime fiction. If you love mysteries and crime I would suggest you just get this book already .It's been a long time since I read a young adult crime fiction novel and I wasn't even sure such a genre existed in YA (I usually just read Agatha Christie if I need some mystery and crime ) . Thank you , Jennifer Lynn Barnes for writing such a novel.Something that I really liked is that I'm not 100% sure if the 'abilities' are a genetic mutation or a paranormal thing. The fact that some people are naturally gifted at some things was very realistic.This made the story more believable and left things to explore in the sequel at the same time.The concept of naturals and all the secondary characters were very interesting as well.Cassie is a character I really liked. It's easy to relate to her and she's the rare female protagonist that doesn't get on your nerves. She's courageous,smart and not ridiculously naive.The male protagonists in the novel are the weakest link. There wasn't enough character development for the same. There is a love triangle but I barely paid any attention to it because I was so engrossed in the criminal storyline The romance was like white noise to me and mostly I just ignored it.I'm not saying that the characters were annoying or that the love triangle-ish situation was bad but it just wasn't as interesting as the rest of the novel.Overall, this was a novel that I didn't want to put down and I for one am eagerly awaiting the sequel.My Rating:4 /5
The Naturals is centered around Cassie, one of five "Naturals," who are being trained in some sort of FBI paranormal program. These gifted teens become involved in the hunt for a serial killer, and the danger comes a little close to home.This is very much a plot-driven novel. If you like a whodunit mystery with a CSI flare, and are not opposed to murder and the morbidity around looking for a serial killer, then this is right up your alley. We get in-depth insight into how a killer's mind works and all the angles investigators must look into to solve crimes. The author kept me guessing the entire time who the serial killer was, how they were going to uncover said serial killer, and what the body count would be (and if it would contain any of my new gifted friends). I honestly did not figure everything out and the ending was a complete surprise. Props to the author for a job well done there. I can usually figure things out, and like that I got stumped.There was, however, a lack in character development. I didn't feel deeply connected with the characters, and they felt a bit clinical at times. I did like that they had these unique talents and could see the promise of them working as a team. I just didn't connect with them at an emotional level I'd hoped for, even when the plot took us to very sad or horrific circumstances. Whether this was intentional by the author or not, as the characters are supposed to have some mystery about them, I don't know. But regardless, it did affect my feelings toward the characters. I'd like to get to know them better in future books.The start of this new series is very promising. And there is no cliffhanger, just a set up for more books. So if you like a mysterious, whodunit, thriller with paranormal elements, serial killers, and prospective love interests, then this could be the one for you.
For those of you who read my reviews, you know that I'm a huge fan of mystery/thriller novels. Especially those that can confuse me and thrown in twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end. This book definitely satisfied all of those expectations and then some. The characters are interesting - especially Cassie and the other Naturals that are in the program with her. They all have unique personalities to go along with their interesting natural gifts. Cassie's character is the leading lady, so we get a closer look at her than the others. She's smart, talented, wary of others, and still grieving the death of her mother. She feels like she hasn't fit in anywhere since her mom died - until joining the Naturals program.There's a bit of a love triangle factor in the book, but I didn't think it was overwhelming and it didn't snatch attention away from the main plot of the book. The plot was fantastic - it's centered around a secret FBI program for teens who are gifted or Naturals at certain specific talents. Talents that, when honed, will help the FBI solve cold cases of serial killers. Things start out creepy as we get a glimpse into the mind of a murderer, who writes in snippets under the name YOU. I was a bit confused at first with this strange second point of view, but once the story got going and you learn more about the characters and the plot, it makes a lot of sense (in a totally freaky way). The story was fresh and original with a fast pace and a great flow that immediately had me hooked from the beginning. The mystery was incredibly well written with lots of thrills and tons of unexpected twists and turns that kept the characters - and myself - guessing until the very end. I definitely got sucked into the book and ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting because I just couldn't stop. It's definitely one of the best books I've read so far this year! Very highly recommended for fans of mysteries and thrillers!
The Naturals ((The Naturals #1))
