THE GOOD GIRL by Mary Kubica

This novel wowed me. And I don’t believe that just because it was a debut novel it shouldn’t be praised for its merits. Mary Kubica did a great job with this book, and I believe that a lesser hand wouldn’t be able to accomplish what she did here.

     THE GOOD GIRL is alternately narrated by the characters, in a non-constricted timeline, and in spite of that, the book maintained its fast-paced thrill. It was never confusing, nor difficult. In fact, I believe it’s this style that kept me at the edge of my seat all the time. I was pretty hooked from the beginning.

I liked all the characters; they are developed according to their purpose for the story. Sure, there is a weak link, but every story has one, and for me, it did not deter this story in the least. Colin was the most developed character in the story, which was pretty interesting since he is the appointed antagonist. Having said that, Stockholm Syndrome is employed curiously here, because the antagonist is our hero too, and our victim is no ordinary victim.

There is danger in staying here. I know it. She knows it.

But my biggest concern now is not having her with me.

As I said, this is a fast-paced thriller. I admire Kubica for pacing that thrill and withholding the twist until the epilogue. As I get to the end, my anxiety grew stronger. And her simple and unswerving prose made this all the more gripping. I rarely bawled over reading, the last time was The Time Traveler’s Wife, six years ago, until now. This is heartbreaking but complexly satisfying. I listened to the audiobook as well, and it just swept me. It was beautifully done.

The problem with this novel is not its plot, or characters, nor its writing. The problem lies in its promotion. I don’t know where it started, but comparing this with Gone Girl, or quoting this as the “next Gone Girl” is pretty unfair and made the wrong impression/expectation in the reading community. As far as I can tell the similarity of the two books begins and ends with having a missing person in the story. This novel conveys a very different structure and message. As I said from the beginning, this book should be praised for its own merits. 

If you have a taste for suspense, you shouldn’t skip this one.

Book details:

Title:  The Good Girl

Author:  Mary Kubica

Publication:  Blackstone Audio; July 29, 2014 

Genre:  Suspense/Thriller, Fiction

Rating:  ★★★★★

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Book Review | PRETTY BABY by Mary Kubica

July 28, 2015; Mira

A chance encounter sparks an unrelenting web of lies in this stunning new psychological thriller from national bestselling author Mary Kubica.

Instantly, I fell in love with The Good Girl when I read it. Bawled over it when I was done. I was so affected that I soon requested an e-galley of PRETTY BABY just a few days after.

Heidi was consumed by the image of a teenage girl with a baby tucked within her jacket, in the pouring rain, at the L, of all places. When the opportunity struck, she reached out and asked the girl to join her for dinner. Willow was reluctant with strangers and their offer of help, but present circumstances pushed her to accept Heidi’s help, at least for the baby’s sake. From there on, their story spins into a spiral of revelations and bewilderment.

It didn’t take long to figure out I had nowhere to go. People stared at me, and it wasn’t a stare that was kind or concerned, but mean judgmental, uncaring.

Mary Kubica has a proper understanding of psychological tragedies, and it is her strongest point. Second is her confidence in putting them into words. It took me a while longer to finish this, maybe because of the pacing. If you’re like me, then it will probably affect your reading rhythm too. But we have to take into consideration the weight of the book’s premise, which is no simple matter to tackle. So, it is relevant that information was given slowly.

PRETTY BABY may not be as fast-moving as we want, but the shocking revelations are as dynamic as we expect from a Mary Kubica novel. You can avail of your copies by July 28.

Book details:

Title:  Pretty Baby   

Author: Mary Kubica          

Publication: July 28, 2015; Mira

Genre:  Psychological & Suspense

Rating:  ★★★

*Thank you Mira and Netgalley for lending me a copy.

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THE INTUITIONIST by Colson Whitehead

  

The story began in an unnamed noir metropolis; it was simply referred to as the most famous city in the world, but the reader will notice that Whitehead used an allegorical New York. The time setting was never identified too, although we can infer through the mention of black people as colored and that certain car models populate the metro.

THE INTUITIONIST, in general, is about the achievement of vertical expansion through elevators. Passenger elevator was invented by Elisha Graves Otis in the 1850s, who was one of the primary people (then) that helped civilization advance to the modern age. Elevators, after all, made it possible for the erection of high rise buildings and undeniably the dominant symbol of victory in these present times.

At the center of the story is Lila Mae Watson, the first black female Elevator Inspector. She is something of an outsider among her co-workers in the department –she is female, black and an Intuitionist. The Intuitionists practice an intuiting method of inspection, by merely feeling the elevator ride and listening to its movements.  Meanwhile, the opposing Empiricist school graduates use the traditional technical verification of the elevators with instruments and such. In spite of the prejudices, Lila was able to perform professionally and managed to maintain a spotless record.

However, a day after Lila’s inspection of the Fanny Briggs Memorial Building, elevator no.11 went into a complete free fall. Politicians and people from the Elevator Guild were quick enough to jump in and blame Intuitionism. Lila sensed that this incident is more than a mere accident, and it may very well end her career as an inspector. So, she began her own investigation. It didn't take long ‘til Lila was sucked into complicated political squabbles.

In the last few days she has learned how to read, like a slave does, one forbidden word at a time.

As much as the book is about elevators and the discovery of the black box, the perfect elevator, it is Lila Mae Watson that captured my attention. Her willpower and resilience are her best traits, and it was fascinating to follow her investigation. She was a small fry from the beginning of the story with little friends to aide her, but her stubborn resolve to fight both racism and sexism will not budge.

We do not need cities and buildings; it is the fear of the dark that compels us to erect them instinctively, like insects. Perspective is the foot-soldier of relativity. –James Fulton

With its nostalgic sense of the past, Whitehead submerged the readers into a fictional history blended seamlessly that it was easy to suspend which is fact and what is created. It was easy to visualize a civilization that could have been our own. Change and modernization are visible in every direction nowadays, it is not so difficult to be intrigued by Whitehead’s what-if scenarios and thematic elements. This is an enjoyable read; detailed, yet easy on the palate. 

Book details:

Title:  The Intuitionist

Author:  Colson Whitehead

Publication:  Doubleday; 1st edition (December 29, 1998)

Genre:  Speculative Fiction

Rating:   ★★★★

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THE PARIS ENIGMA by Pablo de Santis

     

THE PARIS ENIGMA started off by narrating the back story of Sigmund Salvatrio, a cobbler’s son, who has a great fascination with the renowned detectives and their solved crimes. Purposely, he joined the Buenos Aires Academy opened by Renato Craig, co-founder of The Twelve Detectives (the group of the world’s best private investigators).  When Craig’s best student was killed, both the academy and Craig’s health took a spiral dive.

…during the day we worship syllogisms, but the night belongs to the metaphor.

Only a few days are counting before the grand opening of the Paris World Fair and Eiffel’s Tower in 1889 when Craig sent Salvatrio in his stead.  Upon arrival, Salvatrio was instructed to confidentially give Viktor Arzaky (Craig’s co-founder of The Twelve Detectives) two things. The first one is Craig’s multi-purpose cane, to be showcased as part of the fair; and second is the true details behind Craig’s last solved case.

Gentlemen, though we want to live in glass bubbles, to use pure reason, to interrogate witnesses without ever being interrogated, we are always surrounded by questions, and we answer them –subconsciously, through our actions. Through our investigative methods, we show who we are. It is us and not the poets, who aspire to live in ivory towers, but time and time again we come down to earth, and we reveal, without realizing, our worst secrets.

At first, the Twelve Detectives were cajoled, but when he finally reached the end of his patience  Arzaky mandated them to share tools of their trade to showcase for the fair. Apart from that, they are to congregate and share truth-seeking insights about enigmas. Until real detecting called Arzaky to investigate the murder of one of their colleagues.

But detectives are like artists. In the life of every actor, musician, singer, or writer there is always a moment when they begin to play the role of themselves, and everything that they do in the present is merely a ceremony with which they evoke something from their past. And life becomes, for the artist of the detective, the incessant fine-tuning of their own legend.

The Paris Enigma has a surreal feel to it.  This is not a clear-cut detective story,  not a detective story in the typical sense, more like the art of detection. Every now and then, I was knocked by some thoughtful quote, which I find very intriguing that those have wormed into this genre. This is filled with a digression, too, whenever the detectives share their past cases and theoretical way of looking at enigmas.  And I had some few snooze time while reading, but it’s a decent read with good, flowing translation.

Book details:

Title:  The Paris Enigma

Author:  Pablo de Santis

Publication: 2008, Harper

Genre:  Fiction, Mystery

Rating:  ★★★

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THE OXFORD MURDERS by Guillermo Martínez

A Perfect Crime.

      

Lately, I have these cravings for following clues, exercising curiosity, and making inferences. Few, among other things, those good murder mysteries can cater. Hence, this challenging, but brilliant workout.

We've heard of murder by numbers before, but, perhaps, murder by mathematical theorem is quite unique. It is said that pure Mathematics offers proof of absolute truth. But what if the truth eludes any rational calculations; can it be concluded as a perfect crime?

The perfect crime, he wrote, wasn't one that remained unsolved, but one where the wrong person was blamed.

Two mathematical geniuses, a veteran university professor, and a young post-graduate from Argentina was brought together to solve a series of murders in the university town of Oxford. The murderer left symbols with a timestamp for these geniuses to find. The challenge is to find the next symbol in the series before the killer strikes again.  

I enjoyed this book, despite its digression, here and there, to prove a theory. The story is less ostentatious than it sounds. The author’s prose is very much straightforward, but delectable, nonetheless. Much is left for the readers to speculate, including the protagonists’ motives and character. He drags the readers through divergent possibilities, where logic and convenience is stretched, bringing us closer to the truth, but never quite reaching it. We have to keep guessing until the end.

Book details:

Title:  The Oxford Murders

Author:  Guillermo Martinez

Translator: Sonia Soto

Publication:  Penguin Books; September 6, 2006

Genre:  Fiction, Mystery

Rating:  ★★★★

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The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Once Upon A Time...

I found myself exceedingly engaged by the twist and turns of this book, I was gripped from the first page to the last. I was so intrigued that I could hardly put it down.  The narration was so well-done; the transition between Margaret’s present life and Vida’s past was delivered smoothly, there was no obstruction in the flow of the story. 

"There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic."

Margaret Lea lives in an antiquarian bookshop since she was a babe, now run both by her and her father. It wasn't exactly a happy or exciting life, but a quiet one. Every now and then, she publishes biographies and such. It was more like a hobby than an occupation, really. This explains her big surprise when she received an invitation from one of England’s renowned authors to write the person’s biography.

"I have always been a reader; I have read at every stage of my life and there has never been a time when reading was not my greatest joy."

Vida Winter is a beloved author. She’s a master weaver of stories; her books are all best sellers. People have been vying to know her real story, but none can get to any amount of truth. As part of their agreement, Margaret gets to have 3 truths out from Ms. Winter, things she can investigate for herself. In Angelfield there was talk of madness, scandals and possible ghost sightings –and the only person who holds the truth is reaching the end of her life. As Vida’s secrets were unraveled, Margaret’s own ghost haunted her.

"A good story is always more dazzling than a broken piece of truth."

This book has plenty to offer – beautiful prose, intriguing characters, and a Gothic atmosphere that completes the whole mysterious effect of the story. This is a book for book lovers, the whole book is peppered with meaningful passages. And as all well-written books go, the readers will keep seeking answers as she reads.

"People disappear when they die. Their voice, their laughter, the warmth of their breath. Their flesh. Eventually their bones. All living memory of them ceases. This is both dreadful and natural. Yet for some there is an exception to this annihilation. For in the books they write, they continue to exist. We can rediscover them. Their humour, their tone of voice, their moods. Through the written word, they can anger you or make you happy. They can comfort you. They can perplex you. They can alter you. All this, even though they are dead. Like flies in amber, like corpses frozen in ice, that which according to the laws of nature should pass away is, by the miracle of ink on paper, preserved. It is a kind of magic."

I love this book. It was such a delectable experience. I only wish that I had read it sooner. 

Book details:

Title:  The Thirteenth Tale

Author: Diane Setterfield

Publication: Atria Books

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: ★★★★★

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Book Review | The Medea Complex by Rachel Florence Roberts

A Mother's Crime

   

The book began with Anne Stanbury waking up inside a lunatic asylum. Accused of murdering her own infant son, she was judged unfit to stand trial due to insanity. Dr. George Savage, chief medical officer of Bethlem Royal Hospital, diagnosed Anne to be suffering from Puerperal Mania, a rare psychotic illness suffered by women after giving birth. But there is something much darker than murder and psychosis lurking beyond, inconceivable deceit.

Postpartum Psychosis a topic rarely tackled, and I have to commend Ms. Roberts for her effort and research for her book. The premise is undeniably interesting. The plotting of the story is good; it flows really well, given that the narrative came from multiple points of view.

The story was made interesting further by a well-thought twist, that may have delivered a much bigger punch if given a notable narrative. Regrettably, language and grammar are this book’s failure. Some were quite disagreeable with the setting and period, it almost put me off. But putting that certain quibble aside, I was intrigued by the mystery and the historical background for the story, and I kept turning those pages.

In a nutshell, this is a good debut; possibly, good editing can make better. I will be keeping an eye on Ms. Roberts’s next book for sure.

Book details:

Title: The Medea Complex

Author: Rachel Florence Roberts

Publication: November 13, 2013

Genre: Psychological Thriller / Historical Fiction

Rating: ★★★

*Thank you, Ms. Roberts, for giving me chance to read a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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If On A Winter’s Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino

Anti-Dogmatic

    

This book is comprised of 10 story beginnings, each with its own author, genre, plot and characters -each unfinished and abruptly ends at the apex. Binding the story together is a reader who was drawn to follow each unfinished story in multiple directions.   

I will dare say that this book is didactic. It vividly demonstrates various ways of how a reader should relate to the story. There is an interdependent relationship between reader and writer. The narration slips from ‘I’, to ‘you’, and then to ‘we’, fleshing the reader, the other reader and the writer in different phases.  In short, the reader becomes a character reading stories of different styles, entangling himself in interludes concerned in the quest of satisfying his thirst to finish each unfinished story.

Italo Calvino played with the concept of a non-linear structure, wherein the standard ‘beginnings and endings’ that most literature deals with were pushed aside. He did his utmost best to avoid dogmatism and embraced the bizarre. He completely abandoned the readers’ idea of satisfaction and dragged them to welcome a new concept.

These unending stories were not the problem for me; it was how Calvino pieced them all together.  The reader went through various scenarios and predicaments to get hold of the completed copies of each story.  He went through some of the most absurd situations, unbelievably implausible. If I was reading from a printed copy then, I would have hauled it across the room. I absolutely have no right to tell Calvino how he should have written this book, but I do believe that there is a more elucidating way.

I did my best to comprehend Calvino’s idea of diverse literature, or at least, I think I did, but it wasn't for me. Possibly, there is a coherent way to fully describe this book, since a lot of readers have already given their stellar ratings.  Mine probably sounds more like a mere whining of a disappointed reader.

TFG at 4, F2F at Sweet Spot, Sikatuna Village, QC.
Moderated by our dearest, Dr. Ranee.

Book details:

Title:  If On A Winter’sNight A Traveler

Author:  Italo Calvino

Genre: Metafiction; Speculative Fiction

Rating: ★★

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Book Review | THE EMISSARY by Marc Pietrzykowski

Sad Architecture

March 2014
Pski's Porch Publishing

It’s a common fact that old people love telling their stories, and Cameron Wright is more than ready to accommodate them –recording, painstakingly drafting the animations, and uploading them on YouTube. But there is a story older than Elder Grove, and it’s killing everyone.

That’s the only thing truly delightful about you, the way you make everything out of stories, yourselves, your buildings, your world, all from stories.

THE EMISSARY was an experience for me, to begin with.  I've read plenty of mystery novels before, but this is the first I've read it happening in a nursing home. I’m pretty sure death is a common thing to happen in such a place, but when mortality rate is way more than average, it’s highly suspicious. Who-did-it was not exactly the question, it was easy enough to deduce. It’s the “why” I wanted to unravel.

The plot is more on the eccentric side, but definitely readable and easy to follow. There were only a handful of characters to move around and they were all uniquely fleshed out. So, the beginning may be a bit slow, but when the murders start to happen it would be a breeze then.

The theme held more than just the queer elderly living in a nursing home, or the mysterious murders. There’s something a lot deeper, whether it is about life or entirely about death, that only the intended reader will come away with. Marc Pietrzykowski made sure that the telling is witty and humorous. I hope readers will find their copies soon.

Marc, thank you for sending me a copy, and Godspeed on the launch party.

Book details:

Title:  The Emissary

Author: Marc Pietrzykowski

Publisher:  Pski's Porch Publishing

Publication: March 2014

Genre:  Fiction

Source:  Author

Rating: ★★★★

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MARINA by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

En El Ático Del Alma

   MARINA is the only stand-alone novel written by Zafón, so far.  If I am to guess, this novel is a nod to Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. Followers of Zafón’s works will also discern immediately that this novel set the bridge for his renowned trilogy, The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. The similarities are not only with the setting but with the plot and personalities of each character. The premise was set in haunted Barcelona and told from an endearing character that readers will have no difficulty attaching themselves to. The plot is both dark and good; two love stories set in different time frames that will inevitably merge together, to be painted in gloom and pain. That must have sounded redundant, but that's what I did expect from a Zafón novel.

"Artists live in the future or in the past, rarely in the present."

The story was told by a young man living in a boarding school, away from parents who, of course, doesn't want to be bothered with the rudiments of raising a child. On one of his aimless roaming of Barcelona, he found himself in a predicament that only friendship can straighten. A friendship marked for a lifetime.

"Sometimes the things that are most real only happen in one’s imagination. We only remember what never really happened. "

The other thing, and I guess the most important reason, I've always enjoyed Zafón is because of the language. Such descriptive eloquence is simply divine and magical, even though the topic was both Gothic and gory. Since I give Zafón praises for that, I believe some credit must go to Lucia Graves for doing a marvelous translation, not only with Marina but to all of Zafon’s work.

This book is the last in my Zafón collection. I hope he writes soon because I don’t want to miss him too long.

Book details:

Title: Marina

Author:  Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Publisher:  Text Publishing Melbourne Australia

Publication:  September 25, 2013

Genre:  Literature & Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers

Rating:  ★★★★

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THE MIST TRILOGY by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

  

Ghosts of the Past

Carlos Ruiz Zafón is one of my favorite authors. I've read The Cemetery of Forgotten Books 1-3, and The Prisoner of Heaven turned out to be my best read in 2012. So, I decided to give his earlier trilogy a try too.

***

The Prince of Mist

It was the summer of 1943, the Carver family moved to a small coastal village to escape the imminent war. From the moment they entered their new home, a different kind of war is waiting for them. It didn't take long for them to settle down when Irina had her baffling accident and hospitalized. Both Max and his sister Alicia were left to their own devices for a few days, while their parents look after Irina.

I want to say that the mystery started with the cat that Irina insisted to take home with them or Max’s discovery of the sinister walled garden beyond their property, or with the symbol of a six-pointed star within a circle that prompted Max, Alicia, and Roland to seek out answers, but, of course, the mystery started a long time ago with the Prince of Mist and his deathly desire to claim his end of the bargain.

"In an infinite universe, there were too many things that are out of hand and human understanding."

This is a horrifyingly descriptive story that made my skin crawl. Zafon’s creepy characterization of the Prince of Mist really captured my attention.

Rating: ★★★★

The Midnight Palace

For years, the Midnight Palace had been both a sanctuary and a secret of the Chowbar Society. To enter, one must share a story, precious enough for the society to keep it secret.  The group upholds two objectives. The first one is to help, protect, and support one another in times of adversities. The second is to share all the knowledge they acquired to equip themselves when they are sent out to face the world alone as adults. This summer, May 1932, the society is meeting for the last time, for in a few days they are officially adults.

Growing up in St. Patrick’s Orphanage in Culcutta, members of the Chowbar Society have no memories of their past or families, yet they are determined to make a future for themselves. Unbeknownst to them, though, a dark past is slowly creeping up on them, memories of lies and death, and it is threatening to kill again. Revenge of 16 years in the making.

“Delving into the past had unveiled a cruel lesson - that in the book of life it is perhaps best not to turn back pages; it was a path on which, whatever direction we took, we'd never be able to choose our own destiny.”

The story was narrated by Ian, a member of the Chowbar Society. It was a story that they swore never to forget. The Midnight Palace is a tragic tale of friendship and family. For the price of peace, the living must make a sacrifice and stop the ghost of the past in seeking its revenge.

Rating: ★★★★

The Watcher in the Shadows

After the demise of Armand Sauvelle, his family was left in destitute; debtors have seized their assets one after the other. Following the year of darkness, a grand offer was given to Simone as a housekeeper for the palatial home of Lazarus Jann, a famous toymaker. Along with the offer is a house perched on a headland, the Seaview.  In June 1937, Simone Sauvelle with her children, Irene and Dorian, moved into the small fishing village of Blue Bay, Normandy.

The family slipped easily enough into the village life until one of Lazarus’s servants was found dead in the woods surrounding his residence, Cravenmoore. The Sauvelles unwittingly entangled themselves into an evil secret that watches from the shadows.

Again, you can call me a coward, but this made the hairs on my nape stand up and sent goosebumps all over me. Maybe it was the ominous atmosphere and description of the Cravenmoore, and the ever-presence of the life-like automatons that populate inside. Nevertheless, this is my favorite of the three. After this tragic tale, a love story is waiting to happen.

“Ever since that dream I've known that one day, no matter when, our moment would come. That in some distant place the September lights would shine again for us and this time there would be no more shadows crossing our path. This time it would be forever.”

Rating: ★★★★★

***

Although these books were forged as a trilogy, each story is independent of the other. The author definitely is consistent with the theme, though. You will notice that all books were set in the summer, near a body of water, and each involves a person with mechanical skills. Since these were Zafón’s first books, the progression of his writing prowess is hard to miss. And like the rest of his books, this series will capture your imagination. Each summer is so vivid -his prose will transport you there and know that the story is happening around you.

These are books that teens will certainly enjoy with its mystery, adventure, and Gothic undertones; but Zafón’s skill in creating eerie stories and meshing together wonderful prose means this trilogy may be enjoyed by people of all ages. I highly recommend these books.

Book details:
Title: The Prince of Mist, The Midnight Palace, The Watcher in the Shadows
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Translator: Lucia Graves
Publisher: Little, Brown
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

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THE NATURALS by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

YA Criminal Minds 

I have to let the gushing out first… I totally love this book.  This here is my favorite YA mystery/ thriller/ crime story of the year.  Don't worry, that surprised me too.  As you know I love a good mystery thriller- after reading a lot in that genre, and watching plenty of CSI, The Mentalist, Criminal Minds, and Sherlock -I have to say that this just took me by surprise. 

The surprise wasn't just the twist at the end, it was the characters foremost.  I love how Cassie was characterized.  Cassie is a natural profiler.  She can look at a person- clothes, stance, facial expression, eye contact - and tell exactly what kind of a person he/she is.  She’s not the well rounded good girl or a heart-of-gold kind of character.  She’s a regular kid with troubles hanging on her shoulder, and plenty of attitudes going on.  She was brought up in a rather felonious environment.  Being a fake fortune teller, Cassie’s mother used her to profile people while they line up for fortune-telling.   Then one day, her mother was assumed dead; her blood was splattered around her dressing room, although her body was never found.

For some reason, the FBI knew about Cassie’s ability.  A quick turn of events landed her under an FBI program for gifted teens just like her.  All these teens are uniquely gifted with different profiling specializations.  I have to say that Barnes is pretty brave casting an ensemble like this, but I believe, too, that she knows the trick.  I like how their characters were developed to support the whole story, making it a whole mesh of interlocking contribution.  It just felt like omitting someone means leaving a hole in the story.

“And the one thing this so-called psychic won't see coming is you.”

I also love how the narration transports you into the mind of the killer, and in spite of that, the story kept me guessing until the end.  Nothing was squeamish too - crimes were laid out as any crimes should be.  The brutality of the crimes will pull in any reader. It was futile to look away.  And that’s one of the best characteristics of this book.

This is a really good start for a series –good plot, unique characters, and an unpredictable twist.  What worries me is the love triangle involved here; it seems to me that almost every YA series operates on that.  But then again, if Barnes can work that to her advantage, so be it. I just truly hope that she can keep the thrill and the pace intact in this series.  So, here I am crossing my fingers and wishing her Godspeed.

Book details: 

Title:  The Naturals
Series:  The Naturals #1

Author:  Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Published:  November 5, 2013

Genre:  YA, Mystery/ Thriller/ Crime

Source: Purchased

Rating:  ★★★★★

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