Literature & Fiction
![Jennifer Lynn Barnes - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001IU4QME.jpg)
The Naturals (The Naturals, 1)
Jennifer Lynn Barnes, #1 bestselling author of The Inheritance Games, delivers an exhilarating mystery-perfect for fans of Criminal Minds and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
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.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes's The Naturals is a gripping novel with killer appeal and a to-die-for romance. Don't miss the other books in the Naturals series: Killer Instinct, All In, and Bad Blood.
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.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes's The Naturals is a gripping novel with killer appeal and a to-die-for romance. Don't miss the other books in the Naturals series: Killer Instinct, All In, and Bad Blood.
Editorial Reviews
"The Naturals is Criminal Minds for the YA world, and I loved every page." -New York Times bestselling 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
Praise for The Inheritance Games:
A New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
A GoodReads Choice Awards Finalist
A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
An Amazon Top 100 Book
"Barnes is a master of puzzles and plot twists. The Inheritance Games was the most fun I've had all year."
―E. Lockhart, bestselling author of We Were Liars and Again Again
"A thrilling blend of family secrets, illicit romance and high-stakes treasure hunt, set in the mysterious world of Texas billionaires. The nonstop twists kept me guessing until the very last page!"―Katharine McGee, New York Times bestselling author of American Royals
"Impossible to put down."―Buzzfeed
* "Part The Westing Game, part We Were Liars, completely entertaining."―Kirkus, starred review
* "This strong, Knives Out-esque series opener...provides ample enjoyment."―Publishers Weekly, starred r...
* "[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
Praise for The Inheritance Games:
A New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
A GoodReads Choice Awards Finalist
A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
An Amazon Top 100 Book
"Barnes is a master of puzzles and plot twists. The Inheritance Games was the most fun I've had all year."
―E. Lockhart, bestselling author of We Were Liars and Again Again
"A thrilling blend of family secrets, illicit romance and high-stakes treasure hunt, set in the mysterious world of Texas billionaires. The nonstop twists kept me guessing until the very last page!"―Katharine McGee, New York Times bestselling author of American Royals
"Impossible to put down."―Buzzfeed
* "Part The Westing Game, part We Were Liars, completely entertaining."―Kirkus, starred review
* "This strong, Knives Out-esque series opener...provides ample enjoyment."―Publishers Weekly, starred r...
Readers Top Reviews
The BilyardsAll S
This book is full of great drama. It feels like watching a Criminal Minds episode. The triangle didn't make a lot of sense to me, but it is subtle and didnt take away from the story. This was the first book I ever read by her; after I finished this one, I immediately started to read more books by her. I have enjoyed everything I have since read by Ms. Barnes. She has not disappointed!
MrshagridThe Bily
This was a well-written novel that I would never give to a middle schooler. It was intense and graphic enough that I would reserve it for an upper high school/adult audience. I found the story riveting with a conclusion that totally surprised me. Barnes is a very talented writter.
OpheliasOwnMrshag
Nothing is more terrifying than a serial killer hunting in your back yard. Well, maybe a horde of zombies, but one is more likely than the other. In Jennifer Lynn Barnes' first book of a new series, The Naturals, she explores the desperation of the FBI to catch these brutal hunters, even if it means she has to enlist the help of some kids. Cassie knows her grandmother loves her, but after her fake-psychic mother was murdered and Cassie was the one to stumble upon the crime scene, living with her grandmother has always left her feeling like an outsider. When she is approached by a boy sent by the FBI to consider entering a special program of other Naturals, she assumes they are just messing with her. But the offer is real. There is a special group of kids who are Natural profilers, genius statisticians, and human lie detectors who can swing the result of any investigation. They aren't allowed into the field, but the agents house them in an old mansion and ask them to review cold cases in the hopes of solving previously unsolvable crimes. Michael brings her around to meet the other kids, but while he is welcoming, the others aren't exactly interested in her presence. They all live in a house with pictures of serial killers on the walls, but that isn't even the strangest thing about the place. Liv can read lies and Sloane is like Rain Man (and a klepto). But mysterious Dean is the unreadable member of the team. The agents want to ease Cassie into the process, but when a serial killer starts hunting in the middle of the city, they get desperate. The kids aren't willing to stay on the sidelines, though, and their meddling gets them, Cassie in particular, the attention of the one person they don't want: the serial killer. The Naturals was my first experience with Barnes, and I have to say it was definitely a good one! The story was a nice mix of slightly paranormal (the kids' "natural talents" feel a little like special abilities) and a crime mystery. The serial killer is a pretty creepy twist with special short chapters between Cassie's chapters where you get inside the killer's head. Creeptastic! Barnes did a good job of building enough suspense that you couldn't put the story down, and better yet, it seems we will have a sequel to look forward to. The one aspect of the story I struggled with was the boys. Michael and Dean are supposed to be the Cassie Love Triangle, but neither really appealed to me. I was more interested in quirky Liv and Sloane than I was the boys, which made it tough to be too invested in the small amount of romance in the story. But Dean has a promising back story that could get interesting. The story can be kind of gruesome at times. Basically, if you would let a kid watch Criminal Minds, they could read this book about these serial killers. The house the kids live in is a little morbid, but it adds to...
Shay LaneOphelias
I love JLB's writing style but I'm so over love triangles. The mystery/gore was a nice change of pace though from some of the other books I've been reading, even from TIG. The novel does a great job at keeping more with the plot and focusing on Cassie and the guys. I wasn't expecting the twist ending which is always a nice surprise. It was very fast paced and very enjoyable.
maryShay LaneOphe
This read is a very different kind of book for young adults. I’m not sure I would want my young adult daughter to read it but it was a good read for me.
