"You feel stupid. Doesn't mean you are." -The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I would rate this book 5 out of 10. It’s not bad, it just wasn’t up to quite the same standards that I hold most other books that I read. I also expected more after getting a lot of positive comments on it. I still loved it, just not as much as I thought I would.

What if you could read people? Understood who they were by just looking at their clothes, their expression, and the way they held themselves? Knowing automatically what their favorite color is? Enter 17-year-old Cassie, who can do all of that and more. With her natural ability to profile people as described, Cassie joins a group of kids similarly talented in other ways. One is a lie-detector, one can read emotions, one is brilliantly analytical and good with statistics, and one is just like Cassie, a profiler. They have only ever solved cold cases, until now. And although every person is remarkably talented, can they see the horrors of the future sitting right in front of them?

Okay, so to elaborate on my previously mentioned disappointment towards, I like this book. I think the idea is really good and some of the characters are interesting to say the least, but it’s a little predictable. You will know where the story is going before it presents itself, despite being a mystery. I’ll admit the ending had a bit of a twist, but still. There’s a lot of unnecessary romance between certain characters, but that’s typical of YA. Honestly, the Naturals is a good YA mystery novel, but I was expecting more from it, all things considered.

The Naturals is for classic mystery lovers. There’s a bit of a Sherlock Holmes sort of things going on, bit of Criminal Minds (if you know that). But if you’re okay with a bit of confusing character work and romance, it’s for anyone with a thirst for mystery. Everyone should have a thirst for mystery. It’s a little gory, however, because there’s a lot of death (surprise surprise). YA lovers will probably love this YA mystery because it is likeable that way. (I’m totally asleep right now)

Formula: Romance? + Death + Cold Cases + Trust = Cassie’s Profile

#katie #mystery #death