Virals
by Kathy Reichs
Cornerstone Digital (e-book)
The entire world it seems is writing young adult fiction. Having made her name with a series of unflinching forensic thrillers, Kathy Reichs too has turned her attention to adolescent adventure stories: think Enid Blyton with a dash of Patricia Cornwell. There are strong family similarities with Reichs' day job: her heroine here, 14-year-old Tory Brennan, is the great-niece of her adult heroine, forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan. After Tory's mother is killed in an accident, she moves to live with her father, Kit, whom she hardly knows. His work as an environmental scientist just happens to take place on an island, whose nearest neighbour, Loggerhead Island, is pleasingly spooky. Tory also adjusts to a new school (an elite, but superior private establishment) and some new friends. The plot kicks off when a pack of wild monkeys throws a rusted dog-tag at the famous four, which leads to the discovery of a long-buried body. Reichs proves rather good at the YA genre. Tory's investigation is great fun, a la Nancy Drew, and there is even a dash of the supernatural.
Extras: none