Reviewed by Jen: Seizure by Kathy Reichs.

Product details:
Publisher: Arrow.
Release date: January 5th 2012.
Hardcover, 464 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Series: Virals #2
Other books in series: Virals
Source: Received from publisher for review.
Reviewed by: Jen

Ever since Tory Brennan and her friends rescued Cooper, a kidnapped wolf pup with a rare strain of canine parvovirus, they've turned from regular kids into a crime-solving pack. But now the very place that brought them together - the Loggerhead Island Research Institute - is out of funding and will have to shut down. That is, unless the Virals can figure out a way to save it.

So when Tory learns of an old Charleston legend about a famous she-pirate, Anne Bonney, whose fortune was never found, she can't believe her luck - buried treasure is exactly what she needs to save the Institute on Loggerhead! Trouble is, she and her friends aren't the only ones looking for it. And this time, the Virals' special powers may not be enough to dig them out of trouble . . .

Please note: There may be spoilers for previous books in the series in this review.

The Virals are back and this time it is their pack that is in danger of being destroyed.  In Seizure, the sequel to Kathy Reichs 2010 hit Virals, teen sleuth Tory Brennan has finally settled into her new life in South Carolina when suddenly everything she loves is threatened.  Not one to back down from a challenge Tory decides that she and her fellow pack mates: Sheldon, Ben, and Hi, must act quickly before it is too late.

The state of South Carolina was hit hard by the latest economic downfall and the most logical way to climb out of debt is to sell the costly Loggerhead Island Research Institute.  After the unsavory things uncovered there recently (read Virals to find out exactly what illegal things were transpiring) it seems to be the most logical solution.  Unfortunately for Tory and the boys it also means splitting up the pack as their parents will have to scatter across the world looking for new jobs.  Just as the pack is beginning to understand and harness their powers, which they gained from being exposed to a mutated form of parvovirus, the idea of being broken up is unthinkable.  They know that it is up to them to save Loggerhead Island.  Their plan is quite simple really; find the hidden treasure of female pirate Anne Bonney.  If only it were that simple!  The Virals are not the only ones on the hunt for the treasure and as the bodies start to pile up they will be lucky to escape with their lives. 

Reading Seizure was definitely an adventure.  I loved the pirate aspect to the plot and thought it was quite original.  The mystery was fast paced and kept me wanting more.  Although the story is not mired in romance there is definitely some romantic tension between Tory and one of the boys in her pack.  This added another aspect to the series that I hope gets explored in the next book, although I think Tory is a bit too naïve that she hasn’t figured it out herself. 

One thing I would like to see as the series progresses is the character’s maturing a bit more.  Currently they come across as very young, yet they are entering their sophomore year in high school (although Tory is actually a year younger than her fellow pack mates, having been promoted a grade in school).  Some of the dialogue can come off as a bit unauthentic.  Voice is one of the most important aspects of a young adult novel and aspects of Tory’s narration bothered me, but the plot is so well executed that this is just a minor complaint. 

While there is a touch of fantasy in both Virals and Seizure, the kids having super human powers, the overall genre of these books is mystery and that is what I love about them.  These are fun books definitely worth reading for anyone who loves a good adventure!

Reviewed by Jen: Virals by Kathy Reichs.

Product details:
Publisher: Arrow
Release date: May 12th 2011.
Paperback, 454 pages.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Ages: YA.
Source: Received from publisher for review.
Reviewed by: Jen

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

When it comes to YA mysteries who better to trust than a seasoned New York Times bestselling mystery author?  Kathy Reichs definitely fits that bill.  Not only are her Bones novels, featuring heroine Temperance Brennan, insanely popular, but also is the T.V. show spawned from the series.  Lucky for YA and mystery addicts Reichs has decided to break out of the adult mystery genre and expand her talent into the realm of YA.  The result is a fast paced and intense mystery novel.  The best of both worlds that absolutely does not disappoint!

Tory Brennan’s life has never been easy, but it was comfortable.  That is until a drunk driver kills her beloved mother and Tory is forced to move in with a father she has never met.  To make matters worse Kit, Tory’s newly acquired father, is a research scientist for Charleston University and lives on a remote island off the coast of South Carolina.  All of the residents of Morris Island are also employees of the University and all work on the even more remote and mysterious Loggerhead Island, which is owned by the University.  Although there are only three other teenage residents on Morris Island, and they all happen to be boys, Tory lucks out in the fact that they all share a love of science.  This common interest makes Tory one of the “guys” and the group spends their time exploring the remote landscape, especially the off limits Loggerhead Island.  It is during one of these expeditions that Tory and her friends come across two potential mysteries.  One is a secret lab that is conducting unauthorized experiments on the islands wolf dog population and the other is a set of dog tags dating back to the Vietnam War.   As Tory and the boys work to discover the owner of the dog tags they walk right into a 40 year- old murder mystery, a murder that someone would like to remain a mystery.  As if solving a 40 year-old murder is not enough, Tory still wants to know who is behind the unauthorized experiments.  These experiments have exposed Tory and her friends to a virus that will change their lives and DNA forever. 

The mystery in this novel is deftly written. Reichs does an excellent job of weaving the story lines together in a seamless plot.  At times the action is tense and often leaves the reader needing to know what will happen next.  Tory and her friends are not your average teenagers, but the difference works well because their personalities are fleshed out in such an expert manner.  It is easy for the reader to believe that this particular group of teenagers would posses the skills they do because of the way they were raised within the scientific community.  The scientific portion of the plot is in no way cumbersome to the story.  The science and the action flow together to prevent the reader from becoming bored.  Also, the murder mystery was extremely engrossing leaving me wanting the answers just as much as Tory did. 

Yet, there is more to this story than just mystery and science.  Tory is a fourteen year-old girl who has recently lost the only parent and world she has known.  Her adjustment to her new life is not perfect and she longs to be with her mother once again.  One of the complications of Tory’s life that I enjoyed the most was Whitney DuBois.  Whitney is a tried and true southern debutant and girlfriend of Tory’s father Kit.  Unable to understand why Tory, or any teenage girl, would want to run around with boys all day exploring remote islands Whitney insists that Tory join Charleston’s high society.  This of course involves dresses and dancing and acting like a lady.  Things which Tory has absolutely no use for in her life, but telling Whitney no is not an easy option. 

Virals is definitely a very well done mystery that also incorporates the coming of age aches and pains that are illustrated in many excellent YA novels.  While the characters may seem more mature than their real life counterparts they are not written in a way that will turn teen readers off to the book.  The absorbing mystery and fast paced plot twists create a tense thriller that is sure to be enjoyed by teens and adults both.