Reading Metrics
Description
Cassie, a seventeen-year-old with an uncanny ability to read people's hidden motives from the smallest cues, is recruited by the FBI into a classified program that uses exceptional teens to solve cold cases. She moves in with a group of other gifted teenagers, each possessing a unique perceptive talent, and together they profile unsolved homicides that have baffled investigators for years. As the team digs deeper into the cases, they realize the danger goes far beyond the files on their desks, and long-buried secrets threaten to undermine both the mission and their own lives.
Quick Summary
If you love a teenage crime-solving crew that feels like a teen version of Criminal Minds, you'll click with The Naturals. Cassie, a 17-year-old who can almost feel a person's true intentions just by looking at them, is recruited by the FBI to join a secret program of other "Naturals," each with a special gift some can read body language, others reconstruct events from tiny clues and together they tackle cold cases that have baffled local police. The plot races between a current serial-killer mystery and the day-to-day friendships, rivalries, and a little bit of teen romance that keep the story grounded, though you'll also see some graphic crime scenes and a few moments of suggestive language that let you know it's aimed at older teens. It's a fast read at under 60,000 words, perfect for anyone who likes a mix of psychological suspense, witty banter, and a cast that feels like a group of friends you'd want on your side. If you liked One of Us Is Lying, you'll probably enjoy this one too, and parents should be aware that the book contains mild sexual references and fairly vivid violent descriptions, so it's best for readers who can handle a bit of grit.