Kathy and Brendan Reichs: Exposure

The fourth installment of the Virals-series starts some time after the events told in "CODE". When the Virals find out, that twin classmates have been abducted, they decide to investigate. But things are not so easy this time: their powers seem to get out of control, so flaring is not a good option. All they can do, is use their brains and find out, what happened.

This Viralsstory differs from the others. Not much flaring, a lot more brainwork, an unusual criminal and a soccerplaying Tory... But it is a good story, keeping the pace of the other books and a cliffhanger which made me think about going straight to an ebookstore to buy the next volume (I have all the books as paperbacks, so I have to wait a while until I can go on reading (8th of October - oh nooooo) - well I did not buy the ebook edition as there are already so many books waiting... but it was really close :-) I award 9 out of 10 for a thrilling story with a little hasty ending.

I already finished the Enid Blyton Biography written by Barbara Stoney and am currently reading "Die See der Abenteuer" by Enid Blyton (for the reading challenge :-)).

Kathy and Brendan Reichs - Seizure

Seizure, the second book of the Virals-series begins, where the first part ended. Tory and her friends seem to be grounded for the rest of their lives with no visitors allowed. When they find out, that the LIRI-laboratory will be closed down due to financial problems they realise that this will tear their pack apart.
So how do you get millions of dollars within just a few weeks in order to save your parents work, your family and your pack?
When they find out about a guy selling pirate-stuff they sense their chance and start a classic treasure hunt. Tracking down clues, reading and deciphering of foreign languages, avoiding enemies and finally digging and finding... well things;-).
Apart from the treasure hunt the pack still has problems with their super abilities, and the boys still don't like the fact, that Tory can get into their heads. But not understanding their powers does not mean, that they cannot use them!

Picture of Anne Bonny, who plays quite a role in the book. Source: Wiki

How I loved this book. Adventure all the time, the loveable characters, summer feeling, a TREASURE HUNT, pirates... a perfect book. I award the full 10 out of 10 and a warmhearted Arrrrrrrrrrrrr! 

 

I now turn to Kai Meyer and his Asche und Phönix.

Kathy und Brendan Reichs - Virals

Somehow this new series has eluded me so far. I was rather thrilled, when I found out, and ordered the first two volumes stante pede, and yesterday evening, while waiting for my filmfestival tickets, I finished the first book - VIRALS.

Tory, grandniece of famous Temperance, lives after her mother's death with her father on Morris Island which is just outside Charleston.

Origin: Google Maps ‎ ‎ - © 2013 Google

 

One day, she and her friends Shelton, Hi and Ben make an excursion to Loggerhead Island - where research is in progress, but relatives (and from each teenager a parent is working there) of the workers may visit the island. Tory and her friends want to find out, what happened to the wolf-dog-pack on the island, and while resting, they are disturbed by a group of monkeys, and suddenly Tory is pelt with a dogtag, which has an unreadable name on it.
Tory, being the grandniece of Tempe, is thrilled, something to find out, cool! So they try to clean the dogtag, and fail. So the decision to return to Loggerhead Island is made in no time. They go back to the island, break into the laboratory, and clean the dogtag with chemicals. Just when the name becomes a little readable, they find out what happened to Cooper - the puppy of the wolfpack - he is being used as an experimental animal. As Tory loves all sorts of animals, and dogs in particular, they free the puppy and leave the island.
Now two things have to be taken care about, the puppy, which turns out to be immensly sick from parvo, and the dogtag, who was the person and what happened to him. While they are researching, one by one is getting sick. But is sick the right prescription? Seeing things, which are far to far away to be seen, hearing things, which are far to quiet to be heard? What is going on? And why is someone tracking them down all the time?

I don't want to spoil the fun of reading, that's why I stop recounting here. The story is a clear Kathy Reichs thing - a little french, a lot mentioning of a good long shower, interest in bones, super intelligence - but the cooperation with Brendan clearly makes the whole thing great fun. At the beginning I could not quite decide what to make of the superpowered virals, but now I am quite a fan. So I think I will return to Charleston immediately and start with Seizure.