Posts Tagged 'FBI'

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders adn the Birth of the FBI by David Grann (adapted for young readers)

Published August 29, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Nonfiction

This adaptation of the original Killers of the Flower Moon is so captivating that I struggled to remember what had been changed for the YA version. This story follows the Osage Native American nation in the 1920s as they enjoy an incredibly prosperous life due to oil being discovered on their tribal land. As part of the land agreement, they must be compensated for anything found on their land and as such each Osage member receives a large check each month. However, this leads to several mysterious deaths of Osage members that lead to poor investigations, if any investigation occurs at all. Molly, an Osage member, loses several family members including her mother and a sister and it isn’t until a pattern starts to arise that anyone questions these untimely deaths. It becomes quite clear, though, that law enforcement feels little pity for people who have so much money that some believe was not properly earned. Eventually, a man is selected to investigate these mysterious deaths in order to determine if someone is targeting Osage people and this eventually leads to the birth of the FBI. It is a long and difficult path to the truth in this matter, though, and revelations regarding the Osage Nation continue for many decades after the incidents took place.

This book is powerful, engaging, mysterious, interesting, and something everyone should know about this nation’s history. It is thoughtfully researched and presented in a way that the main people the story actually feel like real people with real motivations, which helps readers truly care about this story from so long ago. There are many interesting aspects in this book that are often overlooked in history lessons such as Native American history, the FBI, racism and social hierarchy, and the overall mystery of these events. Historical books that shine a light on aspects of history that are often not taught are very popular amongst young people and this book is a great example of why. This book will leave readers wanting to discuss and know more about these people and this time period. Highly Recommended.

Killer Instinct by Jennifer Barnes

Published January 16, 2015 Mystery , RAC Leave a Comment
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killerinstinct

Genre:  Mystery

# of Pages:  375

RAC:  Yes

In this sequel to The Naturals, all the main characters are back and still reeling from the very scary encounter Cassie had with a serial killer in the first book.  It isn’t long before another case draws in the naturals even though the FBI has sworn to leave them out of any active cases in the future.  A young college student’s body appears on the lawn of the campus, but the method mimics that of Dean’s father and that immediately complicates things.  Dean’s father will only answer questions for Dean so he has to come face to face with his dad for the first time since he was arrested for heinous crimes.  Meanwhile, Cassie, Michael, Lia, and Sloane all try to help but everything they try seems to get them in more and more trouble with the FBI.  On top of all that, a new FBI agent has been brought in to oversee the naturals programs and she seems determined to end the program one way or another.  Can they find out who is copying Dean’s father and how that person is getting information?  Can Cassie and her friends prove how valuable the program is so that it doesn’t get cut by the FBI?  Will Cassie ever choose between Dean and Michael?

This is a solid followup to the first book.  The mystery itself is engaging and is more complicated than most readers will think at first which will keep them guessing until the end.  The characters grow and develop more in this book and makes the naturals program seem more useful and interesting than before.  The love triangle between Dean, Michael, and Cassie finally gets resolved, but will most likely be revisited in the next installment.  Fans looking for a fun mystery series will enjoy this.

The Naturals by Jennifer Barnes

Published September 5, 2014 Mythology , RAC Leave a Comment
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the-naturals

 

Genre:  Mystery

# of Pages:  308

RAC: Yes

Cassie has relied on her ability to read people since the mysterious disappearance of her mother five years ago.  She is surprised, however, when she is recruited to join an elite team in the FBI made up of teens with similar special abilities called The Naturals.  Cassie will be trained as a profiler for the FBI to use on cold cases.  She feels it is important for her to do this since her mother’s disappearance and presumed murder is still unsolved.  Once she starts training, however, she is pulled into an ongoing serial murder investigation in which the killer seems to be taunting the teens in the naturals.  More alarmingly, the case seems to be connected to her mother’s case.  Can they solve the murders or will Cassie become the next victim?

Fans of mysteries will love this new title as it combines an intriguing mystery story with tons of great, albeit mysterious characters so that Cassie does not know whom she can really trust.  The ending is very satisfying and will surprise most of the readers no matter how diligently they have followed the clues leading up to the exciting climax.  The book sets itself up well to become a series which is good because readers will want to see more of these naturals.  Recommended.

The Murderers’ Club by P.D. Martin

Published January 4, 2008 Mystery , RAC Leave a Comment
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Genre:  Mystery

Age Level:  14 and up

# of Pages:  376

RAC Book:  Yes

In this chilling tale a group of four murderers get together and form a club.  In this club each killer bids for who he or she wants to kill and then the others watch tapes and listen to stories about the torture the others inflict on their victims.  Sophie Anderson of the FBI happens to be vacationing with a friend when the murders start.  Her friend, who is a cop, learns of the first one and it intrigues both of them.  Some details match a known killer and others are different.  As each murder occurs some details are the same, while others vary. 

The murderers in this book are very clever, which makes for an interesting story.  The president of the club especially has thought of everything to prevent them from getting caught.  The details the police use to piece together the murders are believable, but they also get some interesting twists to help them along.  The ending is a bit predictable, though, and avid mystery readers will see it coming quite awhile before it is revealed.

If the story were not intriguing it would be difficult to finish this book due to the writing style.  The author chooses to talk down to the reader by explaining every term, thought, and intended meaning of everything.  The author obviously holds no faith in her readers that they will be able to understand sarcasm or innuendo or even that they know anything about this genre.  By explaining terms and processes in the criminal field in such a way makes the reader feel bored and unappreciated.  The story is interesting and unique, but it would’ve been better if the writer would just trust her readers to know what she is talking about.

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