If you love crime thrillers with a psychological twist, The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the perfect book to get lost in. Its a gripping young adult mystery that blends elements of the show Criminal minds with a coming of age story, exploring what happens when extraordinary teens are recruited to think like killers and catch them.
The story follows Cassie Hobbes, a 17 year old girl with a natural talent for reading people. She is scouted and recruited by the FBI to join a special program called The Naturals, which trains gifted teens to solve cold cases using their unique abilities, such as profiling, statistics, emotion reading, and more. But when a new case hits close to her past, Cassie’s skills are pushed to the limit.
The one thing that stood out to me is how different The Naturals is from other YA mysteries, showing how smart it is. Barnes doesn’t just write about catching criminals, she dives deep into psychology and emotion. Its like the tv show series Criminal Minds meets the book One of Us is Lying, but darker and more character driven.
The Naturals was kind of book that kept me guessing until the end, and even then I had to grab the sequel immediately. It’s thrilling, clever, and full of heart, making it the perfect read for anyone who adores psychology, mystery, and books that makes you stay up way too late!
If you have read this series, let me know how you liked the books and your thoughts on it in the comments!