The Naturals | FAQ & 12 Books Like It

The Naturals | FAQ & 12 Books Like It

February 8, 2024
·
4 min
Written by: the NextBook team
Hey there bookworms! Are you looking for a thrilling, page-turning novel that will keep you up all night? Well, look no further than "The Naturals" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This YA mystery series packs one heck of a punch and will have you guessing until the very end. So, grab a cozy blanket, a piping hot cup of cocoa, and get ready to dive into the world of talented teenage profilers! "The Naturals" follows the story of Cassie, a gifted teenager with a knack for reading people. She joins a secret program called the Naturals, where she meets a group of young prodigies who have exceptional skills in profiling criminals. With intense training, Cassie and her fellow Naturals are thrust into real-life cases, working alongside the FBI to catch killers. But as they delve into the world of crime, danger lurks closer than they ever imagined, and Cassie's own dark secrets start to unravel. If you're a fan of gripping suspense, complex characters, and unputdownable plots, then "The Naturals" is the perfect series for you! And the best part? If you enjoy this heart-pounding journey, I have a whole list of similar recommendations just waiting for you. From psychological thrillers to detective novels, there's something for everyone. So, get ready to be hooked on the thrill of the chase, because we've got your next book fix right here!
A Book Cover Image of The Naturals
A Book Cover Image of The Naturals
Mystery
Thriller
Young Adult

One of Us is Lying

"One of Us is Lying" is a suspenseful young adult novel that follows the story of five high school students who enter detention, only to have one of them end up dead. As secrets and motives come to light, the remaining students must uncover the truth and try to stay alive.
Author
Karen M. McManus
Year Written
2017
One of Us is Lying
Dystopian
Coming of Age
Superpowers

The Darkest Minds

"The Darkest Minds" is a gripping dystopian novel following the story of Ruby, a teenage girl with mysterious powers who becomes a part of a group seeking freedom and safety. As Ruby unravels the truth about her abilities and the oppressive society she lives in, she must navigate a world full of danger, betrayal, and hope.
Author
Alexandra Bracken
Year Written
2012
The Darkest Minds
Mystery
Thriller
Supernatural

The Body Finder

"The Body Finder" follows Violet Ambrose, a high school student with the unique ability to locate dead bodies. When a serial killer strikes her town, she becomes entangled in a dangerous hunt for the murderer while struggling to keep her own dark secret hidden.
Author
Kimberly Derting
Year Written
2010
The Body Finder
Young Adult
Contemporary
Drama

If I Stay

"If I Stay" is a heart-wrenching novel by Gayle Forman about a teenage girl named Mia who enters a coma after a devastating car accident, forcing her to confront life-altering decisions about love, family, and the power of music. As Mia hovers between life and death, she must choose whether to stay and continue living in the world or let go and join her deceased family members.
Author
Gayle Forman
Year Written
2009
If I Stay
Romance
LGBTQ+
Poker

All In

"All In" by Nell Stark is a captivating and steamy lesbian romance novel that follows the story of a professional poker player and a talented doctor as they navigate love, trust, and the risks they're willing to take. Will they be brave enough to bet it all on each other?
Author
Nell Stark
Year Written
2013
All In
Psychological
Thriller
Mystery

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

"The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a captivating psychological thriller that follows the journey of Mara Dyer, a girl who wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the mysterious accident that killed her friends, and must uncover the truth about what really happened before it consumes her."
Author
Michelle Hodkin
Year Written
2011
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Thriller
Mystery
Suspense

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" is a gripping thriller that follows an investigative journalist and a talented hacker as they delve into a decades-old disappearance case involving a wealthy family. As they uncover dark secrets, their lives become entangled in a complex web of mystery, violence, and unexpected alliances.
Author
Stieg Larsson
Year Written
2005
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Fantasy
Mystery
Young Adult

The Raven Boys

"The Raven Boys" follows Blue Sargent, a teenage girl from a family of psychics, as she becomes involved with a group of private school boys on a quest to find a legendary sleeping king. As they uncover secrets and navigate supernatural obstacles, Blue's own fate becomes intertwined with theirs in unexpected ways.
Author
Maggie Stiefvater
Year Written
2012
The Raven Boys
Mystery
Paranormal
Young Adult

The Name of the Star

"The Name of the Star" is a gripping young adult mystery set in modern-day London, where a series of gruesome Jack the Ripper copycat murders shakes the city. The story follows American teenager Rory as she navigates the paranormal mysteries surrounding the crimes and finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Author
Maureen Johnson
Year Written
2011
The Name of the Star
Thriller
Psychological
Captivity

The Cellar

"The Cellar" by Natasha Preston is a gripping psychological thriller that follows a young girl named Summer as she finds herself trapped in a dark and terrifying underground cellar. With an unpredictable captor and a desperate fight for survival, this book will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Author
Natasha Preston
Year Written
2014
The Cellar
Thriller
Mystery
Psychological

Shutter Island

Shutter Island is a psychological thriller by Dennis Lehane, where two U.S. Marshals investigate the disappearance of a patient from a highly secure mental institution, only to uncover a twisted web of secrets and mysteries that haunt the island. As they dig deeper, their own sanity and reality begin to unravel in unexpected ways, leading to a shocking climax.
Author
Dennis Lehane
Year Written
2003
Shutter Island
Dystopian
Adventure
Mystery

The Maze Runner

"The Maze Runner" is a gripping dystopian novel where a group of young boys are trapped in a maze, with no memory of their past, and must find a way to escape before time runs out. As they face deadly creatures and unravel the mysteries of the maze, the story delves into themes of survival, friendship, and sacrifice.
Author
James Dashner
Year Written
2009
The Maze Runner

FAQ

Overview

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a thrilling young adult novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It follows the story of Cassie, a seventeen-year-old girl with a unique talent for profiling, who is recruited to join a secret FBI program called the Naturals. This group consists of other gifted teenagers with abilities such as lie detection, emotional analysis, and intuition. Together, they work on solving cold cases and catching serial killers. With its gripping plot and well-developed characters, The Naturals is a page-turner from start to finish. Barnes skillfully weaves together elements of mystery, suspense, and romance, creating a story that is both captivating and unpredictable. As the group delves deeper into their investigations, they soon realize that their lives may be more intertwined with the cases than they could ever imagine. With secrets, mind games, and thrilling plot twists, this novel will leave you eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth behind the mysteries.

Length of Read

The average reader, reading at a speed of 300 WPM, would take 5h20m to read The Naturals

Main Characters

- Cassie Hobbes: A seventeen-year-old girl with a knack for profiling people, she is the newest recruit in the FBI's elite group of teenage profilers known as "The Naturals." - Dean Redding: A charming and enigmatic boy who possesses an uncanny ability to read emotions, Dean becomes Cassie's love interest and a key player in uncovering the truth behind a series of murders. - Michael Sinclair: A mathematical genius with a photographic memory, Michael uses his skills to analyze crime scenes and provide valuable insights to the team. - Sloane Williams: A computer whiz and master hacker, Sloane's expertise in technology helps the team gather crucial evidence and track down criminals. - Lia Zhang: A talented and intuitive human lie detector, Lia's ability to detect deception proves invaluable in interrogations and uncovering hidden truths. - Agent Jennifer Langford: The experienced and tough FBI agent who leads "The Naturals," she acts as a mentor and guide to the team, pushing them to their limits to solve the most challenging cases. What sets them apart: Each member of "The Naturals" possesses a unique skill set that, when combined, creates a formidable team capable of solving complex crimes and getting inside the minds of killers.

Ending & Meaning

In the thrilling conclusion of "The Naturals," our brilliant protagonist, Cassie, finally uncovers the identity of the serial killer known as The Surgeon. With her natural ability to read people and decipher their motives, Cassie navigates through a web of deception and danger, determined to bring justice to the victims and closure to her own haunted past. As the tension rises, Cassie finds herself face-to-face with The Surgeon, a chilling encounter that tests her strength and resilience. With the help of her fellow Naturals, each possessing their unique talents, Cassie outwits the killer and ultimately brings him to justice. However, the victory comes at a cost, as Cassie realizes that her pursuit of justice may never truly heal the wounds of her past. One of the powerful themes that emerges from the ending of "The Naturals" is the complex nature of human psychology. Through the characters' abilities to analyze and understand people's motives, the novel explores the dark depths of the human mind and the lengths to which individuals may go to satisfy their own twisted desires. Additionally, the book delves into the idea that closure and healing may not always come from catching the bad guy, but rather from finding inner strength and acceptance in the face of tragedy. "The Naturals" leaves readers with a lingering question: can we ever truly escape the scars of our past, or are they an integral part of who we are?
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