Code: A Virals Novel Paperback – Illustrated, December 5, 2013

The Virals are not immune to trouble and adventure. In fact, both trouble and adventure seem to hunt them down and find them. In the third Virals novel Code, by Kathy and Brendan Reichs, we see how the superhuman pack reacts to a game that loses its "fun" appeal with the first bomb.Tory Brennan is no stranger to adventure. After she and her three best guy friends, all of whom are the children of the scientists on the very island where they were exposed to a mad scientists experiment that turned them into a superhuman wolf pack, solved a crazy pirate's treasure hunt to find enough gold doubloons to save the island and LIRI, the lab, they became fairly legendary. Unfortunately, legendary still doesn't earn them any friends at the snooty private school that pegs them as "scholarship brats". But Tory and her friends Hi, Shelton, and Ben are too interested in their lives as Virals and the next adventure to care much about typical teen drama.When Hi starts geocaching, he is delighted to find a first time cache on Loggerhead Island, the very place where the research laboratory is located. Although his friends think geocaching is silly, when he finds an ornate Japanese puzzle box with a bizarre clue inside, they can't help but be intrigued by the thrill of the hunt. It takes them a while to break the clue, but their Flare doesn't let them down. While it might be invasive to be able to read one another's thoughts and act like a pack, they can't scoff at the benefits. But when they find the second clue, it seems they have stumbled upon a sick joke left by an even more disturbing individual who calls himself the Gamemaker. Now they must solve the clues int he time the Gamemaker gives them or they will be responsible for the deaths of countless innocent people. But the Gamemaker didn't plan on one very important detail when he targeted the Virals- a pack never gives up and never loses.This is such a fun, entertaining series. It really is perfect, good, clean fun for any reader, boy or girl, middle reader or young adult. Even adults would enjoy this fun series that keeps them guessing and trying to solve the mystery. I think the language is simple enough for lower skilled students, but the appeal is really in the fast-paced entertainment. You will be hard-pressed to find a reader who wasn't hanging on every situation the Virals found themselves in. The protagonist is fairly young, 14, so it might seem a little too young for a more mature reader, but I imagine they will quickly get sucked up into the excitement pretty quickly!My one sticky wicket with this story was the final reveal at the end. I just didn't like it the way I have liked the big reveal of the evil mastermind behind the badness in the other books. This one was far less satisfying, but I still enjoyed the story. In fact, I am really looking forward to the next book. These books are so fast that I feel like I just devour them. Can't wait to devour the next!

The action never stops in this science fiction thriller series. This time Tory and the other Virals find themselves in a race to solve the clues left by the Gamemaster before he unleashes a terrible tragedy. It begins innocently when Hi buys a metal detector and begins geocaching. The kids discover a hidden box Loggerhead Island that begins a treasure hunt with codes, clues from chemistry, and other clues to test their abilities. They need to keep the game secret or face serious consequences.Meanwhile, Tory is still being dragged into becoming a debutante by her father's girlfriend Whitney. The current dilemma is choosing the boy to escort her when she is presented. She is torn between golden boy Jason and her friend Ben who is also one of the Virals. The two boys definitely do not get along and, in fact, have a couple of fistfights during this story. Tory is fourteen and has never really had a boyfriend. Despite being precocious and mature for her age, she isn't quite ready for that.Speaking of Whitney, she is gradually moving stuff into Tory's father's home and trying to become Tory's best friend. Tory doesn't really get along with her and she certainly isn't thinking of Whitney as the one to replace the mother she lost in a drunk driving accident a year earlier. Tory throws a tantrum when her father Kit announces the Whitney will be moving in which makes her seem like a more realistic 14-year-old.To complicate matters even more, Chance has been released from the mental hospital he was in during the last book and is determined to find out what is going on with the Virals. He is aided by Madison who one of the mean girls at school and who witnessed Tory flaring and is now convinced she is possessed.This story sees the Virals learning more about their new powers and also sees a betrayal by one of the kids. I couldn't put this fast-paced adventure down and loved it.

This and all the Viral's books are mislabled "Young Adult, Teens." I am decades beyond that group and I thoroughly enjoy these books and look forward to each new installment. Tory, our heroine and her three friends join an online game where directions to a specific site reveals a "treasure" which may only be a card or knick-knack. They sign the list included, and replace the treasure with a new on, replacing the item for the next searcher. But in this case, the item has been selected specifically for them with the intent of killing one or all of them--the "gamemaster" booby-traps all following "treasures." He's played this game before and none of the players have survived, until the Virals start to play. Tory and her friends special gifts help them to escape the booby-traps for awhile, until Tory's Grand Coming-out party when they are trapped in a "choose who dies" situation. Compounding the fun is Tory's dad's unsurprising announcement that he and his lady friend are contemplating living together, much to Tory's upset; the return of the "Rich Kid" from the insane asylum, Ben's explusion from the very private school they go to, and an unexpected bout of jealousy between a Viral and Tory's one friend at school. Enough to keep the reader rivited to the book--well into the night. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Iris Johansen's books, Kathy Reichs' writing, shape-shifting and other paranormal outings and to adults long past "Teen" readings. You will not be disappointed or bored.

Kathy Reichs has written another pulsating book in the 'Viral' series. The Viral pack are back with an adventure that turns out to be a mission fraught with danger. Failure is not an option as the consequences could be potentially catastrophic with loss of lives. This all starts in a seemingly fun and harmless popular game with geocaching, involving hidden or buried objects having their coordinates posted on the internet and the aim is to be the first to find them and log the discovery on line. The pack uncover a buried box that begins the chase to solve riddles and puzzles of increasing complexity and ingenuity set within strict conditions by a well-informed anonymous figure. This is a mystery thriller with elements of science fiction that ups the heartbeat. The interaction between the individuals Hi, Shelton, Ben and the self-confessed stubborn Tory Brennan who admits that she usually get what she wants (plus Coop the wolfdog) is again the centre of the action with their understanding and frugal use of their heightened powers. Jibes and disagreements naturally occur but consensus and common goals are the usual outcome.Kathy Reichs develops and gradually unfolds the intriguing plot to produce an absorbing read. This, with involvement of members of the Research Institute and pupil rivalry at the pack members' school, Bolton Prep. Academy, add spice to the narrative. The tension and suspense build up to a desperate, literally breathtaking and memorable climax that has an unexpected twist. The epilogue that follows is another surprise that indicates further storms ahead for the Viral pack. A cleverly written and enjoyable read not only for young adults (who may be better placed to appreciate some of the dialogue exchanges), but also for many older readers. More to come, I'm sure.

***Code is the third book in the Virals series, this review may contain spoilers related to books one a two, do not read ahead if you haven't read them - its not worth spoiling them!***As a science geek and a YA fan I knew I had to read the Virals books, I also loved Bones and have read most of Reichs adult books. A short review of Virals from some time ago can be found here, but in short - I was concerned at first that Reichs had done away with science and gone down the werewolf/shape shifter route, luckily that was not the case, instead she has woven science into a good old action book, with suspense, DNA altering viruses and old fashioned fun. Seizure took the pack treasure hunting and helped them to save LIRI but where to go from there? In comes code.Code picks up a while after Seizure, Kit is now in charge of LIRI and the virals have set up a super-spy underground lair with solar panels, zuped up computers and other great spy type gadets to try and work out what Karsten did to the parvovirus to make it change their DNA. But before any head way can be made into that Hi drags them into a Geo-Cashing game, thinking its a bit of fun, but the game soon turns deadly. The Gamemaster has set clues that threaten lives, and its up to the viral's to find them, and solve them, before its too late.Code is good fun, its everything good about the first too books, a bit a of a science lesson mixed in with twists and turns and good old fun. The reviews so far have all been shocked at the amazing twist at the end, but in all honesty - I wasn't surprised, there are hints all the way along, and its bound to lead to more in the future books, meaning they may take a different direction, which is always good. The story did take a little while to get going for me, the Gamemaster's challenges didn't really feel as urgent as they were meant to be until later in the book, but that didn't really matter, as I love to read about Tory and her relationship to her pack, and her constant battles with Whitney.Overall a fun, credible, action packed read, maybe not as good as Virals, but still a good addition to the series, and as I said, I suspect it'll be a game changer for the later books. Now all we have to do is convince Reichs to get Tory her own Bones TV spin off.....

An excellent story, well written and full of drama and suspense with lots of twists and turns. Proof too of why clowns are not to be trusted! A brilliant read, highly recommended

Reich's new teen series is also fodder for adults too. Do not pick up unless you are free to suspend all activity until you're finished. This time they've really gone and done it. Following the clues of an online treasure hunt, only unknowingly, this one has been designed just for them, and its lethal. Chance has left the nut house and as curious as all he'll. Ben is being difficult and distant,and Tory has far too much on her plate to give anything but all her thought to the immediate problems.A solid addition to the series.

Having only starting reading the series in Decembee, Code was a must have in January. Having it delivered just after it was released.The story is so exciting, I could feel myself getting so into the book worrying about what was going to happen next and could not wait to get the the end.This is an amazing book and would recommend to anyone, weather you are a teen or an adult, being a teacher I have recommended this to all my students and they are lining up to borrow the book.Cant wait to the next installment!!!Great work