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TL;DR: Seventeen-year-old Cassie Hobbes has an unusual talent: she can read people, guessing their personalities and habits from small details. When the FBI invites her to join a secret program of teenagers with natural abilities who help solve cold cases, she agrees. But when a new serial killer begins copying details linked to her mother's murder, Cassie becomes a target.
Table of Contents
The Naturals at a Glance
| Author | Jennifer Lynn Barnes |
| First published | 2013 |
| Type | Mystery thriller |
| Best for | readers who want a fast, twisty teen thriller about profiling and serial killers |
The Naturals is the first book in Jennifer Lynn Barnes's series of the same name, published in 2013. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes murder, violence and descriptions of crime scenes.
Main Characters
- Cassie Hobbes: A natural profiler.
- Dean Redding: A brooding profiler with a dark past.
- Michael Townsend: A boy who reads emotions.
- Lia Zhang: A girl who can tell when people are lying.
- Sloane Tavish: A girl who is brilliant with numbers.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
The invitation
Cassie works in her grandmother's diner and reads customers easily. Her mother, a stage psychic, disappeared five years ago, leaving behind a bloody dressing room. One day, an FBI agent offers Cassie a place in a secret program for “naturals,” teens with special skills. Cassie accepts, hoping it may help her understand her mother's case.
The house
Cassie moves into a house with the other naturals: Dean, Michael, Lia and Sloane. They study old cases under the supervision of agents. Michael flirts with her, Dean is cold and mysterious, Lia is sarcastic, and Sloane spouts statistics. Cassie learns more about each of them and their troubled pasts.
A new case
A serial killer is murdering women in a pattern linked to Cassie's past. The naturals are not supposed to work on active cases, but they get involved. Cassie studies the killer's habits and sees that he or she is copying details from her mother's case. Cassie realizes she is being watched.
Danger
The killer leaves messages for Cassie. Dean, whose father is a convicted serial killer, helps her understand how killers think. Cassie grows closer to both Dean and Michael. The naturals are pushed into danger, and they must decide whom to trust.
The truth
Cassie discovers that the killer is Agent Lacey Locke, an FBI agent who has been close to the program all along and who is obsessed with Cassie's mother. Cassie confronts her in a tense final scene. Locke is stopped, and Cassie survives, but the truth about her mother remains unresolved, setting up the rest of the series.
5 Key Takeaways
- Talents can be both gifts and burdens.
- Understanding how people think can solve crimes.
- Trust is essential in teams.
- The past can haunt the present.
- Danger can come from those closest to us.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- Small details reveal big truths.
- Found family can help people heal.
- Curiosity can lead to danger.
Who Should Read The Naturals?
Read The Naturals if you enjoy crime thrillers, teen investigators and twisty mysteries. It suits teens and adults.
About Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Jennifer Lynn Barnes (born 1984) is an American author with a background in psychology and cognitive science. She has written more than 20 novels for young readers, including The Inheritance Games series and The Naturals series. She has taught psychology and creative writing at the university level.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of The Naturals:
- How does Cassie's talent work?
- Why is Dean's past so important to the story?
- Did you suspect the killer?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether The Naturals is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of The Naturals, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
Yes. It is quick and suspenseful with a great cast.
Check price of The Naturals on Amazon
What to Read Next
- Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: the second Naturals book
- The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: a puzzle-filled mystery by the same author
- A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson: a teen investigates an old murder
Related: 15 Books Like The Naturals You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Naturals about?
A teen profiler joins a secret FBI program and is targeted by a serial killer.
Who wrote it?
Jennifer Lynn Barnes, in 2013.
What is a natural?
A teen with a natural talent for reading people or facts.
What is Cassie's talent?
Profiling, reading people's personalities.
Who is Dean?
A profiler whose father is a serial killer.
Is it a series?
Yes, four books plus a novella.
What age is it for?
Teens and adults.
How long is it?
About 310 pages.
Is it violent?
It includes murders but is not overly graphic.
Is there romance?
Yes, a love triangle.
What comes next?
Killer Instinct.
Is it like Criminal Minds?
Yes, many readers compare it to the TV show.
Is The Naturals a good choice for fans of crime shows?
Yes. It has profiling, teamwork and a strong twist, like a teen version of a crime drama.
Is The Naturals worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want a fast, twisty teen thriller about profiling and serial killers. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.