Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.
As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.
Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.
(from the inside cover)
This is another awesome series opener! Kathy Reichs has definitely taken her talents into the young adult fiction area with aplomb. Her characters are awesome. Tory and her friends, Hi (Hiram), Ben and Shelton are each scientists in their own right. They push the boundaries that have been set by their parents and they rely on each other as friends and rule breakers. A great group of off-beat kids who stumble onto an old unsolved murder case; Tory won't let go of the idea of finding out more about the young, female murder victim and then solving the crime of her murder. As the only female in the group of friends, Tory is motivated to be the ring leader of the group. Her weakness for helping a wolf-dog gets the group in even deeper into uncharted waters. Read the book and find out what happens to Tory, Hi, Ben and Shelton in Virals!
