Book Review: Trace Evidence by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

Trace Evidence
Author: Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs
Series: Virals
Publication: Puffin Books; Dgs edition (February 2, 2016)

Description: A collection of four short stories based on the Virals series from New York Times bestselling authors, Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs!

Fans of the Virals series will be thrilled with this companion volume that includes three short stories originally published as eSpecials as well as an all-new, never-before-seen Virals adventure! Shift, Swipe, Shock and the new story Spike give further glimpses of the Virals' world as they work with Tory's famous great aunt, Temperance Brennan, to solve more mysteries, take look at where it all started before they became Virals, and get to the bottom of an attempted sabotage at Kit and Whitney's wedding.

My Thoughts: TRACE EVIDENCE collects four novellas in the Virals universe. The first is SHOCK which tells the very beginning of the story when a grief-stricken Tory meets Kit, Ben, Hiram, and Sheldon for the first time. I liked the way the kids became fast friends and I liked learning how they discovered their clubhouse.

SHIFT and SWIPE tell about other mysteries the kids use their Viral powers to solve. SWIPE is particularly entertaining because it takes place at San Diego ComicCon and also stars Tory's great-aunt Tempe.

SPIKE is the final story in this collection and takes place at Kit and Whitney's wedding which seems to be beset by a number of "accidents." These are the post-Virals versions of the kids who are growing up. Ben has graduated from high school and is planning to go away to college.

I liked that the stories were told from a variety of viewpoints with all the Virals taking a starring role. Sometimes it was a little hard determining whose viewpoint the reader was seeing the story from when the viewpoint changed at a chapter break. A few times I had to figure it out by who was being described.

This whole series was a fun science fiction series that was also a great story about families and friendship.

Favorite Quote:

The man was dressed as RoboCop, armored head to foot by interlocking metal panels.

Impressive, had he not been the one screaming hysterically like an eight-year-old girl with a spider in her hair.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.