May 12, 2014
Adult thriller writer Sandford (the Prey novels) teams up with his wife, Cook, for a story of teens fighting a corrupt system, first in the Singular Menace series. After Shay Remby’s brother gets involved with radical animal rights activists, she goes looking for him, winding up in Hollywood. There, she falls in with the charismatic artist Twist, who persuades her to use her climbing and survival skills to get involved in artistic protests and other social activism. Soon, Shay reunites with her brother, who brings along the dog he rescued from cruel experiments designed to replace lost limbs through advanced technology, and Shay and her new friends must confront a ruthless secret project that’s willing to kill to keep them quiet. Sandford and Cook keep tension high, packing the narrative full of twists. Shay’s extended detour into social activism doesn’t quite jibe with the technothriller side of the novel, giving it a disjointed feel. Still, it’s a solid story with a strong premise, helped along by intriguing characters, shifting loyalties, and some exciting moments. Ages 12–up. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM.