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Specimen

Lisa Towles

Publisher: Indies United Publishing

Publication Date: 12/3/24

Formats: Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover

Genre: Young Adult thriller

Towles returns with this taut, expertly woven YA thriller that plunges readers into a high-stakes world where suspense and emotional turmoil collide. In a dangerous realm of genetic manipulation, no one is safe. When seventeen-year-old Thea Riggs discovers a body in an abandoned house, she realizes she’s being framed for murder to silence her. Thrust into an underground lab in San Francisco, Thea uncovers twisted experiments, a clandestine organization, and a decades-old mystery. Entangled in their deadly game, she holds the knowledge to bring them down. But with her mother now targeted, will she risk everything for justice?

Set against the vibrant yet menacing backdrop of San Francisco, the city’s diverse locales serve as both sanctuaries and traps, intensifying the narrative’s tension. Thea’s resilience and complexity make her a compelling heroine, grappling with her identity while facing lurking dangers. Supporting characters, like the loyal and practical Fergus, enrich the story with emotional depth and authentic relationships. Towles deftly employs genre conventions and explores broader themes of manipulation, the consequences of knowledge, and the dark side of digital culture. The idea of a secret society and a crime syndicate adds layers of intrigue and danger.  The intricate plot unravels layers of deception, leading to a powerful, climactic showdown. A sharp, thought-provoking examination of technology’s dark side and the elusive nature of truth, this taut thriller grips you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final page.

***