Book Details:
Book Title: The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey (Book 3 of The F.I.G. Mysteries)
Category: YA Fiction, 208 pages
Genre: Mystery / Fantasy
Publisher: Gauthier Publications, The Hungry Goat Press Imprint
Release date: February 2018
Tour dates: Feb 26 to March 30, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is light profanity and some threat of violence.)
Book Description:
Dara Roux, abandoned when she was seven years old by her mother. Exceptionally gifted in foreign languages. Orphan. Accepted to Yale University.
Mackenzie Yarborough, no record of her parents or where she was born. Exceptionally gifted in math and problem-solving. Orphan. Accepted to MIT.
Jennifer Torres, both parents killed in an automobile accident when she was sixteen. Exceptionally gifted in music and art. Orphan. Accepted to Juilliard.
The three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called, have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending universities where they can further their special talents. This means they will be separated from each other and from Carolina, their much-loved mentor and teacher who is “one of them,” for the first time in their young lives. They vow to try living apart for one semester, in the so-called real world that doesn’t include the orphanage; but if things don’t work out, they will come up with another plan—a plan where they can be together once again.
Dara is invited through Yale University to take part in an exciting archeological project in China. Jennifer, once again visualizing black and white images and the unusual sounds of another cadence that seem to be connected to Mackenzie, is engrossed in creating her next symphony at Juilliard. Mackenzie, because of her genius at problem-solving, is personally chosen by a US Senator to get involved in a mysterious, secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in a small village in China—not too far from where Dara is involved with the archeological site. Once there, however, she finds herself facing a terrifying death from the blood-dripping teeth of an ancient evil dragon. Her best friends, the FIGs and Carolina, rely on their own unique genius and special talents to save her as she discovers the truth of her birth parents.
My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani
I've read several books by Barbara Casey who writes both fiction and non-fiction works. Her F.I.G. Mystery series is about three teenage orphans who are prodigies and call themselves FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius. I read the first book in the series The Cadence of Gypsies and enjoyed it very much. I did not get a chance to read the second book, The Wish Rider but I just finished the third one The Clock Flower.
Because I read the first book and had already been introduced to the three FIGs, Dara, Mackenzie and Jennifer, I did not feel like I had missed much by not reading the second book. The author mentioned the events in that book throughout the pages of this one and so I knew what was going on. In this third instalment, the three girls have graduated from the Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women and are each going to start on their separate learning paths by attending different universities. But once again, adventure awaits them.
When Mackenzie, the math genius, is invited to be a part of a secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in China, it all ties in to her birth parents. Connected to this is also Dara's research in ancient languages and Jennifer's musical composition involving Chinese instruments. The author ties in the connection between the three girls and their former teacher Carolina as the plots builds up and the mystery intensifies.
Although this is a very quick read, the author manages to build a satisfying mystery that involves the girls genius skills, their close-knit friendship and love for one another, gypsy culture, and some comical elements on the mischievous nature of these girls. Although this book is considered a stand-alone novel, it would be best to read The Cadence of Gypsies where the reader is first introduced to the FIGs to have a better understanding of all the secondary characters that are also present in this novel. There is definitely a connecting thread throughout all three books.
This YA novel would appeal to readers who like mystery, gypsy culture and books about friendships. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.
To read more reviews, please visit Barbara Casey's page on iRead Book Tours.
Connect with the author: Website
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To read more reviews, please visit Barbara Casey's page on iRead Book Tours.
About the Author:
Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.
Connect with the author: Website
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