With twelve books over twelve months, the Conspiracy 365 series (Scholastic, 2010) by Gabrielle Lord offers an adrenalin-pumping mix of action, conspiracy theory, mystery and espionage for tween and teen readers. Set in Australia and written by one of Australia’s top selling crime authors, Conspiracy 365 takes readers on a thrilling adventure with a new book each month and a year-long competition with regular prizes.
Conspiracy 365
It all begins on New Years Eve when 15-year-old Callum Ormond is accosted by a stranger who tells him that he must hide for the next twelve months or risk becoming a fugitive as he is hunted by the same people who killed his father.
Unaware that there was anything sinister about his father’s death, Callum tries to ignore the strange man’s warning only to find himself trapped in a sinking boat a little more than twelves hours later. After almost drowning, Callum’s life reels from one disaster to the next until he finally goes into hiding in an attempt to keep himself and his family safe.
Using his best friend Boges as his contact with the outside world, Callum tries to discover who killed his father and solve the mystery of the Ormond Singularity from clues hidden in drawings that his father left for him. As time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult for Callum to know who he can trust and what he should believe.
The clock is ticking and Callum is powerless to halt the countdown.
Non-Stop Action and Intrigue
From the initial scenes with the crazy stranger and the boat accident in shark-infested waters during a storm, Callum Ormond moves from one challenge to the next, never sure who he can trust and always fearing for his safety and the safety of his family.
Confused, scared and alone, Callum tries to solve the mystery of his father’s murder. There are few opportunities to rest or relax between crises as he tries to balance remaining hidden with the need to find more clues to explain why his life is in danger.
Lord maintains the sense of urgency with an almost constant series of crises and disasters. Callum is constantly on the run and his safety is threatened by more than one group. While the books often rely on a string of coincidences to maintain the pace of the story, they are nevertheless an enjoyable and engaging combination of mystery, adventure and thriller to keep readers turning pages.
There is some violence within the story as Callum is attacked and pursued by mobsters and unknown threats. It is worth noting that the series is in the style of a serialised novel and as such there is little resolution of issues within each novel with the action and mystery intentionally carried over to the next book in the series until the final resolution in December 2010.
Conspiracy 365
Readers can visit the Conspiracy 365 website, where they can register and enter the regular competitions (open to residents of Australia and New Zealand aged between 9 – 16 years).
The website includes sneak peeks at titles from the series, competitions, a countdown to the next book release date, online games and other Conspiracy 365 information.
Australian Author Gabrielle Lord
One of Australia’s best selling adult crime writers, Gabrielle Lord is an award-winning author of 14 adult crime titles and one YA novel in addition to the Conspiracy 365 series. Her novel Fortress was made into a movie starring Rachel Ward and Whipping Boy was made into a telemovie starring Sigrid Thornton.
With five more Conspiracy 365 books still to be released (August – December), Lord also currently has plans for another three adult crime novels and two YA novels.
High Adrenalin YA Action Series
With non-stop crises and co-incidences, Conspiracy 365 is an ideal series for readers who enjoy plot twists, unexpected complications and the intrigue of an unsolved mystery. Suitable for readers aged 11+, there are currently seven books available in the series (January – July) with an additional book to be released each month until December 2010.
Older readers may find the regular time updates and constant co-incidences distracting and sensitive younger readers (9 – 11) might find the threatened and actual (mild) violence disturbing. Aside from these minor concerns, the series delivers on the promise of an action-packed countdown and unfolding mystery carrying readers through 12 months of suspense.
Review copy details:
- Conspiracy 365: January (978-1-74169-033-0, 185 pages)
- Conspiracy 365: February (978-1-74169-034-7, 183 pages)
- Conspiracy 365: March (978-1-74169-035-4, 181 pages)
- Conspiracy 365: April (978-1-74169-036-1, 181 pages)
- Conspiracy 365: May (978-1-74169-037-8, 181 pages)
- Conspiracy 365: June (978-1-74169-038-5, 181 pages)
- Conspiracy 365: July (978-1-74169-319-5, 181 pages)
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