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Double Helix Case Files #4
Carnival Tricks
NOTE: Alternate cover edition for ASIN B00U0TCYXC.
In a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, Kyle Norwood is an honest-to-God human and proud of it. His deadly skills come from hard work and not genetic sleight of hand. An easy mission to protect two Proficere Labs scientists turns into a shoot-out that leaves a scientist and a federal agent dead. Worse, the research data the scientists were carrying disappears.
In a world where human derivatives are hated and feared, Sofia Rios is almost human. When a fight during her waitressing shift turns fatal, a dying scientist launches her into the shady world of scientific espionage. The unwilling trustee of research that people would kill to obtain, Sofia turns to the man who steps out of the shadows to protect her, even though he appears as dangerous and disreputable as the people who hunt her.
Together, Sofia and Kyle must unravel the truth behind the illicit information she carries before one or both of them are killed. Their mutual attraction sparkles, but the spark could just as easily become an explosion if Kyle ever finds out that Sofia is a despised telekinetic.
In a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, Kyle Norwood is an honest-to-God human and proud of it. His deadly skills come from hard work and not genetic sleight of hand. An easy mission to protect two Proficere Labs scientists turns into a shoot-out that leaves a scientist and a federal agent dead. Worse, the research data the scientists were carrying disappears.
In a world where human derivatives are hated and feared, Sofia Rios is almost human. When a fight during her waitressing shift turns fatal, a dying scientist launches her into the shady world of scientific espionage. The unwilling trustee of research that people would kill to obtain, Sofia turns to the man who steps out of the shadows to protect her, even though he appears as dangerous and disreputable as the people who hunt her.
Together, Sofia and Kyle must unravel the truth behind the illicit information she carries before one or both of them are killed. Their mutual attraction sparkles, but the spark could just as easily become an explosion if Kyle ever finds out that Sofia is a despised telekinetic.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2015
10 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Jade Kerrion
79 books187 followersJade Kerrion, an award-winning author, got her start in fan fiction. She developed a loyal reader base with her fan fiction series based on the MMORPG Guild Wars. She was accused of keeping her readers up at night, distracting them from work, housework, homework, and (far worse), from actually playing Guild Wars.
And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time.
She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)
And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time.
She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 19, 2018
Carnival Tricks is an action-packed book in the series written by Jade Kerrion. I really enjoy how the author keeps adding these case files that fill in the gaps to the Double Helix Collection books. This one is yet another well written book, which is packed full of action. The pace is again very good, yet there is not a second where there is not something happening, which makes this book feel a bit fast paced.
I really liked Sofia in this book. She is a very stand up kind of character how is very likable. She struggles with the July 4th incidence, but doesn’t let that stop her from trying to do the right thing, even though it is clear she is in it way over her head! Poor Kyle, he had no idea what he was up against but finds out quickly. He is not your typical strong male lead, but was definitely very likable with his flaws and all. I think it was his flaws that made him more likable and how he had to work through some of them.
This was not my most favorite book in the series but it was very well written and did give more insight on what is going on with my favorite character Danyael.
I really liked Sofia in this book. She is a very stand up kind of character how is very likable. She struggles with the July 4th incidence, but doesn’t let that stop her from trying to do the right thing, even though it is clear she is in it way over her head! Poor Kyle, he had no idea what he was up against but finds out quickly. He is not your typical strong male lead, but was definitely very likable with his flaws and all. I think it was his flaws that made him more likable and how he had to work through some of them.
This was not my most favorite book in the series but it was very well written and did give more insight on what is going on with my favorite character Danyael.
August 27, 2017
I read this as part of the Myths & Magic collection - human mercs and mutants make for an interesting world. The leading lady, who is the wrong place at the wrong time when a dangerous exchange of secret information goes wrong, but she is great - practical, moral, and more powerful than she realizes - her small 'talent' makes a big difference. This was book four but worked fine as a standalone, except that I had to go out and get two of the earlier books a prequel free thru the author's site and book one free on kindle.
August 29, 2017
3.5⭐️ This one is actually several books into the series, but there is enough info to allow you to read it as a standalone without gritting your teeth at what you've missed. And it's good enough that I'm probably going to go read the rest of the series too ;)
March 19, 2018
I enjoyed this book. It was a good read - I read the reviews about it being part of a series - perhaps, but I found it ok to read on its own.
March 2, 2020
Another intriguing thriller
I really enjoyed this thriller by Jade Kerrion. I can't wait to read the next book in the Double Helix series.
I really enjoyed this thriller by Jade Kerrion. I can't wait to read the next book in the Double Helix series.
April 8, 2015
A mutant with telekinesis fit only for carnival tricks joins forces with a mercenary to keep a chemical weapon out of the hands of a shady genetics company and a South American cartel.
Sophia Rios is a first year nursing student, who makes ends meet by working as a bar maid. She is also a mutant, with the ability to nudge and manipulate things, but not much else. One evening, whilst working at the bar, she spots her favorite customer, Kyle Norwood, a trim military type of guy with rugged good looks, but has a bad habit of ignoring her signals. What Sophia doesn’t know is that Kyle is a mercenary working for Three Fates, a company founded by international assassin, Zara Itani. Kyle is there looking after to geneticists who are meeting a potential buyer for their new research. Unfortunately, it turns out that the buyers are a Colombian drug cartel known as Rue Marcha, and just to make things more difficult, the IGEC (International Genetics and Ethics Council) agents are there to bust the Rue Marcha. During the inevitable shoot out, one of the geneticists is shot, but before he dies, he injects Sophia with a microchip. Suddenly, Sophia finds herself a person of interest for both the IGEC and Rue Marcha. Lucky for her, Kyle Norwood is on hand to protect her whilst she works out what is so important about the chip in her arm. Trouble is, she likes Kyle and he hates mutants.
Carnival Tricks is a spin off story from Kerrion’s Double Helix mutant saga and as such, takes place within the same world of mutants and derivatives as the original series. Two of my favorite characters, the alpha empath, Danyael Sabre and Zara Itani also make a few cameo appearances, as well as Xin, the NSA analyst, but for most part, the story follows Sophia and Kyle. Whilst this best serves the purpose of the story, I would have preferred a lot more of Danyael and Zara, with their star-crossed lovers from polar opposite attitudes to life. That’s not to say that Kyle and Sophia aren’t bad characters, far from it; Kyle is a former military man turned mercenary who finds himself attracted to the small but determined Sophia, but he dislikes the fact that mutants and derivatives have an unfair advantage compare to regular humans. Sophia is plagued by the brutal murder of her parents, and although feels out of her depths, is determined to get to the bottom of why a drug cartel is interested in genetic research. In many ways, they are similar to Zara and Danyael, but are paler shadows of those two characters.
Plot wise, its standard Kerrion fair, which means lots of tension and drama, with the action always on boil. There is a lot of good interplay between the lead characters and some sexual tension, which helps keep an interesting dynamic going between them.
This isn’t a full blown Double Helix novel and never pretends to be. What you get is an expansion of the world of Double Helix and a few more characters to the stable of beloved characters introduced in the main novels. Carnival Tricks is an interesting side show that will keep you hungry for more mutant high jinx from Kerrion and in the mean time gives the reader a quick fix of Danyael and Zara goodness.
Sophia Rios is a first year nursing student, who makes ends meet by working as a bar maid. She is also a mutant, with the ability to nudge and manipulate things, but not much else. One evening, whilst working at the bar, she spots her favorite customer, Kyle Norwood, a trim military type of guy with rugged good looks, but has a bad habit of ignoring her signals. What Sophia doesn’t know is that Kyle is a mercenary working for Three Fates, a company founded by international assassin, Zara Itani. Kyle is there looking after to geneticists who are meeting a potential buyer for their new research. Unfortunately, it turns out that the buyers are a Colombian drug cartel known as Rue Marcha, and just to make things more difficult, the IGEC (International Genetics and Ethics Council) agents are there to bust the Rue Marcha. During the inevitable shoot out, one of the geneticists is shot, but before he dies, he injects Sophia with a microchip. Suddenly, Sophia finds herself a person of interest for both the IGEC and Rue Marcha. Lucky for her, Kyle Norwood is on hand to protect her whilst she works out what is so important about the chip in her arm. Trouble is, she likes Kyle and he hates mutants.
Carnival Tricks is a spin off story from Kerrion’s Double Helix mutant saga and as such, takes place within the same world of mutants and derivatives as the original series. Two of my favorite characters, the alpha empath, Danyael Sabre and Zara Itani also make a few cameo appearances, as well as Xin, the NSA analyst, but for most part, the story follows Sophia and Kyle. Whilst this best serves the purpose of the story, I would have preferred a lot more of Danyael and Zara, with their star-crossed lovers from polar opposite attitudes to life. That’s not to say that Kyle and Sophia aren’t bad characters, far from it; Kyle is a former military man turned mercenary who finds himself attracted to the small but determined Sophia, but he dislikes the fact that mutants and derivatives have an unfair advantage compare to regular humans. Sophia is plagued by the brutal murder of her parents, and although feels out of her depths, is determined to get to the bottom of why a drug cartel is interested in genetic research. In many ways, they are similar to Zara and Danyael, but are paler shadows of those two characters.
Plot wise, its standard Kerrion fair, which means lots of tension and drama, with the action always on boil. There is a lot of good interplay between the lead characters and some sexual tension, which helps keep an interesting dynamic going between them.
This isn’t a full blown Double Helix novel and never pretends to be. What you get is an expansion of the world of Double Helix and a few more characters to the stable of beloved characters introduced in the main novels. Carnival Tricks is an interesting side show that will keep you hungry for more mutant high jinx from Kerrion and in the mean time gives the reader a quick fix of Danyael and Zara goodness.
April 18, 2015
Carnival Tricks is a special book it can be read as a stand alone or as an introduction to the Double Helix World. This science fiction universe that Jade Kerrion created seemed to me like a mix between Gattaca (loved that movie) and The X-Men. Like in Gattaca creating the "Perfect child" through genetic manipulation has become the thing to do, what no one expected was that these in vitro children would gain psychic powers. The Genetic Revolution has sprouted purest calling them Human Derivatives, and mutants like in X-Men they are categorized and rated the really powerful ones are rated Alpha and are some of the most hated and feared. Kyle Norwood is 100% human and proud of it everything he has and done has been by his own merit and hard work. Now working for The Three Fates he is charged with protecting two scientist as they make a transaction. Everything goes SNAFU and ends up in a firefight between a ruthless South American cartel and the IGEC (International Genetics and Ethics Council). Sofia Rios is just barely human, the telekinetic powers don't even register on any scale. Working and going to school Sofia gets caught in the middle of firefight at her job when she tries to save one of the men who got shot she was injected with a microchip. Sofia uncertain about what is on the chip isn't just about to hand it over to a drug cartel, IGEC, or even Proficere Labs. Kyle might not like her decision but he will stand by her and protect her with his life, but when he discovers the truth that Sofia is one of those "mutants" that he hates so much can he look past it and maybe see things instead of how he thinks he sees them.
You can't see me but I'm doing the grabby hands gesture. I want all the other and the ones to come. I love Sci-Fi and this world is so in depth and intricate it ties you up in knots, it digs in and spreads it roots into your brain not letting you go. I read Jade's contemporary first and love 'em and when I saw sci-fi was also a genre she wrote in I knew I had to read them and oh boy I love it.
ARC REVIEW
You can't see me but I'm doing the grabby hands gesture. I want all the other and the ones to come. I love Sci-Fi and this world is so in depth and intricate it ties you up in knots, it digs in and spreads it roots into your brain not letting you go. I read Jade's contemporary first and love 'em and when I saw sci-fi was also a genre she wrote in I knew I had to read them and oh boy I love it.
ARC REVIEW
February 27, 2017
In a world where genetically mutant humans are the norm, Sofia’s telekinesis skills are too mild to be called anything but Carnival Tricks. Waitressing while going to nursing school, Sofia finds herself in the middle of an illegal exchange of data between some scientists and the mob. During the exchange she is shot up with the microchip and finds herself on the receiving end of a massive manhunt-for her. Kyle Norwood, hired to protect the scientists stays one step ahead of the mob in finding Sofia and ends up helping her keep the information out of the wrong hands.
This novel was a very interesting mix of science fiction and romance. The reader is let in on the secret that Sofia is a very mild genetically mutated human. Kyle is 100% human and is very prejudiced against anyone who isn’t. So you have a book filled with a couple different kinds of tension. There’s a mad race against the mob to keep the data out of the wrong hands and then there is the attraction between Sofia and Kyle, but Kyle doesn’t know she’s a mutant. Both plots were well played and I liked how Kyle’s prejudice was dealt with in a realistic way, even in a science fiction plot.
How would you like to be able to kill or heal with a touch or throw busses down the street with your mind? The other characters in this book gave this world an interesting edge and I’m excited to see their stories play out. Next up? Another book from the Genetic Revolution! ❤❤❤❣
This novel was a very interesting mix of science fiction and romance. The reader is let in on the secret that Sofia is a very mild genetically mutated human. Kyle is 100% human and is very prejudiced against anyone who isn’t. So you have a book filled with a couple different kinds of tension. There’s a mad race against the mob to keep the data out of the wrong hands and then there is the attraction between Sofia and Kyle, but Kyle doesn’t know she’s a mutant. Both plots were well played and I liked how Kyle’s prejudice was dealt with in a realistic way, even in a science fiction plot.
How would you like to be able to kill or heal with a touch or throw busses down the street with your mind? The other characters in this book gave this world an interesting edge and I’m excited to see their stories play out. Next up? Another book from the Genetic Revolution! ❤❤❤❣
April 29, 2015
Carnival-Tricks is the story of Kyle, a human in a world of genetically engineered super humans, and Sofia, and mildly modified human with very limited enhanced abilities. It follows their trials and tribulations as they seek to protect the world from an unknown danger than was entrusted to them by sheer accident. They encounter a cast of morally ambiguous, and some outright non-moralistic, characters that add intrigue and danger to the mystery surrounding. Add in a romantic subplot and commentary on outdated discriminatory ideals.
Overall, the story is interesting. There is mystery and suspense wrapped around a complex scientific plot device. I think that for me, that wasn’t the hardest thing to keep straight. The futuristic technologies and enhancements to our world were are to imagine and therefore, the suspenseful scenes lose a little in translation. The characters, however, are enjoyable. Kyle and Sophia have a alpha male softened by the ethical high-ground mentality of the heroine dynamic. I wish there was a little more focus on the relationship between Danyeal and Zara as they don’t seem to mesh whatsoever yet somehow do.
Overall, the story is interesting. There is mystery and suspense wrapped around a complex scientific plot device. I think that for me, that wasn’t the hardest thing to keep straight. The futuristic technologies and enhancements to our world were are to imagine and therefore, the suspenseful scenes lose a little in translation. The characters, however, are enjoyable. Kyle and Sophia have a alpha male softened by the ethical high-ground mentality of the heroine dynamic. I wish there was a little more focus on the relationship between Danyeal and Zara as they don’t seem to mesh whatsoever yet somehow do.
November 17, 2016
Sophia is working as a barmaid and putting herself through nursing until the night that Kyle walked into the bar with 2 other men. Sophie knew he wasn't just another drinker and the men with him seemed to be waiting for someone. She gets caught up in the gunfight when a drugs cartel comes looking for them and Sophie gets caught up in Kyle's world when she realises the chip they are all looking for was injected into her arm. The thrilling cat and mouse game that follows is fast paced and you get to know more about the characters and find out why Kyle hates mutants and Sophie doesn't tell him she can do telekinesis and when he finds out what will happen to her as he is guarding her well at the moment but who knows what will happen when he finds out.
This book was really surprising, I don't often foray into science fiction but this was part of a prize I won. I loved the characters and the plot and I understand there are more of the Helix books so I will definately be looking out for them.
April 24, 2015
Sofia is working as a bar maid while going to school. She wasn't quite human. Kyle was human, a mercenary working for Three Fates. While Kyle was with the geneticists Bert at the bar waiting for the man to buy his new research. Who turns out to be a drug cartel Rue. The International genetics and Ethics Council show up to arrest the man and a shoot out occurs. Sofia tries to help one of the men shot and unbeknownst to her a chip is inserted into her arm. Now she is in the middle of it all while they find out what the chip in her arm means.
The story pretty much is non stop action. Lots of suspense. Sofia finds herself attracted to Kyle but he has this hate thing going on with mutants. The sexual tension is there, to me it takes a secondary position to the actual story line. Overall it is a great book. Well written and some wonderful in depth characters. I haven't read any other books in the series so I wasn't familiar with the characters
The story pretty much is non stop action. Lots of suspense. Sofia finds herself attracted to Kyle but he has this hate thing going on with mutants. The sexual tension is there, to me it takes a secondary position to the actual story line. Overall it is a great book. Well written and some wonderful in depth characters. I haven't read any other books in the series so I wasn't familiar with the characters
May 29, 2015
Kyle Norwood is a human who hates mutants of all types. He works for Zara Itani at the Three Fates Agency and is at a meet with some scientists that have developed a questionable experiment. When the mob and IGEC end up at the same place gunfire erupts and Kyle escapes with the cooler but not the microchip.
Sofia Rios, a low-rate telekinetic, is a waitress at the pub where everything goes wrong and is injected with the microchip by the scientist.
Sofia and Kyle must now work together to figure out what everyone is after while running from both the mob and IGEC. But will Kyle find out the truth about Sofia and that she is a mutant and will that change how he feels?
I enjoyed this book but at parts I found it almost too scientific for me.
Sofia Rios, a low-rate telekinetic, is a waitress at the pub where everything goes wrong and is injected with the microchip by the scientist.
Sofia and Kyle must now work together to figure out what everyone is after while running from both the mob and IGEC. But will Kyle find out the truth about Sofia and that she is a mutant and will that change how he feels?
I enjoyed this book but at parts I found it almost too scientific for me.
November 20, 2022
Like an unexpected guest barging in the party where everyone has a time of their life cracking jokes, I have landed into the middle of the Double Helix Case Files series thanks to Jade Kerrion’s free review copy (for which I am thankful!). I didn’t regret it. Although I didn’t know what happened in books 1-3, I enjoyed Carnival Tricks and its unusual characters in an even more unusual world transformed by the Genetic Revolution. The ending was not my cup of tea, if I want to be honest, but romance fans will love it. So, go for it, ladies and gentlemen!
June 5, 2015
This is my first book by Jade and it wont be my last. I was hooked from the first page. I loved how well the story was written and how well the characters were developed. This is a book that I will be able to read again and again.
June 24, 2015
Jade took me on this thrilling ride with Sophia and Kyle and she kept me turning pages until the end! If you're looking for a five star romantic suspense read, this should be one of your first choices.
August 19, 2016
Absolutely Brilliant Book. Anyone who loves Sci-fi should grab this book.
October 29, 2015
This was a goodreads win. I like the book - would read more in the series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews