Необичайните заподозрени

by Dominic Carrillo, Доминик Карильо, Явор Недев (Translator)

Четиринайсетгодишната Ния оставя зад гърба си елитното си училище, родния си град София и студените си, безразлични родители и се качва на първия международен влак към Берлин. Причината? Добре планирано отмъщение към бившето ѝ гадже. По пътя тя случайно се запознава с възрастния американец Кърт, който има собствени причини да пътува към Берлин… а също и таланта да убива хора, без да иска.

Преплитащите се пътища на младото момиче и стареца ги водят към приключения и финални дестинации, които никой не е очаквал. Но дали всеки ще изпълни първоначалния си план? Или някои планове са правени, за да се провалят?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Coming Of Age, Contemporary, Bulgaria

196 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Dominic Carrillo is a teacher and writer from San Diego, California. TO BE FRANK DIEGO is his debut novel. It follows protagonist Frank Diego on a tragicomic daylong journey through San Diego. THE IMPROBABLE RISE OF PACO JONES is the author's debut YA novel about a biracial 8th grade boy who's dealing with an impossible crush, racial identity, and a host of other teen issues. THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS is an adventurous, heartwarming YA novel set on a train in Eastern Europe. The sequel, NIA & THE DEALER, takes the teen protagonist to California on an unforgettable road trip down the coast. Carrillo is currently working on his next novel and teaching in Bulgaria.

Reviews

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story!
Two people, very different people, meet under unique circumstances and become travel companions. What happens to them along the way is what has you turning page after page. Nia, a stupid teenager, gets a hair-brained idea and literally runs with it. Poor Kurt, and elderly man, has to reel her in and watch over her. their bumps in the road are scary and exciting.
It's just a well written tale that I believe anyone who reads it will enjoy it.


4.5/5

[Dominic Carrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

from ReadersFavorite.com, 5-star review

“Dominic Carrillo begins the story with a crisis moment, a conflict that is both emotional and physical — the attempted rape of Nia. The reader wants to know what happens next from the moment they meet the characters... The chapters are short and succinct, each showcasing the POV of one of the protagonists. The author’s gift for suspense is one of the things that will keep readers leafing nonstop through the pages of The Unusual Suspects. One begins to enjoy the characters the moment they meet them, and the enjoyment grows with each sentence, each paragraph, and each chapter. There won’t be any stopping once you start reading this story, because it is told in a way that compels you to keep reading. It is intriguing, entertaining, and delightful, with characters that are real and appealing.”

[Петър Панчев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Детективи на живота
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)

Когато отидох да видя Доминик Карильо, съзрях един симпатичен човек с необичайна аура, ако мога така да се изразя. Ако някой беше казал, че това е учителят му, веднага щях да кажа: „Готин учител!“ и да се заслушам по-внимателно. Така или иначе той се представи и всичко нататък продължи доста непринудено и забавно. Да, мислех си, че книгата му също е толкова забавна – просто ще я прочета един следобед, когато имам няколко свободни часа. Но първите страници бяха стряскащи. Бях в необичайното положение да се пренастроя или да я оставя за друг път. Виждам едно четиринайсетгодишно момиче, което е хукнало да „спасява“ любовта си от съперницата, но се сблъсква челно с живота извън къщи. „Необичайните заподозрени“ („Сиела“, 2019, с превод на Явор Недев) е като мисъл под линия, за онези тъмни кътчета, в които не се втренчваш често и отминаваш бързо, понеже си мислиш, че си научил достатъчно и нищо не може да ти попречи да изживееш живота както сам си знаеш. Вътре в тялото има пренавита пружина и в един момент освободената енергия те запраща във фантастичния свят от представите ти. Достатъчно е да погледнеш хлапачката Ния в очите, за да разбереш освободените емоции на един подрастващ човек, който бяга с пълни сили към свобода си. Едно бягство, което ще доведе до необичайно приключение.
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)

[Sve · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a year of having this book I finally sat down to read it.
I don't have much experience with YA books, but I got kind of glued to the "The Unusual suspects", turning page after page to see what will happen to the unusual couple - 14 year old Niya and 89 year young Kurt. The novel is a lovely tale of the struggles and doubts of growing up, navigating the complex family relationships, bridging the gap between generations. It felt a bit like a train ride in the night with the final destination unknown - it is the journey that fills your heart and makes life worth living.

[Ники Узунов · Rating 4 out of 5]

Интересна книга за живота,семейните отношения и колко егоисти можем да бъдем..и всъщност дали крайната цел наистина си струва когато можеш да срещнеш един необикновен човек и да научиш много.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little skeptical of the UNusual Suspects when I learned that one of the two protagonists was an 89-year-old man. I thought to myself, “Ugh, some old guy on a train who meets a 14-year-old. What’s she do, help him find his glasses?” Well let me honestly tell you, this was a novel that I simply could not put down, and in the end, Kurt ended up being my favorite character.

I’ve read my fair share of YA novels, and the UNusual Suspects is completely different than what I have read before. I love the fact that a large chunk of the story takes place on a train in Eastern Europe as opposed to a classroom, or some other generic adolescent setting. I also love the fact that Carrillo is able to bring to life two characters that are generations apart, but all the while still believable as people.

Carrillo hooked me from the start with this tale that seems not too far fetched. The plot, along with the alternating perspectives and periodic humor, kept me wanting to read more, and ultimately, led me to finishing the novel in a day.

This is the 2nd YA novel of Carrillo’s that I have read, and the UNusual Suspects has sealed it. Carrillo is now one of my favorite YA novelists, and I cannot wait to read his next work. While I wait for his 3rd YA novel, do yourself a favor, purchase a copy of the UNusual Suspects today.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Необичайните заподозрени” (изд. „Сиела”) бе книга, за която подозирах, че ще е необичайна. И тя наистина се оказа такава. И то далеч не само заради факта, че Доминик Карильо е избрал четиринадесет годишната му героиня да е родом от София. На моменти с финес и чувство за хумор, на моменти чрез бруталност и без заобикалки, Карильо разказва съвременна Young Adult история, която макар и да се развива във международния влак по пътя към Белни, все пак отказва да се движи по предначертани коловози. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Carrillo’s best book yet - a fun read that alternates voices between a precocious, wise, lost fourteen-year-old girl and a wise, precocious, lost eighty-nine-year-old man. Their shared journey across Europe combines history, literature and meditations on many forms of love. It’s a page-turner in that there’s a healthy dose of suspense, but also because it’s a delight to watch their friendship form.

[Rachel White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously finished this book in a day! The characters were so well developed and I loved the relationship between the two! Even though Nia was young & stubborn, I fully understood why she was acting the way she was. I didn’t feel like the author exaggerated her characteristics or even made her unlikeable when you consider her background! I loved the storyline of the book. So well written! I was very impressed!

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Kyle Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

No

[Nad(t) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Diane Winger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually avoid saying that I couldn't put a book down, but I read this touching, quirky, intriguing, and sometimes funny novel in a single day -- meals and other responsibilities be damned! I was particularly drawn to Kurt, the "spritely" 89-year-old man who finds his life intertwined with young Nia, who desperately needs a stand-in great grandfather to help guide her through her remarkable response to being shunned by a boy. This story is a delight.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Reading?

This was a most entertaining, heartwarming and enjoyable reading experience. The interaction between the two main characters was wonderful. This is a must read!

[Margarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride! The Unusual Suspects is a story about finding yourself & true friendships in the most unlikely places if you just leave a seat & your heart open.
Dominic Carrillo is a must read author for me! His books are coming-of–age stories for a new generation with a classic feel. They are amazing!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an adventurous and heartwarming story about two very different stangers meeting in an unlikely circumstance and sharing a journey across eastern Europe. The story alternates between 14 year old Nia's and 89 year old Kurt's perspectives. Oh, and there's a dead guy too.
I especially loved all the references to Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo" and Kurt's character. I just wish it was a bit longer.

[Netanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unusual Suspects is an unusually excellent book. Unusual due to the unlikely friendship that develops between two equally unlikely characters - a 14-year-old Bulgarian-American runaway on a desperate teenaged quest over a boy, and an 89-year old widower. They need each other desperately, the girl's zeal and quest for adventure, fueled by Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, and the old man's steady counsel and life lessons. Additionally, the unusual setting of a cross-country train trip, from Bulgaria to Germany, was inspirational. Definitely makes me want to renew my passport.

Excellent coming of age story. Worth the time.

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Книга, която би била подходяща както за деца, така и за тийнеджъри и възрастни. За всекиго по нещо в плетеницата от шеметни случки, нелепи ситуации и абсурдни моменти с Кърт, 89 годишен старец, и Ния- момичето, което е на 14,но се държи много по-зряло.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Тази книга е много завладяваща. Бързо се чете, защото главите са кратки, но увлекателни. Историята на четиринадесет годишната Ния и почти деветдесет годишния Кърт е изключително добра комбинация. Двамата откриват във всеки една разбираемост и допълват празните дупки в сърцето си. Накрая на историята и двамата научават важни уроци, които има помагат да открият нов смисъл в живота. В този роман тсе вижда как един призив за отмъщение на младото момиче към бившето си гадже, всъщност ще я научи на ценни житейски уроци за самата нея. А как срещата с младото момиче, кара дядо Кърт да заобича живота си. Това е книгата, която може буквално за един ден да се прочете, без да искаш да я оставиш, защото е много завладяваща.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review and more on my blog.The Book Return Blog

I received this book for free from Author (via YA Books Central) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Fourteen year old Bulgarian, Nia, is attacked while taking a train across Europe (she is going to face her cheating ex-boyfriend in Berlin). She is rescued by Kurt, an unlikely hero.  Kurt is a eighty-nine WWII American war veteran.

 

The premise of this story fascinated me from the start. I mean how often do you read a story about an eighty-nine year old man and a fourteen year old girl who become international crime suspects. It also is an amazing idea to flip points of view between Kurt and Nia. It is interesting to see the same situations through the eyes of two vastly different people.

 

I really love the personal and historical background that is sprinkled throughout  'The Unusual Suspects'. I really fell in love both Nia and Kurt. The flashback of Kurt's budding romance with his wife is one of the sweetest love stories I have read in a while.  Kurt is one of my favorite characters of all time. He exemplifies the friendship you can develop by getting to know someone who is totally different from yourself. Nia's character shows amazing growth along the trip, both from her own experiences and from spending time with Kurt. It was amazing to see how Kurt and Nia's  relationship as friends developed as the trip progressed. Also, I thought a train ride was an amazing choice of setting for this book. Not only does it give amazing  scenery but is also a unique setting for a young adult novel.

 

This novel is a page turner. 'The Unusual Suspects' made me laugh, smile, and cry.  It gives the reader an enjoyable ride while at the same time giving a lesson in both history and friendship.

 This review was originally posted on The Book return...

[Denis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fiction book called "The Unusual Suspects" which written by Dominic Carrillo. Dominic Carrillo is a very nice author who visited our school this year. He written the book called "Paco Jones" which is also a very interesting book. Now he published the "Unusual Suspects" which is a realistic fiction book. I chose to read this book because I really liked the previous book from Dominic and wanted to see how he did on the second one. Since Dominic visited our school, i got to know him a little more and I started to respect him a lot more. The book is set in a lot of places around the world. Some of the places are Nia's home, Berlin, the trains Nia's been to, Sofia. The central characters are Nia and Kurt. Nia's challenge is to confront her ex boyfriend and Kurt's challenge was to visit his wife who is dead. The characters don't change or evolve a lot but Nia feels life a bit more. The general plot is that Nia is not an sdult and she is traveling duck a long distance to do something which could end up very bad for her. There is no conflict but more of a danger that Nia could get caught. Basically the story is about how Nia id trying to get to her ex and faces a lot of problems and dangers on her way.

The story made me feel stresses because the plot was believable and exciting at some point. The characters seemed real and this is why there were funny and scary bits. The story made me think about the nice people I met in my life and it taught me that I shouldn't give up. My favorite part of the book was when Nia was getting raped. I just really like the book because it is really unusual which makes it very interesting. I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend because I think that my friends wouldn't like this kind of book. The reading range I would give this book is 12-18. The rating i give this book is 10/10.

[Leta ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 ★

This book was easy to read, made me laugh out loud at times & inspired me in ways I didn't expect. I resonate with the MC - Nia & that's also why I found this book great. It gave me hope & left me with good feelings & motivation to continue working on my relationship with my parents since we're not on the best terms.

There's a little something I don't like about the end of this story, but I like irony & tragedy so...
I also love the fact that Nia changed her mindset so much (in a good way) at the end of the adventure.

The characters' appearance isn't described much. That's something I don't really like. BUT the reader can figure out the personality of the characters pretty easy.

However, I didn't get what the author was trying to say sometimes (I read the book in my mother language so it's not because I lack the knowledge to understand it.). The descriptions weren't perfect either.

The book is fast-paced at some parts & more slow-paced at others. I loved the rich dictionary of Carrillo. The humor too :)

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Romace, Adventure, Contemporary
TW: Sexual assault/Rape, Abuse, Kidnapping, Death, Murder
Characters ★★★★★
Writing style ★★★★★
Plot ★★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★★

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book that I finished in one sitting, The Unusual Suspects> is told from the alternating points of view of its two main characters, Nia, a fourteen year old runaway and Kurt, the eighty-nine year old man she met on a train. It includes the energy of the young, the wisdom of the more experienced and the romanticism of Alexander Dumas. Kurt is not the usual hero for a teenage novel, but he is the character that makes it worth reading. They meet when he saves her from being raped in the next cabin, knocking out the attacker with his cane. The man dies and in the pair’s discussions of criminal possibilities, we slowly learn their stories.
Dominic Carrillo is a Middle school teacher and, at times, this reads like a school text or a lesson. The links to Dumas’s Count of Monte Cristo > are made very obvious, but, while it initially grated on my reading, I decided by the end that I quite liked it. It fitted well with the character of Nia, who was reading the novel on the train and it added to the satisfaction of the ending. If I was ever to teach Monte Cristo, I would use this as an allied text.

[LeTresa Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly cute

I won this book through Goodreads and I'm so happy that I did. It was a sweet story about an unlikely pair forming a bond over a train ride that would forever link them together in an uncanny way. 14 year old Nia planned to runaway from home to get revenge on her ex boyfriend, Alex, and his new found flame, Victoria, and teach them both a lesson in love. 89 year old Kurt Chavez was on a mission to end his life and reunite with his true love, Maria, in the afterlife. When the pair met on the train when Nia's screams from being attacked in the car next to Kurt's, an experience of a lifetime would unfold before them. Fueled by the story of Monte Cristo, Nia leads Kurt and herself on an unforgettable journey. This is a story of love, heartbreak, kindness, strategy, wisdom, family and it teaches its readers about what's important in life.

[Candi Sary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Unusual Suspects 14-year-old Nia and 89-year-old Kurt turn a seemingly simple storyline—runaway girl meets old man on a train—into a highly entertaining and deeply profound YA novel. There’s action and comedy and surprises along the way, but the real beauty of the novel is its personality and its heart. Going back and forth between Nia’s and Kurt’s perspectives, Carrillo offers an honest, authentic look at life through both young and old eyes. The nostalgic old man is focused on the past while the impassioned young girl, on a serious mission, is occupied by the future. Their long ride on the train has them spending time together in the present. And that’s where they both begin to find clarity. This is a heartwarming story about an unlikely and unforgettable friendship.

[Stefan P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is relatable in so many ways. Nia is really put into "the average teen" and it really suits her character. Kurt struggles with new technology and always gives advice, just like my grandfather. All of the little Eastern European details throughout the novel make you sure that the author has lived in Bulgaria and experienced what you will once you read this book. The Unusual Suspects changes perspectives and who is telling the story after each paragraph from Nia to Kurt and vice versa. The plot is unique and unpredictable and that made this a really fun read. Great Job, Mr. Carillo.

[Sarah Mirlohi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it is short and I read it in a day. I needed a break from the current series I was reading and this was the perfect break! Its a page turning story of 2 unlikely people, and having the most unexpected adventure. I enjoyed the ending as much as I enjoyed the story. The plot was well developed, the characters realistic, and thought out. It made want to read the Count of Monte Cristo. I cheered on Nia, and cried for Kurt. I love how Nia story was so much more than she realized and Kurt gave so much more than he had expected. A wonderful read for anyone :)

[Nahari Lippman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great book about a bond formed between a run-away rich kid and a somewhat senile old man on a train.

I really enjoyed this book because the Characters are relatable. I could totally understand why Nia did such a crazy thing and I could totally see why Kurts thinks that way as an old man. The great thing about this book is that it's not just for Teens and Young Adults but also for Adults and Parents alike. I mean there are life lessons to pick up on this book regardless of your reading age preference.

[Savina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ния е четиринадесет годишен тинейджър, пренебрегнат от родителите си и бунтуващ се срещу света. Наскоро сърцето ѝ е било разбито и подтикната от Александър Дюма, тя решава да предприеме едно пътешествие в стил "граф Монте Кристо".
По пътя си се среща с Кърт. Осемдесет и девет годишният мъж успява да я измъкне от беда и по този начин се въвлича в невероятното бягство на Ния. Двамата се привързват един към друг, като внучка и дядо.
И докато Ния прави опит да изиграе ролята си като Едмон Дантес, двамата с Кърт се забъркват в ужасни неприятности и научават много важни уроци.

[carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Goodreads Giveaway. I don’t normally read YA but glad I won this book as I thoroughly enjoyed ‘going on the lam’ with Nia and Kurt. The story is a bit far fetched and a friendship between a lovesick 14 year old and an 89 year old man still grieving for his deceased wife of twelve years is more than unlikely but I didn’t care. From the opening scene on the train I wanted to know what happens to Nia and Kurt. Their adventure was worth a few hours of my time.

[Servanttes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow start, that was expected from a book like this, filled to the brim with the adventures of 14 years old Nia and the 'spritely eighty-nine' years old grandpa who saved her from the human trash that decided to target her.
They travel, separate and come together to continue their memorable journey once again in the most UNusual ways.

Amazing what words can do for you when strung up in a row thoughtfully, when you have nothing but the urge to throw yourself into a story.