Agent of chaos by Kami Garcia

Life hasn't been the same for Fox Mulder since his sister Samantha disappeared when she was 8 years old.  His parents have separated and live separate lives - his mother stayed in the family home in Martha's Vineyard, but his father has moved to Washington, DC to be closer to his work.  At seventeen years old Mulder leads an independent but lonely existence, his father is often gone for days at a time and he left behind his friends in Martha's Vineyard.  It's not all bad in DC though, for the first time in years he doesn't have to worry about the whispers about his missing sister, he has been able to start his senior year of high school without the past hanging over him. 

His weird factor is not completely gone though, the other students and teachers know about his photographic memory - and they would think he was even weirder if they knew about his interest (his father calls it his obsession) with serial killers and abnormal psychology.  When he stumbles across a crime scene where a child's body has been discovered, Mulder is the only one who makes the connection between the body and a missing girl.  The children are both 8 years old, and he can't help but make the leap that it might have something to do with his sister Samantha.  As Mulder digs into the case he takes his new bestfriend Gimble and his bestfriend from back home, Phoebe, along for the ride.

I am an undeniable fan of the X-Files and own six books that tie into the original television series and I was a little dubious about picking up Agent of chaos and Devil's advocate because I was more than a little worried that they might mess with the characters or be too different - so I was more than pleasantly surprised to find that I got completely lost in the story.  The expected X-Files moments are there (the CSM, Agent X, sunflower seeds, insomnia, sleeping on the couch) but there was so much more which makes it appeal to a wider audience. 

Even if you haven't seen a single episode of the X-Files this book makes sense and is a thoroughly engaging crime thriller.  There are passing moments that hint at the future to come, but predominantly this book is about a brilliant teenager who tackles a serial killer.  Adults and teenagers alike will enjoy this book, and it adds nicely to the mythology of Fox Mulder and why he is the way he is!  If you read this and want more X-Files novels then try hunting around at your local library or bookstore, or jump online and see if you can find the books written in the 1990's.

If you like this book then try:

• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• The Christopher killer by Alane Ferguson
• The X-Files origins: Devil's advocate by Jonathan Maberry
• X-Files: Ground zero by Kevin J. Anderson
• X-Files: Ruins by Kevin J. Anderson
• X-Files: Antibodies by Kevin J. Anderson
• X-Files: Skin by Ben Mezrich
• X-Files: Whirlwind by Charles Grant
• X-Files: Goblins by Charles Grant

Reviewed by Brilla