Lost Bullet (Traces) [Paperback]

Malcolm Rose (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2005 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Traces (Book 2)

Recently qualified as a forensic investigator, Luke Harding is assigned to the slums of London, where he and Malc investigate a doctor's murder. They find a bullet wound to her head, but rain has washed away the bullet -- and all other clues. As more innocent doctors die, Luke's sleuthing leads him to a mysterious cult called The Visionaries. With no time to lose, Luke must infiltrate the sect and find the culprit before the bizarre shooting spree becomes an all-out massacre.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. The plot may not be entirely watertight, but fans of melodramatic crime dramas will suck up this rain-soaked page-turner in the Traces series. Set in a decrepit alternate or future London where whites are a persecuted minority, the story features teenage forensic investigator Luke Harding and his robot sidekick. Called on to look into a doctor's murder, Luke finds himself trailing a serial killer into a world of slums, exotic snakes, and an illegal Brown Supremacist cult that meets in the decaying Underground. While folding in plenty of action and on-stage violence, Rose calls on his background as a chemistry professor to provide specific scent and residue clues, and gives Luke an amusingly literal-minded robot companion, a clever foe, and a subplot involving a love interest before wrapping things up with a dose of just deserts. The offbeat but well-envisioned locales bode well for future episodes. See Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman on p.1796 for another take on a society where minority roles are reversed. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Children's Literature
This title's likable hero and fast-paced action will hook most mystery readers instantly. Furthermore, the combination of Luke's entertaining antics and the unusual forensic details should help get even reluctant readers interested.

 

School Library Journal
This is a suspenseful, thoughtful, and humorous addition to the series.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (April 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753458306
• ISBN-13: 978-0753458303
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,990,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good adventure that is feasible, September 18, 2005

By 

Gary H. Cassel "Flamingnet Teen Book Reviews" (Baltimore, MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost Bullet (Traces) (Paperback)

In book two of the Traces series, we re-join Luke Harding, a forensic investigator, and his robotic sidekick in London. The city has fallen into disrepair and roaming wild animals are reclaiming the city. Amid all this chaos, a war between brown and white people rages. A white boy named Owen is shot and is aided at a hospital. His doctor ends up shot soon after treating him. Is this a brown vs. white crime? Is she killed because she's a doctor? Is this one of the random crimes that plagues London so often? With the bullet washed away in the rain, Luke must infiltrate one of the most secretive organizations in London to find out the truth.

The book was really good. It requires you to examine your own morals and choose someone with whom to agree. It's a wonderful mystery story almost impossible to anticipate with every new twist set against a haunting and ominous London. There is a point in the book where I guarantee your palms will sweat and you will block everything else out. A fast-paced story coupled with true forensic techniques makes this a must-read for anyone who favors .

Reviewed by a student reviewer for Flamingnet Book Reviews

www.flamingnet.com

Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lost Bullet, April 17, 2006

By 

K. Arlington - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost Bullet (Traces) (Paperback)

This book is suitable for middle school grades. It's about Forensic Inspector Luke Harding, and his Mobile Aid to Law and Crime(Malc), investigate murders in a future London. The case gets much bigger when F.I Harding figures out that it is a serial killer and connects related crimes. The killer killed 3 doctors, and 3 "pairing" committee members He connects this to The World Church of Eternal Vision. The killer is a member of the church, but who? In the book, Luke uses this connection to catch the killer but I won't reveal the name in case you want to enjoy this book someday.

I really enjoyed this book because of the desriptive clues and the heart-pounding suspense. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. But its not for people with weak stomaches.

4.0 out of 5 stars Lost Bullet, April 28, 2008

By 

Belinda Strebel "Streebs Class" (IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Traces: Lost Bullet (Paperback)

Lost Bullet

Malcolm Rose

Late on a rainy night sixteen-year-old investigator Luke Harding gets summoned to the murder scene of a female doctor. He and his sidekick arrive at the hospital crime scene late at night where the doctors limp body had been laying where she got shot. The downpour washed all sources of evidence down the drains. Making this murder very hard to solve. Will Luke and Malc be able to solve the crime before more are committed?
Some of the things that I really loved about this book were the great use of descriptive words. Another thing is the way all the different crimes committed in the book fit together very well. I also noticed the two main characters in the book are in a relationship. One last thing is that the characters have relationship problems on the side of the main conflict, making the book more interesting.
I would recommend this book to people that like crime and action. You also have to be a person that is patient because these books start off slow but then get better and better as they go on.

By: Mike H.