The Lab

The Lab by Jack Heath

I loved this write up by Karin Van Heerwaarden.

"Prepare yourself for an adrenalin-filled read because The Lab pulls no punches from beginning to end. First-time novelist Jack Heath tells the story of Agent Six of Hearts, a teenage genetically engineered superhuman secret agent. The Lab is aimed at boys aged 12 and over and Heath will no doubt find an avid fan base in this market. But being a 30-something female didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book. It is sophisticated enough to appeal to an adult audience, even if only the parents of its teen readers.

In the not-too-distant future the City is controlled by ChaoSonic, a power and money hungry organisation. Six of Hearts works for the Deck, one of the few remaining resistance groups, which exists to uphold moral and social values in the City and protect its residents. Six’s perfect mission success rate is at risk when he starts to investigate the Lab, a division of ChaoSonic, of which he is a product.

The Lab is an edgy Artemis Fowl mixed with the parental guidance of Matthew Reilly and the essence of any major sci-fi action movie from the last couple of decades. With the delicacy of a far more seasoned storyteller, Heath manages to address some important social and adolescent issues without being patronising or hitting the reader over the head with his message. And first and foremost this is an action novel; Heath never lets his protagonist linger in reflection for too long before another life and death situation ensues.

Whilst the action scenes are edge-of-your-seat exciting and the plot twists sophisticated The Lab’s greatest strength is its characters. Heath has created an intriguing and complex character in Six but he hasn’t stopped there; the supporting cast has a depth that is surprising for a young adult novel. There’s Kyntak, a boy who shares the same DNA as Six and whose allegiance is uncertain; King, Six’s surrogate father and boss; and Harry, a super-intelligent bot. The many unanswered questions that surround these and other characters suggest that a sequel, if not a series, is planned. Surely Heath isn’t going to stop at just one book and leave his readers hanging.

Heath’s writing is refreshing and his talent for creating interesting and genuine characters will ensure his success in any genre. Whilst The Lab is written for young adults it will appeal to a much wider audience. So if you have a teenage son, nephew or brother, use them as an excuse to get your hands on a copy of The Lab."

If that doesn't make you want to pick it up, I don't know what will.