In his final confrontation with the Virals, the Gamemaster displays a nihilistic worldview and is revealed to have gone mad after having 'one bad day', like the Joker's portrayal in The Killing Joke. He's a sadistic Faux Affably Evil (in his Simon Rome and Eric Marchant personas) Psychopathic Manchild with a sinister high-pitched laugh, Monster Clown motif, penchant for killing with poisons or death traps and a love of the colour purple.

Practically Joker: Code's Big Bad, the Gamemaster, has so many Jokerish traits you can't help but wonder if Kathy Reich had the Harlequin of Hate on the brain.

The Nose Knows: Tory, when flaring, to the point where she can smell emotions.

Team Pet: Cooper the wolfdog, who was the original carrier of the experimental parvovirus.

It goes up to eleven when Tory finds herself able to read the minds of people besides her own pack, at least before they put up mental defenses.

Super Senses: When any of the Virals flare.

Shown Their Work: Reichs often includes details and local lore from the area, such as the story about why Charleston houses are long and narrow.

He's been leaking information to the media and obstructing police work from the inside. Justified in Exposure because one of the cops on the case was the kidnapper.

While they have the strengths and senses of wolf-dogs, they don't actually transform, in fact the only visible change is that their eyes turn yellow once they flare.

Our Werewolves Are Different: They've got different DNA from a rogue strain of canine parvovirus.Missing Mom: Tory's was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver.Home Base: An abandoned Civil War bunker.Faked Kidnapping: The Gable twins, in Exposure.Evil Counterpart: Three of 'em in Terminal:.Continuity Cameo: 'Aunt Tempe' occasionally shows up (usually by phone or email) to help Tory solve a puzzle.The Big Guy: Ben is the strongest when flaring.Badass Crew/ Badass Family: The Virals.Adults Are Useless: Both played straight and averted.‘’Trace Evidence’’, a collection of short e-book stories.When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.Īs the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot-if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.įortunately, they are now more than friends-they're a pack.

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage 'sci-philes' who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina.

Virals series