Evil Genius, by Catherine Jinks

At the age of seven, Cadel Piggott is expelled from school and in trouble with the police for hacking into computer systems and creating chaos. His adoptive parents take him to see psychologist Thaddeus Roth, whose guidance they hope will help Cadel become a happy, well-adjusted boy.

As he grows up, Cadel’s life is monitored and overseen by Roth, who has input on very aspect of the boy’s life. But far from helping the boy become normal, Roth is steering him along another path – that of the evil genius. By the age of fourteen Cadel is at university studying for a degree in World Domination. It is only here, at the Axis Institute, that Cadel starts to question his upbringing and the motivations of those who guide him.

Evil Genius is a complex book which will appeal to older teens, or those of high reading ability, with a crossover appeal for adult readers. With 480 pages of small text, it is a lengthy but absorbing read, with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing right up until the end.

Jinks’ devotion to detail will appeal to readers with scientific or mathematical minds, who will enjoy the intricacies of the Axiom institute and the research and conundrums within its walls.

The premise of the book – an adopted child who doesn’t know his true heritage and lacks the protection of a family – is not new, with some similarities with the young heroes of the Lemony Snicket books and even Harry Potter, but this book is darker and aimed at a slightly older age group. Readers will be drawn into Cadel’s world and, once into it, will not want to put the book down.

Evil Genius, by Catherine Jinks
Allen & Unwin, 2005

The Road, by Catherine Jinks

When Grace finally leaves her abusive husband, she takes refuge with an elderly uncle on his outback property. Still, even there she doesn’t feel safe. When someone brutally murders the uncle’s two dogs, she realises that her escape hasn’t worked.

On the highway nearby, travellers drive the barren highway between Mildura and Broken Hill. A family on holiday, a truckie on his regular route, two brothers off on an Outback adventure and an eccentric country woman are all on the road, unwittingly being caught up in Grace’s drama and its chilling aftermath.

When Grace’s ex finds her and seeks his retribution, supernatural forces are woken. The travellers find themsleves caught in a twilight zone, where their destinations are suddenly unreachable. The rules are unclear, the way out seemingly unreachable. Only justice will end their ordeal.

The Road is a gripping thriller from versatile Australian author Catherine Jinks. Jinks has previously tackled children’s young adult, historical and chick-lit genres. Her transition to the thriller genre is seamless – readers would be forgiven for thinking Jinks has always written books of this kind. The strands of the story are woven together with Jinks’ magic control. The characters are real and incredibly fascinating and the setting, whilst necessarily stark, is clearly drawn.

Fans of Stephen King and of thriller movies will not be disappointed with this offering. It is a very visual story and the scene changes, the use of suspense and changes in atmosphere all make The Road a book crying out to made into a movie.

Of course, readers won’t need the movie to be gripped by this tale. Its page-turning suspense and chilling sequence of events make it perfect as it is.

The Road, by Catherine Jinks
Allen & Unwin, 2004

Spinning Around, by Catherine Jinks

Not so long ago, but almost in another lifetime, Helen had everything a girl could want: a great job, a good figure, a cutting edge haircut and a gorgeous boyfriend. Now, though, Helen seems to be losing control. She has two kids, a renovation that seems to be a never-ending story and a part time job which seems easier than anything she has to deal with at home. That gorgeous boyfirend has become an impractical and annoyingly impulsive husband.

Then, in one terrible week, Helen faces losing it all. Matt (her husband) has been seen in company with a girl with purple hair and suddenly Helen is caught up in a string of lecherous private detectives, clandestine drawer-checking, and outright spying. Whatever problems married life may present, she doesn’t want to give it up without a fight.

Author Catherine Jinks continues to surprise with her versatility. Her last novel, The Gentleman’s Garden was historical literary fiction. Spinning Around is a contrast, but doesn’t disappoint in maintaining Jinks’ high standards.

Funny and warm.

Spinning Around, by Catherine Jinks
Allen and Unwin, 2004

Eloise – A Ghost Story, by Catherine Jinks

When Ally’s friends Michelle and Peter suggest they start up an Exorcists’ Club, Ally isn’t too keen. After all, playing about with ghosts can be dangerous – as Ally knows from experience. But when Bettina, a lonely girl from school, begs for help in contacting a dead relative, Ally gives in.

The four children try to contact Bettina’s cousin Michael through a seance and, when that doesn’t work, Ally calls in her old friend Delora, to see if she has any better luck. On the night of Delora’s seance, though, she recognizes another presence in Bettina’s house. Not only can she not help to remove it, but it frightens her so badly she wants nothing more to do with it.

It is up to the members of the Exorcists’ Club to figure out what the presence in Bettina’s room is and how they can send it on its way.

Eloise is the third ghost story featuring Ally and her friends. Author Catherine Jinks draws young readers in with an excellent blend of spine-tingling mystery and an exploration of the regular challenges of kids’ lives – friendships, family problems and more.

An eerie read.

Eloise: A Ghost Story, by Catherine Jinks
Allen & Unwin, 2003

Eustace, by Catherine Jinks

Allie thinks she’s through with ghosts. Eglantine, the one who haunted her new home, has moved on, and Allie doesn’t like to talk about it. She would rather put the whole incident – and people’s reactions – behind her. So when she attends a school camp, the last thing she’s looking for is another ghost.

The thing about ghosts, though, is they seem to pop up when you least want them to. Hill End, the site of the camp, seems to have more than one ghost. The museum is haunted by the pacing ghost of Granny Evans. Young Eustace Harrow is blamed for things being broken in Taylor’s Cottage. And the miner hiding out in golden Gully could be less alive than he seems. Allie’s not sure what to make of all this ghostly activity, but when two of her classmates go missing, she realises that this is serious.

Eustace is a spooky but fun ghost story. A sequel to the outstanding Eglantine, it will appeal to 11 to 14 year old readers.

Eustace, by Catherine Jinks
Allen & Unwin, 2003

The Gentleman's Garden, by Catherine Jinks

In the early 1800s, Dorothea Brande accompanies her new husband on his regimental tour of duty to colonial New South Wales. From the polite circles of her Devonshire home, to the harshness of the colony proves a terrifying adjustment for the couple.

Dorothea struggles both with the physical harshness and the desperation and brutality of most of the colony’s residents. For her husband Charles, the colony is similarly depleting. However, rather than draw them together, this mutual discomfort drives them apart

Dorothea, searching desperately for a comfort zone which will connect her with home, decides to create a cottage garden around their humble home. As she directs her convict servant Daniel in this task the pair build a strange bond. The garden is a haven for them both.

Author Catherine Jinks interweaves historical fact with a compelling story, so that the reader can truly experience Dorothea’s desperation and sense of alienation. The characters of the colony, from all walks of life, are deftly portrayed, and the development of the three principals, Dorothea, her husband Charles, and the servant Daniel is both believable and enduring.

The Gentleman’s Garden is an enticing read for lovers of historical fiction or literary masterpieces.

Catherine Jinks is a versatile writer whose work ranges across genres and age groups from children to adult. She lives in New South Wales. Her children’s novel Eglantine (Allen and Unwin,2002) is also reviewed on this site.

The Gentleman’s Garden, by Catherine Jinks
Allen & Unwin, 2002

Eglantine, by Catherine Jinks

Allie and Bethan can’t wait to move into their new house – because they will finally have their own bedrooms. When Mum buys it, it is a bit of a dump, but by the time they move in it’s been repainted and renovated. Perfect.

But something strange is happening in Bethan’s bedroom. Mysterious writing is appearing on the walls, written by an unseen hand. Bethan refuses to stay in the room and, pretty soon, he and Allie are sharing again. Allie is not happy with this and is determined to solve the mystery.

It appears the writing is some kind of story, written by the ghost of a girl who used to live in the house, Eglantine Higgins. Was she murdered here? And why is she writing on the walls? Aggie and her family, along with various psychics, ghost experts and other new-age helpers, must resolve Eglantine’s problem, before she drives them from the house.

Eglantine is a superb ghost story which will especially appeal to girls aged 10 to 12, and even older. It combines mystery with humour and more serious themes. In particular, we see Allie becoming more in tune with herself as she gets to know Eglantine.

Catherine Jinks is an Australian author who has written over twenty books for children and young adults. She lives in the Blue Mountains with her husband and daughter.

Eglantine: A Ghost Story
, by Catherine Jinks
Allen & Unwin, 2002