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. 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.
As 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.
Fortunately, they are now more than friends — they're a pack. They are Virals.
The books in the series right now are:
- Virals
- Seizure
- Code
- Exposure
- Terminal
- Trace Evidence, a collection of short e-book stories
This series provides examples of:
- Adventurer Archaeologist: Tory Brennan and her fellow virals become this when trying to find a female pirate's treasure.
- The Big Guy: Ben is the strongest when flaring.
- Continuity Cameo: "Aunt Tempe" occasionally shows up (usually by phone or email) to help Tory solve a puzzle.
- Expy: Code's Big Bad, the Gamemaster, has many traits evocative of the Batman: The Joker He exudes a Faux Affably Evil charm (in his Simon Rome and Eric Marchant personas), and his Psychopathic Manchild tendencies shine through his sinister high-pitched laugh and Monster Clown motifs. His love for poisons, death traps, bombs and the colour purple makes him even more, Joker-like, as does his nihilistic worldview exhibited in his final confrontation with the Virals. He also went mad after having "one bad day", like the Joker's portrayal in The Killing Joke, and his background as an ex-Marine suffering from PTSD in the Iraq War mirrors a popular fan theory about the Joker' Nolanverse incarnation being an Iraqi or Afghan veteran also struggling with PTSD.
- Five-Token Band: The Virals consist of the main character Tory, a white girl; Sheldon, a biracial (black and Japanese) guy; Hiram, who is Jewish; and Ben, a white guy who claims he is part Native American.
- Freak Lab Accident: Tory and her friends become Virals after accidentally contracting a genetically engineered parvovirus (a virus that normally only affects dogs) that turns them into a sort of hairless werewolves.
- Missing Mom: Tory's mom was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver.
- The Nose Knows: Tory, when flaring, to the point where she can smell emotions.
- Our Werewolves Are Different: They've got different DNA from a rogue strain of canine parvovirus. 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 (later blue) — or red, in the case of Chance and the Trinity — once they flare.
- Papa Wolf: Kit, especially in Code. When he learns the Virals have gone into Charleston with a hurricane approaching, he drives into the hurricane to look for them, then takes down the gun-wielding psychopath who they'd been jerked around by the whole book. And in Exposure, during that psychopath’s court case, he rushes Tory during her testimony and Kit ends up tackling him again.
- Police Are Useless: In general, yes. Justified in Exposure because one of the cops on the case was the kidnapper. He's been leaking information to the media and obstructing police work from the inside.
- 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.
- Super-Senses: When any of the Virals flare, their senses are enhanced beyond human capability.
- The Team: While each of the Virals obtain an upgrade to their natural abilities once they flare, some of them have better capabilities than others.
- Tory has the best sense of smell, so good that she can even smell whether someone is calm or anxious.
- Hi has the best sight, capable of spotting a bunny from 50 yards away. Actually, at first, Hi's flare comes the easiest.
- Shelton has the best hearing.
- Ben actually becomes the physically strongest when flaring.
- Team Pet: Cooper the wolfdog, who was the original carrier of the experimental parvovirus. He doubles as an Action Pet as well.
- Telepathy: Tory finds herself able to read the minds of people besides her own pack, at least before they put up mental defenses.
- Yandere: Hannah in the ending of Virals. Enhanced in the fifth book.Hannah: [fighting against security guards] Tory sent you, didn't she?!? I'll rip out your throats! No one will stand between me and Chance! NO ONE! We're meant to be!