Mutation

The thrilling conclusion to Roland Smith's Cryptid Hunters quartet reveals the true face -- or faces -- of evil...

Marty O'Hara and his friends Luther Smyth and Dylan Hickock have managed to rescue Marty's cousin, Grace, from the clutches of her grandfather, the nefarious pseudo-naturalist Noah Blackwood. Now their most dangerous mission lies ahead of them. Marty's parents have been missing in Brazil for months, and their trail has all but run cold. With time running out, Marty, Grace, and the Cryptos Island crew race down to Brazil, to the jaguar preserve run by Dr. Robert Lansa and his son, Jake. But even the preserve isn't safe. When their friends begin disappearing one by one, Marty and Grace head into the rain forest in pursuit, where they discover that Noah Blackwood has twisted the natural order of things beyond their wildest, most terrifying dreams.

Roland Smith first worked with animals at the Oregon Zoo, and he has been involved in animal rescues and conservation work around the world for more than 20 years. He is the author of numerous books for young readers, including Jack's Run, Zach's Lie, Peak, the Cryptid Hunters series, and the Storm Runners series. He is also the coauthor of numerous picture books with his wife, Marie. Roland lives with Marie on a farm south of Portland, Oregon. You can find him online at rolandsmith.com.