Bailey McKenzie, Crime Scene Specialist

by Tina R. Young

With a mom in forensics and a dad on the police force, it’s no wonder that fourteen-year-old Bailey McKenzie has her sights set on working in the field of law enforcement as well. When she and her friends are given the opportunity to be junior forensic interns for the summer with her mother leading them, Bailey jumps at the chance to get a start on her career.

But investigating a murder scene takes a personal turn when the team, specifically Bailey, comes under attack and their lives are placed in danger. As the team continues to try to put the pieces together, can they depend on God to help them figure out who the murderer is and catch the criminal before it’s too late? Or will Bailey’s dreams of fighting for justice never become a reality?

Bailey must follow the clues to answer these questions. But through it all, Bailey must learn to decide who she can trust and place her faith in the One Who will never let her down.

ENDORSEMENTS
Twenty-five years ago, Tina R. Young started her forensics career as a Crime Scene Specialist at the National City Police Department. Her creation of Bailey McKenzie, Crime Scene Specialist provides teens and young adults with an exciting adventure and technical knowledge of the fascinating world of crime scene investigations.
Jose Tellez
Police Chief, NCPD, National City, California

Tina’s life work and passions are expressed in Bailey McKenzie, Crime Scene Specialist . This wholesome forensic novel for teens and young adults will lead the reader through a crime scene investigation as they analyze clues and learn real world forensics applications all while being entertained by the interactions of Bailey and her crime scene team!
Marie Durina
Senior Forensic Document Examiner and Forensic Evidence Technician (retired)
San Diego County Sheriff’s Regional Crime Laboratory

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2023

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel bad giving this book a low rating (especially because it will be the first for this book), but I just didn’t enjoy it for many different reasons. As an avid reader of Christian YA books, I hope my thoughts can come across in a helpful manner if the author chooses to read this review.

I had very high hopes for this book and was super curious about it being a Christian YA Suspense/Mystery book because there’s not many of those out there! I should have liked it just based on that alone.

Unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

It almost felt like one of those textbooks that will write a story within it—and then quiz you after you read it to see if you understood the terminology and technical parts of all of it. It just felt unbelievable that these young teenagers or saying all these very technical things and explaining it in-depth like they were in the middle of a textbook but then saying things like “way cool” or using a ton of exclamation marks.

There was a few things that I don’t understand how it happened in the sense of what the team or the adults did wouldn’t have been legal, or at least being not true evidence? Maybe there are loopholes, but it didn’t feel correctly done. I also don’t understand how Bailey’s mom let them continue working on the case when certain dangers were revealed and also that some of the elements of the crimes were close to home (emotionally connected) and they were still allowed to work on the case. It said that there were major layoffs and her mom’s department, but this still felt like stretching it even a little too much for a fiction book. Especially when a broken wrist happens, but a ring on that hand is unaffected by what should’ve had major swelling.

The concept of this book had me really intrigued and was a pretty neat concept overall, but the execution in the writing style wasn’t my favorite and hindered my enjoyment of the book. I think this would have been better as a TV show than a book, in all honesty.

Bailey reminded me a lot of Holly from the “Holly‘s Heart” series, and unfortunately I don’t mean that in a positive comparison. Bailey in this book kept saying how she didn’t have a crush on her dad‘s partner (who is 10 years older than her and therefore a legal adult), but a lot of her actions showed that she did have one and really cared what he thought of her. When her parents try to talk to her about this, she interrupts them and has temper-tantrums about them not understanding and then her parents would apologize to her, which was just frustrating to see. She may have one moment where she says something correct in those tantrums, and her parents brush her side her attitude and behavior and tell her that she’s right about that one thing. This happened a few times and it was annoying. When she later apologizes for something, her mom once again brushes it aside and apologizes instead. Bailey would run off when she couldn’t control her emotions about him and it got to be ridiculous. If I was her big sister, I think I probably would’ve slapped her upside the head to get some common sense in her because she was acting like a child with those parts and her reactions to things involving him.

Some teens may enjoy this book more, but I was sorely disappointed in it.



Full content review & examples of the writing style to come.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was younger, Criminal Minds was one of my favorite TV shows and reading this book made me feel like I was watching an episode of CM. I loved it! Maybe the only part I didn’t love is that some of the things the main character did annoyed me…but she’s a teen {and I’m also not the target audience since this is YA and I’m well beyond that! 🤪}. I really did enjoy it, though. I look forward to reading more books in the series!

[Katie Cruice Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bailey McKenzie is a fourteen-year-old aspiring crime scene specialist, whose parents are both involved in crime scene investigations. She and a few other teens are a part of a special internship program under her mother's authority, learning the ins and outs of crime scene investigation. But when things begin to go wrong at the crime scene, will Bailey and her team be taken off the case? And will the program be shut down for good?

I was a diehard Nancy Drew fan back in my teens, and this definitely brought back fond memories of my youth! With a in-depth knowledge of crime scene investigation and a love for God, Tina Young does a great job of creating a clean story of suspense that is great for any wannabe sleuth!

[Layne Ruble · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book. I learned a lot about crime scene science/techniques. Loved that it was set in San Diego. Fun characters and cool that Christianity was displayed in many of the scenes/conversations. Can we get another book to start a series with this team?

[Braelyn Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good amazing plot twist

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing thrilling story with twists and turns.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just say WOW! This was one of my favorite books ever. I loved the fact that Bailey is a crime scene investigator. That was actually something that I wanted to do as a younger person, and I got to live vicariously through Bailey's(and the author's eyes!)
And oh my gosh I loved that all her family was involved in law enforcement in some way, that is usually true of families with law enforcement in their veins.
I also loved the relationship that Bailey and Jake, her crime scene investigator partner, had. They had a very special bond and that work together was important in solving crimes and more importantly helping people's lives.
I highly recommend this read to anyone who is interested in crime scene investigation and also to anyone who loves mystery/thrillers.