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Conspiracy 365 #8
August
Now I was completely alone. There was nothing but silence and the ghosts of the dead. Cal Ormond has escaped death several times and deceived enemies in the most unlikely situations. All this to discover what the Ormond Singularity is, a secret that transformed the young man's routine and that can change history as we know it. However, an unexpected event ended Cal's search and he ended up in the hands of the police. Now he risks spending the rest of his life in prison. But something gave him a good reason not to give up on his plans and prove he was not a criminal: the kidnapping of one of his family members. Cal needed to return to the streets to propose a rescue: to exchange everything he had gathered about the riddle for that person's life - and even offer himself, if necessary.
179 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2010
42 people are currently reading
1038 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle Lord
107 books238 followersGabrielle Craig Lord is an Australian writer who has been described as Australia's first lady of crime.
She survived being ‘razed’ by the nuns, acquired an education despite this, and after working in many different areas, sales, teaching, brick-cleaning, peach-picking and packing, and in the Public Service as an employment officer, started writing seriously aged 30.
Her first two manuscripts ended up composting the tomatoes at her market garden – another attempt to make a living – but the third one FORTRESS was picked up internationally and made into a feature film starring Rachel Ward. A later novel WHIPPING BOY was made into a telemovie starring Sigrid Thornton. The film rights money, coinciding with her daughter leaving school, allowed Gabrielle to resign and instead of getting up at 4.30am and writing for several hours before heading off for work, she could write full-time and lead a more ‘normal’ writer’s life – hanging around with scientists and detectives, badgering forensic anthropologists (she studied some Anatomy at Sydney university) and doing work experience with a busy private security business and of course, writing.
Research is everything, she says. ‘Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today’s savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.’
Gabrielle’s interests are very simple. ‘After a misspent youth, I don’t have many brain cells left so I enjoy walking, meditation, singing, gardening, chatting with close friends, being with my family and grandkids, feeding my goldfish and keeping up to date with bodywork and enlightened psychotherapy.’
Gabrielle has now written fourteen adult novels and a novel for young adults. Once the 12 books of Conspiracy 365 are completed, this tally will be a tad bigger! Following this mammoth endeavour she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more YAs.
2013
She survived being ‘razed’ by the nuns, acquired an education despite this, and after working in many different areas, sales, teaching, brick-cleaning, peach-picking and packing, and in the Public Service as an employment officer, started writing seriously aged 30.
Her first two manuscripts ended up composting the tomatoes at her market garden – another attempt to make a living – but the third one FORTRESS was picked up internationally and made into a feature film starring Rachel Ward. A later novel WHIPPING BOY was made into a telemovie starring Sigrid Thornton. The film rights money, coinciding with her daughter leaving school, allowed Gabrielle to resign and instead of getting up at 4.30am and writing for several hours before heading off for work, she could write full-time and lead a more ‘normal’ writer’s life – hanging around with scientists and detectives, badgering forensic anthropologists (she studied some Anatomy at Sydney university) and doing work experience with a busy private security business and of course, writing.
Research is everything, she says. ‘Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today’s savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.’
Gabrielle’s interests are very simple. ‘After a misspent youth, I don’t have many brain cells left so I enjoy walking, meditation, singing, gardening, chatting with close friends, being with my family and grandkids, feeding my goldfish and keeping up to date with bodywork and enlightened psychotherapy.’
Gabrielle has now written fourteen adult novels and a novel for young adults. Once the 12 books of Conspiracy 365 are completed, this tally will be a tad bigger! Following this mammoth endeavour she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more YAs.
2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 23, 2016
Met de boekenclub Books Ever After lezen we elke maand een boek van deze serie en deze maand is Augustus aan de beurt.
Ik vond dit boek echt super spannend, het begon al super spannend en ik was benieuwd hoe hij hier uit zou ontsnappen. Het geloofwaardigheidsniveau is echter wel gezakt, vandaar vier sterren. Maar ongelooflijk, de manier waarop de huidige rechercheur handelde. Het einde was super spannend en ik kan niet wachten totdat het september is.
Ik vond dit boek echt super spannend, het begon al super spannend en ik was benieuwd hoe hij hier uit zou ontsnappen. Het geloofwaardigheidsniveau is echter wel gezakt, vandaar vier sterren. Maar ongelooflijk, de manier waarop de huidige rechercheur handelde. Het einde was super spannend en ik kan niet wachten totdat het september is.
August 16, 2016
3,5 ster: Ik neig zelfs naar 4 sterren.. maar de geloofwaardigheid van het hele verhaal blijft minimaal dus ik blijf op 3 sterren hangen.
Ik wil absoluut weer weten hoe het verhaal verder gaat maar moet ook eerlijk bekennen dat ik blij ben als ik eenmaal bij 'December' ben en klaar ben met deze reeks.
Ik wil absoluut weer weten hoe het verhaal verder gaat maar moet ook eerlijk bekennen dat ik blij ben als ik eenmaal bij 'December' ben en klaar ben met deze reeks.
March 10, 2017
All the books are blending together in my mind and Cal continues to get out of unbelievably crazy situations, but I enjoyed this one. There's no swearing or sex or drugs. Just a crazy story, a kid trying his best, and loyal friends amidst loads of trouble. The clues to the Ormond Singularity are coming together, but there's still enough mystery to keep me intrigued enough to continue reading. Also, this cliffhanger ending is my favorite so far because the idea of screwing things up royally and feeling like all is lost is something we can all relate to! On to September!
June 3, 2021
This book is about a boy called Callum trying to track down and work out what the Ormond Singularity is. My favourite of the story is at the end when everyone like Rafe Ormond, Eric Blair, Nelson Sharkey and Winter, Cal, and Boges are all double crossing each other. My favourite character is Callum because he shows that even though you are a teen fugitive, being chased by everyone from major criminals, ex-detectives, police and his own family, while his friends are the only people he can trust.
When all things prove to fail, it can always be worse.
When all things prove to fail, it can always be worse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2016
Better then the last ones, there is actually some plot and character development here. I really hope the end was a fake out. It has to be really.
June 21, 2020
Elk boek in deze serie (behalve de eerste) begint met een samenvatting van het vorige deel, dat is wel fijn want zo kom ik er weer in. Elk boek heeft een cliffhanger en na afloop denk ik dat ik dat wel onthou, maar tussendoor lees ik weer meerdere boeken en is zo'n herhaling niet verkeerd.
Dit boek draaide wat minder om het raadsel en dat vond ik niet erg, het was even wat anders.
Dit boek draaide wat minder om het raadsel en dat vond ik niet erg, het was even wat anders.
May 9, 2025
They got Gabs!
October 22, 2013
august is part of the series of conspiracy 365 and has the same action and danger as the other books in the series but with different twists like how his mother didn't even believe him, and when rafe attacked him but as all the book thus far he escapes the beginning situation he's in and gets his friends but all in all it's just another book in the series
February 1, 2023
August was one of the fastest books in the series that I've read so far, I could barely put it down. Loved all the action, thrills, and cliffhangers. Can hardly wait to start the next book.
Want to read
June 2, 2021I read the book August (conspiracy 365) by Gabrielle Lord. The lexile level is 730. This is the eighth book in the series, secret people have killed Cal’s dad and now he has to be on the run for the next 365 days. Each individual book gives crazy challenges that Cal has to go through so he can find out who and how his dad died. In this book it starts out as Cal getting in a boat after running from the cops and escaping. He also goes through many other challenges like, fighting his own best friend, his own mother not trusting him, and seeing his aunt that he hasn’t seen in a long time.
The central idea of this series or this book is that you can overcome every challenge even if you think you can't, and that people can always doubt you but you need to think better than them. There is a lot of character development in Cal from this book about how he thinks and how wise he is and how he really gives adequate thinking into making these huge decisions that could define the rest of his life, back in the other books he didn’t really think about them before but now he does. Page 45 he has to make this big decision to go see his aunt and he doesn’t know if he should trust her because if he makes the wrong decision he could get caught and maybe get killed. Also on page 108 he says “I don’t know if I can trust anyone anymore” his character development really grows in this moment because he understands that he’s not a kid anymore and that he has to think for himself.
I really liked this book because of Cal’s growth throughout the books and this one especially. I really loved the plot and the challenges that he goes through in this book. The book was very easy to read I’d say but it was a very good one and made me want to read the rest of the series. This book was not predictable at all, I loved seeing these amazing challenges that he had to go through. I don’t really like the endings at all in these series because he always gets into a challenge and then you have to wait till you read the next book.
The central idea of this series or this book is that you can overcome every challenge even if you think you can't, and that people can always doubt you but you need to think better than them. There is a lot of character development in Cal from this book about how he thinks and how wise he is and how he really gives adequate thinking into making these huge decisions that could define the rest of his life, back in the other books he didn’t really think about them before but now he does. Page 45 he has to make this big decision to go see his aunt and he doesn’t know if he should trust her because if he makes the wrong decision he could get caught and maybe get killed. Also on page 108 he says “I don’t know if I can trust anyone anymore” his character development really grows in this moment because he understands that he’s not a kid anymore and that he has to think for himself.
I really liked this book because of Cal’s growth throughout the books and this one especially. I really loved the plot and the challenges that he goes through in this book. The book was very easy to read I’d say but it was a very good one and made me want to read the rest of the series. This book was not predictable at all, I loved seeing these amazing challenges that he had to go through. I don’t really like the endings at all in these series because he always gets into a challenge and then you have to wait till you read the next book.
April 15, 2025
"August" was probably my favorite book in the series so far! It was more suspense than action.
We end "July" with Cal being buried alive.
In order to save Cal's life, Boges and Winter call the police to help dig up graves to find Cal, so Cal wakes up in a hospital, handcuffed to a bed, at the beginning of "August". When the cops come to talk to Cal, Cal learns that someone kidnapped his sister Gabbi (who is in a coma BTW) and the police, his mom, and uncle Rafe all think CAL is the one who kidnapped his sister so he could "finish the job". (HOW they think a sixteen-year-old fugitive is going to kidnap his sister in a coma and hide her is beyond me.)
Cal is able to escape from the hospital by climbing through the ceiling. He uses an old man sleeping in a wheelchair to walk out the front door, but one of Oriana's men spot him and a chase peruses! Just as he's about to get caught, ex-detective Sharkey shows up to save the day and whisk Cal away in his truck!
The rest of "August" is about Cal and his friends trying to track down who has Gabbi and how to get her back. When Cal tracks down who has her, Cal offers the kidnappers all of his notes and himself if they promise to release Gabbi. During the exchange, Boges and Sharkey are supposed to swoop in and rescue Cal and Gabbi, allowing them to get away but things go awry and one of the kidnappers throws Gabbi's unconscious body into the raging river below the bridge they all met on for the exchange! Cal immediately jumps into the river after his sister, hoping to get to her before she drowns, but all Cal finds is the empty sleeping bag Gabbi was wrapped in, with Gabbi nowhere in sight.
"August" ends with Cal laying on the bank of the river mourning the loss of his little sister.
We end "July" with Cal being buried alive.
In order to save Cal's life, Boges and Winter call the police to help dig up graves to find Cal, so Cal wakes up in a hospital, handcuffed to a bed, at the beginning of "August". When the cops come to talk to Cal, Cal learns that someone kidnapped his sister Gabbi (who is in a coma BTW) and the police, his mom, and uncle Rafe all think CAL is the one who kidnapped his sister so he could "finish the job". (HOW they think a sixteen-year-old fugitive is going to kidnap his sister in a coma and hide her is beyond me.)
Cal is able to escape from the hospital by climbing through the ceiling. He uses an old man sleeping in a wheelchair to walk out the front door, but one of Oriana's men spot him and a chase peruses! Just as he's about to get caught, ex-detective Sharkey shows up to save the day and whisk Cal away in his truck!
The rest of "August" is about Cal and his friends trying to track down who has Gabbi and how to get her back. When Cal tracks down who has her, Cal offers the kidnappers all of his notes and himself if they promise to release Gabbi. During the exchange, Boges and Sharkey are supposed to swoop in and rescue Cal and Gabbi, allowing them to get away but things go awry and one of the kidnappers throws Gabbi's unconscious body into the raging river below the bridge they all met on for the exchange! Cal immediately jumps into the river after his sister, hoping to get to her before she drowns, but all Cal finds is the empty sleeping bag Gabbi was wrapped in, with Gabbi nowhere in sight.
"August" ends with Cal laying on the bank of the river mourning the loss of his little sister.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2017
The book "Conspiracy 365: August" by Gabrielle Lord was the best book of this series by far! The book starts out with Cal being dumped into a fishing boat after almost drowning. After escaping the cops once again, Cal escapes to his hideaway. After a few run-ins with his arch enemy Sligo, Cal finds a way to meet his great-aunt Millicent. Upon arrival, Cal learns she is in a convent of nuns and hasn't spoken in 20 years! After somehow speaking to her, Cal leaves with important documents from her possession and returns to his hideout. When meeting with his friend Winter at his dads grave, Cal is abducted and stuffed into and empty coffin. After being trapped inside, Cal is moved to a mysterious spot and begins to be buried alive inside the casket. The book ends on yet another cliffhanger as dirt is shoveled on top of Cal's "grave".
I really enjoyed all the action and suspense this book offered. The different sticky situations that Cal somehow escapes are amazing! I would not change anything about this book but I don't understand how his friend Boges could afford a new phone like he did. It didn't really make sense. Other than that I wouldn't do anything differently.
Anybody who enjoys action-packed and suspenseful mystery books would love this book/series! I can't wait to read book 9/ September!
I really enjoyed all the action and suspense this book offered. The different sticky situations that Cal somehow escapes are amazing! I would not change anything about this book but I don't understand how his friend Boges could afford a new phone like he did. It didn't really make sense. Other than that I wouldn't do anything differently.
Anybody who enjoys action-packed and suspenseful mystery books would love this book/series! I can't wait to read book 9/ September!
May 26, 2018
1.5 stars
While this wasn't as bad as April, it was pretty crappy. I didn't enjoy this installment at all. We have so few books to go that the DMOs need to start getting wrapped up, we need to start ramping up the pace and getting prepared for a shocking finale. Instead this book suffered from a bad case of the Middle Book Syndrome. It isn't even technically the "middle" book but everything that happened felt like a long-winded lead up to nothing at all... or maybe it was really a lead up to the next book, September? Everything was drawn up to what was going to be - or so you are lead to believe - an amazing ending that just never came. It was all a waste of time.
The action was simply atrocious. Dull. Forced. Boring. I could barely keep my concentration on this for long. It was just too uneventful and completely unbelievable. I do enjoy the fact that we got to see a lot more of Winter - I adore her! - and I am happy that Cal and Boges are finally smart enough to trust her and allow her to pool her rather remarkable insight into solving the DMOs.
Overall, this was more of a filler book that had no substance by itself. I am eager to move into September though and hope it isn't as bad as this one.
While this wasn't as bad as April, it was pretty crappy. I didn't enjoy this installment at all. We have so few books to go that the DMOs need to start getting wrapped up, we need to start ramping up the pace and getting prepared for a shocking finale. Instead this book suffered from a bad case of the Middle Book Syndrome. It isn't even technically the "middle" book but everything that happened felt like a long-winded lead up to nothing at all... or maybe it was really a lead up to the next book, September? Everything was drawn up to what was going to be - or so you are lead to believe - an amazing ending that just never came. It was all a waste of time.
The action was simply atrocious. Dull. Forced. Boring. I could barely keep my concentration on this for long. It was just too uneventful and completely unbelievable. I do enjoy the fact that we got to see a lot more of Winter - I adore her! - and I am happy that Cal and Boges are finally smart enough to trust her and allow her to pool her rather remarkable insight into solving the DMOs.
Overall, this was more of a filler book that had no substance by itself. I am eager to move into September though and hope it isn't as bad as this one.
Read
March 8, 2018In the book Conspiracy 365 August By Gabrielle lord Callum Ormond manages to run into his arch enemy Sligo, Cal finds a way to meet his great-aunt Millicent. Upon arrival, Cal learns she is in a convent of nuns and hasn't spoken in 20 years! After somehow speaking to her, Cal leaves with important documents from her possession and returns to his hideout. When meeting with his friend Winter at his dads grave, Cal is abducted by a gang and stuffed into and empty coffin. After being trapped inside, Cal is moved to a mysterious spot and begins to be buried alive inside the casket.
I personally like these types of books because of all the action and conflict with Callum Ormond always on the run from the cops especially after being accused of murder of his uncle. I love the mystery and all the creativity and how everything is set up all neatly. Also if you did not know this already there is a television show Called Conspiracy 365 and its based of the book.
I recommend this book to middle schoolers and mostly high schoolers because of the conflict that only older aged teens would understand in the book.
I personally like these types of books because of all the action and conflict with Callum Ormond always on the run from the cops especially after being accused of murder of his uncle. I love the mystery and all the creativity and how everything is set up all neatly. Also if you did not know this already there is a television show Called Conspiracy 365 and its based of the book.
I recommend this book to middle schoolers and mostly high schoolers because of the conflict that only older aged teens would understand in the book.
Read
May 27, 2021Conspiracy 365 August
My book is called conspiracy 365 and my main character is named cal ormund. This book is about how cal is still trying to solve the ormund singularity through his family, but while he was trying to do all this he got caught as he was going to a place when he was setup and they tried to burry him alive. In this book I still think this theme of the book is dont have a big circle because you never know what people are doing behind your back. The setting of my book is in a big city, in the book i say the theme is that because while he thought he could trust someone to meet up with they set him up and tried to burry him alive. I really did like this book because there is a lot of scene changes about how he is always trying to avoid the cops and also the people that are trying to kill him at the same time. So I think cal really has a hard time trusting people and staying alive. Like I said there is a lot of scene changes so the book is kinda of confusing, also my favorite part of the book is when he got buried and his friends still helped him to get out and manage to keep him alive.
My book is called conspiracy 365 and my main character is named cal ormund. This book is about how cal is still trying to solve the ormund singularity through his family, but while he was trying to do all this he got caught as he was going to a place when he was setup and they tried to burry him alive. In this book I still think this theme of the book is dont have a big circle because you never know what people are doing behind your back. The setting of my book is in a big city, in the book i say the theme is that because while he thought he could trust someone to meet up with they set him up and tried to burry him alive. I really did like this book because there is a lot of scene changes about how he is always trying to avoid the cops and also the people that are trying to kill him at the same time. So I think cal really has a hard time trusting people and staying alive. Like I said there is a lot of scene changes so the book is kinda of confusing, also my favorite part of the book is when he got buried and his friends still helped him to get out and manage to keep him alive.
December 16, 2022
I'm not entirely sure Gabbi is dead. Oriana's pretty manipulative. I wouldn't put it past her to to use a mannequin in Gabbi's place just in case. She WOULD think that far ahead. She's been one step ahead of Cal so far, why would that change now?
This IS still a kid's series--the only person who has physically died aside from Cal's dad (and Uncle Bartholomew) is the bad guy Zombie--and yet, the book AFTER December is called REVENGE. Of course, revenge for everything makes sense, but if Gabbi really is dead that would put a ton of weight into that story.
WHEN IS CAL GOING TO TALK TO HIS TWIN?! I WANT TO KNOW THAT PART OF THE STORY!!
This series had better end happy. Shit's getting a little too real. I DON'T NEED SLEEP, I NEED ANSWERS!
[favorite #3]
This IS still a kid's series--the only person who has physically died aside from Cal's dad (and Uncle Bartholomew) is the bad guy Zombie--and yet, the book AFTER December is called REVENGE. Of course, revenge for everything makes sense, but if Gabbi really is dead that would put a ton of weight into that story.
WHEN IS CAL GOING TO TALK TO HIS TWIN?! I WANT TO KNOW THAT PART OF THE STORY!!
This series had better end happy. Shit's getting a little too real. I DON'T NEED SLEEP, I NEED ANSWERS!
[favorite #3]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2018
I think this is a really good book and a really good series with alot of action and problem solving i like how the book was written and in the beginning of the book when he was in the coffin buried underground i thought hed die and have no way out but when boges and winter had the cops called to find him im surprised they did call the cops cause he would probably go to jail and then he went to the hospital and no one was believing him even his mom and rafe but overall i think it is a great book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2021
multiple twist happened in this book, I think the most joy in the series so far, but also the most despair, with Cal losing both the Ormond Jewel and the Ormond Riddle. The two part key code that is needed to figure out what the Ormond Singularity is. Gabbi awoke from her coma just as Cal thought he had lost here down a murky river. Awesome book, you can really feel the characters as if they are real people. Amazing, definitely a recommendation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2017
I'm glad I finally picked up the last half of this series. The books are so much fun to read and exactly what I needed- fast paced and short! It's fun to be immersed in Cal's world, even if some of the things that happen are not exactly believable. But that's the fun of fiction bad having heroes in a story.
August 29, 2022
What a fun story this year has been! This "month" of the story had a lot going on. It did not necessarily move the riddle forward but it brought the family back into the story and had Gabbi as a main source. It also circles back and brings in a few other mysteries that have been circling the outskirts of this adventure.
It will be interesting to see how the last 4 months of the story go.
It will be interesting to see how the last 4 months of the story go.
August 10, 2017
weer een nieuwe maand en hij is nog steeds op de vlucht. hij moet nu ontsnappen en er alles aan doen om zijn zusje te redden. zoals elk deel eindigt die erg spannend. een leuke serie maar ben wel blij dat het straks december is en ik het laatste deel heb gelezen.
August 25, 2023
Another amazing book in the Conspiracy series! Things just keep getting better as the series is starting to close! I sorta wish these books would never end, but that wouldn't be fair to Cal!
January 9, 2026
Another great book in this series where Cal is still running for his life but now also the life of his sister may also be at risk.
perfectly written for the target audience of young teens but easily enjoyed by older readers too.
perfectly written for the target audience of young teens but easily enjoyed by older readers too.
July 6, 2017
These books are truly amazing every time I think it might turn predictable another twist appears and I'm left hanging.
November 20, 2017
1 - read in order,
2 - there is a reminder of what happened last month at the beginning,
3 - fast-paced,
4 - ends in the middle of something exciting going on. You will want to jump from one Book right into the next.
Seems similar to 39 Clues though I think (if I remember right) that the kids were younger in that book. This one is better because it is all written by the same author. 39 Clues began to feel like it wasn’t thought out much ahead of time because of the authors thing. I never finished it because I started reading before all the books had been published...
2 - there is a reminder of what happened last month at the beginning,
3 - fast-paced,
4 - ends in the middle of something exciting going on. You will want to jump from one Book right into the next.
Seems similar to 39 Clues though I think (if I remember right) that the kids were younger in that book. This one is better because it is all written by the same author. 39 Clues began to feel like it wasn’t thought out much ahead of time because of the authors thing. I never finished it because I started reading before all the books had been published...
November 28, 2017
good book i wish it had a better ending
October 11, 2018
I really like the cliffhangers at the end of the books, because they build so much suspense and make you read the next book.
February 20, 2020
I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery.
February 29, 2020
Well at least this one doesn’t end with Cal in custody or abducted...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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