Cass and Wat: A Young Adult Mystery/Thriller by Cagey Magee is book one in the author's new series, NorthWatch. The book follows a teenage girl, Cassie “Cass” Watson, who happens to be the daughter of a United States presidential candidate (and a long, long line of patriarchs with the same line of thinking), who is forced to navigate both the awkwardness of the age and a deeply woven plot to destroy billionaire Glen “Wat” Watson's presidential campaign—one which includes her own kidnapping. The narrative shifts between multiple points of view characters throughout, with Cass's featured alongside that of the kidnapper and others, providing a multifaceted and thoroughly engrossing story, where Cass and Pip are used as pawns to settle a score.

Cagee Magee delivers page after page of dark, dry humor in Cass and Wat, and Cass is a protagonist that is easy to root for. There is an acerbic undertone to the narrative that works well with the overall story, although there are some British-isms and spelling that frequently surface for a story about an all-American family (I had to pop 'feckless' into a search engine), but on the other hand, it's conceivable that a billionaire and his family would be well-traveled and internationally educated. No matter, this is a genuine page-turner. It's tightly written and witty, with exceptional pacing and characters that come to life. I loved it and look forward to jumping into the second book in the series, Cass and Logan.

Cagey Magee brings new meaning to coming of age thrillers in Cass and Wat. This novel focuses on Cass Watson as she battles her demons. As the story unfolds, you find her father, Glen, is close to winning the presidency of the United States, but unseen powers will stop at nothing to deter him. Glen “Wat” Watson is the co-owner of the wealthiest and most powerful technology company in the world. His brother, Nat, is the real brains behind the technology that is developed. When Cass and her younger brother, Pip, are kidnapped during a horrific invasion of their mansion, they are unsure whom they can trust. They know one thing; their father is coming for them and they must be ready!

With an intricate weaving of characters, an unknown peril, and momentous deceit, Cassie and Glen maneuver the cat-and-mouse game an invisible opponent has set for them. Cagey Magee brings his characters alive with vivid personalities and redeemable qualities. The plot appears simple; kidnap kids so the father will drop out of running for the presidential seat. There is so much more as Glen and Nat’s technology is used against them. The story is told from several points of view when characters make a move in this mysterious game of chess. Cagey Magee applies all the elements of a good thriller; an exhilarating plot, intelligent characters, and several mysteries in one book that slowly unfolds. I found the characters consistent throughout the novel, which can be difficult when you have many. The language and mature events would deem this a novel for older teenagers, but overall, I was spellbound. I was impressed with the ending and look forward to more novels from this author.