Review: Killer Instinct by S.E. Green

Title: Killer Instinct 

Author:  S.E. Green
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publishing Date: May 6th 2014
Pages: 288

Genre: YA Psychological Horror

Series: Killer Instinct #1
Source: Audio

 

A teen girl version of Dexter meets the high stakes danger and mystery of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in this “dark and disturbing--high stakes thriller..." (#1 New York Times bestselling author, Kami Garcia)

Lane is a typical teenager. Loving family. Good grades. After-school job at the local animal hospital. Martial arts enthusiast. But her secret obsession is studying serial killers. She understands them, knows what makes them tick.

Why?

Because she might be one herself.

Lane channels her dark impulses by hunting criminals and delivering justice when the law fails. The vigilantism stops shy of murder, but with each visceral rush, the line of self-control blurs. And when a young preschool teacher goes missing—and returns in pieces—Lane gets a little too excited about tracking down “the Decapitator,” the vicious serial murderer who has come to her hometown.

As she gets dangerously caught up in a web of lies about her own past, Lane realizes she is no longer invisible or safe. Especially after the Decapitator contacts her directly. Now she needs to use her unique talents to find the true killer’s identity before she—or someone she loves—becomes the next victim…

Another serial killer fiction book that was on the top of my list to read. I read it, I liked it, it was good. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I'm not sure what I expected but it was't what I got. Not bad though. It kept me entertained an intrigued. I enjoyed the story most of all. The mystery wa ok and the intesity was good. The characters lacked a bit for me but they did begin to grow on me by the end of the book. It was a page turner for me and I am very satisfied with the read. 

Lane has serial killer in her blood. She has the impulses,she has the interest, and she has the know how. She plays vigilante at night with those that deserve to be punished. Evil people. She doesn't kill them but she does hurt them and leaves them to be caught. Its all good until the decapitator comes along and she has a feeling its someone she knows. Her mother and Step father are FBI agents and she gets all the info she needs on this serial killer so she can track them down and stop them. When she does its not what she thought. Its much much worse. 

This book wasn't perfect by far but I enjoyed it. I liked the story, I liked the suspense. I liked the writing. Where the read lacked for me was in the characters and the mystery. It was a pretty predictable read for me and the main character was hard to connected too. My only complaints. The rest of it was really really good.

Lane was a very hard character to get connected with. She was just odd and cold. She knew she has impulses to kill she knew what she needed to do to subdue them and that didn't bother m,e. She still had a line she wasn't willing to cross. I just had a hard time with her. I am not sure if it was her exterior outer shell, her lack of relationships, or just the fact that she was a bit odd. I didn't dislike her, just didn't love her.

The story really was good as far as the intensity and suspense withe the killings, chases, and crazy scenes. I liked that about the read. It did have me at the edge of my seat on more than one occasion. The mystery did lack for me. I found the story to be a bit predictable. Too predictable. I was able to clue on to things quite early and when it all went down I wasn't shocked at all. Not with how it came about or how it ended.

What I did enjoy was the excitement, the pacing, and the writing. It was a very fast read for me (even though I listened to it.) I didn't get bored and I didn't get distracted. I was fully invested in the story

The narrator was good too. I think all the voices and personalities were well done and fit to what I though the author was trying to convey.

I enjoyed it and I have every intention to carry on with this series.

S. E. Green, or Shannon Greenland, is the award winning author of the thriller, KILLER INSTINCT, the spy series, THE SPECIALISTS, and the romance, THE SUMMER MY LIFE BEGAN. She lives off the coast of Florida with her very grouchy dog.