Customer Reviews

Instinct (Chess Team Adventure)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Jeremy Robinson is one of those authors who, simply put, writes books I want to read, and Instinct is no exception. Instinct includes just about all the things I enjoy in a thriller: an exotic setting, a compelling mystery, creepy creatures, suspense, and action galore! Pulse was good, but Instinct is better. Chess Team is carving out a niche for itself alongside the likes of the Event Group, Sigma Force, and NUMA. If you like James Rollins, Michael Crichton, or Matthew Reilly, give Robinson a try. You won't regr

The President of the United States is the most protected man in the world, at least that's what President Tom Duncan thought. All pretense of security vanishes when he falls victim to a weaponized strain of Brugada Syndrome, a genetic disease that kills without warning. To make matters worse, it seems the President is just the beginning. Brugada will soon wipe out the world's population if a cure can't be found.

Enter the Chess Team, a Special Forces unit that is the best of the best. King, Queen, Rook, Knight, and Bishop have fought their fair share of enemies, but none as deadly as this silent killer. They are quickly dispatched to the jungles of Vietnam where this new strain originated. CDC agent Sarah Fogg joins the team as they traverse the rugged terrain in search of a cure. Standing in their way are the Vietnamese Special Forces who will stop at nothing to wipe them out. Unfortunately for the Chess Team, these VPLA Death Volunteers are the least of their worries. An ancient darkness is lurking and waiting to destroy them all.

Jeremy Robinson is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers and Instinct only furthers the cause. Our heroes from the Chess Team are back in grand style and in true Robinson fashion, the action and the thrills never let up. The jungles of Vietnam are the perfect backdrop for this all out fight for survival. Just when we think the environment couldn't be more grueling and lethal, we're treated to an ancient underworld that adds a creepy, yet fun dimension to the story.

Instinct is pure escapist fiction, the kind of novel that you love to get lost in. Jeremy Robinson sets out to entertain and he does so wonderfully, giving us a well researched plot laced with top notch action sequences. After reading Pulse I wanted to see the main characters fleshed out more, and I did walk away from this installment feeling like I had a better feel for each member of the Chess Team.

I was surprised at a major reveal in only the second book of this series, but on the other hand it's refreshing to know that Jeremy Robinson is proving to be an author that rewards his readers. This reveal has the potential to really make for some intriguing storylines and I can't wait to see what's next. In the end, we're also left with a nice little surprise that will leave fans hungry for more.

For fans of Jeremy Robinson, this is one to really savor and enjoy--even though you'll feel nearly out-of-breath once you finish it. The follow-up to the Chess Teams first adventure (Pulse) has absolutely EVERYTHING that made me LOVE that book plus much more. In NO WAY does 'Instinct' suffer from the dreaded 'Sophomore Curse' that many authors seem to experience when writing a sequel...in fact, I would go so far to say that in EVERY way does this book improve upon the original. Seriously.

First off, it has the key ingredients to a fan of Action/Adventure novels, first and foremost being a fantastic plot. Jeremy steps confidently outside the box with an attack on the President of the United States in an assassination attempt which is decidedly carried out in a very different manner. 'Instinct' has a very familiar *feel* to it, while being entirely original (if that makes any sense). Let me explain: if you are a fan of Jack Du Brul, James Rollins or Michael Crichton's works, you will feel right at home here with the Chess Team.

The investigation into the jungles of Vietnam and the subsequent bloodbath that ensues is quite a journey worth taking. Suffice it to say that Jeremy has telegraphed that the Chess Team suffers deeply in 'Instinct' and he was NOT saying that lightly--and NO I will NOT reveal anything further regarding this fact. Lets just say that the action is NEVER far away from any given page and the creativity with the plotting is, well, lets just say this reviewer was impressed--especially considering what he's written in the past (ALL great, by the way). There is a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief involved here, but I'd wager that the majority of people who pick up 'Instinct' are already well aware of that, so no worries there--however if you love your adventure novels to have the 'Tom Clancy' ring of truth to each and every single page, well, I'd think again. For those up to a fantastic whirlwind tale of action mingling with a careful and VERY creative dose of sci fi, you definitely have something fun to look forward to.

In short: Open. Read. Enjoy. Repeat. (you're welcome)

The Chess Team: King, Queen, Knight, Bishop, and Rook are all back in a new adventure, even more heart-pounding than before. An outbreak of a deadly epidemic that is aimed at the President sends the team to Vietnam. They are joined by scientist Sara (codename: Pawn) who is charged with finding a cure for the fatal virus. But they are not alone in the jungle. Ruthless Vietnamese are waiting for them. And a far more deadly and monstrous enemy will stop at nothing to make sure the team doesn't make it out alive.

Robinson's special ops team put through the ringer in this latest installment. Members are shot, stabbed, mauled, electrocuted, and branded - just to name a few. They are tough and brutal with their enemies, but are humanized with a sense of humor and concern for their fellow teammates. Faced with impossible circumstances, these individuals work miracles.

As in the previous novel, Pulse, the action reads like watching a movie. With heart-pounding suspense and stomach-churning violence, Robinson has topped himself with this one. Amidst scenes of intense suspense, the complex plot unfolds slowly with some surprising results. This action-packed thriller was extremely enjoyable and impossible to put down. Ending in a mild cliffhanger, readers will be eager for the next in this exciting series - I know I am.

For a while the reader turns the pages., As the plot becomes more improbable, the escapes too unbelievable, it becomes a video game and the reader loses interest. The author can write, if only it were something more grounded in reality.

Instinct is book two in the Chess Team series by Jeremy Robinson. And it was a book I read in a weekend because I found it nearly impossible to put down. The action and suspense keep the pages flying by. The story takes turn after turn as the team struggles with a mission that could alter the course of human evolution forever.

An assassination attempt is made on the President of the United States. But its not the sort of attempt that a Secret Service Agent can throw himself on top of. This plot is viral. One of the viruses unique properties is that it only infects men, but does so at a genetic level. And once infected, it is 100% fatal. While the American government struggles to contain the contamination, and works to hide it from the American people, the Chess Team is sent to Vietnam's Annamite mountain range to track down a cure.

Along the way, they discover the origin of the virus as well as who has weaponized it. The team also discover an Anthropologist who has been lost in the jungles of Vietnam since 1995. And while the Chess Team struggles to discover the cure, they find a lost race of savage creatures that may challenge man's claim as the dominant species on the planet.

Instinct is a powerful followup to Pulse, the initial book in series. This book is as exciting as it is creative. The Chess Team characters grow and evolve as Robinson does a masterful job of adding depth to each team member as they each face personal challenges. The conclusion of the book is satisfying and complete but sets up a story that will launch directly into book three, already in the works.

Readers interested in action, suspense, and credible sci-fi will find all of it and more in the Chess Team series.

I love this book! I happily lost sleep late at night while I was transported to a place of full on action. Jeremy Robinson is a wonderfully descriptive writer and I could clearly 'see' every person and place we traveled with the Chess Team! Every reader in my family got these books(Pulse, Instinct, and Threshold)for Christmas this year from me. Great writers are like catching lightening in a bottle and Jeremy Robinson has done it!
Kudos!
Elizabeth Rose

It's always fun when an author gets really creative and pushes the boundaries - and this book doesn't disappoint. Mortal Kombat meets Planet of the Apes meets Predator. Definitely recommended.

I got hooked onto Jeremy Robinson when I first read Antarktos Rising. It was an excellent book and I knew then and there that this is my type of author. His Instinct is the second in the Chess Team books. The way he intricately set the story and then kept the suspense going until the very end is just masterful. The action was blazing fast. The good thing about Robinson is that whatever he writes is easy to imagine. As soon as he started describing the Hybrids and the Mothers, the first thing that comes to mind is Apes. But then as you delve further into the description a clearer picture comes into view on what they may look like. I am now reading Beneath, and once again it is amazing how easily all the detail is conveyed about a moon that is not ours.

Spoiler Alert:

Humans had sex with now-extinct relatives
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This article was just posted today and has direct relevance to the story line of Instinct

This book arrived quickly (as is always the case with Amazon) and in perfect condition. Plus the book is the type that is so hard to put down at night and go to bed, if you can after reading this!