Customer Reviews

Killer Instinct

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, I confess I keep trying not to find authors new to me, but I was searching the "horror" and the Instinct series caught my eye. I have learned to my chagrin that I need to sit down and read a few pages before running off to buy a bunch of books. (I didn't always have such sense.) I was lucky to find the whole series sitting there and sat down to see what kind of book it was that started such a string of books.

I was hooked from the first page. Robert Walker did make me thing of Cornwell and Scarpetta, and in a way of Sanford and Davenport. I read the first fifty pages and then took the books to the checkout counter so I could get home and dive into the rest.

I recommend these books to all who enjoy the likes of Cornwell and Sanford and who as an earlier reviewer put it, spend some of their time with their doors locked and all the lights on in their house hoping that evil stays outside and far away.

I've read all of Patricia Cornwell, and have just about OD'd on Ridley Pearson, and this was an Amazon suggestion. While it was a decent read, I found two major problems by page 37. First of all, what Medical Examiner would be out in the middle of nowhere conducing a scene investigation in a skirt and high heels? Sexist, if you ask me. Secondly, he paints the "small town medical examiner" as some sort of villain and says HE will embalm the victim. Having both funeral directors and medical examiners in my family, I know that no ME will embalm a body...and you do not need an MD for embalming. It was a decent read, but some of his descriptions and action scenes get a little drawn out. I found myself skimming some parts. I may try another Coran novel, but it won't be my first choice.

I truly enjoyed this book. I love to read about serial killers and the FBI. Athough it was a great book I have to say that I have read a couple of books that were slitly better, such as most of the books by James Patterson. It did keep my interest up and kept me turning pages, Some of the relationships and characters could have been built up a little more. I do absulutly love the main character being a woman in what we call a "man's job." It was a great book.

This was actually the 2nd book I had read by Robert W. Walker. The first one was the 2nd book in the series. I have to say that I love books based on forensics and serial killer being tracked. This book was good but would have been better if I had read it first. The characters are well defined especailly Jessica Coran. The Vampire Killer was a little hard to believe as well as the fact that the FBI in this book feel that bleeding to death is a level 9 on the torture factor. I have read far too many books to believe that there aren't more sadistic kinds of torture far above blood-letting. But it is an enjoyable read and gives a lot of insight into the reasons behind Dr. Jessica Coran for future books.

Killer Instinct met all my requirements for a good thriller: a protagonist I can like, a fascinating story line and a killer who is not another evil super genius, but smart enough to get away with a few murders.
Robert Walker does a fantastic job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, with great descriptions of the gruesome crime scenes as well as giving us a look into the serial killer's mind just enough to let us know that he won't be stopping soon.
Dr. Jessica Caron, a pathologist for the FBI, and her colleague, FBI Agent Otto Boutine are called to the scene of a murder in the woods of Wisconsin, where the body of a young woman hangs on the wall, upside down. The body has been mutilated and completely drained of blood. But where is the blood? It's not under the body and it's nowhere nearby. Dr. Caron comes to a disturbing conclusion: the killer has collected the blood and taken it away from the scene, probably for his own consumption.
If a blood-drinking, vicious killer isn't bad enough, Walker gives us a peek into the killer's mind as he writes a letter to Jessica, written in the blood of his latest victim. And Otto is convinced this is a serial killer, as he has found other unsolved crimes with similar methods. Jessica and Otto are investigating as fast as they can, while having to take time to convince their superiors that there really is a serial killer and he's extremely dangerous.
Jessica proves to be one tough cookie, more than capable of being a woman in a man's world, so to speak. She holds her own right up to the end of the book, no fainting violet who needs rescuing, but a woman who can fight back. Just what I like to see with a serial killer who victimizes women: the satisfying justice of a woman who can kick their butt.
Try this book and you'll undoubtedly be reading the whole series. I am on the second book and could barely stop reading long enough to write this review.

I grew up reading mysteries and thrillers. That's probably why I write them.

One of the writers who influences my most was Robert W. Walker.

His Edge series and Instinct series were among my favorites. These were taut, suspenseful crime novels that pulled no punches.

But Rob had more than just those.

His Abraham Stroud (Bloodscreams) books were among the most fun horror novels I ever read. They predated the whole current vampire and zombie crazes.

His Decoy (Ryne Lanark) series was filled with action and startling violence.

His Dean Grant books were prototypes of the CSI/Law and Order shows so popular these days. Rob was doing this before Patricia Cornwell. He was doing it before almost anyone.

Now his entire backlist is available for under $3 an ebook. I hope a whole new generation discovers him, just like I did...

Killer Instinct introduces us to FBI pathologist and medical examiner Dr. Jessica Coran. The "Vampire-Killer" is fiendishly murdering people across the Midwest, using what the FBI has classified to be the most brutal form of murder, a Tort-9 killing where the victims are completely drained of blood. His latest victim is discovered in the opening pages of the novel and Jessica is called to the scene. So begins this, at times frightening and disturbing tale of perhaps the most horrific kind of literary monster, a human being who kills his own kind because of the power and the fact he revels in the moment of pain and terror.

Walker is able to take the standard plot of a medical examiner that pursues serial killers, but is able to reinvent it through Jessica's character and past. The daughter of a career Navy medical examiner, Jessica learned the value of life and her profession at an early age. Extremely talented and beautiful, she is an outstanding addition to the FBI Psychological Profiling Team. It's her dedication and desire to see justice done that drives the search for this monster.

The book was very enjoyable and quite engrossing at times. In a lot of ways it's similar to the early Scarpetta books by Patricia Cornwell, but not quite as good. Nonetheless, Walker has left a lot open for Jessica's future and I'll be there to see it.

I read this book because I'm a big fan of the Kay Scarpetta novels and this was supposed to be along the same line. I found the characters to be boring and not well developed and the story too slow.

a very good first book. if you like patricia cornwell you'll like robert walker. mr. walker also writes under the name of geoffrey caine.

Warning! Once you open the cover of this book you are in for a "non-stop-able" session! Dr. Jessica Coran, FBI medical examiner, might even give Kate Scarpetta a run for her job! Robert W. Walker is a master at creating unforgettable characters-- weather good or completely evil. His creative instincts keep you turning pages long after you think you'll never be able to sleep again.. even with every lock locked and all the alarms armed! At every twist and turn of the plot, danger, frustration and helplessness lead Jessica closer and closer to the killer. Fatal Instinct, Primal Instinct, Pure Instinct, Darkest Instinct and Killer Instinct-- Guaranteed reading pleasure!