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Killer Instincts
While on spring break in Paris, 21-year old William Lynch learns that his family has been murdered and his home burned to the ground, the brutal act of a Boston crime syndicate.
William vows to seek revenge and hires Richard, a grizzled, mysterious ex-mercenary. For a hundred thousand dollars, Richard offers to train the college student in the ways of the killer-for-hire, giving him the skills he needs to seek vengeance on his own terms.
As William matures under Richard's tutelage, he never counts on what happens when he awakens the killer within him...
William vows to seek revenge and hires Richard, a grizzled, mysterious ex-mercenary. For a hundred thousand dollars, Richard offers to train the college student in the ways of the killer-for-hire, giving him the skills he needs to seek vengeance on his own terms.
As William matures under Richard's tutelage, he never counts on what happens when he awakens the killer within him...
Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 29, 2015
Quite entertaining vigilante revenge thriller. I could easily see this as a great graphic novel or movie. Perfect remedy read for when you've had a week where nothing seems to have gone right and all you need is a few hours of escaping into a world where a silenced Uzi and a fragmentation grenade will right the wrongs that need righting.
October 2, 2012
William Lynch is taking a break from college and vacationing in Paris with his girl friend when he gets word that his parents and little sister had been killed, the house burned to the ground. His father had been shot twice and his mother and sister severely beaten, probably dead before the fire.
Everyone seemed sure who was responsible, Just no evidence. William's father was a prosecutor trying a member of a powerful crime family for rape and murder. After that, witnesses memories began to get a little fuzzy.
Seeking vengeance, William's uncle puts him in touch with an old friend who starts teaching him weapons and tactics, who also has connections all over the world.
The opening section is set in modern times, William now a mercenary. The main part of the story is told in flashbacks ten years before as he goes through the training. His trainer has to break those cultural bonds of the civilized man if William is going to come out of it alive.
A well-written thriller, the action sequences are clear, easy to follow, and, with my limited knowledge of such things, about how I would expect things to go.
I liked the character of William, a young man who goes through big changes in his life as the novel progresses.
I had a fine time with this one.
Recommended.
Everyone seemed sure who was responsible, Just no evidence. William's father was a prosecutor trying a member of a powerful crime family for rape and murder. After that, witnesses memories began to get a little fuzzy.
Seeking vengeance, William's uncle puts him in touch with an old friend who starts teaching him weapons and tactics, who also has connections all over the world.
The opening section is set in modern times, William now a mercenary. The main part of the story is told in flashbacks ten years before as he goes through the training. His trainer has to break those cultural bonds of the civilized man if William is going to come out of it alive.
A well-written thriller, the action sequences are clear, easy to follow, and, with my limited knowledge of such things, about how I would expect things to go.
I liked the character of William, a young man who goes through big changes in his life as the novel progresses.
I had a fine time with this one.
Recommended.
August 6, 2012
A fairly impressive first book for an author. The meatiest portion of the book focuses on the education of a new killer for hire. While the author clearly relishes the intricacies of different weapons and the consideration of different tactics, and lavishes details on these subjects, almost as much attention is spent on the psychological make-up and evolution of the primary character into the professional, self-assured killer in the introductory scene from the innocent fresh-faced youth that begins the story proper.
Pacing is well done, with training scenes being full of details and color, while the action scenes (which are surprisingly few for such a book) are written with an economy of words and details -- bringing out the sense of uncertainty in a firefight, although the final scene definitely felt more rushed than it should have been with a flash-back conversation that seemed way out of character and plotting crammed into it.
Pacing is well done, with training scenes being full of details and color, while the action scenes (which are surprisingly few for such a book) are written with an economy of words and details -- bringing out the sense of uncertainty in a firefight, although the final scene definitely felt more rushed than it should have been with a flash-back conversation that seemed way out of character and plotting crammed into it.
September 15, 2020
Clearly a fan of the Mack Bolan books, Badelaire has created a likeable enough hero using the same time-honoured cliche of his family getting killed by the Mob, and then seeking revenge by killing them all.
The book starts in the modern day, with our hero, along with several other mercenaries, rescuing several women from modern day sex-slavers. He then goes on to reminisce on how he got started in the game, revealing his parents and sister were killed by the Mob while he was overseas as a teenager.
Using his inheritance, he hires someone to train him to become an assassin, and eventually takes on his family's killers\, with some help from his Vietnam Vet uncle.
It's not a bad book, and the time-frame is hard to nail down except it's before 9/11, as that gets a mention in the epilogue. The weapons are a little more exotic than you'd expect, and to be honest, I'd have thought there were better choices available, but that's just me.
Overall, a good read, and I'll read a sequel if there is one.
The book starts in the modern day, with our hero, along with several other mercenaries, rescuing several women from modern day sex-slavers. He then goes on to reminisce on how he got started in the game, revealing his parents and sister were killed by the Mob while he was overseas as a teenager.
Using his inheritance, he hires someone to train him to become an assassin, and eventually takes on his family's killers\, with some help from his Vietnam Vet uncle.
It's not a bad book, and the time-frame is hard to nail down except it's before 9/11, as that gets a mention in the epilogue. The weapons are a little more exotic than you'd expect, and to be honest, I'd have thought there were better choices available, but that's just me.
Overall, a good read, and I'll read a sequel if there is one.
November 15, 2020
One Harrowing novel…
Oh my, Never had the opportunity to read anything before by Jack Badelaire. But now, I cannot say that. This was most certainly a very fast-paced tale. Young 21 year old William, after college, is informed that his mother, father, and older sister, have been murdered and that their home has been burned to the ground. Williams uncle Jamie, of whom William knows very little, steps in to help Jamie deal with the death of his family members. Take some time and goes to Calais to spend a month or two getting his act back together. His uncle Jamie comes to visit, and revenge is in the works… Exciting from beginning to end, fast-paced as I said previously, and definitely worth the read. Kudos to Mr. Badelaire.
Oh my, Never had the opportunity to read anything before by Jack Badelaire. But now, I cannot say that. This was most certainly a very fast-paced tale. Young 21 year old William, after college, is informed that his mother, father, and older sister, have been murdered and that their home has been burned to the ground. Williams uncle Jamie, of whom William knows very little, steps in to help Jamie deal with the death of his family members. Take some time and goes to Calais to spend a month or two getting his act back together. His uncle Jamie comes to visit, and revenge is in the works… Exciting from beginning to end, fast-paced as I said previously, and definitely worth the read. Kudos to Mr. Badelaire.
November 26, 2020
Good story and believable
Without blathering on as so many book reviewers do, let me just say that the story is a good one. Badelaire didn't waste time with developing the wrong characters, but spent most of his word capital on the desert training that Lynch received. That to me was the most important part of the book, but only if William lynch becomes a series character.
Without blathering on as so many book reviewers do, let me just say that the story is a good one. Badelaire didn't waste time with developing the wrong characters, but spent most of his word capital on the desert training that Lynch received. That to me was the most important part of the book, but only if William lynch becomes a series character.
February 1, 2020
Four rating
One of best books I've read, you get feeling for the vengeance and trying to not loose site of self and not become one of the killers. Sorry there isn't a sequel. Would recommend to those who like action and suspense
One of best books I've read, you get feeling for the vengeance and trying to not loose site of self and not become one of the killers. Sorry there isn't a sequel. Would recommend to those who like action and suspense
March 28, 2020
Very dramatic characters and story
Well enjoyed this novel and the interesting mix of characters that weave a web of intrigue and suspense. I can see many continuing drama from the characters and story.
Well enjoyed this novel and the interesting mix of characters that weave a web of intrigue and suspense. I can see many continuing drama from the characters and story.
April 1, 2021
Review
A regular guy learns how to avenge his family who have been slaughtered by the mob. This story never stops. Every page is interesting. I found a great new author and plan to read all his books.
A regular guy learns how to avenge his family who have been slaughtered by the mob. This story never stops. Every page is interesting. I found a great new author and plan to read all his books.
February 14, 2019
Great book
One of my favorite books that I have read I have read the commando series also and really enjoyed them
One of my favorite books that I have read I have read the commando series also and really enjoyed them
December 6, 2019
What a story. Suspenseful all the way. William’s family is murdered and he hires Richard for revenge. Twists and turns constantly. A book not to be missed.
January 7, 2020
A good book.
August 7, 2020
Great story telling
This is a well put together story kept me from wanting to put it down.well planned and executed from start to end
This is a well put together story kept me from wanting to put it down.well planned and executed from start to end
September 1, 2020
Liked how the book started with the main character, William Lynch, out doing an ops, and then went into the backstory of how he got to the point.
December 5, 2012
At its heart Killer Instincts is a coming of age story, chronicling the journey that William Lynch takes from his beginnings as a ne'er-do-well rich kid to his destiny as a hard, cold-blooded operator. We first meet William as he is today--a mercenary on a mission to rescue some young women from slavers on a cargo ship at sea. He's a stone-cold killer and a veteran of this sort of operation. He gets the job done with brutal efficiency. Afterwards, William reflects on how he started down this path, and this is where the real story begins.
Cut to the spring of 2001, where William's father, a District Attorney in New England, is murdered along with William's mother and sister. The culprits are the Paggiano mafia family, against whom William's father was the lead prosecutor in a rape and murder case. Fortunately for William, he is on spring break in Paris and is forgotten by the killers.
Up to this point William has little direction in life, simply going through the motions of college, but the murders galvanize him into action. He is bent on vengeance, and his Vietnam-vet Uncle Jamie hooks him up with Richard, a mysterious Texan badass who is firmly entrenched in the shadow world of extra-legal operations. William hires Richard to train him in the skills he needs to wipe out the Paggiano family on his own.
Richard turns out to be one scary dude to learn from. While William remains committed to his goal, more than once he begins to feel that he might have gotten in over his head...
His training complete, William gets down to business. You're rooting for William to exact his revenge, but there looms a nagging feeling that he may lose his soul in the process. William starts out merely wanting vengeance for his family, but will he go too far?
Killer Instincts is an action-packed thriller spiced with gritty realism. This is a book that has you nodding your head with grim satisfaction every time a bad guy gets what coming to him. There is plenty of violence, sex, and profanity, but it's never gratuitous. Like a professional operator, Badelaire gets the job done and has no regrets.
Cut to the spring of 2001, where William's father, a District Attorney in New England, is murdered along with William's mother and sister. The culprits are the Paggiano mafia family, against whom William's father was the lead prosecutor in a rape and murder case. Fortunately for William, he is on spring break in Paris and is forgotten by the killers.
Up to this point William has little direction in life, simply going through the motions of college, but the murders galvanize him into action. He is bent on vengeance, and his Vietnam-vet Uncle Jamie hooks him up with Richard, a mysterious Texan badass who is firmly entrenched in the shadow world of extra-legal operations. William hires Richard to train him in the skills he needs to wipe out the Paggiano family on his own.
Richard turns out to be one scary dude to learn from. While William remains committed to his goal, more than once he begins to feel that he might have gotten in over his head...
His training complete, William gets down to business. You're rooting for William to exact his revenge, but there looms a nagging feeling that he may lose his soul in the process. William starts out merely wanting vengeance for his family, but will he go too far?
Killer Instincts is an action-packed thriller spiced with gritty realism. This is a book that has you nodding your head with grim satisfaction every time a bad guy gets what coming to him. There is plenty of violence, sex, and profanity, but it's never gratuitous. Like a professional operator, Badelaire gets the job done and has no regrets.
March 27, 2015
"Killer Instincts" is, on its face, a revenge tale, but is also something of a coming of age and a somewhat introspective look at the fall down the rabbit hole our hero decides to step into.
William Lynch is enjoying a trip to Paris with his girlfriend, when he is contacted by his uncle with the news his entire family is dead.
This book follows his decision of what to do afterward, and could be the genesis of a new series, although it has been some time since it was originally published. It reads like an origin story, and I liked William well enough that I would have read more books if there were any.
I very much enjoyed it, and found it gave me food for thought about our society's removal from hunting for food and our consequent reactions to such things.
Very much enjoyed, and recommended.
William Lynch is enjoying a trip to Paris with his girlfriend, when he is contacted by his uncle with the news his entire family is dead.
This book follows his decision of what to do afterward, and could be the genesis of a new series, although it has been some time since it was originally published. It reads like an origin story, and I liked William well enough that I would have read more books if there were any.
I very much enjoyed it, and found it gave me food for thought about our society's removal from hunting for food and our consequent reactions to such things.
Very much enjoyed, and recommended.
May 4, 2013
Action/adventure somewhat in the pulp fiction style. Entertaining read, with the main storyline coming as a 'reflection' from the main character after an initial black-op rescue mission.
Beginning and ending were both solidly written action scenes but the middle section, which detailed the main character's initial introduction and the training involved in developing his 'black op' skills was really more background than I needed.
Overall, a quick and reasonably entertaining read although I skimmed quite a lot of the middle section of the book.
Beginning and ending were both solidly written action scenes but the middle section, which detailed the main character's initial introduction and the training involved in developing his 'black op' skills was really more background than I needed.
Overall, a quick and reasonably entertaining read although I skimmed quite a lot of the middle section of the book.
July 25, 2013
This was one of the best books I've read in a while. Me personally, I like books that go into things that other books don't. Example would be the "gardeners", he went into the PMC world a little bit, the "darker" side of certain operations. Most books would have taken the thesis of this one and went running and gunning with two hands holding a gun each killing everything. This book did a good job showing a character "finding" his new self and a revenge tale.
October 17, 2013
Pretty good action/adventure novel, contains well-done graphic scenes of violence.
Story starts with mercenary, then flashback to backstory, then at the end back to the mercenary bit from the beginning. Prose was hard-boiled, pretty convincing.
Recommended for lovers of action/adventure with morally ambiguous characters.
Story starts with mercenary, then flashback to backstory, then at the end back to the mercenary bit from the beginning. Prose was hard-boiled, pretty convincing.
Recommended for lovers of action/adventure with morally ambiguous characters.
January 24, 2014
This is a highly detailed accounting of a man seeking revenge on a Mafia family for wiping out his family. Lots of blood and gore. Of course it sets itself up perfectly for the sequel without leaving me hanging. Very well done, good writing with minimal errors.
April 27, 2013
Sort of a coming into maturity book, more a real merc manual. Excellent action/adventure/thriller.
March 30, 2015
A very good action/adventure story.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews