First Instinct: A Novella

by Ruel Fordyce

An intriguing psychological story steeped in fear, paranoia and trusting one's first instincts...

Emily, a young woman seeking a fresh start after ending a toxic relationship, moves into a charming but somewhat rundown apartment she found online. Her new roommate, Clara, is quiet and reserved but seems kind enough. On Emily’s first night in the apartment, she finds a warning carved into the wall of her bedroom “Get out before it’s too late.” As paranoia sets in, she must determine if her roommate is a threat—or if the danger comes from somewhere else.

187 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2025

Reviews

[Sally Vrooman Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Instincts: A Novella had an interesting idea, but it didn’t go deep enough to really show what the characters were feeling. The story talked about instincts, but it didn’t explain them in a strong or emotional way. Also, the parts about the courtroom didn’t seem very realistic, and some of the details didn’t sound right. The book had potential, but it needed more description and better facts to make the story feel real and believable.

[Kasey Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story initially appealed to me because of the "Single White Female" vibe it gave off in the summary. However, the simplicity of the writing and the egregious number of mistakes in grammar and sentence structure made me feel more like I was reading a very rough draft of a high school student's creative writing assignment. It came ridiculously close to being a DNF for me.

[Dana · Rating 1 out of 5]

The idea was there but the execution was not.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

🖊️ Interesting. 🗑️ Other readers might enjoy this novelette quite well.

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